Nationals to Face Boston, Denver this Week
Published on June 24, 2009 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Hamilton Nationals News Release
TORONTO - The Toronto Nationals travel to Boston this week to face the Boston Cannons for the first time this season on Thursday June 25th. ESPN2 and TSN2 will show the live game from Harvard Stadium in Boston, MA at 7:00 p.m. EST.
The Nationals (4-2) fell 15-8 on the road to the Denver Outlaws last weekend. Merrick Thomson extended his lead as top goal scorer for the Nationals adding three to the decision and Colin Doyle, Jordan Levine, Jordan Hall, Geoff Snider and Jeff Zywicki each added one.
Toronto is tied with the Long Island Lizards for an MLL second place standing heading into the matchup against the Boston Cannons (3-3) on Thursday night.
"Boston has a lot of offensive weapons and what many people think is the league's best group of defenders," said Nationals head coach Dave Huntley. "We are going to have to tighten up our defensive transition play to make them earn every goal."
Nationals' midfielder Joe Walters, with 18 points (14 goals, 2 two-pt goals, 2 assists) has filled a natural leadership role on the Nationals roster this season.
"There is not a lot of field experience (on our roster)," said Walters. "I've embraced the role to be a leader on this team."
"He has been a really good teammate," said Huntley of Walters. "He doesn't need to take 15 or 20 shots every game and I think he's happier when other guys score than when he does."
Walters hopes to bounce back after last weekend's loss to Denver with a win against the Boston Cannons on the road this week.
"We can't overlook this game on Thursday and be thinking about the Denver re-match," Walters said. "This is a very good Boston team who is much better than their record and it's going to be a tough game."
"We will have to get back to moving our feet and the ball on the offensive end if we are going to be successful in Boston," said Huntley. "If we play our best and how we know we can, the decision will go our way. We have to stay disciplined to our style."
The Nationals return home to BMO Field looking for revenge against the Denver Outlaws on Saturday June 27th. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.
"Denver was better in every aspect of the game; coaching, offence, defence, transition and special teams than we were," said Huntley of the road matchup this past weekend. "We have a good group here and I am confident we will re-group and give the Outlaws a better game at BMO."
Fans can catch the Nationals road game live from Harvard Stadium this Thursday, June 25th on TSN2 at 7:00 p.m. EST.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 24, 2009
- Cannons Look for Third Straight Win - Boston Cannons
- Major League Lacrosse Weekly - MLL
- Nationals to Face Boston, Denver this Week - Hamilton Nationals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
