Photo Credit: Kevin S. Clancy
Kevin S. Clancy, Beat Writer Boston Cannons
Lacrosse is Awesome
The last game of the season for the Boston Cannons (3-11) and Atlanta Blaze (6-8) took place in front of a crowd of approximately 4,200 in Boston on Saturday, August 5. Both teams will not play in the playoffs, but the end of the regular season is important for the draft picks to continue learning the offense in preparation for summer 2018. The game was competitive throughout, with both teams making runs to take the lead. In the end, the Atlanta Blaze came out victorious, ending their season on a positive note. Final Score: Atlanta – 18, Boston – 16.
Boston started the game with four unanswered goals over the first 5:22 to take an early lead. All four were scored from different players, showing the Cannons depth and versatility on the offensive end. David Emala (2G) scored first 2:38 in, and on the very next possession and only 33 seconds later, Kyle Jackson (2G, 1A) got his first of the night. Kylor Bellistri (2G, 1A) scored just over a minute later and Cal Dearth (1G) finished off the four-goal run with his only of the game. Atlanta’s long-pole Scott Ratliff (1G) was the unlikely man to stop the streak, finding an opening top center and bouncing in a two-pointer that highlighted a weakness in Boston’s defense and cut the early lead for Boston in half. Almost immediately, Jackson got one back for Boston. With 3:37 left to play in the first, Luke Goldstock (2G) made it a four-goal lead again and took interest in what Blaze defender Jeremy Noble (1G) said as he shoved him. The two scuffled and threw a few punches and both would be sent to the box with matching misconducts. Faceoff specialist Joe Nardella (2G, 1A), continuing his circle dominance, won the ensuing faceoff and took it all the way for his first of the game. Boston looked on top of their game and led Atlanta 7-2 at the end of the first quarter.
The Atlanta Blaze turned the tables in the second quarter scoring five goals to Boston’s one to keep themselves in the game. Atlanta goals came from Brian Sherlock (2G), Randy Staats (1G) and Kevin Rice (5G, 1A) before Nardella could tally his second goal in a row for Boston 4:58 into the quarter. They wouldn’t be able to get another for the rest of the half, and Sherlock and Rice would score again for Atlanta bringing us to a score of Atlanta 7, Boston 8 at the break.
Rookie Goldstock showed off his aggressive spin move and scored first coming out of the half for the Cannons, but Matt Mackrides (2G) of Atlanta answered quickly to keep the one goal differential. Veteran Boston midfielder Max Seibald (1G), who recorded his 200th career point against New York in July, scored next to make it 10-8. After almost six minutes of scoreless lacrosse, Scott Bieda (1G, 1A) scored off the assist by newly appointed co-captain Justin Turri (1G, 1A), to stretch the lead to three with 6:22 to go in the quarter. And then, the Blaze caught fire. Rice answered immediately, and off the next faceoff Graeme Hossack (1G, 1A) found the opening up top for a game tying two-pointer. The Cannons seemed deflated. Atlanta would take the lead with 1:44 left in the third, off Rice’s second of the quarter, and would never give it back. To add insult to injury, Rice would end the quarter with a two-pointer with just one second left on the clock. At the end of the third, Atlanta led Boston 14-11.
The Atlanta fire continued to start the fourth. Mackrides got his second of the night just 39 seconds in, and the University of Denver product Noble, scored just under three minutes later. Atlanta, who started the game down 4-0, now had a five-goal lead. Bellistri would try and get the ball rolling for Boston, scoring his second of the game to end the six-goal run from Atlanta, but the Blaze’s John Uppgren (2G) made sure it wasn’t a run scoring 37 seconds later. 
Boston, sensing their time dwindling, had to put something together. Kevin Buchanan (1G, 3A) scored 11 seconds after Bellistri, and Turri would make it a two-goal run a minute and a half later. Off the next faceoff, wily veteran Brodie Merrill (1G) would get his first goal of the season on the assist from Buchanan. Now with 6:27 remaining in the game, Boston found themselves only down two goals. Atlanta wasn’t going to give up though. Uppgren got his second of the quarter unassisted, to extend the lead to three with 4:52 remaining. An untimely penalty by Atlanta’s Hossack, gave Emala the opportunity to score on the power play with 3:18 remaining and the game was back to a two-goal differential. But it was too little, too late. Desperation heaves from outside the two-point line by Boston’s Seibald and Merrill would not find twine and Atlanta would hold the ball for the final 50 seconds to bring the season to a close. Final Score: Atlanta – 18, Boston – 16.
Looking Ahead:
The Cannons are excited for next year, and feel they have the offensive firepower to make noise. In a game that meant nothing to the season, the young offense showed some spark. Number two draft pick Sergio Perkovic (M) from Notre Dame was on the injured reserve list for this game but should be a positive factor next year.
Kevin Clancy, Beat Writer Boston Cannons
Lacrosse is Awesome