Cassese heads to Annapolis for Champ. Weekend
8/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Smith Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kevin Cassese will head to Annapolis, Maryland this weekend as he and his Boston Cannon teammates get set for New Balance Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Championship Weekend at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Cassese and the fourth-seeded Cannons will take on the number-one seed Denver Outlaws on Saturday, August 22 beginning at noon. The game will be shown live on ESPN2 with Joe Beninati and Quint Kessenich on the call.
The Cannons enter the 2009 postseason with an overall record of 6-6. They were last in action on August 6 when they dropped a tough 14-13 decision to the Washington Bayhawks. After beginning the season at 1-3 the Cannons ripped off four straight victories during June and July and later added a 17-10 win over the Chicago Machine on July 18. Cassese has appeared in 11 games this season, totaling seven goals, nine points and 20 ground balls during that time.
This will not be Cassese’s first time taking part in MLL Championship Weekend. Last year, he was a member of the Philadelphia Barrage as they fell to the Rochester Rattlers in a dramatic 16-15 overtime decision in the semifinals of the MLL playoffs. Cassese scored a two-point goal and added three ground balls, as well as a one-of-two showing in the X.
In 2007, Cassese helped lead the Barrage to their second consecutive Major League Lacrosse championship after Philadelphia downed Denver 13-12 in the semifinals and came back the very next day to score a 16-13 victory over Los Angeles in the championship tilt.
Saturday’s second semifinal contest will pit the number-two seed Toronto Nationals versus No. 3 Long Island. The two semifinal winners will square off on Sunday in the 2009 MLL Championship, slated to begin at 1:00. That game will also be shown live nationwide on ESPN2.
