The postseason is a long shot. The Bayhawks will play their last road game of the season Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Boston Cannons and need an unlikely series of events in the final two weeks of Major League Lacrosse play to advance to the playoffs.
The Bayhawks, tied with three other teams at 4-6 in the Eastern Conference, played second-place Boston (7-3) at home a month ago and defeated the Cannons, 19-12, in what Bayhawk players and coaches consider the team?s best game of the season.
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“We were successful the last time we played them,” said head coach Scott Hiller. “But we cannot rely on that.”
If the Bayhawks win their last two games, there is a remote possibility that a 6-6 record ? even with tiebreakers ? could land them in the playoffs. In the MLL, the winners of each conference are joined by the two teams with the best overall records. Right now,Boston is a lock at 7-3, but Baltimore, Rochester, Long Island and New Jersey ? all at 4-6 ? are trying to catch San Francisco at 6-4.
“We are not talking about the playoffs,” Hiller said. “But if by some stretch of the imagination we make them, then great. We need to focus on ourselves, and we need to build the foundation for next year.”
“The thing we need to experience is winning a road game,” he added. “It?s our last one of the year; it?s our last chance.”
Hiller said the key to victory is shutting down Cannons attackman Conor Gill and to score early on goalie Chris Garrity.
“[Shawn] Nadelen did a great job last game covering Gill,” Hiller said. “We need to make sure we don?t let him have a huge night or huge impact in the game.”
Bayhawks attackman Mark Millon knows the situation.
“We have an extremely long shot at the playoffs,” he said. “There is no reason to sweat it and say we have to win. We are just going to go up there and play.”
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
» This season?s road woes are a new thing for the Bayhawks franchise. Since the league began in 2001, the Baltimore is 24-7 in games away from home during the regular season.
» On the road this season, the Bayhawks have been outscored on average by more than eight goals per game and have a goals-against average of 21.2.
» Baltimore has an 10-5 overall record against the Cannons, with a 6-2 mark when playing in Boston.
