Playoff Picture Gets Messy Following Week 11 Action
Published on August 8, 2004 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Chesapeake Bayhawks News Release
Towson, Md. - With one week left in the 2004 regular season, the Baltimore Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) are one of four teams tied at 6-5 and vying for the three remaining spots in the New Balance Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend, which starts on Friday, August 20 at Nickerson Field in Boston on the campus of Boston University.
The 2004 New Balance MLL Championship Game is set for Sunday, August 22 at 1:00 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
With an 8-3 record, the Boston Cannons have already secured the top spot in the postseason and their first American Division championship. However, that is the only definite for the race to the championship as Baltimore, Long Island, Rochester and Philadelphia are deadlocked with identical 6-5 records.
On Saturday night, Philadelphia stunned the defending league champion Lizards by 18-12 at Mitchel Field, while the Rattlers handed the New Jersey Pride their 10th straight loss with a 21-11 decision at Sprague Field, creating the logjam. Long Island and Rochester would have clinched playoff spots if the Lizards had won against the Barrage.
Entering Week 12, the winners of the final three games in the regular season will clinch playoff spots. Long Island travels to Rochester to face Rochester at Bishop Kearney Field on Saturday night, while Philadelphia looks to extend its win streak to five straight against the league-leading Cannons. The Barrage handed Boston a 29-20 loss at Nickerson Field on July 22 to set the MLL record for points in a single game among several other records.
Fighting to earn their fourth straight National Division title, the Bayhawks host the Pride at Johnny Unitas Stadium on Saturday night in a crucial divisional showdown. Baltimore has yet to win a game at Unitas Stadium in five tries, making this game a must-win situation. Opening face-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on WJFK-AM 1300 "The Jock" and on tape delay on WMAR-TV ABC 2 at 11:35 p.m. on Saturday night.
Here are the potential playoff scenarios for all four teams:
BALTIMORE: Can clinch a playoff spot with a win over New Jersey OR a Long Island loss against Rochester. Baltimore can clinch the National Division with a win over the Pride AND a Rochester loss against Long Island.
ROCHESTER: Can clinch a playoff spot and the National Division title with a victory against Long Island OR a Baltimore loss to New Jersey. Rochester can also advance to the playoffs if Boston defeats Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA: Can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Boston OR a Long Island loss against Rochester OR a Baltimore loss against New Jersey.
LONG ISLAND: Can clinch a playoff spot with a win against Rochester.
Tickets for Saturday night's game against the Pride are available by calling 866-99-HAWKS or by visiting www.baltimorebayhawks.com.
The Baltimore Bayhawks, a charter member of Major League Lacrosse, was founded in 2000 by the following Baltimore businessmen and lacrosse enthusiasts: Dave Pivec, a former Notre Dame and Los Angeles Rams football player, and now President of Pivec Advertising and owner of Courtney's Café in Timonium, Maryland; Chris Hutchins, former University of North Carolina lacrosse player and owner of Bacharach Rasin, the oldest lacrosse equipment retailer in the world; Dr. Raymond Schulmeyer, former lacrosse player at Cornell University and owner of Schulmeyer Animal Hospital in Perry Hall Maryland; and Gordon Boone, former lacrosse player at Salisbury State College and now a commercial real estate broker with Ryan Commercial.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 8, 2004
- Philadelphia Defeats Long Island, 18-12 - Philadelphia Barrage
- Lizards Need Win in MLL Week #12 for Playoff Berth - New York Lizards
- Playoff Picture Gets Messy Following Week 11 Action - Chesapeake Bayhawks
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.
