Grant, Westervelt hat tricks not enough to lift Bayhawks past Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Attackman Ryan Young (Maryland) scored an unassisted goal off a rebound to lift the Charlotte Hounds to a 16-15 victory over the Chesapeake Bayhawks in overtime Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

Chesapeake captured the faceoff to start overtime and had the first opportunity to end the sudden death session. Grant drove in from behind and got off an 8-yard shot that was wide. Attackman Drew Westervelt collected the rebound and two quick passes put the ball in the stick of midfielder Kyle Dixon, whose crank shot was stuffed by Charlotte goalie Adam Ghitelman.

Veteran attackman Matt Danowki then drove to the goal-line extended and fired a sidearm shot that went wide, but the ball bounced into the stick of Young, who beat an unsuspecting Turner with a quick-stick shot from right on the doorstep.

"I think we're all frustrated with losing so many close games, but I think we turned the corner tonight on a lot of fronts," Chesapeake coach Dave Cottle said. "I thought we shared the ball better than we have been and fought really hard. We played well enough to win this game. It's a bittersweet loss, but in my mind a step forward."

Grant and Westervelt both had hat tricks for Chesapeake, which has lost four of five since starting the season 3-0. Midfielder Michael Kimmel fired in a pair of two-point goals, while Dixon dished off four assists for the Bayhawks, who were beaten 19-12 on faceoffs.

Midfielder Steven Brooks scored two unassisted goals for Chesapeake in the opening frame. Kimmel opened the second quarter with a two-pointer, rocketing an overhand shot into the top right corner of the goal.

Dixon then delivered passes to set up midfielder Ben Hunt and Westervelt for goals, while midfielder Matt Mackrides scored unassisted off an individual move to put the Bayhawks ahead, 8-4. Those three goals came in the span of 1:10.

Kimmel blasted his second two-pointer past Ghitelman to give Chesapeake its largest lead of the game at 10-5. Midfielders accounted for 11 points in the first half for the Bayhawks, who outscored the Hounds, 7-2, in the second period.

Charlotte regrouped at halftime and controlled the third quarter, outscoring Chesapeake, 6-3.

Danowski connected on both of his two-pointers during the comeback, which pulled Charlotte to within one at 13-12. A play that typified the type of night it was for the Bayhawks came when Dixon had a two-point shot carom off the post and back toward midfield.

"I think we got a bit unlucky tonight. There were several times when the ball just didn't bounce our way," Cottle said.

Grant scored unassisted goals to answer Charlotte scores and retie the contest at 14 and 15. The 259th goal of Grant's career came when he bull-dodged defenseman Joe Cinosky then performed an inside roll.

Turner made an outstanding save on an inside shot by midfielder Peet Poillon with 1:18 remaining, and the Bayhawks gained a power play two seconds later when Danowski committed a penalty during the subsequent ride. However, a shot by Hunt went wide and the Bayhawks were unable to get off another attempt before time expired.

Turner had 20 saves in the loss for the Bayhawks. Attackman Ben Rubeor was held scoreless, snapping his 36-game streak of getting at least one point. The Bayhawks' midfielders had 14 points in the game.

"I thought Kyle Dixon played very well and did a good job of finding open men. Brooks, Kimmel and Hunt all played better than they have been," Cottle said.

Chesapeake was a bit short-handed on the defensive end with top close defenseman Michael Evans and short stick defensive midfielder Jeff Reynolds both sitting out with injuries.

Barney Ehrmann, who replaced Evans on close defense, had to leave the game with cramps at one point -- as did long stick defensive midfielder Michael Simon. Close defenseman Brian Spallina also was injured during the contest.