NLL Insider

When NLL Insider interviewed New York Titan rookie Mitch Belisle last week, he told us guys still bug him about one of his first NLL shifts when he decided to jump the boards, look around and shout out in excitement ’this is awesome’.

Needless to say, Mitch thought picking up his first two career NLL goals in another Titans’ victory last week was also ‘awesome’.

“It was AWESOME!” joked Belisle.

“It was great to score, but even better to score in a game where we won and played really well,” said Belisle, who’s New York Titans defeated Philadelphia 20-13 this past weekend to remain in the hunt for an East Division playoff spot.

“Vino had another great game for us which has been huge, and every mistake a person made, someone else would make up for and help to make sure Philly didn’t capitalize.”

“Playing in Trenton, we got a ‘boo in’ at a home game, which I think was a good motivator for us, and really got us fired up for the game,” added Belisle, noting how many Philly fans made the trip to Trenton. New York normally plays its home games out of the storied Madison Square Garden.

“As far as my goals, I know it helps the offense when we score some tranny goals so it was good we got a couple to take the load off of our O, but obviously they put in their fair share as well. Philly was really pressuring us with their defense, so if we could break through that pressure we found a lot of odd-man opportunities and both of my goals were kind of the result of that.”

“My second was all Patty Merrill’s doing as he flipped me a loose ball as two guys committed to him and gave me a break away. Apparently my celebration needs some work, according to Jordan Hall, but he said it improved on the second goal- I think I was just too excited to think after the first one.”

What were Mitch’s celebrations?

“I think the first goal was kind of just a spastic fist pump/punch and then I immediately looked around for someone to high five and for the ball. Then the second was a double fist-out, palms up kind of flex and shake while looking up to the Gods. Then I went and headbutted Boyle as I was coming off the floor and apparently he said I nearly gave him a concussion.”

After both goals Belisle said he was so jacked that he stayed on for the next face-off. But by the end of those shifts he felt ready to throw-up just because he was so gassed.

“The adrenaline fades way faster than the wind catches up, that’s for sure,” joked Belisle again. He’s clearly having a good time in his rookie season.

The New York Titans have now won five of their last six games and sit just a 0.5 game back of a playoff spot. They next play April 5 in Minnesota.

An All-America at Simon Fraser and a decorated Jr. A player for Coquitlam, Kojima began covering lacrosse in 2003 and started working for Inside Lacrosse in 2007. Email him at steve.kojima@nllinsider.com or go to www.laxfuj.com .

Rate This Story:

(8 votes, average: 4.38 out of 5)

 Loading ...