New Jersey's MLL team may be called the Pride and have a lion for a logo, but the most dangerous Cat in Major League Lacrosse plays for the Baltimore Bayhawks. His name is Greg Cattrano and the Long Island native and Ward Melville HS graduate made his HS coach Joe Cuozzo, who was in attendance, proud with 23 saves in goal last night for the Bayhawks as they defeated the Long Island Lizards 16-10 before 3,781 at EAB Park in Central Islip despite a 5 goal performance by Lizards' star and the MLL's leading goal scorer Terry Riordan - another LI native who was the D1 player of the year in 1995 at Johns Hopkins and is also their all time leading goal and point scorer.

Cattrano made 13 of those stops in the second half while allowing only two goals, this after being hit in the chest late in the first half by a Steve Sombrotto shot that was so hard that he had to leave the game temporarily because as he said, " I couldn't breathe". Tim McGeeney filled in while Cattrano was catching his breath.

The Bayhawks may have to change their name to the Buzzsaws if they keep playing like they played against the Lizards last night. After falling behind 7-4 halfway through the second quarter, the Buzzsaws, or, Bayhawks played a flawless game in every aspect of lacrosse sandwiching two five goal runs around a Gary Gait goal by Long Island to take a commanding 14-8 lead.

On offense, attackmen LI natives Mark Millon and Dan Denihan, along with Canadian Tom Marechek looked like they are really starting to gel as a unit as they combined for 8 goals & 6 assists, Millon with 5-1, Denihan 2-3, & Marechek 1-2. They also got goals from 5 of their middies led by Josh Sims with 3 and Paul Cantabene with 2. LI defenseman John Gagliardi had this to say about them, "Their offense is at the top of their game right now, whereas we still haven't reached that level as a team yet, we're getting better and better each week." He also noted that they took too many penalties as they received seven penalties in their scoreless third period.

Mark Millon agreed with that assessment of the Bayhawks' offense, "Tom, Dan & I are just starting to gel as a unit, we're starting to know what each other is going to do. I'd say we're 65% there." 65%, I'd hate to be a defenseman when they hit 100%. Sims was asked about his 3 big goals at midfield, he had this to say, "I'm trying to be more active in transition, that's where I've been getting most of my opportunities, with only 3 long sticks, they're hesitant to slide off of our attackmen, with them playing as well as they are."

When asked how they are adjusting to the new rules, Tom Marechek said, "Most of us have played indoor, and are used to different rules, we adapt pretty easily."

The Bayhawks' D had a tremendous game, holding the Lizards to just 4 goals in the last 43 minutes after surrendering 6 in the first 17. They were led by Rob Doerr who held MLL leading scorer Casey Powell without a point. Doerr had a lot of help as long stickers Hugh Donovan, Brian Reese, Matt Dwan and Shawn Nadelen were very quick on the slides as were their defensive short stick middies led by Kip Fulks, Jarred Testa, Gavin Prout and Paul Cantabene. Doerr and Nadelen also played with short sticks whenever the Bayhawks were man down, which was a lot as both teams were called for a lot of penalties, 21 for 17 minutes in all. Baltimore converted 2 of 8 ManUp opportunities while holding LI to just 1 of 7.

Baltimore's defense just swarmed whenever the Lizards had the ball, especially when they tried to penetrate inside or make a pass into the hole, there was always someone right there with a stick on their hands to make the shot or pass go awry. And when the Lizards did have time to get a shot off, the CatMan was there to make the save, as Long Island kept trying to beat him with shots at his feet in the second half to no avail. You could see toward the end of the game that Powell was frustrated with the fine performance by the Bayhawks.

Bayhawks coach Brian Voelker had this to say about his defense, "It was a good win for us, I'm really proud of the way the guys played. Defensively, you can't play much better, especially against a team with so many great offensive players, Greg (Cattrano) came up huge for us." He also made note of the job Doerr did on Powell. And he knows what he speaks of, being a two time Team USA Defenseman who actually was a player in last year's MLL Summer Showcase. Doerr himself politely deferred the credit to his teammates, "It's a team effort, with Cat playing so well, it makes it easier for us."

The Lizards weren't too upset over the loss as Riordan said, "We're going to go to practice, tune-up, get ready for the next game, move on". Coach John DeTommaso echoed those feelings, adding, "They outplayed us, sometimes that happens with the talent in this league".

Riordan opened the scoring for the Lizards just 30 seconds into the game when he scored from about 3 yards out right in front of Cattrano, scooping up a rebound after LI defenseman John Gagliardi grabbed the ground ball off the opening faceoff which Baltimore's Paul Cantabene actually won. The Bayhawks then scored 3 straight goals, Denihan with a lefthander from in close at 2:26 after dodging from behind the net to LI keeper Sal LoCascio's left, Canadian middie Matt Shearer at 6:15 on a hard right-handed shot from about 10 yards out top left after getting a cross field pass from side right, then LI native Greg McCavera with a lefthander on a nice feed from Millon at 8:07.

But now it was time for the Lizards to make a run, with 5 straight goals. Riordan finished a play that started with a defensive check from Gagliardi, Casey Powell got the GB, passed to Matt O'Kelly who found Riordan at top left just five yards out, he fired home a lefthander at 11:19. Steve Sombrotto converted a Riordan rebound 1:42 later, putting in a five yard right-hander from top left just as Marechek was coming out of the penalty box for illegal procedure - he had thrown his stick high in the air trying to deflect a pass on a ride. 1:02 later, Billy Serino ran down the field and fired a left-handed bouncer from 10 yards out top right and Riordan made it a hat trick for him with just two seconds left in the first quarter, converting a Tim Goettelmann feed to the crease with a left-hander from 3 yards out side left, making the score 5-3 LI after 1.

Goettelmann then got a goal of his own at 1:25 of the second, finishing off a pass from Sean Radebaugh. Sims responded for Baltimore at 4:52 as he raced down the field and fired a searing right-handed shot from 7 yards out top left, just as he did many times as a 3 time first team All American & two time middie of the year at Princeton. There was no scoring for 3 minutes when LI's Gagliardi made a great takeaway check, grabbed the GB, ran the length of the field and ripped an eight yard bouncer from top right regaining the 3 goal lead for the Lizards. It was the type of goal that usually gets the team fired up, and it did. Unfortunately for Gagliardi & LI, it was Baltimore who got fired up as they proceeded to go on a 10-1 tear to take control of the game.

Paul Cantabene started it up at 9:55 with a right-hander from top left that beat LoCascio low to his right. LoCascio wasn't playing at 100 %, in fact up until just before game time, Brian Carcaterra was scheduled to start the game backed up by Rob Mulligan, but LoCascio told coach DeTommaso that he could play. When he saw that his injury was keeping him from reacting to shots they way he usually can, he told DeTommaso to replace him, which he did by sending in Carcaterra in the second half. LoCascio, being the competitor that he is, was understandably unhappy with the situation.

The Bayhawks then started firing goals at a one per minute pace. At 11:00, Millon took a pass and fired a right-hander from top left, Sims put in another right-hander from 7 or 8 yards at 11:50, Jeff Sonke, playing midfield, converted a pass from Greg McCavera at 13:00, and Cantabene scored with a right-hander from top center at 13:45 before Gary Gait stopped their five goal run with 23 seconds left in the half when he scored on a 10 yard lefthander from top left as he got enough room to shoot while Baltimore was trying to switch a longstick to cover him as they did whenever they saw him on the field, making the halftime score 9-8 Bayhawks.

Faceoffs were virtually even in the half with LI's Eric Wedin & Baltimore's Cantabene splitting 3 for each and Baltimore's Gavin Prout - another Canadian native - winning 2 of 3 from LI's Joe Ghedina.

The second half opened with a face-off win from Cantabene, Brian Reese grabbed the GB and made the clear, they moved the ball up top to Denihan, who carried to X and made a centering pass that Carcaterra intercepted, but there was a flag on the play as Wedin was called for a slash, so the Bayhawks retained possession and went on a man-up. They took a quick shot but Carcaterra had the backup to give the ball back to the Lizards. Ghedina beat a couple of 'Hawks to make the clear, and passed to Powell who tried to hit Riordan, but the pass missed as did many for LI. Baltimore was called for pushing however, so LI retained possession. Gary Gait took the ball and ran out the penalty time. Matt Shearer then stripped him, but LI's Powell picked it up and fired a low shot that Cattrano saved and passed to Shearer for the clear. Gait then knocked Shearer to the ground & Gagliardi grabbed the GB and cleared it to Powell.

LI gets called for a push on a GB and McCavera makes the clear to Marechek, who has David Kelly covering him. Kelly strips him, but gets pushed out of bounds after picking up the GB. Cantabene inbounds quickly to Denihan top right, who hits Millon side left. Millon quicksticks a high lefthander that Carcaterra got a piece of, but it ends up in the net at 3:30 to start another 5 goal run for the Bayhawks. Prout beats Wedin on the face-off, Wedin gets called for a push. Baltimore moves it around, a pass from X hits LI's Haugen, Gagliardi grabs the GB, clears, and throws a behind the back pass to Haugen that doesn't hit the mark, but Haugen gets the GB as Hugh Donovan had trouble with the scoop. Haugen misses a pass to Kevin Finneran, Marechek gets the GB & throws his own behind the back pass which also didn't connect, but LI gets called for a push.

Baltimore shoots wide, Denihan backs it up, drives on McCabe and fires it high, McCavera backs up, drives on Ghedina and shoots from 10 yards top left, Carcaterra makes the save, McCabe gets the GB, clears to Haugen, who fights off a check and fires wide left. Gait takes the ball, passes to Powell, Doerr covering falls down, Powell falls over him & shoots wide behind the back, but Reese gets called for slashing - man-up LI.

They start to wheel, reverse it, a skip pass to Haugen side left, back to Powell side right, to Steve Sombrotto, skip pass to Powell misses, Powell gets the GB and hits Gait who shoots wide. Gait regains and fires a backhanded shot wide while whirling around, the penalty time runs out, all even.

LI gets called for a couple of penalties, both slashes on Powell & Riordan, but according to DeTommaso, the ref calls one of them on 22 white, when he meant 22 black, so LI sends out 5 men and the refs blow the whistle at which point the LI coaches get a little steamed at the confusion over the calls.

When play resumes, it's a 6 on 4 adavntage for the Bayhawks. Shearer feeds McCavera who bounces a lefthander wide from top center. They wheel, reverse, Sims to Marechek behind the back to Denihan side right who fires a high righthander from 5 yards over Carcaterra's head to make it 11-8 Baltimore at 8:35. Cantabene wins the faceoff from Wedin, but LI's Goettelmann grabs the GB, to Wedin, they pass it back & forth, Wedin makes a nice pass to Steve Sombrotto who fires lefty from 5 yards, top left, Cattrano makes a great save, Cantabene gets the GB & clears to Jarred Testa who makes a great pass to Denihan who throws a backhand pass to Marechek who scores at 9:45 to make it 12-8, defenseman Steve Kisslinger gets called for a late hit on the play.

Ghedina wins the face-off over Prout & picks up the GB, and stalls to take time off the penalty clock, Baltimore doesn't challenge. Ghedina passes to Goettelmann at X, who comes out & shoots, but the shot clock had already expired. Cantabene takes the ball and clears to McCavera.

Millon, cradling righty behind the cage, gets stripped twice by Gagliardi who gets the GB, passes to McCabe, who clears to Ghedina, who hits O'Kelly on the fly, to Goettelmann who shoots over-the-shoulder wide, GB Donovan, to Cattrano who falls down, passes to Doerr, who clears to McCavera, flag down as Riordan goes over the head on the ride at midfield, but steps offside.

When play resumes, McCavera gets it to Denihan behind the cage, who returns the give-and-go pass, and Carcaterra makes a great save, then the rebound hits LI's AJ Haugen & goes into his own net, but no goal, since Carcaterra's save stops play with the flag down, although in this league, when there's a flag down, play doesn't stop until the offending team has possession. Tim Goettelmann also gets called for a slash at the same time.

Baltimore starts their third two-man advantage of the game with a 3-3, Marecheck, Denihan, Millon on attack, Sims, Shearer & McCavera at midfield, they switch to a 1-3-2 with Denihan going to X, Marechek finds Sims for a 3 yard lefthander to make the score 13-8.

Prout wins the next faceoff over Wedin, Adam Borcz & Jeff Sonke join McCavera at midfield, they get the ball to Millon whose defenseman falls, Millon scores a 3 yard lefthander at 13:30 to finish Baltimore's second 5 goal run & end the third quarter scoring. Ghedina wins the faceoff from Prout, Gagliardi gets the GB, but he & Borcz get called for simultaneous slashes. Gait hits Radebaugh with a pass, Cattrano makes the save on the ensuing shot, Prout gets the GB & clears to Kip Fulks, who hits Denihan to Marechek, but the third quarter ends with LI not scoring a goal, Cattrano made 6 saves.

To open the 4th, Cantabene moved early on the face-off with Wedin, LI ball. Wedin hits O'Kelly whose pass to Vinny Sombrotto misses, Baltimore ball. Cattrano to Reese to Fulks for the clear, Fulks makes a long run, hits Denihan side right, his shot hits the side of the net, Carcaterra gets the GB, clears to Kelly, to Powell side right to Sombrotto to O'Kelly who gets checked by Jarred Testa. Doerr picks up the GB, clears, Baltimore shoots, save Carcaterra, who clears to Finneran to O'Kelly who shoots wide, Powell backs it up and drives on Doerr who steps on the net, nearly knocking it over. Powell shoots behind the back, save Cattrano, Donovan gooses the GB back to Cattrano to Cantabene to Fulks for the clear, Baltimore takes some time off the clock changing their midfield.

Prout top left to Shearer side left whose shot is deflected wide by Finneran, Millon with the backup, he dodges side left and shoots wide with Gagliardi draped all over him, but the shot clock ran out. McCabe clears to Finneran. Baltimore's playing good defense, but makes a mistake leaving Riordan wide open in front. Finneran finds him & Riordan even has time to make a couple of fakes before scoring to make it 14-9 at 3:25.

Cantabene over Wedin on the face-off, the GB goes all the way into Baltimore's defensive end, Sonke gets it, falls & fires a long pass that's intercepted by Steve Sombrotto who hits Gait who shoots while falling and with a defenseman all over him, but Cattrano makes yet another low save, Donovan grabs the GB & Baltimore calls timeout as he's falling.

As play restarts, Doerr passes to Cattrano, back to Doerr who hits Testa for the clear. Testa's brother Brandon is in street clothes on LI's sideline. McCavera works the clock, gets it to Millon top center, Millon shoots lefty, maybe past the two point line, Caracterra gets a piece, but Denihan has the backup. Denihan gets checked, GB Millon. Millon shoots after the expiration of the shot clock & gets called for delay of the game, he should have dropped the ball.

LI wheels it on the man-up, Powell to Steve Sombrotto to Haugen to Gait to Riordan, who rips a lefthander high from top center, 13 yards away for his league leading 24th goal of the season to make it 14-10, so the Lizards are back in it with 9 minutes to go. Radebaugh was the sixth member of that manup unit.

Wedin wins the face-off over Cantabene, LI gets called for holding on the GB, Baltimore ball. Wedin's shaken up, so the officials call timeout. Millon takes the ball at midfield after the timeout, runs in & fires a righthander from 10 yards top left that Carcaterra gets a piece of before it goes into the top of the net.

Wedin wins the next face-off from Cantabene & gets the GB, to Riordan to Haugen who shoots, Cattrano the save and clear to Cantabene to Millon who shoots high, save Carcaterra, there's a scramble for the GB, Denihan picks it up & hits Millon to close out the scoring for the game at 7:51. 16-10 Baltimore.

Ghedina wins the faceoff from Prout, Kelly with the GB to Gait to Powell to Finneran to Gait to Riordan who shoots a low underhand lefty that Cattrano makes yet another low save on. The Lizards are taking bad shots trying not to waste valuable clock time.

Cattrano works the clock & clears to Prout. Baltimore changes middies again, still working the clock. Dudley Dixon enters the game, but the shot clock runs out. Carcaterra passes to Finneran for the clear. Finneran's pass to Goettelmann in the hole goes out of bounds, Bayhawks ball. Donovan to Doerr to Adam Borcz for the clear, to Denihan down low back to Borcz top center to McCavera as they continue to work the clock.

Gait playing defense, Baltimore loses it out of bounds. Gait clears to Powell who finds Goettelmann open, but only for a second as Donovan slides quickly & hammers him, Goettelmann still finds a way to get a shot off a few seconds later, Cattrano makes the save, but there's a flag down, pushing on Donovan.

There were a few more shots, some hard stick checks by Gagliardi & Doerr, some great saves by Cattrano, but Baltimore ran out the clock every chance they could to hold on for the win.

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