Stanwick Totals Four Points as BayHawks Rally to Beat Rattlers, 13-11
July 14, 2019 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Chesapeake Bayhawks News Release
Chesapeake BayHawks celebrate a goal
(Chesapeake Bayhawks)
FRISCO, TEXAS - Veteran attackman Steele Stanwick amassed four points to lead an impressive comeback as the Chesapeake Bayhawks rallied to defeat the Dallas Rattlers, 13-11, at the Ford Center. Among those four points was Stanwick's 100th career Major League Lacrosse (MLL) goal.
Stanwick was named the Coca-Cola Player of the Game after scoring three goals and dishing off an assist to lead the Bayhawks, who won their second straight game to improve to 4-2 on the season. Stanwick's third quarter hat trick sparked Chesapeake, who outscored Dallas 7-4 in the second half.
"When we controlled possession and ran the offense we usually scored," Stanwick said when asked about the comeback. "Give the defense credit for holding down the fort until the offense got on track."
Attackman Lyle Thompson totaled two goals and two assists to increase his Major League Lacrosse-leading point total to 37 over six games. Stanwick was the beneficiary of both Thompson helpers, which were delivered with one-handed flip passes.
"Lyle is such a special player and does things on the field that are just amazing. To be honest, I'm still getting used to playing with him," Stanwick said. "Lyle draws so much attention that you have to figure out the best way to play off him. Lyle will get you the ball if you're open."
Attackman Andrew Kew continued his outstanding rookie season with three goals and an assist. Kew, the all-time leading scorer in University of Tampa Lacrosse history, has been a revelation. In just three games with the Bayhawks, the left-handed rookie from Oakville, Ontario has piled up 10 points.
"I've been very impressed with Andrew Kew. He's tough and very good at catching and finishing," Head Coach Dave Cottle said. "I thought our attack was terrific today. Lyle Thompson was getting a lot of defensive attention, so Andrew Kew and Steele Stanwick really stepped up big-time."
Midfielder Ryan Keenan scored two goals in his first game against his former team while fellow middie Nick Mariano contributed a goal and assist for Chesapeake.
"I can't tell you how much Ryan Keenan helped us today," said Cottle. "Ryan has tremendous toughness and quickness and has added some firepower to the midfield."
Goalkeeper Niko Amato recorded 11 saves while faceoff specialist Kenny Massa won 17 of his 27 draws as the Bayhawks worked to erase a five-goal deficit.
"I don't think we played exceptionally well early, but we kept battling," Cottle said. "Our guys have done a great job of fighting through every adverse situation."
Chesapeake only dressed 19 players due to injuries and defenseman Warren Jeffrey's one-game suspension. Short stick defensive midfielder Isaiah Davis-Allen got banged up early in the game; the Bayhawks were essentially down to 17 field players with Brian Phipps serving as the team's backup goaltender.
"When Isaiah got hurt we had to use Matt Abbott to play defense," Cottle explained.
All-Star Jesse Bernhardt anchored a superb defensive effort that saw the Bayhawks limit the Rattlers to two goals over a span of almost 23-minutes. Dallas took a 7-2 lead at the 8:42 mark of the second quarter and did not score again until the 11:34 mark of the third period. The home team then went another 10 ½ minutes without finding the back of the net.
"Jesse Bernhardt was just fantastic on the defensive end. He communicated, organized and kept everyone together while also getting the ball off the ground time after time," Cottle said.
Chesapeake committed six turnovers in the first quarter and that hampered the offense. On the occasions they were able to settle the ball, the 'Hawks generated strong opportunities. Amato kept the Bayhawks in the game early when the Rattlers controlled possession, making four tough saves.
All-Star midfielder Matt Abbott got the Bayhawks on the board with a left-handed crank shot from eight yards out to cap a lengthy possession and cut an early deficit to 2-1 at the 8:20 mark. Chesapeake endured another lengthy drought before scoring its second goal with 35 seconds left.
Stanwick spotted Kew standing all alone on the crease and delivered a perfect feed after faking a pass to the wing. Kew's quick shot from the doorstep made it 3-2 and closed out a low-scoring opening period.
Dallas scored four straight goals to start the second quarter and increase its lead to 7-2. For the third time in the first half, Chesapeake went almost seven minutes without a goal.
Kew stopped the Rattlers run with an unassisted tally, circling from the right wing to the middle of the field and unleashing a wicked sidearm crank shot. That started a 4-0 run that got the Bayhawks back into the game with Keenan following less than two minutes later with an underhand shot that skipped past the Rattlers netminder Sean Sconone.
Thompson kept the momentum going, using a devastating change-of-direction move to lose his defender, then firing a 10-yard shot past Sconone's hip. Keenen then scored his second goal in the span of two minutes off an underhand bouncer and just like that the Bayhawks were within one with 4:18 left in the first half.
No additional goals were scored, and Dallas took a 7-6 lead into intermission.
"We had a lot of turnovers in unsettled situations. When we play offense and share the ball we're getting good looks," Cottle said during a halftime television interview. "We can do better riding, clearing and in the faceoff game. Those are three areas we have to improve in the second half."
Chesapeake carried the momentum into the second half and scored the tying goal with just 50 seconds elapsed. Thompson drew a double-team then quickly flipped the ball to Stanwick, who was one-on-one with Sconone. The veteran delivered two fakes to beat the Rattlers' goalie.
Dallas finally ended a nearly 12-minute scoring drought to briefly retake the lead, but Mariano tied the score at eight moments later. Mariano cleared the ball into the offensive zone then went straight to the goal, getting into the heart of the defense and blasting an overhand shot into the top corner that gave Chesapeake its first lead of the game.
Neither team scored for nearly eight minutes until Thompson drew a slide and once again flipped the ball to an open Stanwick, whose short shot from the right wing increased the lead to 10-8 with six second left in the third stanza.
Chesapeake started strong in the final frame, scoring twice to take their largest lead of the contest at 12-9. Colin Heacock substituted through the box and was immediately given the ball - never breaking stride as he dodged down the left alley and sent a sidearm ripper into the top corner.
Exactly one minute later, Thompson finished a transition opportunity with an absolute cannon blast from a tough angle to give the Bayhawks a three-goal cushion. The Rattlers survived a two-man down situation then scored on the other end to stay within striking distance, but the Bayhawks answered.
First-year midfielder Colton Watkinson barreled into the defense, forcing them to collapse on him, then found Kew all alone on the back side for a point-blank opportunity that made it 13-10 with 4:57 remaining. Dallas scored to cut the deficit back to two, but Chesapeake captured the ensuing faceoff and killed off most of the remaining time to come away with its third road win of the season. An attempt by the Rattlers to get off a tying 2-point shot was spoiled when the Bayhawks' long stick midfielder Sean Mayle stripped midfielder Adam Osika.
"We knew the schedule was front-end loaded with road games. To have three wins in four road games speaks to the character and toughness of our players," Cottle said.
The Chesapeake Bayhawks return home to Annapolis on July 20th for their 7:00 PM matchup against the New York Lizards for their Chesapeake Celebration Night. Tickets for this game are available at thebayhawks.com/tickets or can be purchased through the Chesapeake Bayhawks Ticket Office by calling 866-99-HAWKS or emailing sales@thebayhawks.com. Come early for the new Lexus Tailgate, starting at 4:30 PM, featuring music, a photo booth, games for kids, and complimentary Bud Light for ticket holders 21 and older.
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 Chesapeake BayHawks celebrate a goal |
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Major League Lacrosse Stories from July 14, 2019
- Stanwick Totals Four Points as BayHawks Rally to Beat Rattlers, 13-11 - Chesapeake Bayhawks
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