The 2005 Major League Lacrosse season was the fifth season of the league. The season began on May 20 and concluded with the championship game on August 21, 2005. This was the last MLL season when they just had 6 teams, and the next season, they had the new Western Conference.
General information The 45-second shot clock was changed to a 60-second shot clock in 2005.
The league played several exhibition and regular season games on the West Coast in 2005 as part of plans to expand to the region. For the second consecutive year, Qwest Field in Seattle hosted a MLL game. Baltimore defeated New Jersey 21–12 on May 28 in front of 8,478 in attendance at Qwest Field. An exhibition game between two all-star teams, Old School (inaugural season players) and the Young Guns, was played on July 2 at Invesco Field in Denver. It drew a crowd of 12,674—the largest in league history.
Regular season W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against Qualified for playoffs American DivisionTeamWLPCTPFPABoston Cannons 102.833200159 Long Island Lizards48.333177189 Philadelphia Barrage48.333156194 National DivisionTeamWLPCTPFPA Baltimore Bayhawks102.833 247 158 Rochester Rattlers6 6 .500 184 197 New Jersey Pride210.167 148 215
Long Island defeated Philadelphia 2 of 3 games in the regular season.
All Star Game July 2, 2005 Young Guns 21-20(OT) Old School at INVESCO Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado, Michael Powell MVP
Old School team was made up of players who began playing in 2001. Young Guns was made up of players who began in 2002 or later.
Playoffs
Semifinal games August 19, 2005 Baltimore 20-13 Rochester @ Nickerson Field, Boston, Massachusetts Long Island 19-14 Boston @ Nickerson Field, Boston, Massachusetts
MLL championship August 21, 2005 Baltimore 15-9 Long Island @ Nickerson Field, Boston, Massachusetts
Bracket
Awards AwardWinnerTeamMVP AwardMark MillonGary Gait BostonBaltimoreRookie of the Year AwardBrodie Merrill BaltimoreCoach of the Year AwardScott Hiller BostonDefensive player of the Year AwardNicky Polanco Long Island Offensive player of the Year AwardCasey Powell Rochester Goaltender of the Year AwardChris Garrity BostonSportsman of the Year AwardPat McCabe Long Island Most Improved Player of the Year AwardAndrew Combs RochesterCommunity Service AwardRyan McClay New Jersey
References