Major League Lacrosse :      July 6, 2002 [ The Game Story]
Boston Cannons 9 Baltimore Bayhawks 18 Scoring: Scoring: Michael Watson Conor Gill Mike Battista David Evans (4, 1) (2, 1) (2, 0) (1, 1) Josh Sims Gary Gait Tom Marechek Rob Shek Jarred Testa Mark Millon Jeff Sonke Jeffrey Wills (6, 0) (2, 3) (4, 0) (2, 0) (2, 0) (0, 2) (1, 0) (1, 0) Saves: Saves: Kevin O'brien 14  (0.438) Greg Cattrano 20  (0.690) Current Record :     (2-4) Current Record :     (6-2) Team Page For 2002 Team Page For 2002

Where did it all go wrong? The promise of the Boston Cannons looked... Well, promising. With season-opening 16-15 and 19-18 (OT) wins over Long Island and Bridgeport respectively, it seemed that the Cannons were able to finally strip the 2001-season’s-3-11-record monkey off their back. Last night, the seemingly unstoppable Bayhawks (6-2) rolled a snake eyes winning both games against the Cannons, 15-7 (July 4th) and 18-9 (July 6th) handing the Cannons their fourth consecutive loss. The maple syrup sweet Canadian-flavored attack made the loss a harder pill to swallow. Bayhawks’ Josh Sims (Princeton 00’) was the all-star for the evening racking in a modest six-point performance (including 2 2-point shots), while Baltimore keeper Greg Cattrano (Brown 97’) shined in the cage with 20 saves.

The Bayhawks (6-2) were the clear favorite entering the match against the Cannons (2-4). Baltimore has defeated Rochester twice (13-10 and 17-13), New Jersey (18-11), Bridgeport (15-7) and the Cannons twice (15-7 and 18-9). The Bayhawks have only dropped two games, one against Bridgeport (12-15) and New Jersey (17-22). Meanwhile, the Cannons have defeated Long Island (16-15) and Bridgeport (19-18 OT), and lost to Long Island (13-15) and Rochester (14-15). Boston will go head-to-head against the Pride for the first time this season later this week on July 12th in New Jersey. Unfortunately, the Boston club wasn’t able to get the ‘W’ for the 3,842 people on hand.

In their first meeting, Baltimore was able to hold Boston to an all time 2002 season low of seven goals in a game. The Cannons were completely blanked in the fourth quarter. The dynamics of the game were similar to last year’s games, which were a ‘tale of two halves.’ In the July 4th game, the first quarter belonged to Boston. The Cannons scored four goals to the Bayhawks’ two. Mark Millon (UMass 93’) had the hot hand on the evening with five points. Player/coach Gary Gait (Syracuse 91’) and Tom Marachek (Syracuse 93’) each had three goals and an assist. Baltimore goalie Greg Cattrano (Brown 97’) was the Bud Light MVP Player of the Game for both games against the Cannons.

The absence of keeper Bill Daye (UNC 93’) could not have come at a worse time. Daye was injured against Rochester after sustaining a ‘neck stinger.’ Daye did not play in either games against the Bayhawks. After consulting the team doctor, the return date is uncertain. Daye is scheduled for a second opinion on July 8th. Reserve goalie Kevin O’Brien (Georgetown 99’) has improved over the past two games. In his second outing against the Bayhawks, O’Brien tallied 14 saves. The problem however wasn’t in the cage. According to the game data, Boston out shot Baltimore 47-46 and was only 1-5 on EMO versus the Bayhawks who were 3-4. The only unwritten stat came from the unsung defensive efforts. Mark Millon, the Bayhawks' leading scorer, was held scoreless for the first time this season and had only one assist.

Boston went into the second half with a 7-6 lead but wasn’t able to sustain the momentum. Baltimore out scored the Cannons 6-1 in the 3rd and 4th. Josh Sims (Princeton 00’) had 6 pts, Tom Marachek (Syracuse 93’) 4 g, Gary Gait (Syracuse 91’) 3 g, Jarred Testa (Hofstra 98’) 2 g, Rob Shek (Towson St. 92’) 2g and Jeff Sonke (UNC 01’) 1g. Boston was led by Michael Watson (UVA 97’) with 4 g, 1 a, Mike Battista (Loyola 00’) 2 g, Connor Gill (UVA 02’) and David Evans (Brown 96’) 1g.

Bayhawk Paul Cantabene (Loyola 93’) faced off against David Jenkins (UVA 01’). Baltimore gained possession and worked the ball behind to Sean Radebaugh (Salisbury 95’). Jeff Sonke’s shot on goal went wide. Boston keeper Kevin O’Brien intercepted a telegraphed pass. Boston lit up the boards with their first goal from Connor Gill (UVA 02’) who scored within a minute and a half (1-0). Gill shot from left side top and pegged the bottom right corner. After a turnover in the lower Baltimore area, Boston converted on a fast break series. Connor Gill rifled a flat pass three steps into the box and hit Dave Evans (Brown 96’). Evans was coming downfield the right side and unleashed a fast and easy lefty in the bottom left corner (2-0). Boston scored one more time on a sweet shot from Watson who drove around the left side lip of the crease and sent in a touch one-handed lefty scoop shot that got by Cattrano (3-0). Baltimore responded with four unanswered goals. The first goal came from the “Original No. 22.” Gait rode the crease from behind and hit the lower left corner (1-3). Boston gained possession of the face off but then lost the ball on an over throw turnover. Baltimore broke it down into a 1-4-1 offense. Rob Shek (Towson 92’) worked his defender and rolled on his right side hip and tacked the bottom left corner (2-3). Josh Sims gave the Bayhawks the 1-pt. lead with a 2-pt. shot from up top that singed the lower left net (4-3). Boston middie Paul Talmo (UNH 90’) got yanked for slashing and Baltimore converted for the EMO goal. Mark Millon (UMass 93’) dished to Jarred Testa (Hofstra 98’) who was parked three-and-a-half steps outside of the crease. Testa finished with a righty bouncer that found a home in the lower left corner of the cage (5-3). Gait was called for slashing with :09 seconds left in the first period.

The Cannons were man-up going into the second quarter, but they were unable to convert for the goal. Each team traded possession and there was a slight slump in play. Boston finally broke the second period scoring seal with another Gill-Evans combo. Evans hit Gill with a leading pass. Gill finished with a nasty whip of a shot that hit lower right corner (4-5). The next goal was Baltimore’s only goal of the period and came from the Canadian wonder duo of Gait-Marachek. Gait hit Marachek who was on the right side of the crease. Marachek then fired away and hit the lower right corner (6-4). Boston responded with three goals to round out the period. Watson worked the crease hard and was mismatched against the very large crease d-man. After backing in, Watson turned and hit the Millon-esque poster shot jumper and tacked the lower right corner (5-6). Battista got the equalizer when he worked the screens from up top the 1-4-1 for the bottom right corner (6-6). Boston went ahead when Watson tipped the ball when Cattrano came out of the net (7-6).

Gait opened up the third with an EMO goal that hit upper 90 (7-7). Boston responded with their only goal of the quarter. The Cannons were man-up and worked the ball on O. Gill, Regan, Evans, Watson, Battista and Edell (in the hole) were on attack. Watson fed Battista on the right side and Battista finished with a bottom left crank (8-7). Baltimore responded with a transition goal from Josh Sims who sealed the deal with a lefty lower 90 bouncer (8-8). Marachek scored on a snagged rebound shot that this bottom left (9-8). Sims made a ridiculous shot on a right side crank that hit lower 90 (10-8). Cannons went two-men down with Battista and Byrnes called for penalties. Gait hit Testa who was picking daisies in the hole before he shot past O’Brien’s right hip (11-8). Cantabene dished off to Jeff Wills (JHU 92’) who hit lower left pocket for the Bayhawks’ final goal of the period (12-8)

Baltimore didn’t ease up on the discipline coming into the final quarter. Gait, in only the wait Gait can, flipped a tight pass to Sims who then just punished the ball from up top for the 2-pointer (14-8). Rob Shek followed up as he switched up R-L and moved in and out of traffic for the bottom right bouncer (15-8). Sonke scored with the most audible goal of the game. He cranked from the right side and hit the seam Kentucky Fried style. The ball dropped dead on impact (16-8). At this point, that intangible ‘somebody please make it stop’ feeling became somewhat tangible and audible in the crowd’s restlessness and spastic use of the horn. Marachek scored on a hip-high shot (17-8). Boston scored with less than two minutes in regulation. Watson got pegged as he was coming through a sea of sticks. He got past Cattrano’s shoulder (9-17). The final poetic shot of the game came from Marachek. Gait’s behind the back shot ricocheted off of O’Brien’s chest and Marachek was quick to follow with a behind the back of his own. Final score Baltimore 18 Boston 9.

On a more positive note, the season isn’t even half way over. Boston has eight more chances at redemption. The author always enjoys being shown otherwise, however historical data makes a semi-compelling story. Next up for Cannons is New Jersey and Long Island for Baltimore.

Boston Head Coach Scott Hiller’s wife had a better day at the office when her team, Team Fury, beat Team Vapor in the first ever Warrior Professional Women’s Lacrosse game. If you are into women’s lacrosse, it was best mix of old school, new school with boundaries and a shot clock. The rosters read like an All-American banquet meets a North-South senior game on steroids. Team Fury featured Sheehan Stankwick (Georgetown), Kelly Amonte-Hiller (UMD), Kellie Thompson (UNC), Cathy Nelson (UMD), Courtney “Martinez” Connor (UMD), Danielle Gallagher (William and Mary) – game MVP, Lauren Simone (Princeton), Stacey Morlang (Loyola), Bonnie Rosen (UVA), Tori Wellington and Alex Kahoe (UMD). Team Vapor featured (Joanne Connelly (Penn State), Sarah Nelson (Harvard), Cherie Greer (UVA), Julie Shaner (Princeton), newly anointed JMU coach Kellie Young (Holyoke), Erin Elbe and Bowen Holden (Georgetown), Jen Adams (UMD) and Crista Samaras (Princeton).