On Saturday, Sept. 7, the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) took to James. M Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University for their Cash App semifinals game between the New York Atlas and the Maryland Whipsnakes.
The No. 1 seeded Atlas had their hands full in the 12-11 overtime loss to the No. 4 Whipsnakes. New York had their best regular season to date after finishing the 2022 campaign 2-8. Despite turning it around in the regular season, the two-time champion Whipsnakes returned to the PLL finals to play the No. 2 Utah Archers on Sunday, Sept. 15.
Levi Anderson of Saint Joseph’s University scored the sudden victory goal at just over seven minutes into overtime to end New York’s playoff hopes.
Mike Pressler, head coach of the Atlas, said, “This was one of the greatest lacrosse games I’ve been a part of in my career.”
New York jumped out to an early lead. The battle in the faceoff dot between Trevor Baptiste for New York and Joe Nardella for Maryland might have gotten lost in the fray after the result.
Coming into the game, they ranked second and first respectively on faceoff percentage, winning about 66% of draws. Baptiste, the 2022 Most Valuable Player Award recipient, went 12-24 on the draw and scored three goals in four seconds, the fastest in league history.
The Whipsnakes seemed lost against the Atlas, going down by four goals during the first half.
Goals for Maryland from Matt Rambo, Colin Heacock and TJ Malone combined for a 3-0 run that lasted the entire third quarter.
The Atlas responded with three goals early in the fourth frame. With under five minutes to play, Maryland scored two goals, bringing their deficit to one.
With 3:26 left in regulation, Rambo scored the tying goal which left much debate. While receiving a cross-crease pass, Rambo ran in from the left side of Atlas goaltender Liam Entenmann. A leaping Rambo shot past the Entenmann and into the net. The subject of the review was surrounding whether or not Rambo’s foot landed in the crease.
“We watched the play four or five times,” said Pressler. “We felt like his foot was clearly in the crease. The reason the goal stood was because I took over 30 seconds to throw the challenge flag.”
Rambo’s goal stood and was the final one scored of regulation.
Overtime at Shuart Stadium made for a lively atmosphere. The action was relentless at both ends with fantastic chances for both squads. When Maryland attacked, the largely New York-based crowd chanted, “Defense! Defense!”
Maryland goaltender Brendan Krebs struggled early, but only allowed three goals in the second half. Krebs locked in during the overtime period against former Notre Dame goalie Entenmann.
Chances flew left and right, including a crossbar for the Atlas. Alas, with just over seven minutes in overtime, Anderson saw an opportunity. He received a pass behind New York’s net and saw it was just him and short stick midfielder Danny Logan. Anderson cut in and used his outstanding swim deke to get around Logan and put the ball past Entenmann to seal the game for the Atlas. Despite Maryland’s lackluster start, the Whipsnakes outlasted the No. 1 seeded Atlas to advance to the PLL Cash App finals on Sept. 15 against the Utah Archers.
