Nationals best #1 Boston to get back in playoff picture

The Toronto Nationals won their third straight game to better their record this season to 3-5. The Cannons defeat moved their record to 5-3.
The game started very offensive, with Stephen Boyle scoring his first career MLL goal for the Cannons, and them taking a 2-0 lead. But Toronto came right back to take the lead, including a highlight reel goal by John Grant Jr. But MLL leading scorer Matt Poskay evened things up at the end of the quarter, but Mark Steenhuis took the lead for Toronto again.
At the half both teams were tied at 9. But it was an odd second period to get there. Seven seconds in, Geoff Snider won the face off and took it to the other end to score. The teams traded three goals after a rocket by Paul Rabil.
Jordon Burke replace Kip Turner in net for Boston to start the third. Matt Poskay got the Cannons the lead on a man-advantage, but Toronto came back to score back-to-back goals. But Paul Rabil scored from outside the arc to give the Cannons a 13-11 lead going into the last quarter of play.
The Cannons could not score a goal this period, and Toronto tied it almost immediately. Burke kept the Cannons in the game until the backbreaking goal by Jordon Hall that was the game winner.
This is the Cannons and Nationals last game before the all-star game this Thursday at Harvard stadium.

MLL Mock Draft

The MLL Collegiate Draft is tonight at 7pm. Here is the NLL Mock Draft:

Round One:
Machine: Ned Crotty, Duke
We saw Crotty in the NCAA championship game last week, and previewed his line mate Max Quinzani. Especially with Casey Powell's status in question, they could use a guy with the talent of Crotty.

Bayhawks: Mike Kimmel
The Bayhawks GM Spencer Ford has reiterated time and again he plans on taking Kimmel.

Cannons: Max Quinzani
You can look at the post below to read all about Quinzani, and he fits the bill in Boston to play beside Paul Rabil.

Lizards: Scott Rodgers
We also saw a lot of Rodgers recently as the goalie of Notre Dame. He fits a Lizards team that could use a good goaltender.

Outlaws: Ken Clausen
Denver is worried about Clausen's availability, as he may be taken before they can snag him. They could use a midfielder, and Clausen fits in nicely.

Bayhawks: Brian Carroll
The Bayhawks may option to take Parker McKee, but Carrol may be the option.

Cody Jaimeson, the expected #1 pick in the NLL, will likely be selected by Toronto in the second round.

Duke Wins National Championship

What an ending to an outstanding NCAA tournament. The Duke Blue Devils topped the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 6-5 in overtime. This is Duke's fourth NCAA Championship appearance in seven years, and the first one they won.
Notre Dame got on the board early, but Duke tied it quick and it was tied at 2 in the second period. Zach Brennamen scored both first quarter goals for the Irish. Zach Howell and Steve Schoeffel scored to take a lead, but Brennamen scored his second to tie the game. Duke showed and uncharacteristic smothering defense over the underwhelmed Notre Dame offense. The Irish were able to control the game to the pace they wanted and hold the Duke offense in check, but Scott Rodgers allowed in two soft goals that were the difference. Rodgers will go into the offseason as a top NLL prospect and he made some game saving saves in the fourth, but in the end, they weren't ranked for a reason.
In the second period, no one scored until Schoeffel's goal with 1:24 left in the half, with the assist going to Mike Quinzani(Next prospect preview). The third period started with the score 3-2 Blue Devils, but the Fighting Irish changed that quickly. David Earl, who was all over the place all game, scored to tie the game. It didn't last long as Howell scored his second of the game four minutes later. Brenneman scored the hat trick to tie the game with only 1:12 left in the period, and it headed into the fourth period tied.
Sean Rogers scored for the Irish with 11:56 left in the fourth. Justin Turri turned around and tied it with 8:44 though. It would remain tied into OT.
The face-off specialist CJ Costabile scored only his fourth goal of the season five seconds into the period on a break away to give the Blue Devils their first ever national title.
Notes:

* Rodgers has nothing to hang his head about, he will have a bright career in the NLL or MLL. I'll try to get a prospect preview of him up sometime.

* I was impressed by Duke's smothering defense on the younger Notre Dame team.

* Congrats to the seventeen seniors on Duke who dealt with the whole mess back in 2006 to have a national title.