Philadelphia, PA - December 22 , 2007

One important factor that Growl management faced when selecting a minor team for 2008 was finding the right blend of players that would create chemistry and the ability to play with some character. A six game weekend road trip would test that character and prove to be either a catalyst or a dagger to the heart of the Garden State Growl.

The trip began Saturday, as the Growl visited the winless Northeast Philly Revolution. With a 2-2 record, the Growl was hoping for a couple of feel good victories, but the Revolution had different plans.

Game one started out incredibly tight. No one was able to find the back of the net, as both goaltenders played extremely wel.The game went to the half with no score and the Growl knew that they would have to pick up the pace if they were to be victorious in a game that they knew they were supposed to win.

In the second period it was the Revolution that struck first and again moments later while on two consecutive powerplays. They would carry a 2-0 lead late into the game. The Growl finally got on the board with under three minutes to play, as Sonny Ciocco scored his first of the season from a good pass from Jon Lucente. The Growl was about to call timeout when an equipment problem with the Revolution goaltender, gave the Growl the break they needed. Moments later after a good cycle by Ciocco and Lucente, Mara ripped one past the Revolution goalie to tie the game at 2-2. Now with their timeout still available, the Growl used it and were able to keep their hot players on the rink. Mara and Lucente proved that they were not finished, with under 30 seconds remaining, Mara dished to Lucente this time for the game winner and the Growl skated out of game one with a vistory by the slimmest of margins. Earning the victory, his third of the season, was Mike Maczyncki who improved to 3-0.

Game two would prove to be no different. The Growl simply could not find any offensive rythem. The Revolution scored early, this time even stregth and tightened the screws on defense. With a 1-0 defecit at the half, coach Flynn decided to make a change in goal and replace Mark Teshic with Mike Maczynski. "We knew that in order to get a goal the way we were playing, we might have to take a few chances, and Mike has been so hot lately that we felt we would need him under those circumstances," remarked coach Flynn.

For the bulk of the period, another defensive stalemate took place. Mike Maczynski and Shawn Bowers stood their ground in their respectiver creases, that is until again late in the game Ryan Mara stepped up for the Growl. Streaking down the court, Mara fired a perfect pass to Don Susini in front and Susini tipped the puck past the diving Revolution goaltender.

Regulation ended in a 1-1 tie and the teams were destined for overtime. After the first shift, the Growl sent out defensive specialist Erik Barney. While streaking down the right boards, Barney snuck a perfect shot shortside under the cross bar and was crowned the unlikely hero.

The Growl earned their first sweep of the season and while they felt that they under acheived on the day, they certainly showed the character the organization was hoping hoping for when they assembled the squad during the off-season.