The 2011 Major League Lacrosse Championship is set, and it will be the Hamilton Nationals who will face off with the Boston Cannons tomorrow, after their 11-9 win over the Denver Outlaws.
The second semifinal of Saturday’s MLL Championship Weekend action started much like the first, with the Nationals taking an early 6-1 lead. But the Outlaws came back, just like the Cannons, to make the score 6-5 at the half.
The Nats pulled a way a bit in the third quarter, building a 10-6 lead, but Billy Bitter’s third goal of the game cut the score to 10-8 in Hamilton’s favor going into the fourth.
A goal from Peet Poillon at the 12:49 mark made the score 10-9 Nationals. The comeback had begun, just like the game that took place before. With 8:42 left, Casey Powell, who joined the Nationals two weeks ago, put in a goal to give the Nats a 11-9 lead they would not relinquish.
The rain and Hurricane Irene elements were definitely a factor in this game, with the turf wet several players were slipping and sliding. Jesse Schwartzman, the Outlaws goaltender, had a very rough time, despite being the best goalie in MLL this season, statistically.
The Nationals and Cannons will face off for the MLL Championship at 3 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and The Lacrosse Radio Network via In Lax We Trust, with pregame coverage (by me) starting at 2:15 p.m. Sunday.
For more: http://www.sbnation.com/2011/8/27/2388367/major-league-lacrosse-2011-championship-weekend
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