The 2009 Toronto Nationals season was the first for the franchise. Their first game in the MLL was on May 15, 2009, against Washington Bayhawks, which they won 17–16. They also won their first home game over the Chicago Machine 15–11. The Nationals qualified for the playoffs as the second seed with a 7–5 record and the best offense in MLL with 184 goals for. The Nationals played their first playoff game against the Long Island Lizards at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. Toronto won their semi-final matchup 14–13 thanks to a strong game by Merrick Thomson scoring 4 goals. Toronto went on to face the Denver Outlaws in the Steinfeld Cup Final. The Nationals were tied with the Outlaws 9–9 with over a minute to go in the game. Nationals head coach Dave Huntley called a time-out to draw out a strategy. With 45 seconds left to go, Joe Walters passed to Shawn Williams and Williams scored the winning goal to give the Toronto Nationals their first championship victory 10–9 over the Denver Outlaws. Merrick Thomson was named Playoff MVP and Brodie Merrill won the Major League Lacrosse Defensive player of the Year Award.
Standings W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT = Winning Percentage, GB = Games Back of first place, GF = Goals For, 2ptGF = 2 point Goals For, GA = Goals Against, 2ptGA = 2 point Goals Against
Qualified for playoffs TeamWLPCT GBGF2ptGFGA2ptGA Denver Outlaws93.750-16681386 Toronto Nationals75.583218441729 Long Island Lizards 66.500312541449 Boston Cannons 66.5003173121506 Washington Bayhawks57.4174148141759 Chicago Machine 39.2506159817611
Long Island finished ahead of Boston based on a head to head record of 3-0.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Field Result Attendance Record 1 May 15 @ Bayhawks Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium 17–16 3,715 1–0 2 May 22 Machine BMO Field 17–16 5,144 2–0 3 May 29 Lizards BMO Field 13–9 3,424 2–1 4 June 4 @ Bayhawks Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium 17–15 3,216 3–1 5 June 13 Bayhawks BMO Field 19–12 3,544 4–1 6 June 20 @ Outlaws Invesco Field at Mile High 15–8 8,216 4–2 7 June 25 @ Cannons Harvard Stadium 19–15 7,532 4–3 7 June 27 Outlaws BMO Field 20–16 3,791 4–4 8 July 4 @ Machine Glenbrook South High School 24–19 1,338 4–5 10 July 18 @ Lizards James M. Shuart Stadium 19–9 7,621 5–5 11 July 23 Cannons BMO Field 18–17 (OT) 3,542 6–5 13 August 8 Outlaws BMO Field 16–10 3,635 7–5
Playoffs Round Date Opponent Field Result Attendance MLL Semifinal August 22 Lizards Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium 14–13 6,720 Steinfeld Cup August 23 @ Outlaws Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium 10–9 7,003
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