The PLL playoffs were back last weekend! Boston did disappoint, the Redwoods for the second season in a row went home in the first round… it was tough for us Woods fans. I believe in Coach Nat and the boys; they just once again had another major injury right before the playoffs. No Eddy Glazener was apparent as the Archers put up 13 goals in their win. The loss of Glaze wasn’t the biggest issue, the Redwoods couldn’t buy a goal in the second and third quarters. Rob Pannell was the one goal scorer in those quarters for the ‘Woods. They came back in the fourth quarter with four goals, but it was too little too late. So, the Archers who had never won a playoff game as a franchise finally won a game… congrats to them, I guess. We can’t change the past and can only look to the future, now we have to wait almost 300 days for Redwoods lacrosse but wait we will.
If the Archers win wasn’t surprising to most in the lacrosse community the Chaos dominance was a shocker of all shockers. The win for the ‘Aos Boys wasn’t shocking to this writer; I predicted the Chaos win last week. I would be lying if I said I saw that dominance coming from the men in red and black. They held the 2nd seed Chrome to THREE goals, which ties the lowest goal total in a PLL game. It was a bit of sweet revenge as it was my Redwoods who set that record low earlier this season against the Chrome. It looked like the Chrome was going to set the record low with only two goals until Logan Wisnauskas scored in the final 30 seconds of the game. A garbage time goal that kept the Chrome out of the wrong side of the record books. Blaze Riorden was an ABSOLUTE DOG in cage, seriously finishing the game with 15 saves and an 83% save average were unbelievable stats. Blaze reminded everyone why he is still the top dog among the league’s players not just goalies. His opposite number Sean Sconone had a hell of a game 15 saves, and 58% save average were more than admirable stats. Most goalies would kill for those stats. It was just a combination of good defense from the Chaos, a great day from the Chaos faceoff unit, and poor execution and play from the Chrome offense. Those three factors led to the Chrome loss, they are the only team of the original six to never win a playoff game, since the Archers won on Saturday.
The final game of the day was another correct prediction from yours truly, I had the DAWGS winning this match up against the Atlas. It was a full team effort from the Waterdogs, there were 7 goal scorers for the DAWGS and none of those scorers were Connor Kelly who had been one of their best players this season. There were 11 Waterdogs players who recorded a point in the game. Jake Withers went 52% from the faceoff stripe an absolute win against league leading Trevor Baptiste. I don’t think most people saw this performance coming from Coach Copelan’s team, a 19-score day was the most scored this season by a PLL team. Jack Concannon was pulled from goal late in the game after posting only 5 save and a 28% save percentage. It was just not a good performance from the Atlas, even with the Waterdogs having more turnovers. The Atlas couldn’t overcome the obstacles the Waterdogs placed in their way.
The 2022 PLL quarterfinals were full of surprises. Two lower seeded teams advanced to the semifinals in Washington D.C., plus a record low and season high in goals scored added to the shockers on Saturday. I went 2 for 3 last weekend on picks and really should have gone 3 for 3 but I just couldn’t pick against the Redwoods. Next Sunday the Whipsnakes take on the Waterdogs, the only team to beat them this season. The Archers take on the Chaos who have bounced them from the playoffs the last two seasons. Sunday should be exciting with the first game on ABC and the second on ESPN+. Another great day of lacrosse is headed our way!
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