Heacock Nets Single Game Career-High Six Goals to Lift Chesapeake Past New York, 11-9
Published on August 3, 2019 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Chesapeake Bayhawks News Release
Colin Heacock of the Chesapeake Bayhawks
(Chesapeake Bayhawks)
ANNAPOLIS, MD - Colin Heacock exploded for a single game career-high six goals to lead the Chesapeake Bayhawks past the New York Lizards, 11-9, in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
After playing midfield for three games, Heacock started back on attack. Bayhawks Head Coach Dave Cottle sought to exploit a defensive strategy the Lizards showed when the two teams met on July 20th. Cottle's strategic play resulted in Heacock tallying a hat trick in the first quarter and another hat trick three in the second half. Heacock's previous single game career-high for goals was three.
"Last time we played they put two poles up top and played a shorty down low and we didn't take advantage of it. We put Colin Heacock down on attack with Steele Stanwick working to get him open and it really made a difference," Cottle said. Heacock felt like he had not been capitalizing on all the opportunities created by attackmen Lyle Thompson and Steele Stanwick, who are both adept at dodging and drawing slides.
"Watching Lyle and Steele dodge makes my job a lot easier. They are some of the best dodgers in the game, so I just have to play off them," said Heacock. He added that it is no big deal to flip-flop between attack and midfield.
"I'll do anything to help the team and I trust in the coaches. Obviously, they saw something they felt like we could take advantage of," Heacock said. "I listened to the game plan, understood what they wanted and, fortunately, things worked out tonight."
Thompson and rookie midfielder John Wagner both contributed two goals and an assist for Chesapeake who improved to a 5-3 record. Stanwick dished off two assists for the Bayhawks, who avenged a 14-10 loss to the Lizards the weekend before the All-Star break.
Faceoff specialist Kenny Massa came up huge for Chesapeake by winning 18 of 23 draws. Goalkeeper Niko Amato made nine saves to anchor a solid defensive effort by the Bayhawks, who limited the Lizards to five fewer goals than the previous meeting.
"Kenny did a great job tonight and we really needed that," said Cottle, who then praised Isaiah Davis-Allen, Matt Abbott and Nick Manis for their short stick defensive work.
"In the last game against this team we allowed them to run by us. We played much better midfield defense this time around," Cottle said.
Chesapeake came out fired up with Heacock leading an impressive first period performance. The third-year professional scored back-to-back goals to begin the game on strong drives from behind the cage.
"If they shorted Steele, which they did, he would set picks for Colin to create a mismatch. That's how we scored those first two goals," Cottle explained.
Heacock had been in a bit of a shooting slump and came into the contest with 10 goals in seven games. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder scored three of his goals off strong dodges and the other three via crank shots.
Wagner made his presence felt early, scoring a goal and assisting another to increase the Chesapeake advantage to 4-1. The Canadian-born rookie out of Marquette scored his first career MLL goal in spectacular fashion - cutting to the crease, making a touch one-handed catch, then flipping the ball underhanded into the top corner.
"I really like Wagner. He's a dangerous player and really gave us a lift tonight," Cottle said.
Thompson got on the board with an equally impressive goal, posting up against a defender then firing a backhanded shot with his back to the net as the advantage grew to four goals. Heacock capped the dominant opening period by powering past a short stick defender, getting into the heart of the defense and firing a 5-yard shot into the top corner to make it 6-1 after one.
Following the first quarter explosion, Chesapeake's offense went quiet and New York reduced the deficit to 6-3 going into halftime.
The Bayhawks led by two when Heacock came alive again early in the third quarter, scoring twice in the span of 50 seconds. The powerful left-hander blasted an overhand shot from the left wing then forced his way to the middle of the field for a sidearm ripper that restored the home team's four-goal cushion, 8-4, at the 11:43 mark.
The Lizards clawed back to within two, but Amato made several outstanding saves toward the end of the third quarter to ensure the visitors got no closer.
Chesapeake struck first in the final frame with Thompson using a lightning-quick spin move to lose defender Ben Randall and set up a one-on-one opportunity from the doorstep. The Bayhawks then scored off a powerplay with Wagner cutting to the middle of the field, taking a dump pass from Stanwick, then firing a sidearm rocket to give the home team a 10-6 lead.
A two-point goal by New York attackman Rob Pannell kept the Lizards within striking distance, but once again it was Heacock who provided the response - scooping a loose ball and unleashing another sidearm crank shot that zipped past the ear of goalie Austin Kaut to give Chesapeake an 11-8 lead with 5:04 remaining in the game.
"Colin shoots the ball hard and he was very accurate tonight," Cottle said.
Chesapeake will be traveling up to New York tomorrow to challenge the Lizards on August 4th at 5:00 PM EST. The game will be broadcast live on MyTV Baltimore and Lacrosse Sports Network (LSN).
The Chesapeake Bayhawks return to Annapolis on Saturday, August 10th to take on the Denver Outlaws at 8:00 PM EST for Native American Celebration Night. Leading up to the event, the Bayhawks will be celebrating Native American culture with their next episode of Chesapeake Bayhawks: Under the Helmet (to be released on Monday, August 5th) and the return of @TheX which will have its Season 2 launch on August 8th.
Tickets for the Native American Celebration game are available at thebayhawks.com/tickets or can be purchased through the Chesapeake Bayhawks Ticket Office by calling 866-99-HAWKS or emailing sales@thebayhawks.com. The Lexus Tailgate Zone will open at 5:30 PM and feature a live DJ, photo booth, games for kids and complimentary Bud Light for ticket holders 21 and older.
Images from this story
 Colin Heacock of the Chesapeake Bayhawks |
Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 3, 2019
- Heacock Nets Single Game Career-High Six Goals to Lift Chesapeake Past New York, 11-9 - Chesapeake Bayhawks
- Rattlers Beat Blaze to Extend Winning Streak - Dallas Rattlers
- Denver Outlaws Lose 16-13 to Boston Cannons - Denver Outlaws
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