Battle Of The Streaks
I’m Peter Sojka, fifth grader at Russell Street School and a huge of the Boston Blazers. On February 27th, I was given the chance to write for Blazers Beat, a student reporter program offered by Boston’s professional lacrosse team. It was exciting. My media pass let me go behind the scenes. I sat in the press box, saw them lay down the field, and go to the press conference. But enough of me, let’s talk about the game.
It was the Battle of the Streaks. The Boston Blazers were on a four game winning streak. They were facing the Washington Stealth, who had the best record in the NLL, but lost two in a row. The game was also interesting because Stealth transition Paul Rabil also plays for the Cannons, Boston’s outdoor lacrosse team.
Seven minutes into the game, Boston defenseman Mike Kirk (26) scored the first goal, getting the Boston Blazers fans “Fired Up”. Washington forward Ratcliff Lewis (42) responded with a goal shortly after. Boston’s Gary Bining (9) got the crowd back up and cheering with a second goal and the quarter would end with Boston leading 2-1.
The second quarter began with a scary incident. Just 42 seconds in, Gary Bining (9) was checked from behind by Washington transition Paul Rabil (9). Bining was crushed headfirst into the board (You would think that players with the same numbers would treat each other better). It was interesting to listen to the crowd’s reaction. They gasped when Bining went down, clapped when he got up, and went crazy wild when Rabil was given a five-minute penalty for the hit. The scoreboard, announcer and crowd joined together to announce “PAUL RABIL, TAKE YOUR SEAT!”
Rabil’s major penalty resulted in a long Boston Power Play. Washington nullified the penalty with both teams scoring two goals. Curtis Hodgson and Tom Johnson scored for Washington and Dan Dawson (6) and Brenden Thenhaus (10) scored for Boston to keep the Blazers up 5-4 as the teams headed for the locker room at halftime.
The great action continued in the 3rd quarter. In my favorite play of the game, Thenhaus (10) of the Boston Blazers shot on goal. Washington Goalie Tyler Richards (00) blocked the shot but lost track of the ball. Richards kicked the ball out, but accidentally sent it right to Blazers forward Queener, who scooped it up and scored faster than you can read this.
Washington took the lead for the first time with a shot by Morgan (4), but Boston tied it up 7-7 at the end the quarter.
Twenty-one seconds into the forth quarter Bining (9) scored a goal and Boston took back the lead but soon after the Washington Stealth tied the game back up again. Brenden Thenhaus recaptured the lead with a goal, only to loose it when Ratcliff (42) scored a goal at half field (I don’t blame Cosmo. Who would pay attention to a player who is taking a shot from half field? I mean seriously, come on! ). The score was tied 9-9.
With 5:29 left in the game, “Dangerous” Dan Dawson (6) made a stunning, steal the show dive for the goal and Boston took the lead. Dawson made another diving goal with 1:37 left in the game to seal the win. That must be why he was the league MVP last year. Dawson was MVP of the game with three goals and three assists.
The Boston Blazers won 11-9 and kept their winning streak going.
I’ve now had the chance to experience the Blazers as both a fan and a reporter. On March 13th, I will get to experience life as a player on the floor of the TD Garden. Littleton Youth Lacrosse takes to the field before the Blazers face off against the Buffalo Bandits at 7:30. We’ve sold more than 150 tickets to the event and hope to see you there.
This is Peter Sojka reporting for the Blazers Beat from my house.
The Blazers Beat is a student reporter program which provides high school students access to the Garden on game nights. Students will receive a media credential for a game of their choice, access to the post-game player and coach press conference and can write a game recap which the Blazers will help to publish with their local papers. For more information, contact Krista Olson, Marketing & Event Operations Manager at krista@blazerslacrosse.com.