Kevin S. Clancy, Beat Writer Boston Cannons
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Boston Cannons felt (5-5) they needed win to this one against the Chesapeake Bayhawks (4-4) and came out firing on all cylinders. They would go on to defeat the Bayhawks by the score of 17-14.
Cannons Justin Turri scored unassisted in the first few minutes. Cannons Nardella would take the next face-off to the net making the score 2-0. After trading goals, Challen Rodgers fires unassisted to go ahead 4-1. Trading goals again the Cannons make it 5-2 with three minutes to go in the first. With a minute thirty to go, the Bayhawks would get called for a one minute slashing, putting Boston on the power-play. Neither team was able to score, and traded shots as the period ended. Score at the end of one: Boston 5—Chesapeake 2.
Starting off the second a scramble occurred and the Bayhawks end up with a defensive long stick goal making it 3-5. The Bayhawks followed up by a long run double pass to Will Manny 6-3. The Bayhawks Myles Jones would come back with a low shot making the score 4-6, but the Cannons were still firing. Cutting to the middle, the Bayhawks hook the one of Cannons by the neck and would get a thirty second penalty. Cannons Rogers assisted Will Manny to shovel the goal to make it 7-4. Josh Hawkins hold would give the Bayhawks and Myles Jones another shot. He missed but the next time around Bayhawks Walters got a clear shot bringing them to within two. Physical games means lots of bump and bump; slashing sticks; occasional shoulders; and nobody was letting up. It didn’t pay to be less physical tonight, as its do or die this time of the season. Max Seibald would get the ball and bring it in only to lose it in multi collisions. Jones got murdered fair and square and lost the ball. Josh Hawkins would score quickly and the Cannons added another by Dave Emala. With only 40 seconds to go in the half, the Cannons would go up by four. There would be two goalie shots in the last 10 seconds, and the Cannons long shot was almost deflected into goal by the Bayhawks defense. At the end of two, the Cannons would still be on top 9-5.
Heading into the third, newly traded Bayhawks Myles Jones got revenge for the bump and steal earlier and shot left handed unassisted to bring the Bayhawks to within three. However, Hawkins would come right back for the Cannons to make it 10-6. Boston’s Brent Adams quickly made it 11-6 with a shot in front of the net. At this point in the game, the Cannons were out shooting the Bayhawks. After another shoot out in front of the Bayhawks goal, the Cannons would lead 12-6, with Hawkins firing putting the Cannons up by seven. The Bayhawks were in panic mode now and would give it to Jones for a missed shot, but Walters would get it to Brendon Mundorf for the Bayhawks. There was close to 10 minutes remaining in the third, when Bayhawks Matt Abbott would score left handed shoulder high bringing the Bayhawks to within five. The Bayhawks with possession saw Jones forcing it into the middle. Cannons net-minder Fiorito covered the ball in the crease and called for the smart time out. The Cannons were ready to clear the ball. There were four and a half minutes remaining in third period; and still plenty of time and more scoring to go. The Bayhawks would slow it down and Walters worked his way on the side of the goal, reached out to score 9-13. Chesapeake was on the move trying to force Jones into scoring position, but he was blocked out, giving Mundorf the rebound and he would stuff it in from the front side. With only one minute remaining, the Cannons had the ball but would lose possession with 19 seconds; and the Bayhawks Dom Sebastiani who was just acquired in a trade with the Denver Outlaws ends the third period when he went end-to-end, juking a defender at midfield then flying into the offensive zone and unleashing a left-handed shot bringing the Bayhawks to within two. Score at the end of three: Boston 13—Chesapeake 11.
Going into the final frame, the Cannons would win the opening face-off and were looking to score to start the fourth. A holding call and Bayhawks injury would stop the clock. Michael Evans was out for thirty seconds but no score. Boston would score with a double rebound stuff making it 14-11; then on a trip down field, Bayhawks Mundorf and Jones quickly score to make it a one point game. The Cannons needed to stop the bleeding with only nine minutes and forty seven seconds to go to in a tight game. Boston had the ball with only one thing on their minds, get it to the goal and make sure to put it between the pipes. Rogers scored with the assist by Turri. Boston went up again by two with eight minutes remaining. Lost and go, lost and go! The Cannons got the ball back and slowed it down. Hawkins would cover Jones again, who would fall down to giving Hawkins the ball and with a 60 yard run would scored unassisted. Boston was still up by three with four minutes and forty seconds to go. Adams would put another on the board for Boston with the assist to Kevin Buchanan. Chesapeake would score the final goal of the game off Mundorf with 1:25 left on the clock. Final Score: Boston 17—Chesapeake 14.
Kevin S. Clancy, Beat Writer Boston Cannons
Lacrosse is Awesome