NATIONALS SHOOT FOR SEASON SWEEP OF RATTLERS

Hamilton Notes: On Friday, the Nats extended their road winning streak to two games. Jeremy Boltus’ record-tying performance spurred a second-half comeback that guided the Hamilton Nationals to a 19-16 win over the Rochester Rattlers at Sahlen’s Stadium. Boltus scored three times during a 9-0 run over the final two quarters to help Hamilton improve to 2-3. Boltus finished the game with seven goals, tying Merrick Thompson’s team record set in 2009. The Nationals also equaled their most points scored in a game also set in 2009. Joe Walters also notched seven points (3+1+3), which included hitting a two-pointer with one minute to play to ice the win. He passed Thompson as the team’s all-time point leader (56).  The midfielder is now tied eighth with 15 points. Jordan Hall chipped in with three goals and two assists. Matt Dolente (Johns Hopkins) made his professional debut and won 21 faceoffs and collected seven ground balls.

 

Brodie goes to the goal: Five-time Warrior Defensive Player of the Year Brodie Merrill can also produce some offense. The Georgetown product leads all MLL defensemen with five points (2+1+2), which included the second two-point goal of his career on May 19th against Chesapeake.

 

King of ‘Queener’: Nationals goalie Brett Queener played his first extended minutes of the season and helped spark a second-half comeback. Queener, who returned from an eye injury, held the Rattlers scoreless for 16:26. He also made six stops and limited the Rattlers to just five points in the second half.

 

Rochester Notes: Last night, Webster, NY, native and Rochester Rattler Grant Catalino scored nine goals, including a two-pointer, to tie the Major League Lacrosse single-game goal record. Rookie John Galloway (Syracuse) made 18 saves in the loss, as the Rattlers fell to 0-5. Ned Crotty notched four points (2+2) to move into second place with 21 points. After this weekend, the Rattlers will travel to play the defending champion Chesapeake Bayhawks at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 2nd. The contest will be televised live on ESPN2.

Rookie loves scooping: Joel White collected 13 ground balls Friday to give him a league-leading 35 in just five games.

 

Rochester’s Smith not your average Joe: Did you know that Rattlers’ defenseman Joe Smith won three championship rings in two seasons? He won a NLL ring in 2007 with the Rochester Knighthawks and added more bling in 2008, winning the NLL title with the Buffalo Bandits and a MLL title with the Rattlers.

 

Next Game: The Nationals will host the Long Island Lizards and John Grant Jr. at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 1st. The contest will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com.