Tom Marechek has had a frustrating summer on the field. The soon-to-be 38-year-old Baltimore attackman finally made it back onto the field for the Bayhawks after nursing a torn right hamstring since mid-June.
In his return to action in Boston Saturday, Marechek notched two one-point goals and one two-pointer as Baltimore lost, 23-16, and was finally eliminated from the Major League Lacrosse playoffs. While Marechek has been away from the team, the Bayhawks struggled with inconsistency, going 2-4, and winless on the road.
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“It was my first full game in a long time,” Marechek said. “[The hamstring] was good. But it was not good that we lost.”
Marechek said that he felt ready to play last Wednesday.
“It was sore,” he said. “I really badly tore my hamstring back in June. I just could not go. It was frustrating ? I am not going to lie.”
“I think the best thing was not having anybody touch it for two weeks, especially myself,” he continued. “I have not done a thing with my hamstring since the World games, so I was a little apprehensive about playing.”
Marechek saw limited action for Team Canada as they defeated Team USA for the first time since 1978 in the International Lacrosse Federation World Championships last month.
“It was like the monkey off my back,” he said. “It was the one thing I had never won.”
Marechek said his hamstring now feels fine and that he is looking forward to closing the season at home against Philadelphia.
“It was definitely a rebuilding year for us,” Marechek said. “We had a lot of young guys and new faces. It is the kind of team that we needed one year under our belt.”
The Syracuse University alumnus said that he would definitely be back for the following season.
“If I quit, it will be harder to come back later and play, so why not keep playing?” Marechek said. “I can still put up some numbers and contribute to the team.”
MARECHEK MENDED
» In the game Marechek tore his hamstring, Baltimore won 14-9 over Rochester. Marechek had three goals and an assist before leaving the game.
» Through six seasons in the MLL, all with the Bayhawks, Marechek has 224 points, 164 goals and 68 assists.
» Marechek was frustrated with being injured, but he did have something to be happy about during that span. His wife, Catherine, gave birth to the couple?s first son several weeks ago.
