The 2016 Baltimore Indoor Lacrosse League championship game was held on Tuesday, November 29th at the Myers Pavillion, and we were there in person to tape and call the game! This is the BILL’s 31st season, and the league has run in Baltimore since 1985. A couple of the guys on the floor have played in 10+ seasons, and veterans like Scott Prestridge (RT) and Shawn Nadelen (RD) have each likely played in 10 championship games alone. There are also plenty of MLL and NLL pros playing, so the quality is quite high, and a lot of fun to watch. Larry Fila does a wonderful job of running this league and putting box first in Baltimore!
2016 Baltimore Indoor Lacrosse League Finals
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Team Rebel (last title in 2014) took on First Mariner (last title in 2015) for a rubber match of sorts, to see who could make it two out of three championships. These two teams have both made the finals for the last 3 years, so it wasn’t a shocker when the two made it to the main event in 2016.
For the 2016 edition, we got a slugfest. It was back and forth all night, and while Rebel held a 2 goal lead late in the game (6-4), First Mariner stormed back to score two goals in the last 3 minutes, forcing OT. In OT it was a Towson alum to Towsom alum connection that got First Mariner the win.
If I had to give out MVP awards, I’d go with Brian Kusterer (goalie) as my Defensive MVP and Max Siskin (RF) as my Offensive MVP. Buggs Combs (LF) was a very close second for Offensive MVP.
The only thing I couldn’t figure out was why more Baltimore area guys don’t play in this league. I live in Brooklyn and I’m considering driving down next season for games. If this were in my backyard? I’d be on this so hard. East Coast Dyes, STX, Paul Rabil, Chespeake Bayhawks, Inside Lacrosse… form up teams, get involved. Grow the Game. Grow the BOX Game! It’s a no brainer.
In case you were wondering, here are the rosters for both teams, with colleges, pro teams, or other info, where I could find it. It’s probably 90% accurate? It’s still a men’s league… I did my best here.
First Mariner
Forwards: Buggs Combos (Maryland, MLL), Rob Bookhammer (Salisbury), Max Siskin (Towson), Randy Belton (Frederick Douglass HS), Spencer Parks (Towson), Alex McGovern, Bradley Jones (Mount St. Mary’s, Hungarian National team)
Defense: Shawn Nadelen (Towson HC, former USA player), John Ciliberto (Delaware), Benn McCarthy, Pat Laconi (Loyola), Zach Clark (Stevenson), Joe Fletcher (Loyola, NY Lizards), Pat Conroy (Towson), Casey Schattner (Ithaca), Pat Frasier (Loyola)
Goalie: Brian Kusterer
Rebel
Forwards: Garrett Ince (Canadian via UVA), Ryan Wheeler (USA box, Manhattan), Andrew Wasik (Pace, NLL, MLL) Ben Todd (England), Eric Boyle (Maryland), Jordan Hall (NLL player), Dane Smith (Nanaimo), Ryan Boothe
Defense: Trey Wilkes (Ohio State), Jeromey Rualo (Mount St. Mary’s), Mike Poerstel, Steven Personale, Chris Hower, Andy Morris, Sean Carroll, Joch Rachman (MCLA at FSU, Army Ranger), Erik Holt (former LB at Penn State), Scott Prestridge (Bucknell)
Goalie: Sean Tobin
