The Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse beat the Rochester Rattlers 21-19 in front of 5,308 fans at Boston University’s Nickerson Field. For the second consecutive game Boston’s Conor Gill earned Bud Light MVP Award honors, recording four goals and three assists for seven total points. The win improves Boston’s record to 3 and 0, the best start in franchise history.
“This is just another step in the process,” said Scott Hiller, Cannons Head Coach. “In this league every team is tough and we have to come out and play hard each and every night and we did that tonight. It is a great feeling to be 3 and 0 but we know we still have more work to do.”

Gill did most of his work when it counted, in the second half. He scored all four of his goals in the third and fourth quarters. He assisted on the Cannons second to last tally in the fourth and scored Boston’s final goal.

“This was another team effort tonight,” said Gill. “We are at our best when everyone is getting involved in the offense. We moved the ball well and looked for the open shot. When our team is playing like that we are tough to beat.”

The Cannons led the game 15-13 after three quarters, closing the third with a two goal flurry in the quarter’s final 17 seconds. Gill broke a 13-13 tie notching his third goal with 17 seconds remaining in the third.

Boston’s Tim Byrnes again found himself making a big play for the Cannons in a key situation. Byrnes won the ensuing face-off and took the ball from the center “X” to the goal, scoring with 8 seconds left to put Boston up 15-13. Byrnes scored in highlight fashion, slapping the ball in the net from the ground hockey-style. Byrnes has made big plays in Boston’s first two wins, scoring the game winner in the opener and making a key interception in the second game.

“Making plays to win games is what it is all about,” said Byrnes. “It doesn’t matter who it is. The team that makes the most plays wins and that’s what we did tonight.”

Boston went up 19-13 with 10:00 remaining in the game, beginning the fourth quarter on a 4-0 run. Rochester then scored three times, including a Pat Dutton two-pointer, to make it 19-17 with 6:35 to play. That was as close as Rochester came. The Cannons scored two of the next four to hold on for the win, including a goal by Kevin Leveille, his third of the game.

“I feel as if I’m learning how to be a better player each game,” said Leveille. “The more experience I get, the more confidence I play with.”

Leveille followed up his monster seven-point game in Baltimore on May 27 with a six point, three goal and three assist performance against Rochester. Leveille has notched 13 points and eight goals in his last two games.

Cannons rookie Chris Passavia playing just two days after being selected with Boston’s first overall selection in the 2004 MLL Collegiate Draft drew the assignment of covering Casey Powell, the MLL’s most dangerous point scorer.

“We didn’t expect him not to play well,” said Hiller. “This is the reason why we drafted him. We expect him to play strong, physical defense against the game’s best offensive players and that’s what he did tonight.”

Powell did score three goals and one assist for four total points, but Passavia made several key defensive stops down the stretch. Ryan Powell led Rochester in scoring with seven total points on three goals and four assists. Kevin Cassese recorded five total points (3g – 1 2ptg – 1a – 5pts).

Cannons goaltender Chris Garrity had a strong game making 24 saves. Offensively for Boston Mike Regan had five points and Michael Watson had four. Regan, the MLL’s All-Time leading two-point goal scorer, notched his first “two” of the season to go along with another goal and two assists. Watson had three goals and one assist.

Rochester’s offense came alive in the second quarter. The Rattlers outscored the Cannons 8-5, making the score 10-10 as the teams headed to the locker room.

Much like the May 27 game in Baltimore, the Cannons owned the first quarter. Boston led 5-2 after the first, notching their goals with five different goal scorers. Leveille scored the game’s first goal picking up where he left off last Thursday.

The Cannons next game is in Long Island on Saturday June 12 at 7:30. The Cannons beat the Lizards 17-16 in the season opener at Nickerson Field. Coverage on the Boston Cannons Web Radio Network presented by New Balance begins at 7:15.