The New York Saints kicked off their home campaign in grand style, coming from behind for the second time in as many games to defeat the Calgary Roughnecks, 20-14, Saturday night at Nassau Coliseum.

Last year’s team MVP -- and tonight's player of the game -- Roy Colsey delivered the game winner in scintillating fashion, one of six tallies for "Rocket Roy."

Mark Frye opened the scoring just two minutes in, with a quick fake and move to the hole off the pick and roll, courtesy of a nice assist from Josh Black. A minute later, Colsey and Calgary’s Quinn Smethurst and went nose-to-nose and each earned a two minute break for roughing. Just seventeen seconds later, Frye scored again in the four-on-four situation, this time assisted by Gavin Prout. New York's Scott Self gave Calgary its first man advantage, and the Roughnecks wasted little time cashing in on the power play goal (which would become the theme of the evening) as John Kilbride fired a low-to-high shot to beat Saints goalkeeper Gee Nash.

New York captain Pat McCabe was soon whistled for a holding penalty, and former Saint Chris Panos cashed in the first of his four goals, with a nifty over-the-shoulder backhand shot. Panos took an interference penalty not much later, and Colsey wasted little time making his former teammate pay, whipping an underhanded "wormburner" to put the Saints back in the lead, 3-2. A mere six seconds later, Hofstra alumni and designated faceoff man Joe Ghedina broke in alone on goal and fired home from the short side.

At this point, the Saints began to take some undisciplined penalties, allowing Calgary to get back into the game. With just over three minutes remaining in the first period, both Black and Tom Naglieri took penalties, giving the Roughnecks a five-on-three advantage, and Panos easily scored his second of the night, off a cross-crease pass from former Saint Ben Prepchuk, to level the scoring. Panos and Prepchuk would burn their former team yet again, each scoring to close out the first stanza with the score now 5-4 in Calgary’s favor, the latter goal coming just a second before the horn.

The parade to the penalty box continued early in the second period as Ghedina was whistled for holding. Prepchuk tallied again on the power play with a left inside shot assisted by another Saint alumnus, Jason Wulder. McCabe took Panos to task for firing a shot into the net after a clear whistle. The two got into a serious shoving match, but no penalties were assessed. Calgary’s assault on the New York net continued, though, as Kaleb Toth scored a shorthander, the ball hitting the top off the crossbar and falling over the goal line behind Nash. Colsey helped the Saints stay close, however, when he ripped a big outside shot past Calgary 'keeper Matt King. The Roughnecks answered with a tally of their own, as Panos fired a shot from midrange on a pass from Chris Prat.

Calgary jumped out to its biggest lead of the game when Prepchuk slipped between a pick-and-roll from Wulder and Toth and fired the ball home, making the score 9-5. Less than thirty second later, Kris Bryde would begin New York’s comeback when he went in close on King, shot and scooped up his own rebound to roof one in. Then it was John Rosa’s turn, taking a flip pass from Prout and shovel-shooting it home. The final tally of the half came from some deception by Colsey. With Calgary on the man-advantage but with the Saints holding possession, Roy slowly entered the attacking zone and "rope-a-doped" the Roughnecks, who miscalculated by shadowing Rusty Kruger in the shooter position. Colsey slithered toward the net and fired a shot past a stunned King. Now only a one goal difference at the end of the half.

The third quarter was all Saints as Colsey ripped a shot home on a pass from Prout. Then it was Gavin’s turn to star as he broke in alone on goal and buried a shot with left hand. "Rocketman" followed that with a shorthanded tally, going full-speed to the net, drilling it over the shoulder of King. But Calgary would answer back when Kilbride pulled his team back to within one. Undeterred, Colsey laid a trap when he drew a second defender to him and fed Jonas Derks all alone in the crease on the right side for an easy goal.

The momentum clearly with New York at this point, Kruger got into the act, scoring from midrange on a nice pass from Self. The Saints got a bit of a scare when, with just under nine minutes remaining in the period, Nash fell down in a heap and remained there for minutes. After the trainers worked his legs, he got up and appeared to be okay. The fear of a serious knee injury turned out to be nothing more than probable cramping. The Saints finished out the period with three more goals to take a 16-10 lead into the fourth quarter.

The final stanza saw the Saints maintain their lead as Kruger (twice), Derks and Prout all scored for the home side. Calgary’s Rob Colville (twice), Panos, and Toth tallied for the visitors.

The Saints are now 2-0 on the season, while Calgary’s record slips to 1-3. The Roughnecks play the Columbus Landsharks next Friday at home while the Saints host the Buffalo Bandits at the Nassau Coliseum next Sunday.

Before the Saints game the New York Police Department and the Fire Department of New York faced off in an exhibition game to claim the Heroes Cup. The NYPD battled back from a 6-0 deficit to win, 12-11. Prior to the game, a moving video presentation was shown on the scoreboard, honoring the police officers and firefighters who sacrificed themselves to help others on 11 September. In particular, Police Department sergeant Ronny Kloepfer, who helped create the NYPD lacrosse team nine years ago and was killed in the World Trade Center attacks, was honored at the end of the video.

BOX SUMMARY
                                      1  2  3  4     TOT
Calgary Roughnecks (1-3)              5  4  1  4  --  14
New York Saints (2-0)                 4  4  8  4  --  20

CALGARY ROUGHNECKS            NEW YORK SAINTS
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Prepchuk       4 - 4     8    Colsey         5 - 4     9
Panos          5 - 1     6    Prout          3 - 5     8
Toth           2 - 4     6    Derks          3 - 3     6
Wulder         0 - 5     5    Kruger         3 - 3     6
Colville       2 - 0     2    Frye           3 - 2     5
Prat           0 - 2     2    K Bryde        1 - 3     4
Kilbride       1 - 0     1    Nash           0 - 2     2
                              Self           0 - 2     2
                              Ghedina        1 - 0     1
                              Rosa           1 - 0     1
                              Black          0 - 1     1
                              Spallina       0 - 1     1

Shots on goal           53    Shots on goal           60
Saves made by (GA)      40    Saves made by (GA)      39
   King (16)         36          Nash (14)         39
   D Collins (4)      4
Penalties                9    Penalties               17
Penalty Minutes         26    Penalty Minutes         53
Power Play Chances      13    Power Play Chances       9
Power Play Goals         5    Power Play Goals         3
Shorthanded Goals        2    Shorthanded Goals        2
Loose Balls             80    Loose Balls             94
   Berthiaume         9          Spallina          14
   Wulder             9          Ghedina           13
   King               7          Black              8
   Prat               7          Prout              8
Faceoffs Won            17    Faceoffs Won            20
   J Sundher    (17-20)          Ghedina      (18-16)
                                 Prout        ( 2- 0)
                                 Rosa         ( 0- 1)

  *** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH NEW YORK SAINTS ***