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Media Kit: Archived Press Releases
Shell Shockers Play First of Five Consecutive Home Games Tomorrow
June 16, 2006The New Orleans Shell Shockers are at Kenner’s Muss Bertolino Stadium on Saturday at 7:30pm aiming for the win which could take them up to third place in the league.
They host the Nashville Metros, one of only two sides in the Southern Conference yet to record a victory. Following this game they have a run of four more home matches over the next three weekends.
Last Saturday despite missing several key players the Shell Shockers secured their first three points on the road, defeating the Austin Lightning 3-1 thanks to three second-half goals in the space of seven minutes.
First-choice goalkeeper Fred Mince is still injured and Guatemalan international forward Eric Diaz serves the last game of his three-match suspension for getting sent off against the DFW Tornados on June 3.
Coach Kenny Farrell said: “The squad members who came into the line-up last weekend were fantastic. Anthony Peters, Adam Gold, Jarrett Gautreau and Colin Hoey are not regular starters, but all of them stepped up to the plate and performed admirably.
“We still want our injured players back as soon as possible, but these fringe guys have staked their claims and made it very hard for me to bench them.
“Nashville has failed to win in six games, but because they play in the South Atlantic Division of the league we have not come up against them yet. At least with the Texas teams in our conference we have competed against them all already and know what to expect."
“But the whole defensive back line was great against Austin, and if they can keep it tight again then I'm confident we can notch up another victory.”
Playing the Nashville Metros always brings back happy memories for Farrell. The Metros - the oldest continuously-operated side in US franchise history - were the first side the Shell Shockers ever played; a game the New Orleans’ outfit won 2-0 in 2003.
Meanwhile, for the second time in three weeks center-half Nick Lambert has been rewarded for an outstanding display. The United States Leagues has picked him for their national Team of the Week, highlighting the best performances by players from all 59 PDL squads across the country.