The MegaWhales continued their rebound from an 0-4 start by dropping the defending-champion Blazers 16-9, setting up what should be a pressure-packed playoff run for four teams in the Boston Box Lacrosse League.
In other BBLL action from Dec. 11 at South Shore Sports Center in Hingham, Mass., Bullseye’s 14-11 win over PrimeTime, when coupled with the Blazers’ loss, ensured that Bullseye will finish atop the regular-season standings no matter the results of its final four games.
As for the rest of the league, however, the last four games of the regular season will prove decisive, which the MegaWhales ensured with their victory. The two teams started evenly and played to a 6-6 tie at halftime with Kyle Baker’s three goals pacing the Blazers while six different MegaWhales found the back of the net.
Scott Corcoran scored twice and fed Greg Melaugh for a third goal as the MegaWhales opened a three-goal edge over the first six minutes of the second half. Baker’s fourth goal of the game closed the gap, but the MegaWhales’ Mike Maggio had a quick response and took over down the stretch, scoring four times and never allowing the Blazers a chance to mount a comeback.
Maggio and Corcoran both finished with four goals and one assist to lead the way in the win, but Sam Houston-Read added two goals and two helpers and Sam Ozycyz, Luke Ernst, Greg Melaugh and Eric Swanson all contributed at least two points on the night. Greg Rogowski – the league’s points leader – and Baker both scored four goals in the loss.
In the opener, Bullseye opened a 5-1 lead on the strength of four man-up goals, and while it allowed PrimeTime to make the score close it controlled the tempo throughout en route to a 14-11 win.
Will Walker led the way with three goals and three assists, while Todd Zahurak added a hat trick and john Uppgren, Kyle Smith and Greg Lally had mult-point nights. Bullseye’s two face-off men – Joe Nardella and Nah Rak – each corralled 10 loose balls and scored a fast-break goal off a draw within seconds of a PrimeTime score, helping to stall comebacks. Cody O’Donnell contributed four caused turnovers in leading the stifling defense.
PrimeTime was led by Nick Samson’s hot outside shooting, as he eclipsed his total goal output from four games with a five-goal showing in the loss. Spencer Low and Kyle Minaker both added two goals, and Brendan Grant and Alex Zomerfeld each added a goal and several assists. Jeff Smith made 34 saves to keep PrimeTime in the game; his team only put 35 shots on net in the game.
With each team now having played eight games, the league statistical categories are almost as close as its standings. Will Jennings of the Minutemen has 27 goals, two ahead of Bullseye’s Walker and four up on the Blazers’ Rogowski in the goal-scoring race. Rogowski – though he trails Bullseye’s John Uppgren and the MegaWhales’ Dan Hettler in assists – leads the league in total points.
Nardella’s 96 loose balls represent a lead of 33 over PrimeTime’s Alex Bunick. Only 18 players in the league even have 33 loosies on the season.
Bullseye’s aggressive defense shows up in the caused-turnover statistics, where Jack Korzelius leads the league with 17 takeways, followed by teammate Rob Haus with 12. Minutemen Rob Murray and Ryan Murphy are the only other players in double-digits in that category.
In a change to the season schedule, games will be played on December 18; the adjust schedule – with changes made to accommodate upgrades being made at South Shore Sports Center – is now available on the BBLL web site. Next week, both games will decide the season series between the participants, as the Blazers take on the Minutemen and the MegaWhales face off with PrimeTime.
The Boston Box Lacrosse League, a member of US Indoor Lacrosse, plays at South Shore Sports Center in Hingham. For stats, standings and more information on the league, go to BostonBoxLax.com. The league posts announcements and commentary on Twitter and can be followed @BostonBoxLax.
South Shore Sports Center is located at 55 Recreation Park Drive in Hingham; fans and friends can watch games from the arena seating or at the Skybox Lounge, where food and drinks are served. Information is available atsouthshoresportscenter.com.
Read about last week’s action here.
