Just about everyone on the Rochester Rattlers knew second-year player and Irondequoit native Joe Walters was a sleeping offensive giant. He just needed a little nudge to develop into the scorer his coaches and teammates knew he could be.
He must have gotten that nudge tonight.
Walters scored six goals — including a two-pointer — and added two assists to lead the Rattlers over the Long Island Lizards, 17-10, at rain-soaked PAETEC Park. Said Walters' teammate Pat Dutton: "He woke up."
Walters, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2006 Major League Lacrosse collegiate draft, had been steady throughout the 2006 season and the first half of this season, averaging a goal or two a game, but he hadn't developed into the dominant, dynamic offensive threat the Rattlers hoped they were getting with that top pick.
He was further challenged this year by a shift to midfielder after playing as an attackman his entire life. But Rochester coach B.J. O'Hara said it was only a matter of time before Walters showed what he's capable of.
"Joe’s been steady for us all along," O'Hara said after tonight's game. "As a midfielder you don’t get as many touches (as an attackman), and it’s really tough to get into the rhythm of the game. But I think Joe’s really found his comfort level. We’re going to expect that kind of night from him every week."
For his part, Walters discussed tonight's exhibit as simply part of the team's overall winning performance.
"It was a team effort," he said. "The defense was playing awesome, (and goalie) Mike Levin was outstanding. (We were) pushing the transition, finding the open man.
"We were all playing unselfish. When we need a goal, we can get a goal. It’s just a matter of getting in a flow."
The Rattlers were in dire need of a goal or two at the start of the fourth quarter. After posting an 11-6 lead midway through the third quarter, Rochester allowed the Lizards to creep back into the game and headed into the final period with a slim 12-10 lead.
That's when Walters stepped up, scoring his fourth goal at the 4:06 point in the fourth. Rochester midfielders A.J. Shannon and Casey Powell each scored a goal to further extend the lead before Walters scored two more times to put the final nails in the Lizards' coffin.
Powell's goal was especially impressive. With his back to the goal, he scooped up a ground ball and with one motion flinged it over his head and past Long Island goalie Nick Murtha.
Also having a big night, as usual, was Rochester attackman John Grant, who scored four goals to bring his Rattlers career total to 123, which ties him with Ryan Powell for first in the team's career goal list.
For the second straight game, Levin also produced a stellar performance, stopping 25 of 35 shots and holding the increasingly desperate Lizards at bay in the fourth quarter.
"Mike Levin had another great night," O'Hara said. "If Mike doesn’t have a night like that, we might be scrambling there at the end. He gave us a little bit of breathing room."
The Rattlers have now reeled off six wins in a row — including a 13-7 road win over the same Long Island team nine days ago — and are now tied with Philadelphia for first place in the MLL's Eastern Conference at 6-2. Rochester travels to Boston on Thursday to face the 4-5 Cannons.
