Di Miller, PLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: John Zumbado
The PLL headed north of the border for the first time and Archers LC (4-5) would face the first place Chaos LC (7-2) in Hamilton, ON at Tim Horton’s Field on Saturday August 17, 2019. Chaos had already locked in a playoff spot and Archers was looking to lock in theirs. The contest had major implications for both, but in another OT battle Chaos LC would be victorious in the end defeating Archers LC. This game would see eight ties; four lead changes; and Chaos who had scored an average of 15.7 goals per game, would be held to only 11. With the “W”, Chaos has locked up a top two seed in the playoffs. Final Score OT: Chaos LC 11—Archers LC 10.
Archers would win the opening face-off and it would take almost half the frame before either team would get on the board. Chaos would open it up on a transition goal with Mark Glicini (2g) getting his first career PLL goal, unassisted as he split the defenders firing it past Adam Ghitelman 1-0. But it only took 22 seconds for Archers to fire back as Scott Ratliff would send the pass to Will Manny (3g, 1a) on the left wing giving him his 17th on the season to tie it up. They’d go up 2-1 with a low shot from Joey Sankey (1g) far side on Blaze Riorden at the 5:04 mark. Chaos would notch the final two in the frame Dhane Smith (1g) would receive the pass from Fields who drew the defense allowing Smith to come up from behind X and hit the slam dunk on the door step at 3:59 to tie it at two apiece. Just 15 seconds later Josh Byrne (3g, 2a) would get his first of three on the day on an aggressive push to the cage, he turned and fired for the go ahead goal 3-2, in his first game back since July 7th. Score at the end of one: Chaos 3—Archers 2.
It only took 44 seconds for Archers to tie it up in the second. Manny would steal the crossfield pass on an aggressive play and on the interception fired it unassisted to tie it at three apiece. On another turnover, this time by Chaos, Jake Froccaro (1g) never broke stride pump faked freezing the Archers defenders and fired low near side at 9:35 for his 14th on the year. The next Chaos goal was a highlight reel goal, a behind-the-back feed by Fields to Byrne for the behind-the-back goal at 8:36 for the two goal lead 5-3. Not to be undone, Archers would copycat with a BTB of their own, this one from Ryan Ambler (1g) in traffic unable to extend his arms took the other option and flipped the BTB shot past a shocked Riorden at the 7:35 mark closing the gap 5-4. And the back and forth would continue, as Chaos attackman Connor Fields (2g, 3a) would fight off his defender, headed to the back of the cage, came around catching Ghitelman off guard and hit twine at 6:40. The goal keepers on each end would block the shots keeping the ball out the cage for the next six and half minutes. With 6.8 seconds left in the first half, Ben McIntosh would dish the ball to Tom Schreiber (1g, 2a) who fired it over his left shoulder closing the gap to one. Halftime stats: Archers would lead in SOG 26-21; the teams were even on TO at 5 apiece; Archers on FO .769% and Chaos .231%; Riorden with 11 saves; Ghitelman with 5 saves. Score at the end of two: Chaos 6—Archers 5.
Archers would again be the first to score in the quarter and Chaos would be without a goal since 6:40 in the second for a total of 14:41 without a score. Ben McIntosh and Schreiber would team up once more on the two man game, this time with McIntosh notching the goal splitting the defenders straight up the middle firing it past Riorden at 11:34 tying it at six apiece. The fans would see a tennis match as there would be almost eight minutes ticking off the timer before another goal would come and it would be Archers once more. This time Danny Eipp would go hard with a crease dive goal getting rid of the ball just before hitting the turf for the lead 7-6 at the 3:59 mark. Chaos would win the ensuing face-off and would be called for an “unable to clear”, the first failure to clear in the league this season. Chaos would finally net their first goal since the 6:40 mark in the second. In transition, Glicini would come in tight and slam dunk the ball over the shoulder of Drew Adams on the Marcus Holman turnover at the 2:38 mark to tie it up at seven apiece. Chaos would score the go ahead goal off Myles Jones. It would come before Archers could get reset on defense which may have been from a missed off-sides call on Chaos as Jones stepped around Tyler Pfister and fired it into the net with 1:18 left in the frame. Score at the end of three: Chaos 8—Archers 7.
Once more, Archers would open up the scoring, and it would take seven and a half minutes before it happened. Joey Sankey made the play to keep it on the Archers side of the field throwing his body in front of Jake Froccaro causing the turnover, allowing Holman to scoop the ground ball he’d head up from behind the cage and bounce it past a stretched out Riorden for the first goal in the fourth at 4:45 tying it for the third time on the day. But just eight seconds later, off the ensuing face-off Chaos FOGO Tommy Kelly would flip the ball to Byrne would flip the ball to Fields with the catch and shoot to break the tie 9-8. They’d go up 10-8 with a beautiful jump shot by Eric Scott (1g) off the step dodge and pass from Jones he’d get perfect placement in the lower corner at 3:58. The game was still within reach with the shorter field and two point arc line so it was imperative that Chaos put another on the board. They made the mistake of changing up the defense on Christian Cuccinello, pulling Jarrod Neumann, Cuccinello made his way to the crease for the shot and as he was making the shot was pushed into the crease, and Manny was in the perfect spot for the rebound to make the shot at 2:10. The goal was good as the push was incidental. At the 2:01 mark, Archers would call a timeout immediately following the face-off win by Stephen Kelly. They’d have possession and Schreiber would make the slide, roll, shoot and score to tie it at 10 apiece with 1:36 remaining. With 1:31 left in regulation, Chaos would use their final timeout. They’d set up their play but with 42.7 seconds left they’d turn over possession and Archers would use their final timeout with 37.9 seconds remaining. To what many thought would be the end for Chaos; Kyle McClancy would get hit with a one minute unnecessary roughness call with 14.3 seconds remaining. Archers would go on the 6 on 5, they’d set up the shot fire on cage and Jarrod Neumann would use his arm to block the shot and save the goal sending the game into OT with 45 seconds remaining on the man-up for Archers. Score at the end of regulations: Chaos 10—Archers 10.
Chaos LC was 3-1 in OT while Archers LC was 0-3 OT so the stats were in favor of Chaos heading into the extra frame.
Archers would start the OT frame with 45 seconds in their man-up and would win the ensuing face-off. They couldn’t capitalize but the net-minders on each side of the field were stellar. Then the unthinkable…Archers midfielder Dominique Alexander would get hit with a one-minute unnecessary roughness call sending Chaos into the man-up at 8:18 and it only took 17 seconds for them to capitalize. Josh Byrne would be the hero he’d step in with the low angle shot catching Drew Adams by surprise far side low for the win in OT. Final Score OT: Chaos 11—Archers 10.
TEAM STATS:
2Pt. Sh. 2Pt. Sh. % Sh Sh % GB TO CT FO % PP PP %
Chaos 5 0.0% 38 28.9% 25 17 5 36.0% 1 50.0%
Archers 9 0.0% 54 18.5% 36 13 5 64.0% 0 0.0%
FACE OFFS
Chaos—Tommy Kelly: FO 9-24; FO% .375%; 4 GB
Chaos—Jack Rowlett: FO 0-1; FO% .00%; 3 GB
Archers—Stephen Kelly: FO 11-15; FO% .733%; 4 GB
Archers—Brendan Fowler: FO 5-10; FO% .500%; 4 GB
NEXT UP:
The teams head to Albany, NY for Week 10 and will play at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium on Saturday August 24 and Sunday August 25, 2019. This is the last weekend of the regular season before the playoffs begin on September 6 in Columbus, OH.
On Saturday August 24, Chaos LC (7-2) will face Atlas LC (4-5), game time 8:00 p.m. EST and you can catch this game on NBCSG.
Sunday August 25, you’ll get to catch Chrome LC (2-7) in their final game this season as they go up against Redwoods LC (4-4 at the time of this publication), game time 1:30 p.m. EST and the game will be televised on NBCSG.
The final game of the regular season will see Whipsnakes LC (5-3 at the time of this publication) go up against Archers LC (4-5) game time 4:30 p.m. EST and this game can be seen on NBCSN.
With Archers LC, Redwoods LC and Atlas LC very close in the standings this last weekend of play has major implications so stay tuned for the action.
Di Miller, PLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©