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Media Kit: Archived Press Releases
Shell Shockers Finish League Campaign With Two Games In Texas
July 19, 2006The New Orleans Shell Shockers end their competitive season this weekend with two important away matches which will decide their final league placing.
They visit the Austin Lightning on Friday evening and follow that up with a trip to the DFW Tornados on Saturday, and need to win both to guarantee fourth place.
However a victory against Austin will be enough to secure that spot as long as Austin fails to defeat Dallas on Sunday. It makes Friday’s fixture a real crunch game and a vitally important “six pointer” - if the Shell Shockers lose then they finish bottom of the league for the first time in their history.
The club has won just three times this campaign and two of those came in the two matches against Austin. The Shell Shockers beat them 3-1 both home and away, but have lost five out of six since the win in Texas’ capital city.
Dallas meanwhile holds the unusual distinction of defeating the Shell Shockers in three different cities this year. They won in May at the only league game played at Pan American Stadium in City Park, were victorious in June at Muss Bertolino in Kenner, and then beat the New Orleans side on their home turf the following week.
The Shell Shockers welcome back midfielder Chris Denuna and Captain PJ Kee who were both banned for last week’s loss to Nashville, as well as defender Nick Lambert and goalkeeper Fred Mince who have recovered from injuries. In Tennessee the Shell Shockers were so decimated by suspensions, injuries and withdrawals that they were only able to list 13 outfield players for the match instead of the 17 allowed.
Head Coach Kenny Farrell said: “I am sure the return of these players will make a difference and we can recapture the form which saw us beat Austin twice. Against Nashville the side worked hard and gave everything but we were lacking both quality and experience in certain areas.
“We have had three very close matches against Dallas - twice losing in the last minute - and we are determined to finally take something from them and get the result our play has deserved.”