The Toronto Nationals battled the Bayhawks on Saturday night, aiming to win their first game of the season . The Nationals dominated in the fourth quarter, bringing the game within one goal with just minutes left. Chesapeake held on to win the game 10-9 in front of a crowd of just over 2,000. Chesapeake's Mike Kimmel was the Bud Light MVP of the game. It was a physical game right from the beginning. Geoff Snider and Alex Smith started it off with a fight for the ball on the face-off. Chesapeake took an early two goal lead, but Toronto kept them dormant for the rest of the quarter, finishing the first with a score of 3-2 for the Nationals. Shawn Williams, Kevin Huntley and Gavin Prout scored one goal each respectively. Newly drafted and in his first Major League game, Steven Waldeck scored his first goal to start off the second quarter. Four minutes later, Jordan Hall extended Toronto's lead to 5-2 with an unassisted goal. This was the last goal for the Nationals before the half, as Chesapeake retaliated by scoring four goals in the last minutes of the half. The score was 6-5 at the end of the half. The second half began with a goal by Chesapeake's Billy Glading. Brett Bucktooth returned the favour with his first goal of the game. Prout scored his second of the game minutes later. The score sat at a 10-7 heading into the final quarter. Toronto refused to lose this game without a valiant effort and an amazing last quarter push. The Nationals scored the only two goals in the fourth. Dan Dawson put up a point from an assist by Brodie Merrill - his third of the game. John Grant Jr. scored the last goal, but it wasn't quite enough to overcome the Bayhawks. The Nationals head down to Long Island on June 24th for their first game of the season against the Lizards. They will be back at home on July 1st to celebrate Canada Day and take on the Boston Cannons for the first time at Lamport.
