By Doug McSorley
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — As the Rochester Rattlers wrapped up the 2017 season with the loss to the Denver Outlaws, Head Coach Tim Soudan, the players and myself wanted to say thank you to the fans.
As I write this article, I think back to the bonds and friendships I’ve made with the players, coaches, other staff members and of course, the fans. We hear it all of the time that their teams fan-base is the best fan-base, but I feel I’m lucky enough to witness this at each Rattlers home game. We truly have awesome fans and our fans are the most loyal fans you can ever find. I not only loved being at the games to watch our Ratz play and talk to the players and coaches after the game but to see the interactions after the game with the fans and players is truly one of my best experiences I’ve had in my life. I can’t thank Coach Soudan, the Dworkin family and the Rhinos organization for letting me be a part of it this year and Nick Fiorentino last year. It’s truly been an honor. (Doug McSorley)
We caught up with goalie John Galloway on Tuesday afternoon and here’s what he had to say: “It is so difficult to put a season into words, especially when you come up short at the end. The final talk in the locker room is so abrupt, and you don’t ever really prepare yourself for a goodbye. This year was a roller coaster for our team. However, it is a ride that I wouldn’t wanted to have take with anyone else. We talk a lot about our locker room, but it is so much more than that. Those guys will forever be my friends because of the type of people they are. This is all in thanks to our coaching staff. Coach Soudan, Monte, and Warder embody what a family should look like: tough on us when we needed, yet they show unwavering love regardless. I am a better man for being able to play for those men. I don’t know what our fate will be in Rochester, but I can’t tell you how thankful I am for the fans and the people that made my years there unforgettable. From our bus driver Dottie to the Rhinos organization, upstate people are the salt of the earth. I am glad we left Rochester with a win in our home turf in one of the best crowds I have ever played in front of. Who knows…maybe we will find a way back.”
Head Coach Tim Soudan also wanted to thank the Rochester fans: “I feel blessed to be apart of this Rattler family and to be able to play back at Capelli Sport Stadium it is truly a professional stadium and the fans show awesome support for the team and local lacrosse community! The Rhinos organization and staff as well David Dworkin treated the players to a great and professional experience! I would like to personally like to thank them as well as all our fans for their support this season!”
Jordan Wolf, who finished the season with thirty four goals and fourteen assists always speaks very highly of the Rochester crowd had this to say: “This was a great season. I love Rochester. Everything the city stands for we try to embody as a team. This was a special group of players/coaches and made me look forward to every single weekend.”
From the many players, staff and coaches … thank you to the Roch