JOHNSON RATTLES BALTIMORE

Towson, Md. – Making the first start of his Major League Lacrosse career, rookie goalkeeper Tillman Johnson made 22 saves in winning game MVP honors to lead the Rochester Rattlers (2-2, 1-1 National Division) to their first-ever road win in Baltimore with a 14-12 victory over the Bayhawks (2-2, 2-1) in front of 4,220 at Johnny Unitas Stadium ® at Towson University on Sunday afternoon.

Johnson, who was acquired in a trade right after the League’s Collegiate Draft from Philadelphia, made his first start between the pipes for the visiting Rattlers, who snapped a nine-game losing skid to Baltimore.

“It was an awesome first game,” Johnson said. “I just met these guys on Thursday. I didn’t let the names [Gait, Millon, etc.] get into my head. I just played my game.”

The Rattlers took a 1-0 lead just 1:17 into the game on a goal from Sean Lindsay. Just 30 seconds later, attackman Bobby Benson tied the game at 1-1 with his fifth goal of the season off a Gary Gait feed before the Rattlers started the second period on a 4-0 run. Lindsay added his second goal of the game to start the run with 12:29 left before Brent Rothfuss, Josh Coffman, and A.J. Shannon tallied during the next 3:24 of the period.

The Bayhawks closed the gap to 4-3 with a two-point goal from attackman Mark Millon. Millon, who has scored at least one goal in 16 straight games, recorded his third two-pointer of the season past Johnson on an assist from midfielder Mark Frye.

Rochester responded with another 3-0 run of its own to take an 8-3 advantage with 2:51 left in the period. Attackman Ryan Powell was instrumental in the spurt, scoring one goal and assisting on another. With 27 seconds left in the first half, midfielder Brian Langtry stopped the run with an unassisted tally, narrowing the margin to 8-4.

Midfielder Nate Watkins opened the second half scoring by firing home a two-point goal past starting netminder Mike Levin, extending the Rattler cushion to 9-4. Baltimore and Rochester traded a pair of goals over the final seven minutes to end the third period with a 12-6 advantage in favor of visiting Rochester.

Midfielder Jeff Sonke cut the deficit to 12-7 with an unassisted goal with 11:47 left in regulation, which started a 4-0 run for the host Bayhawks, narrowing the margin to 12-10 on a Millon goal with 7:59 remaining. A.J. Shannon teamed up with Ryan Powell to score back-to-back goals, upping the Rattler margin to 14-11 and sealing Rochester’s first win over Baltimore in the last nine attempts. Tom Marechek scored two goals in the first 3:18, but it wasn’t enough to give the Bayhawks their first win at Unitas Stadium.

Johnson was impressive in the goal during his first start, stopping 22 shots, including nine in the fourth quarter, as the Bayhawks outshot Rochester by 16-9 over the final 15 minutes. Rochester had a 49-46 advantage in shots for the game.

The victory also allowed first-year Coach B.J. O’Hara to pick up his first road win of his career. “I was very happy with the way our defense and Tillman played today. With the way that Tillman played, our defense was able to be lighter and play with conviction.”

Ryan Powell led all scorers with four goals and three assists, while Lindsay and Shannon each scored twice with one assist. Gait led the Bayhawks with two goals and two assists. Levin made 20 saves in a losing effort for the Bayhawks.

From Bayhawks release.