Professional Lacrosse, It’s Like “Hockey With Balls,” Back in Everett Saturday Night

Washington Stealth Lacrosse opens its 3rd season in Everett Saturday night in Comcast Arena at Everett. The Stealth had a great opening season in 2010 and did well in 2011 but had a much tougher season last year. This year’s tag line, “Like Hockey with Balls” is causing a bit of attention but Stealth loyalists say it’s the fastest way to explain how lacrosse games work to people who haven’t seen one yet. Tickets are on sale at the Comcast Arena box office or by calling 425-374-7290. Here’s a preview from the team’s website…

EVERETT, Wash. – After a pre-season of bolstering a veteran lineup that has enjoyed NLL championship game appearances in two of the past three seasons, the Washington Stealth are poised to make a run back to the top of the NLL as the team faces the defending champion Rochester Knighthawks in the season opener, Saturday at Everett’s Comcast Arena. Game time is 6:45 p.m.

Bigger, faster and stronger, coach Chris Hall’s squad is teed-up to turn the page in 2013 and make a run at the post season. A run that begins with the defending league champions, which have dominated the all-time series against the Stealth 11-4 dating back to the organization’s time in both San Jose, Calif. and Albany, N.Y.

For Hall, the Stealth’s success in the coming year — and Saturday night’s opener, will rely heavily on the output of his veteran forwards Lewis Ratcliff, Rhys Duch and Athan Iannucci, along with a retooled defensive unit.

As two of the most potent threats for the Stealth, Ratcliff and Duch accounted for two thirds of the offense in last February’s meeting with Rochester in New York, which the Stealth dropped 15 – 12 after giving up a slim lead in the fourth.

“There is a lot less taken for granted this year,” said Ratcliff, who despite finishing 2012 with a team best and seventh ranked league wide 36 goals to go along with 40 assists, wasn’t satisfied with the finish.

“Last year showed us how tough the league is,” said Ratcliff. “There is a new hunger and attitude in working our way back to the top.”