Featured Image Photo Credit: Pretty Instant
Kevin S. Clancy, Beat Writer Boston Cannons
Lacrosse is Awesome
Of course when any New York team comes to Boston, you can expect a good game and maybe even see a fight to break out. In last night’s contest, fans witnessed both on a cool clear night at Harvard Stadium when the Lizards arrived on the field. Starting off slowly with Boston getting a majority of the face-off, lots of loose balls and it looking like scrums in Rugby with the ball popping out after minutes of rolling, digging and scratching, Boston hung onto a tight lead to beat the Lizards 16-13 to go 2-3 on the season.
Paul Rabil was guarded closely but assisted the first goal of the game for the Lizards. It looked like a runaway with New York going up 3-1 in the first quarter with five minutes to go. Then came the Max Seibald show for Boston with back-to-back two pointers to go ahead 5-3. Davey Emala added another unassisted to make it 6-3 Boston as the first quarter came to an end.
Second quarter action stayed with the Cannons as Will Manny; Justin Turri; and Scott Bieda scored with good plays and teamwork. Boston knew they would need all the goals they could muster to offset the three time MLL champions. Rabil changed the momentum to the Lizards scoring the first of three goals for the Lizards to stop the bleeding. Then Cannons Captain Will Manny attempted to get Boston going with a quick goal but immediately following, the Lizards would notch another three unanswered goals making it 10-9 at half time.
The Cannons needed the first goal of the third quarter to slow this one down. Manny assisted by Bieda did just that but Will wasn’t finished yet and would score another unassisted goal making it 12-9. Kevin Buchanan completed the Cannons hat-trick with another goal to pad the lead. New York would score once more before the buzzer to make it 13-10 at the end of the third quarter with Boston still ahead.
Seibald came alive again for Boston starting the fourth with an unassisted goal giving them a four point advantage. Lizards Matthew Gibson hit two in a row to bring the Lizards to within one. The Boston crowd of 4,750 fans on a cool summer evening was hushed, and had that sinking feeling the momentum might be shifting again. But Joe LoCascio slipped into the center ahead of his man, hit net and made it 15-13 with 3:37 to go in the game. Manny slung the ball to Emala and “Goal!” putting Boston up 16-13 with 2:25 left in the game. The Cannons defense was doing a great job and stayed tight on Rabil and his teammates until the buzzer sounded. Final Score: Cannons 16—Lizards 13.
Boston would get their first win at home and are now 2-3 on the season and have a bye this week. They’re pumped and ready for the defending 2016 MLL Champions the Denver Outlaws (4-0) to head to Harvard Stadium on Saturday June 3, 2017.
Kevin S. Clancy, Beat Writer Boston Cannons
Lacrosse is Awesome