A strong second half by the Boston Cannons led them to an 11-7 win over the Utah Archers in Friday PLL action.
Boston held a 6-4 lead at halftime before outscoring Utah 5-3 in the second half, including a 3-0 advantage in the third quarter.
Coulter Mackesy had a bounce-back game for the Cannons with two goals, one two-point goal and one assist for five points. Brian Kelly chipped in with four goals, while Mikey Weisshaar scored twice.
JC Higginbotham was solid between the pipes, making 11 saves for a 61.1 per cent save percentage. At the faceoff dot, Andrew McMeekin won 15 of 21 draws against Mike Sisselberger.
For the Archers, Connor Fields led the way with a hat trick, but production dropped off after that as four other players scored one goal each.
Brett Dobson got the start in goal and stopped 12 shots for a 57.1 per cent save percentage.
First Quarter
The Cannons jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead.
Kelly opened the scoring at 4:32 before Mackesy buried a two-point goal just 24 seconds later.
Fields got one back for the Archers with 4:07 remaining as Utah trailed 3-1 after the opening 12 minutes.
Second Quarter
The second quarter was back and forth, with both teams scoring three goals apiece.
Weisshaar opened the scoring at 6:09, but Aidan Maguire replied for the Archers just 31 seconds later to make it 4-2.
Tre Leclaire cut the deficit to one with a goal at the 7:24 mark.
However, Weisshaar scored with 1:25 remaining before Mackesy added another with 56 seconds left to give the Cannons a 6-3 lead.
Mac O’Keefe scored on a buzzer-beater with two seconds remaining as Boston took a 6-4 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter
The Cannons took control of the game, shutting out the Archers 3-0 in the third quarter.
Grayson Hogg opened the second-half scoring at the 4:55 mark before Kelly added another with 3:18 remaining.
Tempers flared with 2:35 left in the quarter after Dobson took a hit in his crease and took exception to the contact, sparking a melee near the end boards.
After the dust settled, Mackesy scored on the power play with 1:51 remaining to give Boston a 9-4 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Utah attempted to mount a comeback in the final quarter.
Sam King opened the scoring for the Archers 1:57 into the frame.
Fields then scored a power-play goal at 2:49 to pull Utah within three. He completed his hat trick with 2:38 remaining to make it 9-7.
Just 37 seconds later, Kelly restored Boston’s three-goal lead before adding another with 1:23 remaining to cap a strong second half as the Cannons cruised to an 11-7 victory.
Top Scorers
Boston Cannons
- Coulter Mackesy, 2g, 1 two-point goal, 1a
- Brian Kelly, 4g
- Mikey Weisshaar, 2g
Utah Archers
- Connor Fields, 3g 1a
- Aidan Maguire, 1g
- Mac O’Keefe, 1g
- Sam King, 1g
- Tre Leclaire, 1g
- Leo Johnson, 1a
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