BLACK WOLVES BEGIN NEW YEAR WITH A GAME AT ROCHESTER

As a block of three games, knowing what the New England Black Wolves were up against, including games with defending National Lacrosse League champion Georgia at home and a trip to Saskatchewan, a 2-1 record isn't all that bad.

Just that Wolves coach Glenn Clark would like the team to be a little more consistent going forward. New England lost 24-11 at Saskachewan on Dec. 23 before coming home to beat Vancouver 13-9 on Dec. 29. That was followed by a bye week.

On Saturday, the Wolves will put themselves to the test in a game at Rochester (7:30 p.m., Blue Cross Arena), beginning a two-game home-and-home series with the Knighthawks which will culminate next weekend at Mohegan Sun Arena, and a four-game set against teams within the Eastern Division.

We haven't been overly pleased with our play. It's been a little sporadic,” Clark said in his weekly conference call. “… We certainly don't want to continue to have those types of swings. We need the results, but the way we went about it, we can't be that unpredictable in our play and have continued success.”

Clark called this the next phase of the season. He said a focus in practice has been on the offense, perhaps because the Wolves have had so much time off in between games in the early going.

“We haven't been consistently dangerous. I'm not talking out of school. It was the theme of practice (Tuesday) night, it was the theme of our video session this week,” Clark said. “They have to put teams on their heels.”

Shawn Evans leads New England with 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists) and Kevin Crowley is the top goal scorer with nine.

— Vickie Fulkerson