Hounds Finish Inaugural Season with a Win
Published on August 11, 2012 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Charlotte Hounds News Release
The Charlotte Hounds won the final game of their inaugural 2012 season Saturday night, beating the Rochester Rattlers 15-14 in front of a crowd of 6,034 at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte. Matt Danowski was name Bud Light Player of the Game for his five point performance which included two 2-point goals.
The Rattlers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead behind goals from Rob Rotanz, Jordan MacIntosh and Roy Lang. But the Hounds got on the board as Eric Lusby, playing in just his second MLL game, found the back of the net after a skip pass from Justin Turri. Danowski would follow up with his first 2-point goal to tie the game at 3-3. It also was the 100th goal of Danowski's MLL career. The run continued as Kyle Wimer scored to give the Hounds their first lead of the game at 4-3. The lead was extended to 5-3 as Lusby tallied his second of the game, but the Rattlers' Kevin Drew was left open on the arc and ripped a 2-point shot to tie the game 5-5 at the end of the first.
The teams traded goals to start the second and Lang gave the Rattlers a 7-6 lead with 10:56 remaining in the half. However, back-to-back 2-pointers by Danowski and the long pole Ricky Pages would put the Hounds up 10-7 on the Rattlers. The Hounds extended that lead to 13-7 going into the half, with goals from Billy Bitter, Brian Carroll and Stephen Berger.
The Rattlers started the third with back-to-back goals, including the third of the night for Rotanz, to pull within 13-9 of the Hounds. Danowski then tallied his third of the night to put the Hounds up 14-9, but the Rattlers would end the quarter with another set of back-to-backs, including Rotanz' fourth of the night, to bring the Hounds lead down to 14-11.
Momentum stayed with the Ratters briefly, as Matt Striebel ripped a 2-point goal on the man-up to pull the game within one for the Rattlers at 14-13. After some unsportsmanlike penalties got handed out for a heated moment between Joe Cinosky and Kevin Leveille, the Hounds responded with a goal from Wimer to regain the 15-13 advantage. Lang then scored his third of the night, but it wasn't enough for the Rattlers, as the Hounds held on for the 15-14 win.
The victory wraps up a 5-9 inaugural season for the Charlotte expansion team, and also is the team's second straight win. Tickets for the 2013 season, which begins in April and includes the MLL All-Star Game, are already on sale.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 11, 2012
- Hounds Finish Inaugural Season with a Win - Charlotte Hounds
- Dixon Totals Seven Points, But BayHawks Fall 15-13 - Chesapeake Bayhawks
- Boston Cannons Clinch Playoffs with 18-16 Win over Ohio Machine - Boston Cannons
- Nationals End the Season on a High Note - Hamilton Nationals
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