MLL Chesapeake Bayhawks

Matt Ward Leads Defending MLL Champion Bayhawks to 19-12 Win Over Boston

July 8, 2006 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Chesapeake Bayhawks News Release


TOWSON, Md. - Rookie attackman Matt Ward scored a season-high six goals to go with three assists as the defending Major League Lacrosse champion Baltimore Bayhawks (3-5, 2-4) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 19-12 Major League Lacrosse victory over the Boston Cannons (6-2, 4-2) in front of 2.939 fans at Johnny Unitas Stadium at Towson University on Saturday evening.

"It was the best we played all season," Ward said. "We just played offense and let things happen. This was the type of game we needed to get back on track."

After rookie Matt Poskay gave the Cannons a 1-0 lead, the Bayhawks went on a 6-0 run over a 10-minute span to take a 6-1 lead with 2:07 left in the first quarter. Rookie midfielder Bill McGlone scored three of his career-high five goals during the spurt to lead the Bayhawks while Ward had a goal and two assists.

Boston attackman Conor Gill snapped the Bayhawks' spurt with a goal just 59 seconds into the second quarter, which started a 4-0 run for the Cannons to cut the deficit to 6-5 with 8:31 left in the second quarter. Attackman Mark Millon scored off a Ward feed with five minutes left in the first half to end the rally and ignite a three-goal run by the Bayhawks to extend their lead to 9-5 before Gill tallied his third goal of the half, scoring off a feed from attackman John Christmas with 1:05 left in the period.

After rookie attackman Brett Bucktooth scored at the 1:10 mark of the third period, the Bayhawks scored five straight points, including a two-pointer from McGlone, to take a commanding 14-7 advantage with 3:02 left in the third quarter. After McGlone's two-point goal, Millon tallied a goal off an assist from attackman Steve Marohl past goalkeeper Chris Garrity. Ward followed with a tally off a Millon feed, upping the Baltimore advantage to six before rookie midfielder Kyle Dixon scored his first career goal.

Poskay led a Boston charge by scoring three of the game's next four goals to cut the Boston deficit to 15-10 with 12:24 left in the fourth quarter, but Baltimore went on a 4-0 run over a four-minute span to take a 19-10 lead it did not relinquish. Despite a pair of goals from Boston attackman David Evans, the Cannons were unable to mount a comeback and had their six-game win streak snapped with the seven-point loss.

Ward, who was named the Bud Light MVP for the first time in his career, tied a team season high with his six goals, matching the six-goal output Millon had against Chicago on May 27. Meanwhile, McGlone recorded a season-high five goals, including the first two-point goal of his brief Major League Lacrosse career. Goalkeeper Matt Russell recorded 13 saves in his first career MLL start while allowing 12 goals.

"After I got a few goals, I was able to just relax and let the game come to me," McGlone said. "I finally got quality shots and played well off of the ball."

Poskay scored five goals to lead the Cannons while Gill added three goals with a pair of assists. Garrity made 19 saves while allowing a season-high 18 goals.

The Bayhawks will return to action on Saturday, July 22 when they host the New Jersey Pride at Unitas Stadium beginning at 7:00 p.m. Meanwhile, the Cannons will host Rochester at Nickerson Field on July 22 with opening face-off set for 7:00 p.m.

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