The Chesapeake Bayhawks debuted a new pregame routine for their home opener on Saturday night at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Festivities began with former goalie Kip Turner, an Annapolis native and Severn School graduate, being recognized as a Bayhawks legend and being presented with a gift by owner Brendan Kelly.

Turner then cranked up an air raid-style siren to get the home crowd fired up. That was followed by an impressively produced highlight video that showed members of the Bayhawks standing on the steps of the State House.

As the video progressed from scene to scene, the words “Our state. Our city. Our team. Our year” appeared on the screen.

Maybe this will be the Bayhawks’ year, but Saturday was certainly not their night.

Goalie Chris Madalon anchored a suffocating defensive effort while attackman Shayne Jackson led a balanced offensive performance as the Atlanta Blaze spoiled the home opener by beating Chesapeake, 19-10.

Rookie faceoff specialist Alex Woodall played a big role for Atlanta. The St. Mary’s High and Towson University graduate captured 18 of 31 faceoffs while working against long stick midfielder C.J. Costabile for most of the game.

Woodall took advantage of the fact Chesapeake faceoff specialist Kenny Massa was knocked out of the game early in the first quarter. Massa won a faceoff and fed attackman Colin Heacock on the right wing for a sidearm crank shot that made it 2-0 at the 12:37 mark.

However, Atlanta defenseman David Manning (Loyola-Maryland) stepped up and delivered a brutal body blow to the left shoulder of Massa just as he was making the pass. Massa crumpled to the turf and remained there for several minutes.

Massa did not return and the Bayhawks played the rest of the game without a faceoff specialist.

Attackman Lyle Thompson totaled four goals and two assists to lead Chesapeake (2-1), which suffered its first loss after winning consecutive road games to start the season.

bwagner@capgaznews.com