Nationals Heading to Championship Weekend
August 19, 2013 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Hamilton Nationals News Release
The Hamilton Nationals will battle the defending champion Chesapeake Bayhawks in the Major League Lacrosse Semifinals on Saturday, August 24th. The 4:00 p.m. game will follow the opening game at MLL Championship Weekend between the top-seeded Denver Outlaws (14-0) and fourth-seeded Charlotte Hounds (7-7). Championship Weekend, presented by Smartlink, will take place at PPL Park in the Philadelphia Area Saturday, August 24th through Sunday, August 25th.
The Denver Outlaws (14-0) completed the first undefeated regular season in Major League Lacrosse history after beating the Nationals 18-12 at Ron Joyce Stadium on August 10th. Chesapeake moved into second place following a 16-14 victory over Charlotte this evening. The winners of the MLL Semifinals will advance to Sunday's Championship Game at 3:00 p.m.
Head-to-Head: Hamilton and Chesapeake both finished with identical 9-5 records, but the Bayhawks earned the second seed because of head-to-head goal differential. The teams split their regular season series with each team winning one game. Hamilton won the first meeting, 16-15 in overtime, on June 1st, which was part of a record 5-0 start by the Nats. In the second meeting, the Bayhawks downed Hamilton 17-10 on June 29th. Chesapeake ended the season with wins in five of their last six games. In the regular season finale, the Bayhawks rallied to defeat Charlotte by outscoring the Hounds 6-0 in the fourth quarter. The Bayhawks have won MLL titles in two of the past three seasons. In their history, the Bayhawks have won four MLL Championships.
Very Odd Nat Stat: The Nationals have advanced to the MLL Playoffs the last three odd years (2009, 2011, 2013). During even years, the Nats have failed to make the playoffs. In 2009, the Nationals won their only MLL title and in 2011 fell one-goal short to the Boston Cannons in the MLL Finals.
Scouting the Nationals: Hamilton (9-5) completed the 2013 regular season with the most wins in team history. The Nationals won three of their last five games. Kevin Crowley led the Nationals with a six-point effort (3+1+2) in the regular-season finale to set a team record for points in a season with 55. He finished tied for the league lead in points and was second with 38 goals. Crowley has notched a point in his last 29 regular season games. Joe Walters led the MLL with 26 assists and finished tied for fifth in the league with 48 points. The MLL veteran has recorded a point in his last 26 regular season contests. Rookie Kevin Cunningham placed second in the MLL with 22 assists and was 13th in points with 39. Goalie Brett Queener was 6-4 this season with the second best save percentage (.586).
Shooting for Two: Four members of the National Lacrosse League champion Rochester Knighthawks are on the Nationals' roster: Joe Walters, Stephen Keogh, Cody Jamieson and Sid Smith. The quartet of players is trying to win two professional lacrosse titles in four months. On May 11th, Walters (1+5) and Jamieson (3+3) both had big games in the 11-10 victory over the Washington Stealth. Jamieson was named the Championship Game MVP for the second straight season, becoming just the second player in NLL history to accomplish that feat. Smith was the team captain of the Knighthawks and Keogh contributed with five points (1+4) in two playoff games.
In the âHunt' again: Head Coach Dave Huntley has the Nationals back in the playoffs after the team suffered a 4-10 season in 2012. In May, Huntley returned as the team's head coach for the first time since the 2010 season. He led the Nats to their only MLL title in 2009.
Saves âKing': Brett Queener set a team record with 156 saves this season. He also tied his team wins mark, earning six victories in 2013. This season also included Queener's first MLL goal.
Dialing long distance: This season, the Nationals scored a team record 10 two-point goals, which eclipsed the mark of eight set by the 2010 team. The 2013 Nationals also doubled last year's total of five. Kevin Crowley and Garrett Thul each scored three goals from two-point range with Martin Cahill adding two, and MJ Kiekebelt and John Austin each chipping in one.
Always Sunny in Philadelphia: With Championship Weekend in Philadelphia, it's a homecoming of sorts for three members of the Hamilton Nationals. Kevin Crowley, Brodie Merrill and Jordan Hall all spend their winters playing in the National Lacrosse League for the Philadelphia Wings.
Five Nationals were All-Americans: Five of the Nationals' collegiate draft picks earned Division I All-American honors. Jason Noble and Tucker Durkin were the top recipients as First Team selections. Mike Poppleton garnered Second Team status, while James "Garrett" Thul and Reid Acton received Honorable Mention accolades.
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