BayHawks Spoil Nationals' Return Home
June 29, 2013 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Hamilton Nationals News Release
The Hamilton Nationals played at Ron Joyce Stadium for the first time in over a month, but the defending MLL Champion Chesapeake Bayhawks spoiled their return home. The Bayhawks (5-4) defeated the Nationals (6-3) 17-10 Saturday evening in front of season-high crowd of 3,612.
Hamilton got a five-point performance from Joe Walters (1+4), who extended his point streak to 21 games. Jordan Hall (2+0), Cody Jamieson (2+0), Kevin Cunningham (1+1), Stephen Keogh (1+1) and Brodie Merrill (0+2) also chipped in two points apiece. It was Merrill's 99th MLL career game. Kevin Crowley extended his team record point streak to 24 games with a goal with a minute to play in the game.
Chesapeake received hat tricks from Drew Westervelt (3+0), Ben Hunt (3+1+0), Matt Mackrides (3+1) and Steven Brooks (3+0). The Bayhawks blew open a 3-3 game with nine straight points over the second and third quarters. After Hamilton's Roy Lang tied the contest at three at 1:15 of the second, goalie Kip Turner (13 saves) and the Bayhawks held Hamilton scoreless for nearly 21 minutes.
Meanwhile, Chesapeake charged back with seven straight points to take a 10-3 lead into the third quarter. Westervelt helped the Bayhawks reclaim the lead early in the second as he and John Grant Jr. hooked up for the second time tonight. Mackrides, Matt Abbott, Hunt and Nicky Polanco followed with single tallies, while Hunt also netted a two-point goal.
The scoring didn't stop in the third as Westervelt completed the hat trick at 2:44 and Mackrides hit for his second of the night at 3:31 for a 12-3 lead. A diving goal by Hamilton's John Cunningham at 7:08 ended the 9-0 Chesapeake run. Hall added two goals in the third for Hamilton, but the Bayhawks grabbed a 16-6 edge after three quarters. Nats goalie Brett Queener finished the night wit 19 saves.
The Nationals outscored the Bayhawks 4-1 in the fourth, which included Jamieson's catch and shoot with one second to play in the contest. The marker was the third power-play goal of the game for Hamilton, who went 4-for-5 on the man-up.
Hamilton opened and closed the first frame with goals by Walters and Keogh. Walters bounced a shot past Turner at 1:44 of the first for a 1-0 lead. Chesapeake responded with three straight goals to pull in front 3-1, but Keogh connected for a power-play marker with 14 seconds to play in the opening quarter to cut the deficit to 3-2. Hamilton tied the game in the opening minutes of the second, but a seven-point second proved to be the difference.
Hamilton travels to Rochester to play the Rattlers on Sunday, July 7th at 3:00 p.m. at Sahlen's Stadium. The game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 29, 2013
- Hunt, Mackrides Total Four Points Apiece to Lead Chesapeake Rout - Chesapeake Bayhawks
- Boston Cannons Defeat Ohio Machine, 13-10 - Boston Cannons
- BayHawks Spoil Nationals' Return Home - Hamilton Nationals
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