Year in Review: Seven to Remember

By Aly Morrissey | 12/28/11 9:00 AM

As we get closer to ringing in the New Year, we take a look back at our top seven games to remember from the 2011 Major League Lacrosse season. If there was a particular game you enjoyed that isn't on our list, tell us on Facebook. We look forward to making more memories in 2012.

Number 7

Cannons @ Nationals 8/16/11
The return of Casey Powell

Prior to August 6 2011, the last time attackman Casey Powell appeared in a Major League Lacrosse game, he was leading the Rochester Rattlers to their only MLL championship. In his first game since that 2008 MLL title-clinching victory, the former Syracuse University attackman scored two goals with two assists in the Hamilton Nationals' 13-8 loss against the Boston Cannons at Ron Joyce Stadium.

Game Highlights

Number 6

Rattlers @ Nationals 6/24/11
Grant Catalino scores 9 goals and ties a league record

Rookie attackman Grant Catalino of the Rochester Rattlers became the fifth player in MLL history to score nine goals in a game when he accomplished the feat in the Rattlers' 19-16 loss against the Hamilton Nationals at Sahlen's Stadium on June 24, 2011.

Game Highlights

Number 5

Cannons @ Outlaws 7/3/11
Outlaws set league record for single game attendence

Who could forget the fireworks game? On July 3, 2011, the Denver Outlaws packed the house with 27,184 fans, a league record for a single game. Midfielder Paul Rabil scored three goals, including a two-point marker, and added three assists as the Boston Cannons (6-1) rallied from a four-point half-time deficit to earn a 15-12 Major League Lacrosse victory over the Denver Outlaws in front of an MLL-record crowd at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on July 3, 2011.

Game Highlights

Number 4

2011 MLL All-Star Game 7/9/11
Team Warrior vs. Team Authority

Between the uniforms, the fans, Paul Rabil jumping over a car in the Skills Competition, and the close match-up between Team Warrior and Team Authority, there wasn't much this year's All-Star Game lacked. Midfielder Stephen Peyser scored the game-winning goal with 2:49 remaining in the fourth quarter as Team Warrior rallied to edge Team Authority by a 21-20 margin in front of 11,186 fans at the 2011 Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game at Harvard Stadium on July 9, 2011. It marked the third straight year that the All-Star Game was decided by a single point.

Super SlowMo Video Highlights

Number 3

2011 Semifinal # 2 - 8/27/11
Nationals vs. Outlaws

Led by two goals and an assist from rookie attackman Jeremy Boltus, the Hamilton Nationals earned their second Major League Lacrosse Championship Game berth in three years with an 11-9 victory over the Denver Outlaws in the second semi-final of the 2011 MLL Championship Weekend during the peak of Hurricane Irene on August 27 in Annapolis, Md. The Nationals and Bayhawks persevered through the rainy and windy conditions to play one of the best games of the year.

Game Highlights

Number 2

2011 MLL Championship Game 8/28/11
Boston Cannons win first-ever MLL Championship

Attackman Matt Poskay scored all three of his goals in the first half as the Boston Cannons built a 6-3 lead in the first half en route to winning their first Major League Lacrosse championship with a 10-9 victory over the Hamilton Nationals in the 2011 MLL Championship Game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on August 28, 2011. Playing in the MLL title game for the second time in their 11-year history, the Cannons held a second half surge by the Nationals to win the title.

Game Highlights

Top MLL Game of 2011

2011 Semifinal # 1 8/27/11
Boston Cannons score game-winning goal with one second to go

It was the biggest thriller of the year. Cannons attackman Max Quinzani scored the game-winning goal with 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation as the top-seeded Boston Cannons overcame a late rally by the defending Major League Lacrosse champion Chesapeake Bayhawks to earn a 14-13 victory in the first semi-final of the 2011 MLL Championship Weekend at rain-soaked Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on August 27, 2011.

Game Highlights