Mundorf Makes Debut as Chesapeake Travels to Boston
Published on April 25, 2014 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Chesapeake Bayhawks News Release
ANNAPOLIS, MD - High-scoring attackman Brendan Mundorf will make his Chesapeake Bayhawks debut when the two-time defending champions open the 2014 Major League Lacrosse (MLL) campaign on Sunday, April 27th at 1:00 PM in Boston. Mundorf is the most notable of many new additions to the Bayhawks, who are seeking to become the first franchise in MLL history to capture three consecutive championships.
"Historically, we have a chance to do something special," Bayhawks Head Coach Dave Cottle told The Capital newspaper. "That being said, we can't think about that at this point. We have to focus on the here and now. I'm worried about winning the first game."
Mundorf, acquired from Denver in an offseason trade, is one of the most dangerous players in the MLL, having collected 229 goals and 347 points in eight professional seasons. The left-hander who was named MLL Most Valuable Player in 2012, is a five-time All-Star selection and is likely to make the United States National team for a second time.
"Brendan is a strong dodger who loves to go to the goal and has the strength and toughness to get there," Cottle said. "Brendan is the type of player who creates offense and makes everyone else on the field better."
Mundorf is being reunited with Drew Westervelt, with whom he teamed to form a potent attack combination at UMBC and in Denver. Westervelt, a four-time All-Star with a wicked overhand crank shot, led Chesapeake in scoring last season with 41 goals and 13 assists.
"Brendan and Drew have great chemistry and play off of each other very well," Cottle said. "Drew is a tremendous outside shooter and gets a lot of open looks as a result of Brendan's ability to dodge and draw slides."
Rounding out the starting attack will be Ben Rubeor, a seventh-year veteran who is consistent and reliable. The former University of Virginia All-American was Chesapeake's second-leading scorer last season with 32 goals and 13 assists.
Cottle also traded for Peet Poillon and Joe Walters in order to strengthen the midfield this season. Walters is a four-time All-Star who has averaged 44 points during his six seasons in MLL and is coming off a career year in which he led the league with 26 assists and also scored 22 goals. Poillon, who helped Chesapeake hoist the Steinfield Trophy in 2010, has used a hard shot and unorthodox release to accrue 98 goals in four professional seasons.
Westervelt and Walters are still playing indoors with the National Lacrosse League and will not be available for Sunday's season opener. Poillon, an assistant coach at Hobart, also cannot make the early afternoon game at Harvard Stadium. According to Cottle, Matt Mackrides, Chesapeake's leading midfield scorer in 2013 with 22 goals and 10 assists, will start on attack in place of Westervelt.
Chesapeake returns four other proven offensive midfielders in Steven Brooks, Kyle Dixon, Ben Hunt and Michael Kimmel. Dixon, a perennial All-Star who owns the MLL career record for 2-point goals, led the Bayhawks with 20 assists last season, but scored just six times. Hunt scored 19 goals a year ago while Kimmel and Brooks netted 15 and 12, respectively.
Michael Evans, a four-time All-Star and finalist for the United States National team, anchors the defense. The former Schmeisser Trophy winner from Johns Hopkins has covered the opponent's top attackman since joining the Bayhawks in 2009. "Michael is a very strong on-ball defender and always takes the toughest matchup," Cottle said.
Trusty veterans Nicky Polanco and Brian Spallina also return on close defense. Spallina, who has been part of more championship teams (six) than any player in MLL history, is the consummate crease defender and interior intimidator. Polanco, rangy and physical at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, is very adept at covering big, strong attackmen on the wing.
Jesse Bernhardt and Brian Megill, a pair of talented second-year pros, are versatile enough to play either down low or up top and Cottle said matchups would determine the makeup of the close defense from game-to-game. Bernhardt, a two-time All-American at Maryland, played an integral role in Chesapeake's championship run as a rookie in 2013. Cottle believes the athletic 6-foot-1, 200-pounder is poised to become one of the best defenders in Major League Lacrosse.
"Jesse is a terrific man-to-man defender and an excellent communicator. He does an outstanding job of getting the ball off the ground and starting the transition. He's just a really good player," Cottle said.
Bernhardt is an assistant coach at Maryland and may or may not be able to play on Sunday pending the outcome of his team's semifinal of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Friday night. Megill, a former Syracuse All-American acquired via trade with Denver, will handle long stick defensive duties if Bernhardt sits out.
Head coach Richie Meade and his staff with the U.S. National team think highly of Chesapeake's short stick defensive midfield unit. Matt Abbott, Dan Burns (Severna Park) and Jeff Reynolds all made the 30-man Team USA training roster. Abbott, who led the Bayhawks with 55 ground balls and also scored 14 goals last season, has the versatility to also play offensive midfield.
Kip Turner started 30 of 32 games between the pipes over the previous two seasons and was instrumental in the Bayhawks' back-to-back championships. Turner was outstanding in 2013, stopping 208 shots and posting a .583 save percentage. Cottle said earlier this week that he has not settled on a starting goalie. Tyler Fiorito, a four-time All-American at Princeton who has appeared in just one game since being drafted by the Bayhawks in 2012, played well during training camp and in a pair of scrimmages.
Cottle felt Chesapeake needed to bolster its faceoff unit and picked up a dual threat Stephen Peyser in a trade with Ohio. The former Johns Hopkins standout was an MLL All-Star while with New York in 2011 and has scored 103 goals in his five-year pro career. "Stephen Peyser has been a very effective faceoff man in this league and also has the ability to play offense," Cottle said. "We think Stephen will give us an added dimension on the draws."
It was announced last week that Chesapeake is one of two franchises that will unveil new uniforms for 2014. While maintaining their traditional navy, silver and white colors, the Bayhawks will incorporate a series of green accents. MLL is placing the name and logo of one of its primary sponsors on the jersey of all eight franchises and 5-Hour Energy won the right to receive placement with the Bayhawks according to owner, Brendan Kelly.
"Chesapeake has reached a new record for season ticket sales, approaching 2,000," said Kelly, an Annapolis resident who purchased the franchise in 2010. "The Bayhawks have sold out the club level seating at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium and have added eight field suites for 2014." Two of the field suites, which will bring fans closer to the action than ever before, will be reserved for parties and special events.
The Bayhawks 2014 Season Tickets are now available and can be purchased over the phone by calling the box office 866-99-HAWKS (42957). Visit us at www.thebayhawks.com for the full schedule. This season, the Bayhawks and Lexus are giving away an ES350 to one lucky Season Ticket Holder at the last game of the season. Every Season Ticket purchased will amount to one entry into the giveaway.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from April 25, 2014
- Mundorf Makes Debut as Chesapeake Travels to Boston - Chesapeake Bayhawks
- MLL Begins Fourteenth Season this Saturday - MLL
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