For the second consecutive season, the Chesapeake Bayhawks ended the season against the Charlotte Hounds (last season’s tilt was in the championship game). With the win, the Bayhawks move to 5-9 on the season, while Charlotte ended with a record of 4-10. The Hounds lasted the summer without a win on the road.
Ben Hunt scored to start the contest, which was the first of four consecutive for the home team. Jack Rice scored his first goal with the Bayhawks to complete the run. After Matt Danowski opened the scoring for the Hounds to cut the lead to 4-1, the Bayhawks ran off the next two to finish the quarter 6-1 in their favor.
For each goal that Charlotte would score, the Bayhawks would counter with two of their own. Drew Westervelt started the second quarter with a goal before Danowski answered for the visitors. Tyler Fiorito lost a deflected two-point shot to cut the lead in half, but Chesapeake would score two consecutive. At the half, the Bayhawks were in control by a score of 12-5.
Charles Street Rivals, Pierce Bassett and Jake Runkel, both came out to start the second half in goal for their respective teams. Bassett had seen regular time earlier in the season for Charlotte and Runkel was making his debut for the Bayhawks. The visiting Hounds got on the board first with Josh Hawkins scoring to cut into the seven-goal lead. Westervelt converted on a two-minute power play to again put the lead to seven. The Hounds just could not keep up with the scoring of the defending champions, as they would close the quarter ahead, 19-8.
The final quarter was all Charlotte, as they would score five while holding the home team in check with zero goals. The difference was just too much to overcome and the end of the season was staring the Hounds down. Both teams closed the game as the bottom two in the league, with the winner claiming seventh place.
The Bayhawks split time in goal between Tyler Fiorito and Jake Runkel, while the Hounds had Adam Ghitelman starting and Pierce Bassett in relief. Drew Westervelt paced the Bayhawks, as he finished the game with three goals, three assists. Matt Danowski led Charlotte with three goals (one two-pointer) for four points on the night.
Both teams will be watching Championship Weekend at home and next will focus on the January draft. The semifinal action starts next weekend, as a new champion will be crowned for the first time in two years.
