Nationals Return Home In Second Place
Published on June 27, 2013 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Hamilton Nationals News Release
The Hamilton Nationals will host the Chesapeake Bayhawks on Saturday, June 29th at 7:00 p.m. at Ron Joyce Stadium at McMaster University. The game will be broadcast live on YouTube at 7:00 p.m.
Home Cooking: Hamilton will play four of its final six games at home. The Nationals are returning home after playing the last five games away from Hamilton. The Nats were 3-2 during the stretch.
Scouting the Nationals: The Nationals are off to a franchise-best 6-2 start. The second-place team in Major League Lacrosse was rewarded with the selection of five of its players to the 2013 MLL All-Star Game presented by Moe's Southwest Grill. Kevin Crowley, Joe Walters, Brodie Merrill, Brett Queener and Kevin Cunningham will represent the Nationals at the MLL All-Star Game, which will take place on Saturday, July 13th in Charlotte, NC. The game at American Legion Memorial Stadium will be broadcast live on ESPN2. The Nationals have won their last three home games, which is a franchise record. That included their 17-11 win over the Rochester Rattlers last Saturday in Boca Raton, Fla. In the win, Brett Queener made 22 saves. Joe Walters led the way with six points (3+3). The Nats' Martin Cahill (4+1+0) also notched a career-high five points, while Kevin Crowley chipped in three goals. Brodie Merrill, who missed the contest in New York, played in his 98th professional game on June 22nd.
Still Streaking: Kevin Crowley is riding a career and franchise-best 23-game point streak, while Joe Walters is in the midst of a 20-game point streak.
Being Good Partners: The Nationals will celebrate Oakville Lacrosse Day on Saturday, as a result of a partnership between the Major League Lacrosse team and Oakville Minor Lacrosse. Prior to the game, the Nationals will host a field lacrosse skills clinic beginning at 3:30 p.m. Kids can take part in the clinic for just $30. The package also includes a bus trip from the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre to the stadium, a pizza dinner and a ticket to the game. Tickets for parents and additional family members are $20. Several ticket packages are available to the game. For tickets go to www.nationalslacrosse.com or call the Nationals Ticket Office at (905) 525-NATS.
Durkin honored: Nationals defenseman Tucker Durkin was named the Warrior Defensive Player of the Week for week 8 of the 2013 season. He helped anchor the Nationals' defense in a 17-11 convincing win over the Rochester Rattlers in Boca Raton, Fla. The rookie limited Rattlers' leading scorer Ned Crotty to just one goal.
Nationals among MLL leaders: Crowley (26+1+8) leads the MLL in points (35) and is tied for the league lead with 26 goals. Walters is tied for sixth in the MLL with 25 points (12+13), which is second on the Nationals. Goalie Brett Queener leads the league with a .620 save percentage. Queener is also third in the MLL with an 11.26 goals-against average.
Scouting Chesapeake: The Bayhawks (4-4) enter the game in a third-place tie with the Charlotte Hounds. Chesapeake dropped its third overtime game of the season last Saturday, falling 16-15 to Charlotte. The Bayhawks have dropped their last two games and four of their last five, which included a 12-11 OT setback to Hamilton on June 1st. In the game against Charlotte, John Grant Jr. and Drew Westervelt led the offense with three-goal efforts. Westervelt is tied for eighth in the MLL in points with 24, along with teammate Kyle Dixon, who is tied for the league-lead in assists with 15. The Bayhawks have a league-best eight players going to the 2013 All-Star Game. Dixon and Westervelt will be joined by Ben Rubeor, Barney Ehrmann, Michael Evans, Kip Turner, Matt Abbott and Steven Brooks. Turner is second in the MLL in goals-against average (9.78) and save percentage (.611).
Next Game: Hamilton travels to Rochester to play the Rattlers on Sunday, July 7th at 3:00 p.m. at Sahlen's Stadium. The game will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 27, 2013
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