ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 25, 2015) – The Chesapeake Bayhawks used a final run in the fourth quarter to top the Charlotte Hounds 15-13 on Saturday night. Chesapeake’s head coach, Dave Cottle, ended his MLL coaching career with one final win, as he plans to join the front office management of the Bayhawks in 2016. Ben Rubeor was named Coca-Cola Player of the game following his five point (4g, 1a) performance, while Joe Walters added two goals and five assists and Drew Westervelt tallied three goals and two assists. Tyler Fiorito had 18 saves for the Bayhawks, with Niko Amato adding two in the second half, while Pierce Bassett made 19 saves for the Hounds. Joey Sankey played a stand out game with four goals, keeping the score close throughout the game.
Chesapeake’s Charlie Raffa won the first draw on a procedure call to start the game. Soon there after, Westervelt scored an outside shot from about 14 yards out. John Haus then hit one top side on a crease roll. Chesapeake went on a three-goal streak with scores from Rubeor, Matt Danowski and Westervelt. Sankey got a feed from Cunningham behind adding a point for the Hounds, followed by a two pointer from Pat Laconi, which was the result of Henry Lobb’s caused turnover on the defensive end. Matt Abbott added one more to put Chesapeake up by one at the end of the first quarter (5-4). The Hounds seemed to be struggling on the faceoff, with Raffa leading draws 8-1 at the end of the quarter.
At the end of the first, two illegal sticks calls against the Hounds gave the Bayhawks a six-minute man up situation, which carried over into the second quarter. But the Hounds’ defense was able to hold Chesapeake from scoring within the power play time. Abbott scored the first of quarter with an assist from Walters, putting Chesapeake up by 2. Terry Kimener then broke down the defense and put the Hounds back on the board with 6:40 left in the half. Walters fed another to Matt Donovan from top to bottom for a goal right on the crease. Garrett Thul, who made his season debut for the Hounds after finishing US Army Ranger School, tied up the game with the Hounds’ second two pointer.
Chesapeake put in Amato, who had not played yet this season, at goal for the third quarter. Walters began the quarter with back-to-back assists to Rubeor and Westervelt. Sankey knocked in two more, tying the game again with three minutes remaining in the third. Walters scored off a screen before Kimener fed Mike Sawyer on the inside at the end of the shot clock. Sankey added his fourth with 10 seconds left to give the Hounds their first lead of the game. However, Raffa took the ball all the way from the faceoff to tie it up with only 4.3 seconds left in the quarter.
Fiorito was put back in goal to finish the game off for the Bayhawks. The first five minutes of the quarter went back and forth without a goal until John Haus scored despite a penalty that left him in the crease. Sawyer added another side arm shot making it 13-11 Hounds with 8:24 left in the game. Danowski and Rubeor answered back scoring one each, tying it once again. With 3:15 remaining, fast break offense put Chesapeake back on top, Westervelt to Rubeor. The Hounds then pulled Bassett out of the goal to try to cause a turnover, which ended up giving Walters an opportunity to shoot on an open net, finishing the game with a two-point deficit.
The Hounds now enter the offseason with two first-round and three second-round picks in the 2016 MLL Collegiate Draft, scheduled for early January 2016. Meanwhile, the New York Lizards, Ohio Machine, Rochester Rattlers and Boston Cannons continue on to the postseason. MLL semi-final games will be played on Aug. 1 and the MLL Championship will be played at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga., on Aug. 8.
About Charlotte Hounds
In January 2011, Major League Lacrosse announced a league expansion for the 2012 season that included Columbus, OH and Charlotte, NC. The Charlotte Hounds began play in 2012 at historic American Legion Memorial Stadium. The organization is dedicated to growing the sport of lacrosse in Charlotte and the Carolinas, as well as providing a unique sports environment that entertains and embraces fans.
For more information, please visit www.charlottehounds.com