Hi ILWT Readers,
Another MLL weekend is now in the books, once again showcasing the league’s intense parity. After checking out the weekend’s scores, I can safely say that every MLL roster is incredibly talented and capable of winning against any opponent.
This week, the Cannons travelled up to Rochester to face the Rattlers in a Friday night contest. The six hour ride to Rochester reminds me of my first season in the league and certainly triggers some fond memories of that 2012 season. As two unknowns in the MLL, Tim Fallon (currently a Charlotte Hound) and I made multiple trips to the Flour (Flower) City, providing us with an ample amount of time on the open road. With Timmy and I competing for the same position on the roster, the long car ride to and from Boston certainly brought us closer as teammates and friends. But back to the weekend…
After an up tempo practice at the Total Sports Experience Thursday night and a brief walkthrough at Sahlen Stadium Friday morning, the team arrived at the locker exceptionally focused and prepared for the first face off. From the opening whistle to the game’s final shot, both teams displayed impressive defensive efforts. Each goalie, Jordan Burke of the Cannons and John Galloway for the Rattlers, did a tremendous job leading their defensive units and continually made big time saves. However, the biggest take away from the game was the determination that the Cannons displayed in the second half. After underachieving for the first 30 minutes of the game, the Cannons came out flying in the second half and narrowed the Rattlers’ lead. It was great to see how the team responded to Coach Tucker’s challenge at half time, which translated into multiple scoring opportunities.
Ultimately, we were unable to regain the lead from Rochester. The Cannons even had an opportunity to score a last second, game tying goal following a Rochester turnover. With 9 ticks left on the clock, Brent Adams cleared the ball over the mid-line and sprinted toward the two point arc, thus drawing a Rattler defender. As the defenseman rapidly approached Brent, he used a quick face dodge to avoid the defender and free up his hands from 12 yards out. John Galloway was able to deflect the shot and time expired as we attempted to corral the rebound.
As upsetting as the loss may be, there is certainly no time to dwell. Early victories in this league are crucial to the end of season standings, something our veteran laden team knows quite well. The loss will only reenergize the team’s focus as we face the Denver Outlaw this week, a team that’s riding a 22 game winning streak in the regular season. Saturday night at Harvard Stadium will be another critical fight in the long MLL season, and the Cannons will again be ready to compete at the highest level. Right on cue, I leave you with the departing quote of the week, “Don’t run away from a challenge. Instead, run toward it because the only way to escape fear is to trample it beneath your feet,” – Nadia Comaneci.
Crush the week.
