Hounds Qualify for Postseason with 15-13 Victory over BayHawks
Published on August 6, 2016 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Charlotte Hounds News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC- The Charlotte Hounds on Saturday night advanced to the Major League Lacrosse playoffs with a 15-13 victory over the visiting Chesapeake Bayhawks at American Legion Memorial Stadium in the 2016 regular-season finale. The Hounds (8-6) will be the No. 4 seed and travel to Minneapolis, MN, to face the top-seeded Ohio Machine (8-6) on Saturday, Aug. 13.
"I can't tell you how proud I am of the effort," said Hounds Head Coach Jim Stagnitta. "The Bayhawks jumped on us a little bit early on and they took that lead, but we just kind of banged away at it. The little things - big time groundballs, winning faceoffs, everybody contributing. It was really a team effort."
Joey Sankey scored the game's first goal less than a minute in to give the Hounds an early lead. The next six minutes were scoreless before Joe Walters put the Bayhawks on the board with a low shot past goalie Charlie Cipriano, who was making his first start since a leg injury sustained on July 23. The teams traded goals, tying the game 3-3 with just over five minutes remaining in the quarter. Kevin Crowley then notched back-to-back assists on goals from John Haus and Ryan Brown to put the Hounds back in front 5-3 at the end of one.
The momentum didn't last, as the Bayhawks dominated the second quarter. Chesapeake scored five-straight goals, including two from rookie Myles Jones, while holding the Hounds scoreless to take an 8-5 advantage into halftime.
Jones scored his third of the night, which was a 2-pointer, just 1:23 into the third quarter to push the Bayhawks lead to 10-5. Mike Chanenchuk finally ended the scoring drought for the Hounds, but Matt Danowski countered to keep the Bayhawks in front by five. Less than two minutes later Joe McCallion found the back of the net as he was knocked to the ground, starting a four-goal run which pulled the Hounds within one, 11-10.
Brown was called for an illegal body check with 4:22 left in the third quarter and the Bayhawks capitalized on the man-up opportunity with a goal from Joe Walters to extend their lead to 12-10. But Crowley bounced one past Bayhawks goalie Brian Phipps one minute later to keep the Hounds within one heading into the final quarter.
Chanenchuk scored just 1:09 into the fourth, tying the game 12-12 and starting another four-goal run for the Hounds. Dylan Donahue scored the go-ahead goal as well as what would be the game-winner with 7:43 left to play. The Bayhawks got one back from Brendan Mundorf with just under two minutes to go, but with great play at the faceoff X and defensive end of the field the Hounds held on for the win.
Brendan Fowler was named Coca-Cola Player of the game after going 12-17 on faceoffs. Cipriano finished with 10 saves on 22 shots.
"The pressure wasn't really on us (tonight)," said Stagnitta, "because there were no expectations for this team besides the ones we had for ourselves."
This is the second time in team history that Charlotte has qualified for the postseason. The Hounds in 2013 made a run to the MLL Championship, where they ultimately fell 10-9 to the Bayhawks.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 6, 2016
- Hounds Qualify for Postseason with 15-13 Victory over BayHawks - Charlotte Hounds
- MLL Playoff Teams Finalized - MLL
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