Staff Report
The Buffalo Bandits will not be defending their National Lacrosse League title.
John Tavares and Mark Steenhuis, Buffalo’s two offensive threats who led the league in scoring, were held without a goal as the New York Titans cruised to a 9-3 win in the East Division final Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., ending the Bandits season at 11-7.
It was a rematch of last year’s East final, which Buffalo won 19-12. This meeting, though, was easily the Bandits’ worst offensive performance of the season, as only two players — Steenhuis and Tavares — tallied two points, both on assists.
Mike Accursi, Kevin Dostie and Sean Greenhalgh scored Buffalo’s only goals.
Meanwhile, Casey Powell led the Titans with two goals and five assists.
The Bandits hadn’t scored fewer than eight goals in a game until Saturday, which also marked New York’s third win over Buffalo this season.
Buffalo managed to chase Titans goalie Matt Vinc out of the net in last year’s final, scoring 15 goals on 30 shots. Vinc was much better Saturday night, stopping 41 of the Bandits’ 44 shots.
In just its third year as a franchise, New York will play the winner of the West Division final between Calgary and San Jose next weekend for the NLL title. Calgary held a 9-0 lead at halftime. The game was played in Calgary and ended after press time.
