MLL Chesapeake Bayhawks

Chesapeake Looks to Clinch Playoff Spot in Back-To-Back Game Weekend

August 23, 2019 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Chesapeake Bayhawks News Release


Chesapeake Bayhawks face off with the Dallas Rattlers
Chesapeake Bayhawks face off with the Dallas Rattlers
(Chesapeake Bayhawks)

ANNAPOLIS, MD - It's only fitting that the Chesapeake Bayhawks can clinch a spot in the 2019 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) playoffs in front of their home fans for Fan Appreciation Night on August 25th.

The Sunday showdown, which will be the second matchup of a two-game weekend for Chesapeake, will feature various attractions for fans, including a full-team post-game autograph session on the concourse. Fans who attend the signing will receive a free Bayhawks team poster, while supplies last.

Additionally, Chesapeake will have a trio of superheroes (Batman, Captain Marvel and Spider-Man) roaming the stadium to meet "Bayhawks Country" - the team's real heroes.

Finally, the Bayhawks are offering a 20-percent discount on all their merchandise to celebrate their fans. This offer is available online at shopchesapeakebayhawks.com and will also be applied in-venue at the Chesapeake Bayhawks' merchandise store on the concourse.

For the third time this season the Bayhawks will play two games in one weekend. Chesapeake opens another back-to-back situation in Atlanta on Saturday, August 24th at 8:00 PM EST, then return to Annapolis to host Dallas for Fan Appreciation Night on Sunday, August 25th at 5:00 PM EST.

Chesapeake (7-4) can clinch a berth in the 2019 Major League Lacrosse playoffs by either winning both weekend games, or through Dallas (4-7) losing both of theirs. The Bayhawks are currently tied for first place with the Boston Cannons (7-4).

"This is the third time we will be experiencing this type of situation, so we know what to expect and how to handle it," Chesapeake Bayhawks Head Coach Dave Cottle said, referring to his team's third two-game weekend. The previous two came on July 4th and 6th against Denver and Atlanta, and on August 3rd and 4th which were both against New York.

Chesapeake is looking to bounce back from an upsetting 12-11 overtime loss against Boston last Saturday night. The Bayhawks will travel to Beantown on September 7th for a rematch with the Cannons.

"Boston is as good a team as we've played this season. That is a solid squad on both ends of the field," he said. "There's the old saying 'Never waste a failure.' We need to learn from that loss to Boston and not make the same mistakes again."

This will be the third meeting of the season between the Bayhawks and Blaze, but the first at Atlanta Silverbacks Park in Atlanta, Georgia. Chesapeake and Atlanta (7-5) have split a pair of contests in Annapolis.

Attackmen Shayne Jackson and Tommy Palasek are the catalysts of a Blaze offense that leads Major League Lacrosse in scoring with 177 goals, 17 more than second-ranked Boston. Jackson and Palasek rank second and third, respectively, in MLL with 48 (34G, 14A) and 45 (18G, 27A) points. Midfielder Bryan Cole (34G, 9A) and attackman Randy Staats (16G, 24A) are other key figures for Atlanta.

"We're going against the best offensive team in the league. Atlanta is very potent, and we will need to play great team defense," Cottle said. "We need to put all our chips on the table and win that road game on Saturday night."

The Rattlers have an even tougher weekend, taking on the two teams tied for first-place. Dallas will be playing at Boston on Saturday night, then traveling to Annapolis afterward for the Sunday evening affair.

Backup goalie Brian Phipps made his first start of the 2019 season the last time Chesapeake played on consecutive nights.

"I think you could very well see Brian Phipps in one of these two games this weekend," Cottle acknowledged.

In addition to goalies, back-to-back game situations are particularly grueling on faceoff specialists. Given this, Cottle has been considering dressing a second faceoff-man to assist season-long star Kenny Massa, who leads Major League Lacrosse in faceoff win percentage (.612). Kevin Massa, who the Bayhawks signed last week, could be called upon to back up his younger brother. Matthew Pedicine and Tyler Barbarich, both members of the team's Practice Squad, are other possibilities.

Close defenseman Kyle Tucker, who has been on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List since June 24th, has been activated and added to Chesapeake's Active Roster. Cottle remarked that the Salisbury graduate has looked good in practice and could suit up this weekend. Zac Prattson was placed on Injured Reserve, which created the roster opening for Tucker. Erik Evans, who was claimed from Atlanta's Practice Squad last week, could also see playing time at close defense.

Sensational attackman Lyle Thompson continues to lead MLL in scoring with 59 points on 38 goals and 21 assists. Thompson was named Major League Lacrosse's Week 11 Warrior Offensive Player of the Week after amassing seven points (3G, 4A) in the loss to Boston, further bolstering his case for MLL MVP.

"Lyle is a great player who respects the game and comes ready to play every night," Cottle said. "I think Lyle has been the best player in the league by far."

Currently, Thompson has put himself in a position to break four major records this season - the single-season points and goals records for both the Bayhawks and Major League Lacrosse.

Thompson sits eight goals away from claiming the Bayhawks' goal record (set by Mark Millon with 45 goals in 2003); ten points from securing the Bayhawks' points record (set by Millon with 68 points in 2003); 17 goals away from owning the MLL goal record (set by Jesse Hubbard with 54 goals with New Jersey in 2002); and 20 points away from toppling the MLL points record (set by Rob Pannell with 78 points with New York in 2018).

Shane Simpson, a midfielder and 2016 NCAA National Champion, has proved to be a tremendous addition to the Bayhawks since joining the team for game action on August 3rd. Since his debut, Simpson has contributed five points and provided a lift in the clearing game. This is the Ontario native's first MLL season and first playing field lacrosse since his time as a UNC Tar Heel.

"Shane Simpson has tremendous speed. He may be the fastest midfielder in the league," Cottle said. "He's a dangerous run dodger, a winner and a competitor."

The Bayhawks will need production and creativity from midfielders like Simpson and Brendan Bomberry, who scored two goals last weekend, to beat Dallas goalie Sean Sconone. Sconone, a rookie out of UMass-Amherst, has been soaring since he took the reigns of the Rattlers' cage. Since his debut as the team's starter, Sconone has collected two Cascade Rookie of the Week honors and currently holds the league's highest save percentage among starting netminders (.542).

The Bayhawks will take on the Atlanta Blaze on Saturday, August 24th at 8:00 PM EST in Atlanta, Georgia. This game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and MyTV Baltimore.

Chesapeake returns home the next day, Sunday, August 25th at 5:00 PM, for a showdown against Dallas. This game will be aired live on Stadium and MyTV Baltimore.

Tickets for Sunday evening's game, Fan Appreciation Night, are available at thebayhawks.com/tickets. They can also be purchased through the Chesapeake Bayhawks Ticket Office at 866-99-HAWKS or by contacting sales@thebayhawks.com. The Lexus Tailgate Zone will open at 2:30 PM and feature music, a photo booth, games for kids and complimentary Bud Light for ticket holders 21 and older.

Check out the Chesapeake Bayhawks Statistics




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Chesapeake Bayhawks face off with the Dallas Rattlers
Chesapeake Bayhawks face off with the Dallas Rattlers
   



Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 23, 2019


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