And now there are two. The stage is set. The championship round of the 2021 Baltimore Indoor Lacrosse League is now set.
Toyota advanced and had to wait a day to find their opponent. The upstart Bombers faced the juggernaut that is Portside.
Portside will be the opponent by virtue of their 15-9 defeat of a stubborn Bombers squad.
WELL, WHAT HAPPENED?
A back and forth opening quarter got started with Andrew Hasz (2g) being the recipient of a pretty setup from Kaden Brennan to put the Bombers in front with just :39 played. It would take only a minute and change for Portside to strike back with a marker from Bradley Jones (3g) with the helper belonging to JP Dalton (1a). The squads would never score more than one in a row the whole quarter.
Zane Dalpe (2g,1a) was matched by Brody Bartell (1g) for Portside. Jimmy Jackson (2g) gave the Bombers the lead for six minutes.
Jones added his second one to draw it even at 3. Hasz and Maxwell Siskind (3g) closed the curtain on the 4-4 quarter.
THAT WAS FUN
Another quick strike, this time it was Shaun Crow with his first of 4 at the :52 mark gave Portside a 5-4 advantage.
Siskind pushed it to 6-4. But, Sean Reilly (2a) set up Dalpe on the advantage cutting the lead to one goal. Crow picked up an advantage goal of their own with Jones and Joe Bucci (2g) pushing the Portside lead to 9-5 at halftime. Bucci made it a four-goal run at 14:03.
Dalpe set up Kaden Brennan on a power play to put an end to run and a 10-6 disadvantage. Christopher Ashcraft (1g) with Calub Tatum (1g) complimenting to bring the Bombers within two at 10-8. Crow set up “Buggs” Combs to counter and put it a three-goal difference. Peter Green (1g) added the final goal of the stanza with Portside seemingly in control with a 12-8 lead. The goal came on a man-down situation.
WIND IT DOWNTIME?
Crow added another man-up score followed by another from Siskind and yet again, Crow. With :47 left, Jimmy Jackson scored the final goal in the Bombers season.
INSIDE THE GAME
Brian Kusterer stopped 16 of 25 shots in the Portside nets with Julian Flores having 24 saves on 39 chances for the Bombers. The Bombers hit two advantage goals on their 8 chances with Portside lighting the lamp three of 8 as well. JP Dalton went 13 of 24 from the X. Bombers GM, Larry Fila, spoke candidly post-game.
“The Bombers had a great first season in the league. We came up short in the semi-finals but it was a very well fought game against a very experienced and veteran Portside team. Very proud of this team, Great group of guys.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Baltimore indoor Lacrosse league’s 36th championship features Ulman (Toyota) vs. Portside. Looking forward to an extremely competitive Championship Series. The stage is set for a great series.
Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.
Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.
A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.
Latest Articles
This Had Everything Including A Flyers OT LossFlyers
All Lacrosse All The Time Pick’EmsLacrosse, NLL
National Lacrosse League and Marvel Team Up To Promote Lacrosse’s Legendary Origin StoryLacrosse, NLL
Native American Heritage Month – Thank YouLacrosse- Native American Heritage Month – Cody JamiesonLacrosse
