Di Miller, PLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Photo Credits: PLL
It was Throwback Weekend July 19, 2024 & July 20, 2024, with the teams facing off at Rafferty Stadium, in Fairfield, CT. The weather was perfect for some lacrosse under the lights. Both the Chaos (3-3) and the Whipsnakes (2-4) had lost their last games, so each was itching for the win. At this point in the season, the teams sitting in the lower half of their division are in must win situations. The scoring was low, but the action was high, and it would be the rookies who came out to play and were the heroes on the night. Final Score OT: Chaos 10—Whipsnakes 9.
The Whips would win the opening draw and got things going early in the first, just 24 seconds in. Tucker Dordevic (1G), Reigning Rooking of the Year was making his season debut, came out the box, headed down the alley and fired an overhand shot high to low that went five hole on Blaze Riorden and they were up 1-0. Chaos took 90 seconds before they would tally. Kyle Jackson faked a shot, fed to Ross Scott (1G), he shot on cage, the ball rang off the pipe and went in at 2:25 and the game was tied 1-1. For the next five minutes, neither team could find the back of the net. The Whips weren’t using their shot opportunities to their advantage, both teams were aggressive up and down the field with the game very physical so far. On the next Whips possession, Zed Williams would fire on cage, and Riorden would make his 960th save, 11th Most All-Time. Exactly five minutes later with 4:35 left in the frame, Jules Heningburg (2g, 1a) fought his way past two defenders, extended his left hand and fired a shot far side over the shoulder of Brendan Krebs for the go ahead tally 2-1. Once again, three more ticked off the timer before either side would score and it would be the Whips. Zed Williams (3G) got the feed, used a spin dodge to get past his defender, created some separation and sent it past Riorden on the near side up top to tie it at 2’s. With about 30 seconds left in the first, Krebs was out of his cage and while heading back, Ian MacKay would throw a punch from behind, hitting Krebs on the side of the head. During the break prior to the start of the second, MacKay would be hit with a two-minute non-releasable unsportsmanlike penalty. Score at the end of one: Chaos 2—Whipsnakes 2.
On the Whips’ first possession in the second, they squandered their scoring opportunity allowing the shot clock to expire after winning the opening draw. The lack of offense on the Whips side allowed Chaos to score a man down tally. Shane Knobloch (2G) with the double-team around him, reared back and fired the shot near pipe 1:33 in which also started a three-goal run by Carolina. At the 2:48 mark, Heningburg headed to the rack, turned and fed to a wide-open Eric Dobson (1G), he stepped down and fired it far pipe doubling up the Whips 4-2. Maryland had wasted three straight possessions each time not setting up the shot and turning over the ball which allowed Carolina to continue to score. On the next possession, Chaos had good ball movement, Jules Heningburg (2G, 1A) was moving his feet, turned and headed behind the cage, as he was coming around front, he turned and floated it over the shoulder of Krebs on the far side 5:56 in and the lead was now 5-2. Another great defensive battle ensued with Maryland showing some amazing ball movement. Chaos was double teaming both TJ Malone and Adam Poitras which left Williams all along out in front. Poitras fed to Williams on the doorstep, and he bounced one in with 2:35 left in the half and it was 5-3. On the next Chaos possession, Krebs would make a spectacular save just outside the goal line, he’d flip to one of his defenders who passed to Wheaton Jackoboice (1G), he headed across the midfield line with a full head of steam, split his defenders and bounced it in near side. After not having scored a goal in 18 minutes, the Whips had notched two in 30 seconds and with 2:03 in the half, they were within one 5-4. But another rookie would strike with 1:42 on the ticker. Brayden Mayea (1G), swept across the field, got to the middle and sent a side arm shot to the back of the net for his first professional career goal giving them a two-goal lead heading into the half. Score at the end of two: Chaos 6—Whipsnakes 4.
Halftime Stats:
Carolina Chaos—Shots 6-22; Saves 11; Assists 2; TO 8; FO 2-12
Maryland Whipsnakes—Shots 4-21; Saves 8; Assists 1; TO 8; FO 10-12
Chaos would tally two more to start the third. Zach Geddes (1G) swept across the field, fired a side arm shot on the run and bounced it in down low near pipe 3:53 and they had re-established their three-goal lead 7-4. Twenty seconds later, on the two-man game, Byrne stepped back, fooling his defender which opened things up allowing Ian MacKay (1G) to head to the rack and he found the back of the net 4:15 in giving Chaos their largest lead of the night 8-4. But the Whips weren’t going away and would tally three of their own. Williams notched his hat trick 5:42 in. In normal Zed fashion, he bulldozed his way through the defender, turned, jumped and fired it top cheddar and it was 8-5. With 2:25 remaining in the third, Levi Anderson (2G) got the feed from the left wing, took a few steps, paused, headed to the rack and went far side over the shoulder and the Whips were within two 8-6. On the next possession in the last 45 seconds, the Whips fired on Riorden who made the initial save, they scooped the garbage out in back, while Riorden was looking over his right shoulder at the man at “X”, Roman Puglise (1G) saw an opportunity, set up out in front, got the feed way up high and fired an overhand shot into the wide open net with 30 seconds left in the third. Score at the end of three: Chaos 8—Whipsnakes 7.
The goals were few and far between in the fourth. TJ Malone (1G) opened up the fourth just 33 seconds in with a little hitch move, he came around his defender, used a spin dodge, turned and fired a righty rip on the outside for the equalizer 8-8. But Chaos wasn’t going to let that one slide. Josh Byrne (1G, 1A) with an impossible angle shot and eight seconds left on the shot clock, snuck it by Krebs on the outside at the 1:11 mark and it was 9-8. For the next six and half minutes neither team could find the back of the net as both netminders were making some great saves. But this time, the Whips weren’t going to sit by. With 3:30 left in the fourth, Anderson came from “X”, pushed past his defender, spun and fired on the cage putting it just past Riorden’s elbow for the equalizer. But on each of the next possessions, neither side could put up that final tally and fans would get some bonus lacrosse. Score at the end of four: Chaos 9—Whipsnakes 9.
The rules for OT in the PLL are as follows: a) No Time Outs; b) If neither teams scores in 12 minutes, the game will end in a tie.
The Whips would win the opening draw in OT and hadn’t scored in 11:30. The Chaos defense was extremely tight, and the Whips couldn’t score. Chaos would get possession, and the Whips would cause the TO and head back down the field. Mike Chanenchuck would fire on Riorden, and he would make his 18th and most important save of the game. Knobloch would get the feed, made his way to the cage, hesitated and fired a side arm shot for the “W” 2:12 in. Final Score OT: Chaos 10—Whipsnakes 9.
STATS:
Carolina Chaos—GB 32; Shots 44 (22.7%); SOG 24; TO 22; CTO 4; FO 8-23 (34.8%); Saves 18 (66.7%); Possession, 49.4%.
Maryland Whipsnakes—GB 39; Shots 45 (20%); SOG 27; TO 19; CTO 8; FO 15-23 (65.2%); Saves 13 (56.5%); Possession 43.6%
NEXT UP:
The teams will all head to the West Coast on Saturday July 27, 2024, and Sunday July 28, 2024, to Torero Stadium in San Diego, CA with the California Redwoods hosting the weekends match ups. Both Carolina and Maryland will go up against the home team.
The Chaos (3-3) will face off against the California Redwoods (1-4) on Saturday July 27, 2024, game time 3:00 p.m. EST. The game can be seen on ESPN.
The Whipsnakes (2-4) will also face off against the California Redwoods (1-4) on Sunday July 28, 2024, game time 5:30 p.m. EST. This game can only be seen on ESPN+. This game is a “Must Win” for both teams. If the Redwoods lose either of their games this weekend, it’s almost a given that they will not make the playoffs.
Di Miller, PLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©