Photos & Twitter Clips courtesy of the Premier Lacrosse League Twitter feed.
The New York Atlas faced the Denver Outlaws for the 2025 Premier Lacrosse League Championship at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ.
MVP frontrunner Connor Shellenberger led New York into its first title bout, while Brennan O’Neill spearheaded a star-driven Outlaws offense.
These have been the two best teams in the league since the early part of the season. They played the game of the year in Denver back in August. Now, they’ll clash with the U.S. Bank Championship Trophy on the line.
The goaltending match-up had, Liam Entenmann for the Atlas facing Logan McNaney in net for Denver.
The Outlaws high octane offense caught the Atlas a little flat-footed to start the game jumping out to a 5-3 lead in the first. But New York stormed back in the second, increasing their pace to tie the game 6-6 early in the quarter.
The track meet continued for the remainder of the half with the teams matching each other goal for goal for most of the quarter. New York was able to take 9-7 lead at the half with a pair of late goals.
Standouts in the half were Brennan O’Neill (2g,0a) and Dalton Young (2g,0a) for the Outlaws, and Jeff Teat (3g,2a) and Connor Shellenberger (2g,2a) for the Atlas. Liam Entenmann made 11 saves in the half.
Denver came out in the second half on fire scoring three goals in 0:39 seconds to tie the game 10-10 early in the third quarter. The track meet continued with both teams putting it into overdrive the rest of the quarter. The Outlaws took a slim 12-11 lead into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter did not disappoint!
New York tied the game early, and the wide open play then ensued. After a few minutes of end to end action, Bryan Costabile then added back to back beauties to give the Atlas a 14-12 lead with less than half a quarter to go.
Jared Bernhardt brought Denver within one with 1:50 left in the game. The Outlaws pressed, but New York was able to hold on for the one goal victory.
The New York Atlas win the 2025 Premier Lacrosse League Championship 14-13.
To The Game:
Pat Kavanagh opened the scoring for Denver with a low blast from the outside at 2:07, but Xander Dickson answered with a low to high underhand shot off a Jeff Teat feed from behind the net 0:29 seconds later.
Dalton Young regained Denver’s lead with a beautiful behind the back shot off a Pat Kavanagh feed at 3:50 followed by Brennan O’Neill firing a shot banked off Liam Entenmann’s helmet to the top corner at 4:33.
Jeff Teat brought the Atlas within one with a laser to the far corner off a Connor Shellenberger pass at 5:42, but Jonathan Donville fired a rocket low to high off a Logan Wisnauskas pass at 7:41.
Hugh Kelleher got New York back within one with a rip to the shortside off a Connor Shellenberger pass at 11:14, but Dalton Young answered with a bounced shot 0:16 seconds later.
After one quarter, Denver 5 New York 3.
Second Quarter:
Jeff Teat got the Atlas on the board to start the second quarter with a sidearm snipe just 0:14 seconds into the quarter off a Danny Logan feed, followed by Connor Shellenberger with a low to low laser from the side of rhe net off a Michael Rexrode pass at 1:48 to tie the game.
Brennan O’Neill gave Denver the lead again with a high to low jump shot from in close at 2:19, but Danny Logan streaked to the net in transition finishing a Jeff Teat feed 0:10 seconds later.
Justin Anderson put the Outlaws in the lead once again converting a rebound from in close at 3:30, but Connor Shellenberger replied with another cannon from the side of the net at 5:37.
Jeff Teat gave New York their first lead of the day diving across the crease at 7:04, followed by Matt Traynor diving across the crease with a bounced shot at 11:12.
At the half, New York 9 Denver 7.
Third Quarter:
Matt Traynor opened the second half scoring with a sidearm snipe from the outside 0:20 seconds into the quarter, but Pat Kavanagh was able to stop the four goal Atlas run with a dive from in close at 3:16.
Jared Bernhardt brought Denver within one with a shot going away from the net at 3:36, followed by a Logan Wisnauskas in transition off a Ryan Terefenko pass 0:19 seconds later to tie the game.
Reid Bowering gave New York the lead again on a highlight reel pass by Jeff Teat as he was falling down at 4:34, but Brennan O’Neill scored his third of the game with a blast to the top corner at 7:50.
Denver took the lead with Graham Bundy Jr. hitting a low to low laser off a Pat Kavanagh pass at 10:49.
After three quarters, Denver 12 New York 11.
Fourth Quarter:
Matt Traynor scored his third of the game to tie the game from in front at 1:34, followed by Bryan Costabile firing a howitzer to the top corner at 5:11 to put the Atlas back in the lead.
Costabile then added his second of the game on a near impossible angle using a twister to the shortside at 6:46, but Jared Bernhardt scored from in close to bring Denver within one at 10:10.
Final score, New York 14 Denver 13.
The New York Atlas are the 2025 Premier Lacrosse League Champions.
Game Stats:
Shots on goal favored the Outlaws 29-28
Faceoffs were dominated by the Atlas 22-9.
Ground Balls were won by New York 37-25.
Don’t forget to check us out every Sunday night at 8pm (ET) on All Lacrosse All The Time Live!
https://www.youtube.com/@alllacrosseallthetime
