Bayhawks Drop Third In A Row

By Tom Peace

After the Chesapeake Bayhawks dropped their second game in a row June 24, they viewed the week and a half leading up to their July 4 game against Denver as a good chance to regroup and prepare for the Outlaws.

What they may not have prepared for was a crowd of 23,433 at INVESCO Field. The Outlaws fed off their home crowd and a stellar three-goal game from defender Matt Bocklet to defeat the Bayhawks for the second time this season, 12-10.

"With Matt scoring three goals, it's pretty huge for a long-stick defender to do that," said Outlaws head coach Brian Reese in the team press release. "He scored some huge goals and got the momentum going."

The first two quarters of play were pretty close and both teams went back and forth, tying the game up five times in the first half. The Bayhawks showed some offensive power through the second quarter, taking a 6-4 lead with help from midfielder Ben Rubeor. Denver fought back with two straight goals to tie it up, 6-6, heading into halftime.

Just 12 seconds into the third quarter, Bocklet continued the momentum swing with his third goal of the game. Bocklet was named Bud Light MVP for his three-goal game and also scooping up five groundballs.

The Outlaws scored four more goals to take an 11-6 lead halfway through the third quarter. Outlaws midfielder Max Seibald secured his third hat trick of the season in the five-goal surge. Rubeor finally stopped the bleeding with his third goal, which was followed by Chazz Woodson's second goal to cut the lead to 11-8 to end the third period. Then it started to rain, forcing fans to take cover.

Chesapeake opened the fourth quarter with a goal from Danny Glading, but the Bayhawks' scoring drive was cut short due to a 30-minute lighting delay. Glading tried to keep the scoring drive going once play resumed with his second goal of the game, but the Outlaws responded with a goal of their own to give Denver a two-goal lead, 12-10. With the rain pouring down the rest of the way, the sloppy conditions made it tough for either team to score and the Outlaw defense slammed the door shut on the Bayhawks' attack, giving Denver the 12-10 victory.

"This game was awesome," Reese said in the press release. "I wish the weather would have been better, but those guys stuck it out and were enthusiastic the whole time."

Bayhawks goalie Chris Garret had 21 saves in the loss. The loss is the third straight for the Bayhawks as they fall to 4-4 on the season. With the win, Denver improves to 5-3 and tied for first place with Boston. The Bayhawks return home to play the Cannons, July 10.

Posted July 6, 2010