Last year’s Major League Lacrosse finalists, Chesapeake and Denver, both posted victories on a sizzling hot Sunday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., to move atop the standings of the 2020 MLL season.

Fueled by a hat trick from 2019 MLL MVP Lyle Thompson and 16 saves from Brian Phipps, Chesapeake beat New York 18-13 in the opening game of a double-header aired live on national television on ESPN2 to move to 2-0 for the abbreviated five-game regular season. Denver pulled away to beat Philadelphia 15-10 in Sunday’s second game.

A hat trick for Lyle Thompson and 16 saves from Brian Phipps sends @TheBayhawks past New York 18-13. Chesapeake improves to 2-0. pic.twitter.com/bEwuIOTfGk

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) July 19, 2020

New York jumped to a 4-0 lead over Chesapeake, thanks in part to three straight goals from Dylan Molloy to open the game, but the Bayhawks turned the momentum, spurred by the play of longstick midfielder C.J. Costabile.

Costabile buried a two-point goal with 1:45 left in the opening half to break a 6-6 tie and then fed a wide-open Nate Solomon on the crease as the Bayhawks scored just before the first half buzzer to take a 9-6 lead.

The Bayhawks then scored five of the first six goals of the second half, including another two-pointer from Costabile, to take control of the game.

Thompson (3g, 2a) and Costabile (2 2-pt goals, 1a) each had five points for Chesapeake and Nick Mariano scored three goals. Phipps made 10 of his 16 saves in the first half to stifle the Lizards before the offense got rolling.

Phipps was one of two players honored as US Lacrosse/MLL “Homegrown Heroes of the Game” on Sunday for their work developing lacrosse at the grassroots level. Also honored was Denver’s Mike Schlosser.

Connor O’Hara led New York with four goals and Molloy added the hat trick. Austin Kaut made seven saves before giving way to Brian Corrigan in the third quarter. Corrigan also made save saves.

Denver 15, Philadelphia 10

Rookie Daniel Bucaro scored three first-half goals in Denver’s 15-10 victory over Philadelphia, and Ryan Lee also scored three times as the Outlaws improved to 2-0.

Bucaro, a 2019 Georgetown graduate who missed last season with an injury, is becoming one of the breakout stars in the league. He scored four times in Denver’s season-opening 18-6 win over Connecticut on Saturday.

Daniel Bucaro quickly becoming a breakout star in @MLL_Lacrosse. He scores 3 as @DenverOutlaws beat Philadelphia 15-10. pic.twitter.com/HsZRgIdkPj

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) July 19, 2020

After Philadelphia’s Shayne Jackson scored in the opening minute of the second half to pull the Barrage to within 8-7, Denver scored five straight goals and never looked back.

Denver’s defense limited Philadelphia to just 33 shots in the game, and Christian Knight and Nick Washuta combined for nine saves for the Outlaws. Philadelphia committed five penalties in the game and gave up a pair of extra-man goals.

Jackson, who was laid out on a big hit by Denver’s Pat Aslanian early in the game, bounced back and finished with a hat trick to lead Philadelphia in scoring.

PLAY OF THE DAY

Andrew Pettit made quite the impression as a rookie in his second game with the New York Lizards. He goes behind his back and that of Warren Jeffrey for the #SCTop10-worthy goal.

What do you call this shot by @apettit9 pic.twitter.com/7zoXoM4aop

— Major League Lacrosse (@MLL_Lacrosse) July 19, 2020

Sunday’s Scores

Chesapeake 18, New York 13
Denver 15, Philadelphia 10

Monday’s Schedule

4 p.m. – Philadelphia (0-2) vs. Connecticut (0-1), ESPN+
7 p.m. – Boston (1-0) vs. Chesapeake (2-0), ESPN+