This new New York Saints philosophy of playing tougher is getting out of

hand.

The Saints just might be a tougher squad than they were the past three

years, when they failed to make the playoffs. Rookie head coach Sal LoCascio

believes that will make the difference and send his club into the playoff mix

this season.

However, being tough is one thing and playing smart is quite another.

The Saints were hit with 13 penalties in last night's National Lacrosse

League game against Toronto. The Rock scored five power-play goals and beat the

Saints, 14-9, before 7,638 fans at Nassau Coliseum.

"We've fallen behind and shown the ability to come back this season,"

LoCascio said. "But for the second game in a row we gave up too much on the

power play and the special teams killed us. This was an important game for us."

Toronto (4-2), the two-time defending NLL champion, blitzed the Saints with

four straight goals to end the third period with a 13-6 lead. Kaleb Toth

scored two of his six goals on the power play during that decisive stretch.

Toth finished with four goals on the power play.

The Saints (2-4) whittled away at the seven-goal fourth-quarter deficit

after Ben Prepchuk (two goals), Brad Dairon (two goals) and Joe Ghedina scored

in a 7:42 span to make it 13-9. Toronto just sat back and ate time off the

clock, using all 30 seconds of the shot clock on offense and at the same time

slowing the Saints' offensive push.

"It's not for a lack of effort that we're losing," LoCascio said. "We took

too many fouls again and that was the key to the game."

The Saints will look for their first home win of the season when they host

first-place Philadelphia at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The Rock will host the Saints

on Feb. 25.

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