In season opener, Chesapeake is short-handed but successful
Playing without 10 key players, coach Dave Cottle said the Chesapeake Bayhawks needed to find a way to survive. There could be no repeat of 2014, when the team started 1-4 while short-handed because of conflicts with the sport’s professional indoor season and college lacrosse.
Chesapeake’s replacements performed admirably in its Major League Lacrosse season opener Sunday afternoon at NavyMarine Corps Memorial Stadium. Several returning veterans did their part as well.
Attackman Ben Rubeor (Loyola Blakefield) scored five goals to lead a balanced offense while goalie Tyler Fiorito recorded a career-high 18 saves to anchor a strong defense as Chesapeake defeated the Florida Launch, 12-8, before an announced 4,639. Attackman Matt Danowski added a goal and two assists in his debut for the Bayhawks, who outscored the Launch 5-2 in the third quarter to take control.
“Overall, I thought we tried hard and competed. I figured going in that it would be an ugly game, and it was an ugly game,” said Cottle, who believed not playing a
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preseason scrimmage hurt the Bayhawks. “I thought we played with effort and enthusiasm, which is all you can ask.”
Attackman Jack Rice (Boys’ Latin) scored two goals while midfielder Jovan Miller finished with two assists for Chesapeake, which has six players still active with the National Lacrosse League and three others unavailable because they are Division I assistant coaches.
Rubeor, with the Bayhawks since 2009, repeatedly ripped left-handed crank shots into the back of the cage. The Virginia product was coming off a season in which he posted a career-low 21 points.
“I felt like last season burned, and I was a little upset about it. I want to have a better season, both individually and as a team,” Rubeor said.
Rubeor is the boys lacrosse coach at St. Mary’s High and said he gets to practice shooting by warming up the goalies.
“The ball was falling for me today. Sometimes that happens as a shooter, so you keep shooting,” he said.
Fiorito (McDonogh) started in place of Kip Turner (Severn), who coaches at Brown.
“By now, I know Michael Evans, I know Nicky Polanco, and those guys make me comfortable. When I’m comfortable in the cage, I play well,” Fiorito said. “I try to get big and get in the way as much as I can, and that’s what I did today.”
Rice, who played in just one game for Chesapeake in 2014, was pressed into the starting lineup because Matt Mundorf (UMBC, Mount Saint Joseph) is injured and Drew Westervelt (UMBC, John Carroll) still is playing for the Colorado Mammoth of the NLL.
Miller, a well-traveled veteran whom Cottle picked up through the league’s supplemental draft, was another pleasant surprise, playing tough defense and drawing two penalties Sunday. Miller, who had not played in the MLL since July 2013, was needed on offensive midfield because of the absence of indoor players Kevin Crowley, Joe Walters (Maryland) and Sam Bradman (Salisbury).
Chris Hipps, another supplemental draft choice, started on close defense since Jesse Bernhardt, an assistant coach at Maryland, isn’t available. Hipps, who played football as a graduate student at Southern Methodist after an All-America lacrosse career at Duke, shut out attackman Kevin Cunningham and picked up four ground balls.
“I thought Jovan Miller gave us a lot of energy and made three really tough plays,” Cottle said. “I also thought Chris Hipps did a nice job. You couldn’t tell it was his first game. He was tough, physical and picked the ball off the ground.”
Then there was Danowski, whomChesapeake acquired from Charlotte in an offseason trade. Danowski, who set the NCAA record for career points while at Duke, thrived as the team’s quarterback behind the net, Cottle said.
“I thought Matt was tremendous. He was a leader out there and made every smart play,” Cottle said.
Kieran McArdle scored four goals to lead Florida. Goalie Brett Queener kept the Launch in the game by making 25 saves.