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2019 MLL Semi-Finals Preview: Chesapeake vs. Atlanta

October 4, 2019 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release


With the 2019 MLL Playoffs field finalized and the regular season wrapped up, the postseason will begin on Friday, October 4th at 5PM MST with the Semi-Final games and conclude with the 2019 MLL Championship game on Sunday, October 6th at 11AM MST.

 

FINAL PLAYOFF SEEDING

1 Chesapeake (10-6)

2 Denver (9-7)*

3 Boston (9-7)*

4 Atlanta (8-8)

* Denver edges out Boston in the tie for second place with a 2-1 head-to-head record against Boston this season

(1) Chesapeake Bayhawks vs. (4) Atlanta Blaze

Date: Friday, October 4, 2019

Time: 7:00 P.M. EST / 5:00 P.M. MST

Location: Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium on the campus of the University of Denver

Broadcast:  ESPNEWS

Twitter: @TheBayhawks, @AtlantaBlaze

PREDICTION: Chesapeake: 16, Atlanta: 14

Potential to be a high-scoring game with the two of the best offenses in the league. Chesapeake's consistency on both offense and defense could shut down Atlanta's heavy offensive approach.

Chesapeake vs. Atlanta This Season

Chesapeake won 2 of 3 games against Atlanta this season.

Atlanta, however, outscored Chesapeake with a combined 45 goals across the 3 matchups this season, over Chesapeake's 42 goals.

6/29: Atlanta 19, Chesapeake 10

7/6: Chesapeake 16, Atlanta 13

8/24: Chesapeake 16, Atlanta 13

Chesapeake Atlanta

% of Assisted Goals 50.9% (4th in MLL) 68.1% (1st in MLL)

Faceoff % 48.4% (5th) 49.7% (4th)

Shots on Goal Efficiency % 48.5% (6th) 56.3% (1st)

Turnovers Per Game 15.0 (1st) 19.6 (6th)

Avg. Goals Per Game 13.4 (4th) 14.3 (1st)

Goals Against Average (GAA) 12.1 (1st) 14.8 (6th)

Team Save % 48.9% (5th) 50.11% (4th)

Penalty Killing % 54.6% (6th) 61.5% (3rd)

ManUp % 44% (tied 1st) 44% (tied 1st)

Chesapeake Playoff History

Chesapeake has 5 Steinfeld Trophy wins, the most championships of any team in MLL history.

The Chesapeake Bayhawks have now made the playoffs for the second year in a row, however they have not won a playoff game since the 2013 season.

The Bayhawks clinched their 6th playoff appearance in their 10 years playing in Chesapeake (2019, 2018, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010).  

Atlanta Playoff History

Atlanta has never won a Steinfeld Trophy in the franchise's 4-year history.

Every team in the 2019 MLL Playoffs except Atlanta has won a Steinfeld Trophy in the past decade.

The Atlanta Blaze will be making their first playoff appearance in team history since the team's inaugural season in 2016. 

Team Leaders

Atlanta

Tommy Palasek (63 Points)

Shayne Jackson (43 Goals)

Tommy Palasek (35 Assists)

Alex Woodall (255 Faceoff Wins)

Chris Madalon (204 Saves)

Chesapeake

Lyle Thompson (73 Points)

Lyle Thompson (46 Goals)

Steele Stanwick, Lyle Thompson (27 Assists)

Kenny Massa (185 Faceoff Wins)

Niko Amato (124 Saves)

Players with Previous Playoff Experience

Atlanta (15)

Tommy Palasek (5)

Randy Staats, Mark Matthews (4)

Bryan Cole, Liam Byrnes (1) 

Chesapeake (33)

Matt Abbott (8)

Steele Stanwick (5)

Mike Unterstein (4)

Jesse Bernhardt (3)

CJ Costabile, Ryan Tucker (2)

Lyle Thompson, Colin Heacock, Isaiah Davis-Allen, Chris Fennell, Nick Manis, Nick Mariano, Kevin Massa, Niko Amato: (1)

Head-to-Head Records Against Playoff Teams

Chesapeake

            Atlanta (2-1)

            Boston (0-2)

            Denver (3-1)

Atlanta

            Boston (2-2)

            Chesapeake (1-2)

            Denver (1-2)

Prediction

Offensively, The Bayhawks are a powerhouse, led by Lyle Thompson, the league leader in both points and goals, with support from key offensive players like Steele Stanwick and Colin Heacock. But, Atlanta has the most team goals and assists in the league, and has the highest Goals with Assists percentage, 68.1% of goals being assisted, showing their strong cooperation on offense. Atlanta also put up a league-high 14.3 average goals per game during the regular season, which is almost 1 more goal per game than Chesapeake averages (13.4).

Atlanta led the league in Team Goals with 229 goals in the regular season, the most single-season goals by any team in MLL history, breaking Baltimore's previous record of 227 in 2005. Chesapeake scored 214 goals this season, the second-highest in team history behind Baltimore's previously record-breaking season of 227 single-season goals.

Defensively, Atlanta has 2019 Warrior Defensive Player of the Year Finalist Liam Byrnes, leading the back field with the most caused turnovers during the regular season (30 CTO). However, Atlanta's defense as a whole is not as strong, having allowed the most Shots on Goal Against during the season, giving up an average of 28.3 shots on goal per game, a league-high 19.6 turnovers per game, and having the highest Goals Against Allowed per game by any team, with an average of 14.8. Chesapeake has the lowest Goals Allowed Average of all MLL teams, allowing only 12.1 goals per game on average.

At faceoff, Alex Woodall of the Atlanta Blaze and Kenny Massa of the Chesapeake Bayhawks will be battling it out on Friday. Alex Woodall, a 2019 Cascade Rookie of the Year Finalist, has had an unprecedented rookie season, finishing the season with 255 faceoff wins, the most faceoff wins in a season by a rookie. On the other hand, Massa has a much higher faceoff percentage than Woodall, with a 55.1% win percentage (Woodall- 50.0%).

In the net, Niko Amato for Chesapeake has the 2nd-best Goals Against Average in the MLL of 12.1, while Chris Madalon for Atlanta, a 2019 Warrior Goalie of the Year Finalist, leads the league in saves with 204 saves.

Also, Chesapeake has more veterans and much more playoff experience than Atlanta, 15 Chesapeake players have participated in the MLL playoffs previously, combining for 33 total playoff games played, while Atlanta only has 5 playoff-experienced players, combining for 15 total playoff games played. Chesapeake also has 10 current All-Stars on their roster, the most 2019 All-Stars of all the playoff contenders, while Atlanta has 7 current All-Stars on their roster.

Based on these stats and trends, the Chesapeake Bayhawks seem to have a slight edge in this semi-finals matchup, with the team leaders and veterans needed to make a steady playoff run. Atlanta has a very powerful, dynamic offense that could allow them to streak, but Chesapeake could also take advantage of Atlanta's unpredictable defense, while shutting down their offensive runs with their own strong defense.

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