Lance Crafton, Beat Writer Chesapeake Bayhawks
Lacrosse is Awesome
It was perfect weather for lacrosse on Friday evening June 2 and it felt like a family cookout with my girlfriend Mel, and our son Mason settling in to watch some lacrosse while running into friends everywhere we turned. That’s what I love about Bayhawks home games. They definitely put the emphasis on the word “home” in home games. It’s a family affair from top to bottom. Unfortunately, for the Bayhawks Friday night’s contest would be lopsided in favor of their opponent. Chesapeake had either won or lost their first four contests by one or two goals, but the Machine had something different in mind. Final Score: Ohio 18—Chesapeake 11.
Before the game, I was able to catch up with some friends. An old friend who exploded into the spotlight recently sent me a text and said he’d be at the game with some of his friends. As Mel, Mason, and I walked through the Bud Light End Zone to say “Hi” to Lacrosse Is Awesome’s very own Tammy and Wayne Williams who were setting up on the sidelines to capture the action in photos. It was at that point, I saw a swarm of little kids jumping up and down around someone. As we closed in, I realized it was Matt Rambo and a few of the boys from the University of Maryland, the 2017 NCAA DI Champions. After he signed his last ball, he looked up, saw me, started to smile and said, “Hey!!!” We clasped hands and patted each other on the back; I introduced him to the family; and he introduced me to Colin Heacock; Tim Muller; Nick Manis; and Isaiah Davis-Allen. I noticed his voice was raspy and weak from the well-deserved celebrations that come with winning a national title and the Tewaaraton Award the day before. As we talked and caught up, we were interrupted by a few kids (and adults) asking for pictures and autographs. He was more than happy to oblige but I could tell the poor guy needed a rest.
We decided to move to the other end of the field so he could hang out with his friends before the band broke up. They were all seniors and about to embark on the next stage of their lives with most of them heading to the pros. Heacock; Manis; and Davis-Allen will be putting the feathers on and staying right here at Chesapeake, and Rambo will be heading to Charlotte to play for the Hounds with his first game as a pro going up against Heacock, Davis-Allen, and Manis in Annapolis against the Bayhawks on June 16th. I told him that he better get used to the explosion of attention. He commented that he appreciates everyone but is still in shock with all the recent events, not to mention the excitement. He’s very humbled and gracious for all of it. I asked him if they let him keep that big Tewaaraton trophy and he said, “They let me keep it! It’s at my house and that thing is heavy!” I told him I’d let him enjoy some time with the boys as I went to work taking notes on the game.
Chesapeake had another draftee, Ben Williams, who suited up to face off against Ohio and he came out swinging in his MLL debut winning 23 of 32 face-offs with help from his wings. With injuries and juggling talent to find the best fit for the X, the Bayhawks have struggled over the past two years and Coach Reese hopes that Williams will be the key to solving this problem.
The first quarter would start with Ohio striking first and Myles Jones knotted it up with a powerful lefty shot. The first quarter was a bit sloppy for the ‘Hawks who had six turnovers in the first alone due to some missed passes or passes that were off their mark. The Machine hit the next three goals making it 4-1 before attackman Nate Lewnes found the back of the net from a laser pass that threaded the needle to a well-covered Lewnes as he cut in front of the goal making it 4-2 heading into the second quarter.
Ohio dropped in two right off the bat, but Chesapeake would answer back with a goal from Matt Abbott, firing from the wing making the score 6-3. The Bayhawks rally continued as Lewnes checked a middie on a ride causing a turnover and dished it to Matt Danowski who cranked it in from two-point land. The tally was evened up between both teams when Chesapeake had a successful clear that turned into a fast break ending with defensive midfielder Mark Glicini, finding the back of the net tying the game at six apiece. The Machine snapped back with three goals putting them up by the score of 9-6 going into the half.
The start of the third quarter had the Bayhawks bite first as Myles Jones utilized his massive frame and bull dodged a defender, knocking him down to get his hands free for the shot and goal. Ohio didn’t take that well and chalked up five goals ending the quarter at 14-8.
Newcomer to the outdoor turf Shawn Evans showed the quick finishes he uses during his NLL season and notched his first goal in the third quarter as Danowski quarterbacked from behind the goal. It proved to be Chesapeake’s only goal of the third quarter.
The Bayhawks, realizing their backs were against the wall mounted a vicious comeback in the fourth quarter starting with Kevin Cooper’s Extra Man goal; followed by Evans’ other two giving him the hat-trick. Evans’ goals bookended a 29 second span. The drive proved to be in vain as the Machine scored three more late in the quarter putting a nail in the coffin of Chesapeake’s comeback attempt. Final Score: Machine 18—Bayhawks 11.
Matt Danowski was welcomed back as the Bayhawks’ point leader for the night with five points, with his two-pointer and three assists. Shawn Evans finished with three goals and one assist. Evans had his MLL debut on May 19 and is also a two-time MVP in the NLL. Myles Jones put up two goals and an assist in the battle against Ohio and goalie Brian Phipps had 15 saves of the 33 shots peppered on him.
The Bayhawks’ next home game will be one to watch with new rookies fresh off a championship college season fighting to earn their keep. Come see the action as Chesapeake takes on the Charlotte Hounds on June 16 at Navy and Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in beautiful downtown Annapolis, MD.
Lance Crafton, Beat Writer Chesapeake Bayhawks
Lacrosse is Awesome