DENVER, CO – The Chesapeake Bayhawks are bringing the Steinfeld Trophy back to Annapolis for their first title since 2013 after overruling the Denver Outlaws last Sunday in the Major Lacrosse League series championship finale.
Equipped with two Haudenosaunee players, the Bayhawks had a lot of scoring power and used it.
Lyle Thompson added to his personal award stash last Saturday night as the 27-year-old attack-man for the Chesapeake Bayhawks, was named the MLL MVP at the MLL Honours ceremony Saturday in Denver. The following night, he looked to top it off with a Major League Lacrosse title.
The former two-time Tewaaraton Award winner at Albany, led the MLL with 73 points (46 goals, 27 assists) this season.
The Bayhawks then came out of the gait, biting at the bit to secure another MLL championship against the Denver Outlaws.
They jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first quarter. Chesapeake’s first quarter goals came from five different players including Thompson, Steele Stanwick, Nick Mariano, Brendan Bomberry (Mohawk), and Shane Simpson.
The Outlaws only had three shots on goal in the opening frame and this garnered their performance on the scoreboard dramatically.
But the Outlaws weren’t about to lie down in front of a roaring home crowd even though the Bayhawks led 8-3 at halftime.
The Outlaws went on a 6-0 run over the span 27:45 to start the second half, while Mikie Schlosser scored the tying goal with 11:39 left in the fourth, followed by a Ryan Lee break in goal at the 7:52 mark. The crowd of over 6,000 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park thought their Outlaws were well on their way to a second consecutive title.
The Bayhawks were quick to pump up the ante. Steele Stanwick ended the drought and tied the game at nine with just over two minutes left. Stanwick then got his teammates involved, assisting on Andrew Kew’s championship winning goal.
Stanwick was named MLL Championship Game MVP. He is the recipient of a three thousand dollar check courtesy of New Balance pictured in the group photo.
Avoiding overtime, the Bayhawks finalized the Denver Outlaws 10-9 in a thrilling showing on their opponents home soil during, earning their sixth MLL Championship for the franchise.
