Week four of the North American Lacrosse League season is here, and though we have just one game, it might be the biggest game of the season thus far. Baltimore faces Boston, and there are all sorts of storylines.
Playing for First
This will be the first ever battle for first place in the North American Lacrosse League. The top seed in this league is key to get a bye in the playoffs, and one of these two teams will likely get it. Baltimore is in first at 2-0 while Boston is 2-1, and currently Baltimore holds the tiebreaker as well. A Baltimore win might seal first place while a Boston will propel them into the top seed.
No Lao-Gosneys, Simon
Both teams will be without some key players. Cameron and Roman Lao-Gosney will be out for Boston as they play for Team USA on Sunday while Baltimore will be without key defender Mike Simon who led the team with six loose balls last week. The Lao-Gosney’s have been key scorers for Boston as well, leaving a big void.
Schroeder Back in Net
Nick Schroeder missed last week’s game for Boston but Vince Talbot played brilliantly in his place, holding the Kentucky Stickhorses to just nine goals. Schroeder played in week two against the Bombers, allowing seventeen goals to the high flying Baltimore offense.
Marhol and Nadelin In the Mix
Last time Baltimore faced the Rockhoppers they were without top defender Shaun Nadelin and top scorer Dan Marhol. The former 80 point scorer in the NLL Marhol scored two goals against the Rhode Island Kingfish last week and gives Boston something new to worry about on defense, while Nadelin will make scoring tougher for them especially as they are without two of their top scorers.
New Atmosphere for Boston
Boston has played in two NALL arenas; Freedom Hall in Kentucky three times, and the New England Sports Center twice. Now for the first time they will play in Du Burns Arena in Baltimore as they play the Bombers. Baltimore got a crowd of less than 1,000 last week, but with no NFL action this Sunday they are expected to draw a bigger crowd.
