An unprepared New York Saints team came to the Meadowlands and got swamped, falling 19-9 to the New Jersey Storm Friday evening before an announced crowd of 3,129 at Continental Airlines Arena.

The Saints arrived on the field late for both halves, missing the national anthem in the beginning and retaking the field at least 2 minutes after the game was supposed to start in the second half.

Whether the problem was lateness causing New York's weak play (first half) or the weak play causing the lateness (second half), the Storm took full advantage. New Jersey used a 9-0 run over the last 22 minutes of the first half to blow open this Eastern Division contest, then held off one feeble comeback try after another to secure the win.

Joe Ghedina actually gave the Saints a 1-0 lead just twelve seconds into the game, as he waltzed in on a stationary New Jersey defense. However, Dan Chemotti answered back two minutes later, and the Saints would regain the lead no more. Cam Bomberry gave the Storm their first lead, but Chris Driscoll for the Saints evened it up quickly for the Saints, and it appeared the fans were in for a back and forth treat.

However, just thirty seconds later, with Joe Ghedina off for holding, Roy Colsey converted on the power play to give the Storm a 3-2 lead. Goals from Blake Miller, Chemotti, and Scott Stewart, all within about two and a half minutes of each other late in the first quarter, expanded the Storm lead to 6-2.

The second quarter started the same way as the first ended, with a Scott Stewart tally. This time, however, Stewart was beating Phil Wetherup, who replaced Gee Nash in the Saints' goal after the first quarter. Nearly seven minutes passed before anyone (Steve Sombrotto, in this case) would light the lamp again. Quick goals late in the quarter by Stewart, Gordon Purdie and Mike Benedict brought the first half to a close with the Storm holding a commanding 11-2 advantage.

The third quarter of this game was barely worth mentioning, as it was easily the least entertaining quarter of lacrosse I've seen in my entire life. Just ten shots found their way on goal in the stanza; however, six found their way into the twine, including four of five New York shots beating Storm goalie Derek General. The Saints opened the scoring in the half, but Bryan Bendig expanded the lead back to nine quickly. New York and New Jersey exchanged goals again, before Chris Panos and Ramar Clash scored twice for the Saints late to end the third quarter at 13-6.

When the fourth quarter started, the Storm quickly ended any hope of a Saints rally with early markers by Nadalen and Stewart. Chris Driscoll scored to close within eight, but Stewart ended his five-goal, Game MVP performance by answering just 43 seconds later. The last three minutes had five garbage goals scored, three by the Storm, to end the game with the 19-9 margin.

The New York Saints fall to 0-4, and will next take the field on 25 January in Rochester. The Storm, who improves to 2-1, will hop on a flight to western Canada and meet the Roughnecks this Sunday in a matinee.

BOX SUMMARY
                                      1  2  3  4     TOT
New York Saints (0-4)                 2  0  4  3  --   9
New Jersey Storm (2-1)                6  5  2  6  --  19

NEW YORK SAINTS               NEW JERSEY STORM
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Driscoll       3 - 1     4    Stewart        5 - 2     7
Clash          2 - 2     4    Chemotti       3 - 1     4
Prout          0 - 4     4    B Miller       3 - 0     3
Frye           1 - 0     1    Benedict       1 - 2     3
Ghedina        1 - 0     1    Ca Bomberry    1 - 2     3
Kruger         1 - 0     1    Colsey         1 - 2     3
Panos          1 - 0     1    Sombrotto      1 - 1     2
Culp           0 - 1     1    Bendig         1 - 0     1
Naglieri       0 - 1     1    Nadelen        1 - 0     1
Paccione       0 - 1     1    Purdie         1 - 0     1
                              Wright         1 - 0     1
                              General        0 - 2     2

Shots on goal           46    Shots on goal           54
Saves made by (GA)      35    Saves made by (GA)      37
   Wetherup (13)     23          General (9)       37
   Nash (6)          12
Penalties               10    Penalties               10
Penalty Minutes         29    Penalty Minutes         26
Power Play Chances      10    Power Play Chances       9
Power Play Goals         1    Power Play Goals         2
   Kruger             1          Bendig             1
                                 Colsey             1
Shorthanded Goals        0    Shorthanded Goals        0
Loose Balls             79    Loose Balls             95
   Prout             12          General           12
   Wetherup          11          Nadelen           10
   Driscoll           7          Purdie             9
   Nash               7
   Paccione           7
Faceoffs Won            11    Faceoffs Won            21
   Ghedina      (10-20)          Purdie       (21-11)
   Paccione     ( 1- 1)

 *** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH NEW JERSEY STORM ***