2009 Toronto Nationals season

The 2009 Toronto Nationals season was the first for the franchise. Their first game in the MLL was on May 15, 2009 against Washington Bayhawks, which they won 17–16.[1] They also won their first home game over the Chicago Machine 15–11.[2] The Nationals qualified for the playoffs as the second seed with a 7–5 record and the best offense in MLL with 184 goals for. The Nationals played their first playoff game against the Long Island Lizards at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. Toronto won their semi-final matchup 14–13 thanks to a strong game by Merrick Thomson scoring 4 goals. Toronto went on to face the Denver Outlaws in the Steinfeld Cup Final.[3] The Nationals were tied with the Outlaws 9–9 with over a minute to go in the game. Nationals head coach Dave Huntley called a time-out to draw out a strategy. With 45 seconds left to go, Joe Walters passed to Shawn Williams and Williams scored the winning goal to give the Toronto Nationals their first championship victory 10–9 over the Denver Outlaws.[4] Merrick Thomson was named Playoff MVP[4] and Brodie Merrill won the Major League Lacrosse Defensive player of the Year Award.[5]

2009 Hamilton Nationals season
Head coachDavid Huntley
Home fieldBMO Field
Results
Record7–5
Division place2nd MLL
Playoff finishWon Steinfeld Cup

Standings

W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT = Winning Percentage, GB = Games Back of first place, GF = Goals For, 2ptGF = 2 point Goals For, GA = Goals Against, 2ptGA = 2 point Goals Against

Qualified for playoffs
TeamWLPCTGBGF2ptGFGA2ptGA
Denver Outlaws 93.750-16681386
Toronto Nationals 75.583218441729
Long Island Lizards 66.500312541449
Boston Cannons 66.5003173121506
Washington Bayhawks 57.4174148141759
Chicago Machine 39.2506159817611

Long Island finished ahead of Boston based on a head to head record of 3-0.

[6]

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Field Result Attendance Record
1 May 15 @ Bayhawks Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium 17–16 3,715 1–0
2 May 22 Machine BMO Field 17–16 5,144 2–0
3 May 29 Lizards BMO Field 13–9 3,424 2–1
4 June 4 @ Bayhawks Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium 17–15 3,216 3–1
5 June 13 Bayhawks BMO Field 19–12 3,544 4–1
6 June 20 @ Outlaws Invesco Field at Mile High 15–8 8,216 4–2
7 June 25 @ Cannons Harvard Stadium 19–15 7,532 4–3
7 June 27 Outlaws BMO Field 20–16 3,791 4–4
8 July 4 @ Machine Glenbrook South High School 24–19 1,338 4–5
10 July 18 @ Lizards James M. Shuart Stadium 19–9 7,621 5–5
11 July 23 Cannons BMO Field 18–17 (OT) 3,542 6–5
13 August 8 Outlaws BMO Field 16–10 3,635 7–5

[7]

Playoffs
Round Date Opponent Field Result Attendance
MLL Semifinal August 22 Lizards Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium 14–13 6,720
Steinfeld Cup August 23 @ Outlaws Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium 10–9 7,003

[8]

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References
  1. "Nationals Victorious in MLL Debut". Fan 590. May 16, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  2. Lankhof, Bill (May 23, 2009). "Nationals rock Machine in MLL". Slam! Sports. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  3. "Nationals edge Lizards 14–13 in MLL semifinal". Our Sports Central. August 22, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  4. "Toronto Nationals Win MLL Championship 10–9 Against Denver". The Sports Network. August 23, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  5. "Brodie Merrill Named Defensive Player of Year". Major League Lacrosse. August 18, 2010. Archived from the original on January 7, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  6. "MLL Standings - 2009". Pointstreak. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  7. "Toronto Nationals - Team Schedule - Summer 2009". Pointstreak. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  8. "Toronto Nationals - Team Schedule - Playoffs 2009". Pointstreak. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
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