The New York Titans defeated the Boston Blazers 19-14 at Prudential Center in Newark on Saturday night. Casey Powell and Pat Maddalena each registered nine-point games for the Titans playing its first contest in Newark. Blazers rookie and top overall draft pick Daryl Veltman had a goal and six assists in his National Lacrosse League debut.
New York stormed out to a 5-1 lead in the first quarter on goals by Jordan Hall (2), Brendan Mundorf, Greg Peyser and Maddalena. Brendan Thenhaus scored the first goal for the Blazers on a power play with 7:49 remaining in the quarter. Dan Dawson assisted on the franchise’s first goal.
The teams basically played even the rest of the game. Both scored four goals in the second quarter, giving New York a 9-5 halftime lead.
Scoring really picked up in the third quarter, with the clubs combining for 14 goals, which was the combined total scored in the Toronto-Buffalo game (8-6 Buffalo). Powell registered the natural hat trick (three goals in the quarter). The Blazers got their offense going, as Dawson and Gary Bining scored two goals each in the frame.
In the fourth quarter, the Blazers got to within three as a Thenhaus goals made it 16-13 with eight minutes remaining. The Titans responded quickly with goals from Maddalena and Powell to secure the lead for good.
Blazers goaltender Anthony Cosmo, who saved 31 out of 49 shots faced. Matt Vinc made 33 saves on 47 shots faced for the Titans. New York improves to 1-1 on the season, while Boston is 0-1. The two teams face each other again next Saturday in Boston at TD Banknorth Garden in the Blazers’ inaugural season home game.
