In a game that was one for the ages the Chesapeake Bayhawks used a barrage of 10 shots in the final fifteen minutes to outscore the Nationals 5-1 to defeat the Hamilton Nationals 13-12 in front of 4,228 fans at PPL Park to earn a a spot in today’s Championship game against the Charlotte Hounds.
For sixty minutes these teams battled every second of the way. Largest lead the entire game was by three when Hamilton took an 11-8 lead to start the final quarter. Bayhawk goaltender Kip Came up big in the final minute to preserve the win.
Michael Kimmel was named star of the game for his four point effort (3G/ 1-2pt goal). Kimmel scored the game winner at 13:35 off of a pass from Casey Powell (1G/1A). Kimmel started the game by firing a two pointer to get the scoring going at 4:02. After the opening goal the rest of the first quarter belonged to the Nationals as took a 3-2 lead.
The second quarter was much of the same as Ben Hunt (2G/1A) tied the game at 1:57. Kevin Cunningham and Martin Cahill (2G/1A each) gave the Nationals a two goal lead. John Grant Jr (2G/1) and Drew Westervelt (2 G) finished the scoring as we went into the half tied at six. For Chesapeake to be tied at the half had to be a blessing as they gave the Nationals five power plays and allowed three goals.
Hamilton opened up the third quarter when Cody Jamieson scored his only goal of the game at 5:14, but the Bayhawks responded quickly as Casey Powell and Ben Rubeor scored twelve seconds apart and give the lead and temporarily the momentum to the Bayhawks.
The momentum didn’t last long as Hamilton tallied four times in a span of 2:10 as Joe Walters (2G/3A), Josah Amidon (2G), and Brodie Merrill (1G) all scored to give the Nationals an 11-8 lead and a huge momentum boost going into the final quarter.
The final fifteen
minutes saw Grant & Westervelt open the scoring to bring the Bayhawks within one at 11-10. League MVP/Offensive player of the year Kevin Crowley(2G/1A) would score the Nationals only goal of the quarter and unfortunately their last of the season.
Bayhawks scored the final three of the game as Kimmel and Steven Brooks helped push the Bayhawks to the Championship game once again.
