Toronto Nationals Outlast Washington Bayhawks
Published on June 4, 2009 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Hamilton Nationals News Release
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Toronto Nationals wouldn't let the rain stop them as they beat the Washington Bayhawks by a score of 17-15 Thursday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. This is Toronto's second win in Annapolis this season, as they extend their record to 3-1.
Washington's Kyle Dixon and Scott Urick opened scoring for the Bayhawks on a set of powerplay goals. Nationals leading goal scorer, Merrick Thomson returned to the starting line-up for Toronto scoring back-to-back goals; the first off a stellar pass from long pole Nick O'Hara, six minutes into the quarter and the second unassisted a minute and a half later. Joe Walters scored next for Toronto, putting one past Chris Garrity in Washington's net.
Jed Prossner tied it up at three, but Walters wouldn't be shown up, and scored again for the Nationals. Jordan Hall made it five to end the first with Toronto up by two.
Rob Scherr made dramatic saves in net for the Nationals, diving and flailing, turning away the Bayhawks attempts. Tom Montour struck next for Toronto followed by Thomson's third of the game.
Rookie Danny Gladding scored his first Major League Lacrosse goal for Washington, followed by Prossner's second, and one from Kevin Buchanan to bring Washington up to six after ten scoreless minutes for their offence.
Hall fought back for the Nationals scoring Toronto's fifth unassisted goal of the night. Scherr was great at controlling his defence, but couldn't stop Prossner as he jet past Walters for his third goal. As time wound down in the second Jeff Zywicki fired one past Garrity at the buzzer to put Toronto up 9-7 after 30 minutes of play.
Scherr headed to the bench with 11 saves in the first half, replaced in Toronto's net by closer Brett Queener. Queener lasted only six minutes, before a cleat to the knee sidelined him in favour of Scherr. The third quarter was dominated by defence as 7:42 scoreless minutes passed. Walters drowned his third of the night to end the scoring drought and Urick beat Scherr to answer back for the Bayhawks.
A bandaged Queener jumped back in net, unable to stop Kevin Huntley and two from Dixon as Washington regained the lead. Jordan Levine tied it back up, followed by O'Hara's first goal of the season and a dramatic shot from Geoff Snider in the last seconds to give Toronto the 13-11 lead going into the fourth.
Zywicki opened scoring in the fourth with a shorthanded goal after Garrity deflected shots by Walters and Gary Gait. Buchanan scored his second to bring the Bayhawks back into the game after four straight Toronto goals. The pouring rain couldn't stop Walters as he netted his fourth of the evening. The back-and-forth continued with Dixon and Huntley evening the game at 15.
With just under three minutes of play Levine gets his second, continuing the scoring see-saw. Walters followed up with his fifth with 39 seconds on the clock to extend Toronto's lead to two. The game ended with Toronto winning 17-15, reminiscent of May 15's match when Toronto won 17-16 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in their inaugural game.
The Nationals were led by Joe Walters; his five goal performance earned him Bud Light MVP honours for the game. Rob Scherr played 33:34 minutes, collecting 12 saves on 20 shots and Brett Queener recorded the win turning away 10 of Washington's 16 shots in his 26:26 minutes in goal.
Kyle Dixon led the Bayhawks with three goals, one two-point goal, and an assist. Chris Garrity played all 60 minutes in Washington's net making 16-of-33 saves.
For all game statistics please visit the Point Streak Website: Toronto @ Washington Boxscore
The Nationals head home to BMO Field with Washington in tow for the back end of their home-and-home series next Saturday, June 13. Faceoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET. Please note this time has changed from 7:00 p.m. on the original season schedule.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 4, 2009
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