The 2007 Major League Lacrosse season was the seventh season of the league. The season began on May 12 and concluded with the championship game on August 26, 2007.
General information In November 2006, the Baltimore Bayhawks relocated to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Bayhawks. They played 5 of their 6 games at Multi-Sport Field and 1 at George Mason Stadium.
New venues in 2007 The Boston Cannons moved their home games to Harvard Stadium. The Chicago Machine moved their home games to Toyota Park. The Philadelphia Barrage moved their home games to United Sports Training Center
New rules in 2007: Moved the two-point arc back to away from the goal. It had previously been away. Created the same stick dimension requirements as NCAA. Enforce “pull-strings” as making a stick illegally altered and thus cannot re-enter the game.
Chicago won for the first time in franchise history on June 2 defeating Denver. The Machine had lost a league record 13 consecutive games (including all 12 games in 2006).
The 2007 season was a record breaking season: On June 16, the Rochester Rattlers won a 27–26 (in overtime) game over the Denver Outlaws in the highest scoring game in MLL history at INVESCO Field at Mile High the teams combined for a total 53 goals. A MLL record crowd of 19,793 watched the July 4 game between Chicago and Denver at INVESCO Field at Mile High. The previous mark was 15,981, set by a Los Angeles at Denver game in 2006. John Grant, Jr. broke the league's single-season points record with 71 points, while Spencer Ford set the single-season assists record 47.
Regular season W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT = Winning Percentage, GF = Goals For, 2ptGF = 2 point Goals For, GA = Goals Against, 2ptGA = 2 point Goals Against
Qualified for playoffs Eastern ConferenceTeamWLPCTGF2ptGFGA2ptGA Philadelphia Barrage93.75017551395 Rochester Rattlers93.750208 515310Boston Cannons 57.41716921792 Long Island Lizards57.41715661628 Washington Bayhawks57.417134111905 New Jersey Pride48.33315551636 Western ConferenceTeamWLPCTGF 2ptGFGA2ptGA Los Angeles Riptide93.75019051385 Denver Outlaws75.583190717412 San Francisco Dragons48.333157121806 Chicago Machine39.25016272186
Philadelphia finished first in the East over Rochester based on a better conference record (8–2 vs. 7–3).
Boston finished 3rd in the East based on combine record against Long Island and Washington: 3–1 (2–0 against Washington, and 1–1 against Long Island). Long Island finished 4th based on combine record against Boston and Washington: 2–2 (1–1 against Washington 1–1 against Boston) and Washington finished 5th based on combine record against Boston and Long Island: 1–3 (1–1 against Long Island and 0–2 against Boston).
All Star Game July 8 at Harvard Stadium in Boston Eastern Conference All Stars 19–12 Western Conference All Stars MVP Matt Poskay (Boston) for the Eastern Conference
Playoffs The 2007 NB Zip Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend took place August 25–26 at PAETEC Park in Rochester, New York
Semi-finals August 25 @PAETEC Park, Rochester, New York Philadelphia 13–12(OT) Denver Los Angeles 15–14 Rochester
Championship August 27@PAETEC Park, Rochester, New York Philadelphia 16–13 Los Angeles
Bracket
MVP: Matt Striebel (Philadelphia)
Awards
AwardWinnerTeamMVP AwardJohn Grant, Jr.RochesterRookie of the Year AwardAlex SmithRochesterCoach of the Year AwardJohn Tucker Los AngelesDefensive player of the Year AwardBrodie Merrill RochesterOffensive player of the Year AwardJohn Grant, Jr.RochesterGoaltender of the Year AwardBrian DoughertyPhiladelphiaSportsman of the Year AwardGreg Bice Los AngelesMost Improved Player of the Year AwardSpencer FordLos Angeles
References