Nationals Face Long Island Lizards Saturday
Published on August 20, 2009 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Hamilton Nationals News Release
TORONTO - The Toronto Nationals head to Annapolis, Maryland this weekend for the Major League Lacrosse 2009 New Balance Championship Weekend presented by Smartlink. On Saturday, August 22 the #2 seeded Nationals faceoff against the #3 Long Island Lizards at 3:00 p.m. ET at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
The Nationals, who ended their inaugural season with a 7-5 record, are riding a three-game win streak that has seen them defeat each of their potential opponents for Championship Weekend. It started on July 18 with a 19-9 blowout of the Long Island Lizards, followed by the July 23 overtime win against the Boston Cannons and ended with a 16-10 dominating win over the Denver Outlaws.
Toronto head coach Dave Huntley credits his team's win streak to expectation.
"As far as the last three wins go it is all about our guys playing to the level of their expectations," said Huntley. "If we continue to play to the level we expect of ourselves we will win the next two as well."
Nationals' long pole and MLL's 2009 Warrior Defensive Player of the Year, Brodie Merrill says his Toronto team needs to stay focused on the game at hand this weekend.
"You need to expect the unexpected," said Merrill. "In the playoffs, when it is single game elimination, anything can happen. It is easy to fall into the trap of looking past the Long Island game to the championship, but we have to stay focused on the Lizards."
The Nationals will look to snipers Merrick Thomson and John Grant Jr. to get past Lizard netminder Brian Dougherty. Thomson ended the regular season with 44 goals, to lead the League with a personal season best, while Grant's five goal return to pro lacrosse earned him game MVP honours and a MLL nod as Offensive Player of the Week.
Merrill will lead his shutdown defence in keeping Long Island's top scorers Tim Goettelmann and Matt Danowski away from the Toronto tag team of Doc Schneider and Brett Queener in the Nationals net.
The winner of the Toronto versus Long Island game will play again on Sunday, August 23 at 1:00 p.m. ET in the championship game in hopes of hoisting the Steinfeld Cup. The winner will face either the Denver Outlaws or Boston Cannons who play for their fate in the #1 vs. #4 semifinal game at noon Saturday.
"Our focus is on being the best team we can be for the Long Island game," adds Huntley. "Boston and Denver are excellent teams that have beaten us this year so no matter who wins that game we will have our hands full."
TSN2 will broadcast the Toronto Nationals semi-final game versus the Lizards live on Saturday afternoon from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at 3:00 p.m. ET. TSN2 will also feature the MLL New Balance Championship Game on August 23 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 20, 2009
- Cannons Make Return to MLL Postseason Saturday - Boston Cannons
- Nationals Face Long Island Lizards Saturday - Hamilton Nationals
- Boston's Paul Rabil Earns 2009 MLL Bud Light MVP Award - MLL
- Boston's Paul Rabil Earns 2009 MLL Bud Light MVP Award - Boston Cannons
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