Back-up goalie Greg Cattrano came off the bench to hold Syracuse to just three goals in the second half as the New York Saints defeated the Smash 13-8 this afternoon before 6,337 in Nassau Coliseum. Cattrano, who had played less than one minute this season -- in the team’s only win coming into today’s game -- was named the Game MVP for his 18 save performance after replacing starter Sal LoCascio at halftime, who left due to heat exhaustion.

The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for the Saints (2-4), who bounced back from a 13-9 defeat in Toronto two nights ago. Syracuse (2-4) lost for the second time in three days.

Syracuse scored early in the game, but then the Saints tallied four in succession to make it 4-1. Syracuse battled back, including two early goals in the second quarter, to square the game at 5-5, but New York scored three straight goals to take an 8-5 lead into the half.

In the third quarter, back-up goalie Greg Cattrano took over for LoCascio. The Saints netted two early goals to make the score 10-5, but the Smash then narrowed the deficit to 10-7 game a couple of minutes later on two quick goals. New York scored twice following that and carried a 12-7 lead into the final quarter.

The Saints got a goal eight minutes into the fourth, and Syracuse was able to get a goal a couple of seconds later. That was it, though, for the scoring in the game, as the Saints posted a 13-8 victory. Gait led all scorers, finishing with two goals and four assists for the Smash, who play Saturday night in Philadelphia. New York is in Buffalo that evening.

BOX SUMMARY
                                  1  2  3  4     TOT
Syracuse Smash (2-4)              3  2  2  1  --   8
New York Saints (2-4)             5  3  4  1  --  13

SYRACUSE SMASH                NEW YORK SAINTS
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Oudemool       2 - 0     2    Millon         2 - 2     4    
Powless        1 - 1     2    Panetta        2 - 2     4
Prat           1 - 1     2    Wulder         2 - 1     3    
M Benedict     1 - 0     1    Hess           0 - 3     3    
Fay            1 - 0     1    B Miller       2 - 0     2    
Halladay       0 - 1     1    Colsey         1 - 1     2    
Morrissey      0 - 1     1    LoCascio       0 - 2     2
                              Seremet        1 - 0     1       
                              Gagliardi      0 - 1     1
                              Kisslinger     0 - 1     1
                              Naglieri       0 - 1     1
                              S Sombrotto    0 - 1     1

Shots on goal           45    Shots on goal           46
Saves made by           33    Saves made by           37
   Collins           31          LoCascio          19
   Rankin             2          Cattrano          18

*** ALL STATS UNOFFICIAL UNTIL VERIFIED ***

A National Lacrosse League press release contributed to this game report.