Friday, October 29, 2010

Game #14- MLL All-star Game

This was another game that was special to me, as I attended it as well. But this was about as an exciting all-star game as you will see in any sport. It was not phony, like the NBA or NHL. The players didn't shoot it off, like the NFL, and it was not overboard like the MLB. No, the MLL did this right.
They selected the top players of the MLL that were not on Team USA, and pitted them against that team who was to go overseas in the next week to take on the FIL.
The MLL All-stars did give USA a scare. So let's revisit this game, as we count down our top 15.....
We had coverage of this game here in July, so here is the recap from it that I wrote at the time;

Team USA eked by the MLL All-Stars, 13-12, to finish their exhibition play.
The Bud Light MVP Brenden Mundorf scored six goals for USA and scored the game winner. Ryan Powell scored the goal that brought them within one and the game winner. For the MLL All-Stars, they put in a terrific effort, with Anthony Kelly, Kevin LeVeille, and Peet Poillon scoring two goals a piece.
The key to the game was the MLL All-Stars great defense that shut down Paul Rabil. The MLL All-Stars were projected to have great defense, but at times in the first half Team USA looked over matched. They dropped a lot passes and looked very sloppy on offense, and blew some coverages on defense. They ended up with the lead after two though, with a five goal second period.
The Halftime skills contest was spectacular. Paul Rabil defended his title as hardest shot, and tied his record shooting 111. Chicago rookie Ned Crotty won the two point contest, and Kevin Buchanan won the free style, scoring after running up a staircase made of people (including Anthony Kelly) balanced on the crossbar, and scored.
In the second half, the MLL All-Stars made a run and took the lead, 9-6. Matt Danowski scored on a two point shot to tie it and then the All-Stars scored three more goals. But Mundorf took over again and scored two goals before the end of the period to cut the lead to one going into the fourth quarter. Ryan Powell put in the game winner with 1:00 left.

Media Coverage:
Inside Lacrosse
NESN

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