Midfielder Ben Hunt totaled five points while goalkeeper Tyler Fiorito recorded 16 saves, but a gutsy effort by the Chesapeake Bayhawks came up just short as the New York Lizards pulled out a 15-14 win at James M. Shuart Stadium on Long Island.
Hunt did all his damage in the third quarter, scoring four goals with one a 2-pointer. Fiorito stood tall all day in the face of 46 shots, a whopping 31 of which were on target. Crease attackman Jack Rice scored three goals while lefty attackman Ben Rubeor added two for Chesapeake, which fell to 3-2 and is now tied with Rochester for second place in Major League Lacrosse.
“New York is the best team in the league right now and clearly we’re right there with them,” Chesapeake head coach Dave Cottle said. “Our guys gave great effort and kept battling the whole way. We found out that we can control how good we can be. When we manage the shot clock properly and get good looks we’re pretty good.”
Attackman Matt Danowski continued to shine as playmaker for the Bayhawks, dishing off four assists. Midfielders Matt Abbott and Matt Mackrides contributed a goal and assist apiece in the difficult road defeat.
Chesapeake just had no answer for New York’s Greg Gurenlian, one of the greatest faceoff specialists in MLL history. Gurenlian lived up to his nickname of “Beast” by winning 28 of 32 draws to repeatedly give the Lizards possession and prevent the Bayhawks from going on a run.
“We’ve got to get better on the faceoffs. At the same time, it wasn’t as bad as the numbers would indicate because six or seven times (Gurenlian) gave it right back to us,” Cottle said. “I thought C.J. Costabile did a good job of hounding him and forcing some immediate turnovers. C.J. has been a really good player for us so far.”
Attackman Rob Pannell totaled six points on four goals and two assists while goalie Drew Adams stopped 14 shots for first place New York (6-0), which has a 2 ½ game lead.
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