Published On: Sun, Jul 1st, 2012

Major League Lacrosse Puts on a Show in 2012 All-Star Game

By: Malcolm Shields

Entering the grounds of FAU Stadium on June 30, you would have thought that you were heading for a Saturday night football game under the lights as fans were tailgating in the parking lots and numerous young fans were playing in pick-up games around the stadium.

This night was not about football.  On this evening, lacrosse fans descended onto the campus of Florida Atlantic University to witness the 2012 Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game.

The players did not disappoint as the fans were entertained with behind-the-back shots, no-look passes and a down-to-the-wire finish.

Steven Brooks scored the game-winning goal with 56 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give team Old School an 18-17 victory over team Young Guns.

Stephen Berger led team Old School with three goals and was named game MVP. Casey Powell and Brian Langtry followed with two goals apiece. For team Young Guns, Peet Poillon and Jeremy Sieverts tallied two goals in the game.

The entire weekend appeared to be a success for the 12-year-old league. “They got it. They were lacrosse fans,” league co-founder Jake Steinfeld said of the crowd. The official announced crowd was 4,821. “[The players] wanted to show [the fans] the MLL.”

The second half was just as competitive as the first two quarters of the game as team Old School held onto a slim 15-13 lead after three quarters. In the fourth quarter, a two-point shot by Brian Farrell tied the game at 17-17 with 3:42 remaining in the game. From that point on, team Old School controlled the pace and was able to secure the game-clinching goal.

The players put on an entertaining display for the fans during halftime as Kyle Hartzell won the Fastest Shot Contest. Joel White won the Gauntlet Competition and Brett Queener received the loudest cheers as he won the Freestyle Contest.

In the second quarter, the action went back-and-forth as both teams had quality shots on goal. Team Young Guns made a strong push midway in the half as team Young Guns outscored team Old School 5-4 in the second quarter to send the game tied at 9-9 at halftime.

Team Old School displayed their savvy early in the first quarter as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead by goals from Chris Eck, Berger and Langtry. Team Young Guns countered with goals by and Sieverts on a two-point shot behind the arc and Poillon’s shots on goal.

After team Young Guns tied the game at four  late in the quarter, Powell, who is also the Director of Lacrosse at Saint Andrew’s School, scored his first goal of the game to give team Old School a 5-4 lead to end the first quarter.

For those involved, the weekend was a success to display the game of lacrosse. “This was awesome. It was a very special night and a great weekend,” Powell said. “The fans were surrounded by the world’s best players and they put on quite a show.”

Did the results of this weekend strengthen the chances of a franchise coming to the region? “It’s a great sign. We want to do it the right way,” Steinfield said. “Everything is pointing in the right direction.”

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