Major League Lacrosse :      September 1, 2001 [ The Game Story]
Baltimore Bayhawks 12 Boston Cannons 11 Scoring: Scoring: Dan Denihan Jarred Testa Matt Shearer Greg Mccavera Tom Marechek Dixon Dudley Rob Shek Paul Cantabene Gavin Prout Rob Doerr Mark Millon (0, 3) (2, 0) (1, 1) (2, 0) (2, 0) (2, 0) (1, 1) (1, 0) (0, 1) (0, 1) (1, 0) David Evans Tucker Radebaugh Tim Whiteley Bill Edell Scott Doyle Mike Battista Greg Traynor (3, 1) (3, 0) (1, 2) (1, 0) (1, 0) (1, 0) (0, 1) Saves: Saves: Greg Cattrano 19  (0.633) Bill Daye 19  (0.613) Current Record :     (11-4) Current Record :     (3-12) Team Page For 2001 Team Page For 2001       The Game Story:

Boston put up a good fight for the fans in attendance but still lost their fifth one goal game of the season 12-11 to the heavily favored Baltimore Bayhawks. Dudley Dixon scored the game winner on a dive from behind with 2:50 remaining in the game. The win pits the Bayhawks against the Long Island Lizards on Monday at 1pm in Bridgeport, CT. Tom Marechek is looking forward to playing against his old Syracuse teammates Paul and Gary Gait, "We [Baltimore] have to play how we did the first game...move the ball quickly and let the middies run."

Baltimore drew first blood with Matt Shearer putting a right-handed crank in the top left corner. Boston answered back with a wide-open Tucker Radebaugh converting a pass from David Evans. Evans then got one of his own as he popped it in the bottom right corner. This gave Boston a 2-1 lead and it was the last lead they would see all day as Baltimore peeled off the next three goals. Paul Cantabene got a shot off as he was being checked in the face for a goal. Baltimore took advantage of that penalty with Greg McCavera bouncing one past Boston goalkeeper Billy Daye. Daye made a great save on the Bayhawks next shot but Kenny Crowley couldn't hold on to his stick while clearing giving Baltimore a fast break which Jarred Testa completed to make the score 4-2. Tucker Radebaugh was able to get his second of the game when his defender over committed to one side allowing Tucker to spin and shoot right-handed all in one motion. The last goal of the quarter was by Marechek with a behind the back shot that was lightning quick.

Testa continued to stay hot with a behind the back goal of his own as he was cutting on the crease. Rookie Scott Doyle answered for the Cannons with a shot that caught Bayhawks goalie Greg Cattrano sleeping. Baltimore however ended up getting the last two goals of the first half for an 8-4 lead. Dixon had the first off a feed from Rob Shek then Shek himself had a goal that Daye couldn't get a handle on.

Boston was able to string three goals together in the beginning of the third quarter to put them back in the game. Bill Edell scored first with his eleventh goal of the season. Then Timmy Whiteley scored on a dive from behind and despite the protests from Cattrano the goal stood. Evans brought his team within one on a shot that had virtually no angle. It was hard to see how it possibly went in. Baltimore's final goal of the quarter is a real credit to Cattrano. Boston took a shot that bounced wide and Cattrano outran the lazy Boston attacker, who had a sizeable head start, to gain possession. McCavera took advantage of that opportunity for the Bayhawks and made the score 9-7.

Mark Million, who had been quiet all game, got his only goal when he took Brian Kuczma from behind. Mike Battista, another league "super-star" who was quiet not only this afternoon but also all season, converted a pass from Whiteley to bring the Cannons within two again. Marechek put the lead back to three by getting off a shot before the slide could get there. Credit Gavin Prout with the quality look and the assist. That goal made the score 11-8 with 8:20 to play. Boston knowing they were the underdogs could have easily packed it in at this point but instead they decided to make things interesting. Daye expressed his feelings, "I didn't want this to be our last half of the season...I wanted to play Monday." Boston got their first goal off a great ride by the attack giving Evans a one-on-one with Cattrano on which he was able to score. A minute and a half later Whiteley found Tucker Radebaugh open on the crease for a goal. Then University of Denver product Mike Law scored the game-tying goal with 4:49 remaining on a slow break. Boston won the face-off on an illegal procedure call against Cantabene. Boston's possession failed to produce any fruit and Baltimore regained the ball and called time-out. They came out in a settled offense and Dixon dove from behind for the game winner. Baltimore won the next face but took so much time clearing the ball that they had a shot clock violation giving the ball back to Boston with 1:08 remaining. Boston started to bring the ball up field when Brian Kuczma ran out of bounds but the officials generously said that Boston had called time-out allowing them to retain possession. Boston set up a play but unfortunately for them attackman Michael Watson completely overthrew his teammate and the ball sailed out of bounds sealing the victory for Baltimore.

Notes: The MLL announced its awards and here they are:
Merrill Lynch Coach of the Year - John Detomasso, LI Lizards
Bud Light League MVP - Ryan Powell, Rochester Rattlers
Warrior Offensive Player of the Year - John Grant, Jr., Rochester Rattlers
Warrior Defensive Player of the Year - Rob Doerr, Baltimore Bayhawks
Warrior Goalie of the Year - Greg Cattrano, Baltimore Bayhawks
League Rookie of the Year - Keith Cromwell, Bridgeport Barrage