The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Hammerheads look ahead after loss
Playing more than four hours away from Fairfield University’s Rafferty Stadium and without a fan in the stands, there was going to be a surreal aspect to the first game in franchise history for Major League Lacrosse’s Connecticut Hammerheads.
With nearly half the Hammerheads roster making their MLL debuts in
Saturday night’s debut against Denver, there were expected to be some growing pains.
A talented group of Denver offensive threats and an aggressive defensive strategy resulted in the first Hammerheads game ending with an 18-6 loss.
“We’ll build on it,” Connecticut coach Bill Warder said. “A lot of simple mistakes that are just execution errors, just focus errors so we will take care of that.”
The Hammerheads committed seven of the 23 turnovers in the first quarter as Denver jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the opening 15 minutes and took the 10-3 lead at halftime.
“We were down [10-3] at halftime and we were really vocal talking about what we had to do as a unit, not focus on the score, not focus on offensive side of
the ball but just focus on ourselves and that is what we did,” said defender Greg Weyl, one of 10 players who saw game action with the 2019 Dallas Rattlers. “The fourth quarter, we really felt we anchored it down so we hope that momentum can lead into the game on Monday.”
Two of the returning players helped give the offense a lift.
Cody Radziewicz had back-to-back goals in the second quarter while Bradley Voigt had three goals, all in the second half.
“The more we play together, the more chemistry we are going to have together,” Voigt said. “We are going to watch some film and Monday’s game, we are going to be able to play with each other again.”
New Canaan’s Michael Kraus, the No. 2 overall pick in the MLL Draft, had trouble finding room to operate against the Denver defense. He had his lone shot on goal as time expired in the first period, two ground balls and seven turnovers.
“There are definitely some flashes, some signs of potential,” Voigt said of Kraus. “I think he just needs to get a little bit more comfortable, just the ball in the stick a little bit more. I think he is trying to be unselfish a little bit too much. I think on Monday, I think we are going to put the ball on his stick a little bit more and we’ll see what he can do.”
Wilton’s Michael Brown was the first player Warder mentioned as being a bright spot and he wasn’t alone in praising the 17th overall pick in the MLL Draft.
“Michael Brown was phenomenal,” Weyl said. “He was clearing the ball, he was taking the ball away with the short stick so that was something that you can take advantage of.”
The Hammerheads face Philadelphia on Monday at 4 p.m. It will be a showcase for FCIAC alums. Not only will Kraus and Brown look to build on their professional debuts but Philadelphia features three Darien natives in veteran goalie Chris Madalon and rookies Mark Evanchick and Colin Minicus.
Before the game, Connecticut’s reserve goalie Kris Alleyne, one of four Black players in the league, stood alone during the playing of the national anthem. The MLL’s other Black players did the same as they continue to push for social reform.