The Albany Attack, led by forty saves by Game MVP Rob Blasdell, defeated the New York Saints, 13-8, Saturday night at the Nassau Coliseum.

The dueling Sandersons, Josh and Phil, had two goals apiece for the Attack, with teammates Nick Trudeau and Mike Regan chipping in with their own pairs. Netminder Blasdell turned aside forty furious New York shots en route to Albany’s fifth straight victory, and seventh of the season overall. The Attack has now ascended to the top of the Central Division -- and of the league overall -- for the first time in team history.

In contrast, after opening the season with a promising 4-2 record, the Saints have now lost four games in a row. All of these defeats have come at the hand of teams playing superb lacrosse as the moment, and who are near or at the top of their divisions respectively.

Albany’s John Madigan opened the scoring at 3:31 of the first period, off a nice feed from Josh Sanderson. The Attack would score the next three goals before New York got on the board. Roy Colsey scored first for the Saints, a power play tally, after Albany’s Jim Moss was sent off for two minutes. This time, it was the Saints' turn to put a streak together as they would run off the next three goals, with tallies by Scott Self, Colsey again and Gavin Prout. Prout's goal was a power play marker, and came off a fantastic solo effort, where he battled off a hard checking Josh Sanderson, to power the ball into the net from in close.

But with the score all knotted at four, Phil Sanderson struck quickly, directly off the faceoff, giving the lead back to Albany, which they would hold for the remainder of the game.

The second period was all Albany, outscoring New York, 5-1. The Saints' usually-steady goaltender, Gee Nash, had an uncharacteristically soft period. Many of the goals against were direct visible shots that were unscreened or had little ball movement prior to the shot. In Nash’s defense, the Saints in general were caught standing around flatfooted, as the Attack was allowed to fire at will. Underscoring this point was a crippling shorthanded goal by Mike Regan.

If there was any hope for a Saints comeback, it came early in the third period when Albany afforded them a five-on-three power play. While Shaydon Santos was sent off for two minutes on a slashing penalty, Cam Woods was called for a delay of game. Woods, attempting to clear the ball on the penalty kill, lofted it high up into the Nassau Coliseum rafters, and as it bounced down hard on the floor, it ricocheted up into the stands.

New York would quickly cash in on this opportunity with a right side stuff from Kris Bryde. Forty seconds later, Scott Self blasted a shot past Blaisdell on a nice feed from Rusty Kruger. At this point both goaltenders raised their games and proceeded to outdo each other with some fantastic saves on both sides of the arena. The period came to a close with New York now only three goals down.

The final period would belong to Albany, however, as their three consecutive goals (one from Dan Teat and two from Nick Trudeau) would quell any hope of a Saints comeback. New York’s John Rosa scored the final goal of the game with nine seconds left on the clock, giving the hometown fans a small consolation prize in what is turning out to be a disappointing season.

The Saints play a crucial home-and-home serious with the Vancouver Ravens, beginning next weekend at the Coliseum. Albany hosts the Columbus Landsharks next Friday.

BOX SUMMARY
                                      1  2  3  4     TOT
Albany Attack (7-2)                   5  5  0  3  --  13
New York Saints (4-6)                 4  1  2  1  --   8

ALBANY ATTACK                 NEW YORK SAINTS
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Rosyski        1 - 4     5    Colsey         2 - 0     2
Regan          2 - 1     3    Prout          2 - 0     2
J Sanderson    2 - 1     3    S Self         2 - 0     2
Trudeau        2 - 1     3    K Bryde        1 - 1     2
Woods          0 - 3     3    Kruger         0 - 2     2
P Sanderson    2 - 0     2    McCabe         0 - 2     2
Lawrence       1 - 0     1    Rosa           1 - 0     1
Madigan        1 - 0     1    Frye           0 - 1     1
Moss           1 - 0     1    Haugen         0 - 1     1
Teat           1 - 0     1    

Shots on goal           53    Shots on goal           48
Saves made by           40    Saves made by           40
   Blasdell          40          Nash              40
Penalties                7    Penalties                3
Penalty Minutes         14    Penalty Minutes          6
Power Play Chances       3    Power Play Chances       7
Power Play Goals         0    Power Play Goals         5
   (None)                        Prout              2
                                 K Bryde            1
                                 Colsey             1
                                 S Self             1
Shorthanded Goals        1    Shorthanded Goals        0
   Regan              1          (None)
Loose Balls             77    Loose Balls             80
   Woods             11          McCabe            14
   P Sanderson        9          Nash               8
   Rosyski            7          Prout              8
   Teat               7          Spallina           8
Faceoffs Won            15    Faceoffs Won            10
   Fannell      (15-10)          Ghedina      (10-15)

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