The Albany Attack, in their inaugural season, lost their chances at post
season play tonight with a loss to the Buffalo Bandits 15-13 in regulation.
The Attack has a tremendous stand at home winning 4 out of 6 with a 4 game
win streak. The 2000 season for the Attack showcased the talents of Ted
Dowling and Troy Cordingly, but most notable is the amount of Sanderson
blood on this roster. Consisting of Coach Terry Sanderson, Josh Sanderson,
Ryan Sanderson, and Phil Sanderson who is the subject of another installment
of the PLPA Player Spotlight.
Phil made his NLL debut this year with Albany and made a great name for
himself as one of Albany's top defenders. PLPA Correspondant Saul Davidson
met up with Phil at Playfields Sports Bar following the conclusion of the
Attack's first season.
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Albany's had a tremendous inaugural season, including a great run of home
wins. Your thoughts on this first year team?
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Our team, when we came together with a lot of different centers from the
summer league we really gelled as a team. I can't remember the last time I'
ve had some much fun with the guys. It was pretty good, we got along well
and everyone had a common goal at the end. Unfortunately we fell short of
the playoffs but I think we set a precedent for the league and the rest of
the teams that are coming in to it. Just to be competitive and to make the
game better and to make the league better. Along with promoting the league
and expanding till eventually we wont have to get day jobs. HAHA.
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Are there any changes that you'd like to see made for the Attack
franchise for next season?
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No, I thought this year went pretty well. There's a couple of wrinkles
that I think we have to iron out. I think next year the club has to make
the playoffs. The only change I would make is to go farther and to progress
as a team and get a bigger fan base and to establish a name here in Albany.
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Do you think the Attack will have a permanent home here in Albany?
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I think so, yeah I do. Continuing the have the right people in the front
office and if they're willing to put in as much as the players I think they
will have a good market in Albany.
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Out of the 12 game schedule this year, several have gone into overtime.
3 of which resulted in quick losses. How do these nail biter endings affect
you as a player and do you think that there were any similarities in those
overtime losses?
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Well, with the 12 game schedule it's tough. Every game is big. You have
to play tough. When you lose in overtime it's very hard. I think in all of
the overtime games, I think we threw it away ourselves. It could be the
expansion team jitters. Guys maybe not playing on the same pages as the
rest of the players. I think an established team knows what to do and with
everyone not playing together ever there's a few things that we have to iron
out with our team. Hopefully with our team we'll stay together because we
have a really good core of guys. Young and with the veterans I think we
have a good old/young team. I think we are going to be alright next year.
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You are 1 of 4 Sandersons on this team along with Coach Sanderson, Josh,
and Ryan. Can you kind of draw us out a family tree of the Sandersons in
the organization?
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Well, Terry has been my coach since I was 4. I know him pretty well.
Ry, I played with growing up as well and Josh. With Josh, I've only been on
different teams once, which was last summer. That was the first time ever
that we have been on different lacrosse teams. It's great with the family.
Family is family and when you get an opportunity to do something that you
love with your family it just adds that much more.
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You've done a good share of time in the (penalty) box this year. Can you
describe your style of play on the turf?
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Well, my style of play.. I'm paid to get in other people's faces. I am a
defensive player and if I get people pissed off at me they're thinking about
me instead of throwing the ball in the net. I've had words, I like to talk
on the floor. If they are thinking about me and not the game, then I think
I've done my job. And then to leave it on the floor when it's all over,
that's a good thing about lacrosse.
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Being a first year player in the NLL, that first goal always seems to
have a lot of power. I was here to witness your first goal against the
Saints. Can you give us a replay of that first goal from your mind?
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HAHAHA, Well I was licking my lips because I saw the 30 seconds (shot
clock) and my penalty was going down (Phil was in the penalty box on a 2
minute minor) so I was about to jump out of the box with about 4 or 5
seconds left on the shot clock when the New York guy shot it and Blazer (Rob
Blasdell) made an easy save and I was squared up at center and I went down
to the other net and went to my "bread and butter" and I threw it in. It
was pretty good!
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Before joining the NLL, did you follow the league from Canada?
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Well yeah, I had a pretty good grasp on it. I live and die for the
sport and I'll do anything for it. I like to promote it and I like to play
it obviously. I'd like to coach and everything. It's a great game. It's a
great social game, you meet a lot of great people. And whatever I can do
for the game just to promote it to get it to an NHL or NBA status I would do
anything possible for that. It's a good sport a good entertaining sport.
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Playing in the OLA, do you think that there are any changes that the NLL
should implement?
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Well I really think they should sit down and combine them both. They did
change the net size in the OLA to the NLL standard. As for the rules, I
think they are alright. I think that the refereeing needs to loosen up a
bit. I think that they have to get the players a bit more and their styles.
This is still a fairly young league and once everyone gets on the same page
with refing I think it will be pretty successful.
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How about your most memorable moment in the sport of lacrosse?
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I was in pee-wee. Darris Kilgour asked me this question earlier - HAHA.
We were winning by a landslide. We were killing this team. And their
goalie threw this hail mary pass, this brutal pass to set this guy up. And
I read it like a book. I came over and I clocked this kid. I buried my
shoulder under his chin and I swear to God they emblem on the guys jersey
landed right in my face and I dropped him. He was down for like 5 minutes
and I hammered him. Just stuff like that and the adrenaline that gives you
a great feeling.
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Will we see you return to the NLL in Albany next season?
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If there's a league! Who knows with the CBA this year? I'm pretty sure.
I love playing for Bobby and Terry. And I'll play for them this summer. I
enjoy their coaching and I know what they expect from me. And I know what
they are going to do so I'm in a comfort zone right now.
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As your regular inaugural home season comes to an end tonight are there
any final words that you have for us?
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I had a really enjoyable season this year. The guys are pretty good and
I had a fun time. In this league I think you would have to try not to have
a good time with all of the good people around. I hope to progress and just
get better.
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