August 22, 2010
Cannons ousted in MLL semifinals
by Staff Report/
Kevin Buchanan and the Boston Cannons fell in the MLL semifinals against Chesapeake on Saturday, 13-9. (photo: Boston Cannons)
The Boston Cannons saw their season end in the Major League Lacrosse semifinals on Saturday, falling to the Chesapeake Bayhawks, 13-9, at U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis, Md.
The Cannons entered MLL’s Championship Weekend as the No. 1 seed, but had lost to the fourth-seeded Bayhawks twice during the regular season.
The Cannons led 2-1 in the first quarter on goals by rookie Max Quinzani and Kevin Buchanan, but a string of five straight goals between the first and second quarters – including a two-pointer – put Chesapeake up 7-2.
The Bayhawks kept rolling, adding three more goals after a Matt Poskay score for Boston to take a commanding 10-3 lead at the half.
The Cannons pulled MLL Goalkeeper of the Year Kip Turner in favor of Jordan Burke in the third quarter and the move paid off for Boston. Turner allowed 10 goals on 16 shots, while Burke turned away nine shots, giving up just a pair of scores.
Chesapeake made it 11-3 in the third quarter before the Cannons started to mount a comeback.
Buchanan made it 11-4 before Chesapeake answered to take a 12-4 lead, but the Cannons reeled off five straight goals – by Buchanan, Pat Heim, Ryan Boyle, Poskay and Boyle again – to make it 12-9 midway through the final quarter.
Boyle’s tally would be the Cannons’ final score of the game, however, as top-seeded Boston saw its championship hopes dashed.
Buchanan had three goals and assist for four points to lead the Cannons, while Boyle had two goals and an assist for three points.
Poskay, also MLL’s Offensive Player of the Year and leading scorer, was limited to two goals.
Boston midfielder Paul Rabil, who was a member of the 2010 All-MLL Team along with Poskay, was held scoreless.
Ben Hunt had three goals, including a two-pointer, for four points to lead Chesapeake, which will face Long Island on Sunday for the MLL championship.
Long Island defeated Denver in Saturday’s other semifinal, 16-12.
Chris Garrity made nine saves on 18 shots to record the victory in goal for Chesapeake.
