On June 22, the Charlotte Hounds will host the defending champion Chesapeake Bayhawks in their first battle of the 2013 season. The two teams split the series last season – with the Bayhawks winning the first game 15-7 and then the Hounds bounced back in game 2 and won 13-12 after a last minute Matt Danowski two-pointer. Through the first seven games of the season the Hounds are second in the league in scoring offense, and the Bayhawks lead the league in two-pointers. Both teams are coming into the game with a loss, as the Hounds lost at home to the Boston Cannons 15-13 and the Bayhawks lost to the undefeated Denver Outlaws 13-9.
The Hounds offense is led by new-acquisition Ryan Young, who comes into the game with a team-leading 21 points (16 goals, 5 assists). Young has been explosive on the attack-end for the Hounds; using his quickness to blow past defenders from behind the net and catch the goalie off guard (see his franchise record 7-goal game against the Rattlers). He couldn’t do it all by himself though and fortunately for him he doesn’t have to with veterans like Peet Poillon and Matt Danowski helping. Poillon is second on the team with 20 points (14 goals (3 two-pointers), 3 assists) and Danowski is third with 18 points (14 goals (1 two-pointer), 3 assists). Defensively for the Hounds, veteran Ryan Flanagan has been a turnover machine, and shows no sign of slowing up. Flanagan leads a talented group of defensemen that includes Brett Schmidt, Joe Cinoskiy, Ricky Pages and rookie Mason Poli. All-star goalie Adam Ghitelman has been having a slow year so far, averaging 11.66 goals against and stopping just under 50% of the shots he faces (45%).
Chesapeake’s offense is full of veterans – that are still getting it done. Currently in his seventh MLL season, midfielder Ben Rubeor leads the team with 23 points (18 goals, 5 assists), but is closely followed by Drew Westervelt and Kyle Dixon. Westervelt (in his eighth season) is second on the team with 21 points (15 goals, 6 assists) and two-point monster Dixon (ninth season) has 20 points so far (5 goals (4 two-pointers), 11 assists). Dixon’s four two-point goals lead the league in that category, although he is only one ahead of the Hounds’ Poillon. Brian Spallina and Nicky Polanco lead a very talented defense that is a huge help to the league’s top goalie, Kip Turner. Through seven games Turner leads the league in both goals against (9.11 per game) and save percentage (62%) and shows no sign of slowing down.
Chesapeake enters the game against the Hounds with a (4-3) record, while the Hounds have opposite that, a (3-4) record. When the two played in Charlotte last year, Danowski played hero and made a two-point goal with just 22 seconds left and definitely looks to do it again. Both teams are great from the two-point range and the game will come down to which defense is able to defend those goals the best. Charlotte’s Ghitelman will need to break out of his slump and stop the high-scoring Bayhawks if he wants to lead his team to victory, while Chesapeake’s Adam Rand will need to control the face-off X and secure positions for his offense if they want to be victorious.
