Cannons' Late Run Dooms Nationals
August 6, 2011 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Hamilton Nationals News Release
(Hamilton)... The Boston Cannons (8-3) clinched the regular season title with a 13-8 win over the Hamilton Nationals tonight at Ron Joyce Stadium. The loss dropped the Nats into a three-way tie for second place in Major League Lacrosse with a 6-5 record.
The Nationals battled back the entire game and finally tied the contest at eight only to have the Cannons' explode for five straight goals to end the game. Boston goalie Jordan Burke closed the door with nine fourth-quarter stops as part of a 24-save effort. On offense, Max Quinzani (3+2) and Kevin Buchanan (4+1) both recorded five-point performances.
Hamilton got four points (2+2) from Casey Powell in his 2011 debut. Stephen Keogh (2+0), Cody Jamieson (1+1) and Jeremy Boltus (1+1) also chipped in two points each. Brett Queener made 10 stops in relief of Scott Rodgers.
Boston's offense didn't waste any time getting on the board, as it opened the contest with four straight goals. Paul Rabil (1+2) struck just 38 seconds into the contest for a 1-0 Boston lead. Buchanan made it 3-0 with the next two goals, including a rocket from the left-wing side. Matt Poskay scored at 5:31 to extend the run to 4-0 with a low shot to the near post. Hamilton finally got on the board as Jamieson tucked in a rebound at 9:11, which was followed by Powell's first as a National to make it 4-2. Kevin Crowley then scored at 11:21 to trim the deficit to 4-3. Quinzani closed the quarter with a low shot from the slot to pull Boston in front by two at 12:02.
In the second, starter Scott Rodgers was forced to leave the game after a goal-mouth collision just 1:08 into the frame. In stepped the energetic Brett Queener, who limited Boston to early goals by Poskay and Quinzani. Keogh closed the deficit to 7-5 with two straight goals. He scored his first on the man up goal at 11:48 and converted a Jamieson pass at 13:05.
The Nationals continued to rally in the third as Powell scored from the left wing at 8:59 off an assist from Jordan Hall to cut the deficit to 7-6. Quinzani broke a 20:11 scoreless stretch for the Cannons with a goal in the final minute of the third as he scored into an empty net with Queener racing back from an offensive rush.
In the fourth, the Nats opened the scoring 56 seconds in as Jeremy Boltus scored from a Powell feed to cut the lead to 8-7. Joe Walters then tied the contest at eight as he trickled the ball past Burke at 2:32. Boston, however, regrouped and put the game away with a 5-0 run to take a 13-8 lead. Brad Ross scored two of the goals with Rabil providing a pair of assists. Ross helped the Cannons regain the lead just 56 seconds after the Walters' goal. Matthew Smalley, Buchanan (two) and Ross provided the remainder of the offense to help the Cannons finish a league-best 5-1 on the road.
The Nationals end the regular season with a 7:00 p.m. road contest against the Long Island Lizards (5-6) on Saturday, August 13th at 7:00 p.m. Hamilton will clinch a playoff spot with a victory on the final day of the regular season.
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 6, 2011
- Cannons Claim First Place in League with 13-8 Win Over Hamilton - Boston Cannons
- Hartzell Sparks Chesapeake to 13-11 Victory - Chesapeake Bayhawks
- Denver Clinches Its Sixth Consecutive Playoff Berth with 14-11 Victory - Denver Outlaws
- Cannons' Late Run Dooms Nationals - Hamilton Nationals
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