Cannons Fall to Washington in Season Finale
Published on August 6, 2009 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Boston Cannons News Release
BOSTON, MA - Thursday, August 6, 2009 - The Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) were defeated by the Washington Bayhawks by a score of 14-13, in front of 9,340 fans at Harvard Stadium on Thursday night. This and each of the Cannons' other five losses during the 2009 season were decided by just one goal. Bayhawks midfielder Kyle Dixon (Virginia '06) was awarded the Bud Light MVP for his three goal effort, which included a pair of two-point goals.
With the loss, the Cannons finished the regular season with a record of 6-6. The Bayhawks improved their record to 5-7 with the win, and kept their playoff hopes alive.
The Bayhawks initiated the scoring in the season finale for both teams with their goal at 6:42, but neither team could control the momentum in the as they alternated goals for the duration of the first quarter. The Cannons collected the next goal to tie the game, from midfielder Paul Rabil (Johns Hopkins '08) at 7:10, but the Bayhawks answered to take a 2-1 lead at 9:36. Rabil closed out the quarter with his second goal of the game and 50th point of the season at 11:48, sending the game into the second segment locked up at 2-2.
The Cannons owned the second quarter, as they scored all four goals in the frame. Midfielder Greg Downing (Fairfield '07) started the scoring with his tally from all alone in front of the net at 6:30. Rabil assisted on the goal with his behind-the-back pass to Downing. Midfielder Matt Poskay (Virginia '06) chipped in with consecutive goals, his first and second of the game, at 7:25 and 7:58. Attackman Sean Morris (UMass '06) earned the assist on Poskay's first goal. The final goal of the half was a quick behind-the-back tally from midfielder Justin Smith (Salisbury '05) at 9:46, assisted by attackman Ryan Boyle (Princeton '04), to give the Cannons a 6-2 lead at halftime.
The home team continued their run of unanswered goals, scoring three more to open the third quarter and take an impressive 9-2 lead. Poskay collected his third goal of the contest, assisted by Boyle at 1:42, Downing tallied his second goal of the game, assisted by Smith at 2:27, and midfielder John Christmas (Virginia '05) dove through the crease to score at 2:58. From there, the Bayhawks got themselves back into contention with goals at 5:02, 8:47 and a two-point goal on the power play at 9:36, closing the Cannons' advantage to 9-6. Midfielder Matt Casey (Ithaca '05) stopped the Bayhawks run with his tally at 10:42 and Poskay pushed the Cannons' lead to 11-6 with his fourth goal of the game, scored with a man-advantage at 14:23. Boyle earned his third assist of the contest on Poskay's goal.
The Bayhawks got off to a good start in the final quarter with goals at 47 seconds and 2:46, closing the home team's advantage to 11-8. The Cannons countered with Rabil's third marker of the game, a two-pointer at 3:34, but after that it was all Bayhawks as they went on a run of five unanswered goals, including one two-point goal, to win the game by a score of 14-13.
Cannons goalie Kip Turner (Virginia '07) took the loss with 11 saves on the 23 shots he faced. Bayhawks goalie Chris Garrity (Penn State '03) earned the win with 19 saves on 31 shots.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 6, 2009
- Cannons Fall to Washington in Season Finale - Boston Cannons
- Toronto Nationals to Host Denver Outlaws on Saturday - Hamilton Nationals
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