Five Hofstra University lacrosse alumni were key members of the Philadelphia Barrage capturing the 2004 Major Lacrosse League Championship last week in Boston. The Barrage defeated the Boston Cannons, 13-11, at Nickerson Field on the campus of Boston University in front of 8,269 fans. It was the Barrage's first playoff appearance, their first Championship Game appearance, and their first MLL Championship win.

Hofstra alumni Blake Miller ('96), Chris Rogler ('99), Brian Spallina ('00), Doug Shanahan ('01), and Nicky Polanco ('02) all played for the Barrage.

Miller, who led the Pride in scoring in 1996 with 36 goals and 17 assists, was named the Warrior Offensive Player of the Year in the MLL after leading the league in goals with 46 goals while adding 11 assists for 57 points in 12 games. Miller's 46 goals broke Jesse Hubbard's three-year run as MLL goal scoring champion. In doing so, Miller shattered Jay Jalbert's league record for tallies in a season by a midfielder, which had stood at 32. He also became just the fourth player in MLL history to record 40 or more goals in a single season.

Polanco, a two-time All-American at Hofstra in 2001 and 2002, was named the Warrior Defensive Player of the Year in 2004. Polanco was the anchor of a defense that improved to give up 16.7 points per game in 2004, after allowing a league-record 255 points in 2003. Polanco, considered one of the best takeaway defensemen in the league, contributed by covering the opponents' top attackmen. He held Baltimore Bayhawks sniper Mark Millon to just one goal in each of two games this season, winning Defensive Player of the Week honors in week ten as a result. The veteran Polanco also limited the Long Island Lizards' Tim Goettelmann, who holds the MLL record for goals in a game, to a single tally in each of two meetings. Casey Powell, owner of the MLL single-season scoring record, was held without a goal by Polanco in week six.

Shanahan, the Tewaaraton Trophy winner in 2001 and a three-time All-American at Hofstra, won 15 of the 16 Barrage face-offs in the MLL Championship Game. He tallied 12 goals and six assists in 12 games this year. Brian Spallina, a two-time All-American at Hofstra, held the 2004 MLL MVP, Conor Gill, to 0 points in the title game. Spallina picked up 19 ground balls in 12 games this season. Chris Rogler, one of the toughest and hardest workers in Pride lacrosse history, played in nine games for Philadelphia.

?œWe are extremely proud of our champion former Pride players, as well as all of our alumni who are playing in the MLL,?ť Hofstra Men's Lacrosse Coach John Danowski said. ?œThey carry the Hofstra name proudly and with honor and we salute them for their accomplishments.?ť