Team USA Defeats Major League Lacrosse All-Stars In Dramatic Fashion

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Jul 8, 2010

Team USA Defeats Major League Lacrosse All-Stars In Dramatic FashionWell, it's official. Team USA has defeated the Major League Lacrosse All-Stars 13-12 at Harvard Stadium.

Brendan Mundorf was named Player of the Game, thanks to his six goals, including a game-tying goal with just over three minutes left.

4th Quarter, 0:33, Team USA 13-12: There may not be any overtime at Harvard Stadium.

Ryan Powell has given Team USA a one-point lead with just over a minute left.

There is now a timeout on the field, with 33.1 seconds remaining.

4th Quarter, 3:15, 12-12: Holy cow, Brendan Mundorf will not let his team lose!

We are now locked at 12 points a piece, thanks to Mundorf's sixth goal of the night.

Overttime will be a 10-minute sudden-death period, if necessary.

4th Quarter, 3:15, MLL All-Stars 12-11: This one is shaping up to be a barn-burner!

Veteran Team USA player Max Seibald has brought his squad to within one point, with a nasty shot from the far side of the net.

4th Quarter, 5:12, MLL All-Stars 12-10: It's not over yet, folks.

Ryan Boyle netted his fourth goal of the game, pulling Team USA to within two points.

4th Quarter, 6:21, MLL All-Stars 12-9: Boston is back on the board.

Cannons faceoff man Matt Poskay scored right after the TV timeout, giving the All-Stars a three-point lead.

Meanwihle, nobody at this game cares about LeBron James. It's very refreshing.

4th Quarter, 11:37, MLL All-Stars 11-9: Lacrosse is a really quick game.

As I was updating the previous post, where Mundorf tied the game with his fifth goal, the MLL All-Stars scored not one, but two goals of their own.

Brodie Merrill tallied the first, followed by Anthony Kelly's second of the game.

4th Quarter, 12:27, 9-9: Brendan Mundorf is putting Team USA on his back.

The Denver Outlaws forwarded just added his fifth goal of the game, tying it up at nine.

End of 3rd Quarter, MLL All-Stars 9-8: After controlling the ball for almost three minutes in the offensive zone with nothing to show for, Team USA finally put some points on the board.

With about 54 seconds left in the quarter, Long Island midfielder Matt Zash sent a screamer from just inside the arc under the top right post.

10 seconds later, Mundorf added yet another tally, his fourth of the game.

The fourth quarter is shaping up to be a very competitive one, with both teams desperately wanting to win this game. Team USA does not want to head to Manchester fresh off a loss on their own soil.

3rd Quarter, 4:41, MLL All-Stars 9-6: The MLL All-Stars keep on rolling.

This time it was Chesapeake midfielder Pete Poillon, who scored an unassisted tally from in front of the net, after Schwartzman came up with a huge save at the other end.

We've also just learned that there are 11,771 fans at Harvard Stadium tonight, the largest professional lacrosse crowd in the history of the stadium. It's very cool to be a part of history.

3rd Quarter, 8:00, MLL All-Stars 8-6: In a dramatic turn of events, the MLL All-Stars have decided to come alive and play some lacrosse.

In a matter of just a few minutes, the home team scored five points on four goals and took a two-point lead.

First, it was Long Island Lizards midfielder Stephen Berger with a tally.

Then, his L.I. teammate Matt Danowski blasted one from beyond the two-point arc, tying the game at six.

Anthony Kelly put one home about a minute later, and the latest goal came from the man who opened the game's scoring, Kevin Leveille.

3rd Quarter, 13:07, Team USA 6-3: We have yet another hat trick for Team USA.

Brendan Mundorf put home another unassisted goal, giving Team USA a three-goal lead early in the second half.

3rd Quarter, 13:46, Team USA 5-3: The second half just started, and we have new goalies for both sides.

Adam Fullerton from Denver is in net for Team USA, while Jesse Schwartzman, also from Denver, plays for the MLL All-Stars.

Halftime, Team USA 5-3: There is an epic skills competition going on right now in Harvard Stadium.

In the fastest-shot contest, USA midfielder Max Seibald took an early lead with a 111 mile per hour blast.

Nobody could catch Seibald, until his teammate and crowd favorite, Paul Rabil, stepped up and tied Seibald with a 111 mph laser of his own, sending the two into a one-shot playoff.

Seibald yanked a 109 mph shot (meh), leaving it up to Rabil to beat the mark.

The Boston Cannons midfielder did not disappoint. Rabil wound up and sent another 111 mph lightning bolt into the net. Upon hearing the speed of his bomb, Rabil threw his stick into the air, dropped to the ground, and the crowd went wild.

Halftime, Team USA 5-3: Team USA took a big lead right before halftime, thanks to a man advantage.

With 43 seconds left in the half, Brendan Mundorf put one by the goaltender, right after Denver Outlaws defender Matt Bocklet got called for a push in front of the net.

About 40 ticks later, Mundorf got another opportunity on a 3-on-1 breakaway, and didn't let it pass, blasting one over the left shoulder of the goalie.

2nd Quarter, 5:27, 3-3: We have a hat trick!

Boyle put in his third goal, tying the game at three.

Both teams want this one badly.

2nd Quarter, 7:54, Team USA 3-2: I guess I spoke too soon after the MLL All-Stars took a two-goal lead.

Team USA is here to play.

Veteran Max Seibald, midfielder from Denver, blasted a shot into the top corner.

Man, these guys sure can play.

2nd Quarter, 10:17, 2-2: And just like that, we're all tied up.

Boyle put home his second unassisted tally in under two minutes.

On the other end of the field, U.S. goalie Brian Dougherty made a couple of incredible saves, then raised his arms to bring on the cheers while his team took it down towards the other end. This sport rocks.

2nd Quarter, 11:51, MLL All-Stars 2-1: Team USA is finally on the board.

Home hero and Boston Cannons forward Ryan Boyle made a couple nifty moves to get through a couple of defenders, and drilled one into the bottom corner.

End of 1st Quarter, MLL All-Stars 2-0: Heading into this game, Team USA had the mindset of getting in a good run against a quality opponent, before heading off to play in the FIL World Championship in England.

Right now, they're getting a run for their money.

The MLL All-Stars dominated the first quarter, scoring the only two goals of the game. Garrity made some big stops, but for the most part, the MLL offense controlled the play on the other side of the field.

1st Quarter, 2:58, MLL All-Stars 2-0: Team USA must have Manchester, Engalnd and the FIL Championsihp on their minds.

Dan Hardy put home an unassisted wrister from right in front of the net, giving the MLL All-Stars a two-goal lead. Hardy plays for the Denver Outlaws.

1st Quarter, 3:37, MLL All-Stars 1-0: Leveille and his brother, Mike Leveille, both play for the Chicago Machine, but Mike is not an All-Star.

1st Quarter, 8:24 MLL All-Stars 1-0: Kevin Leveille wound up and blasted a shot from about 10 yards out, into the top-right corner of the net, giving the home MLL All-Stars an early lead.

1st Quarter, 9:25, 0-0: No goals have been scored yet, but the play has been pretty ferocious thus far, with each goaltender making a couple big saves.

Brian Dougherty is in goal for USA, while Chris Garrity is in net for the MLL All-Stars.

7:04 p.m.: Faceoff is dropped, and it's won by Team USA faceoff man Alex Smith.

6:55 p.m.: Team USA is currently being introduced to the fans at Harvard Stadium.

Boston Cannons players Kyle Sweeney, Ryan Boyle, Ryan McClay and Paul Rabil. Rabil was introduced last, and he got by far the biggest ovation.

The players ran from the sidelines, through a 20-yard group of children wearing Boston Cannons jerseys, all the way to midfield.

The MLL All-Stars, the home team, were introduced second. Boston Cannons players Matt Poskay, Chris Eck, and Kevin Buchanan got the loudest cheers.

6:30 p.m.: The MLL All-Stars are doing what appears to be a 3-on-2 drill right now (just like basketball).

These guys are clearly the best lacrosse players that the world has to offer. Some of the plays have been described by people in the press box as "dirty" and "sick-nasty." I'd say that's pretty good.

On a side note, Team USA has come back onto the field, now wearing their white jerseys, which consequently match their white shorts.

6:15 p.m.: The seats inside Harvard Stadium aren't exactly filled to capacity yet, but that's not because people aren't here.

In fact, the place is packed. It took me about 45 minutes just to park.

That's because Major League Lacrosse and its sponsors have put on an incredible show around the stadium called the "Fan Zone." There are moon-bounces, photo booths, specialty food stands, live music and auction tables. Really a spectacular atmosphere here tonight.

6:00 p.m.: Both Team USA and the MLL All-Stars have taken the field at Harvard Stadium.

Team USA is wearing dark blue warm-up jerseys with white shorts, while the MLL stars are wearing grey warm-ups with black shorts.

I'll keep you updated with any and all fashion highlights throughout the evening.

9 a.m.: If the Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game is anything like the MLL media reception that took place at Ned Devine’s in Faneuil Hall on Wednesday, it’s going to be a great night.

The best lacrosse players in the world were there, including the MLL All-Stars, Team USA and even the top 40 high school sophomore and junior players in the nation.

Thursday night at Harvard Stadium, the MLL All-Stars, led by world champion Toronto Nationals head coach Dave Huntley, take on Team USA, led by a hometown hero, Boston Cannons midfielder and 2009 MLL MVP Paul Rabil.

It's Team USA's last game, albeit an exhibition, before it heads off to Manchester, England, for the 2010 FIL World Championship.

The All-Star festivities kick off at 5 p.m. with the "Fan Zone," an area adjacent to Harvard Stadium, with games, contests and entertainment.

Player warm-ups will take place on the field at 6 p.m.

Faceoff is scheduled for 7:02 p.m.

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