Caden Balint—Albany Correspondent, StreamPunk Sports / All Lacrosse All The Time
On Friday, June 27th, the New York Atlas (3-2) took on the Utah Archers (2-3) in a matchup where both teams were desperate to secure a win heading into All-Star Weekend. The Atlas were looking to notch their second straight victory after handing the Philadelphia Waterdogs a big loss, while the Archers were aiming to bounce back after a narrow defeat to the Denver Outlaws.
Archers’ Strong Start
Grant Ament got Utah on the board early, juking out Danny Logan for the first goal of the night. The Archers quickly took control, scoring four more times before the end of the first quarter. While the opening frame saw seven goals between the two sides, the second quarter was a complete 180, as the fans were treated to a much more defensive battle between New York and Utah. That tone would define the rest of the game, with both clubs forced to fight for every goal instead of finding the net with ease.
After falling behind 5–2, the Atlas regrouped and clawed their way back to tie the game by halftime, thanks to three hard-fought goals from Connor Shellenberger, Bryan Stevens, and Bryan Costabile. New York’s late surge set up a tense second half for both squads.
Atlas Complete the Comeback
The Atlas knew they needed to come out aggressive to steal the game away from the Archers, and they did just that. It took Connor Shellenberger only three minutes into the third quarter to give the Atlas their first lead of the night. Utah responded three minutes later with a goal from 2024–25 NLL Rookie of the Year Dyson Williams. Each team added another goal before the end of the third quarter, sending the game into the final frame knotted at eight apiece and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
As the fourth quarter got underway, the Atlas tightened everything up and arguably played their best defensive quarter of the season (in my humble opinion). Not only did they lock down the Archers at every turn, holding them completely scoreless, but they also got timely saves from goaltender Liam Entenmann, who had struggled early on but came up big when it mattered most.
Thanks to a clutch goal from Matt Traynor, who continues to shine in his rookie campaign, the Atlas took their third lead of the game, and this time they wouldn’t give it back. Key defensive stops and Entenmann’s saves, along with a late insurance goal from Xander Dickson, secured New York’s third win of the season.
Key Performers
Leading the charge for New York was Matt Traynor, who notched two goals and two assists, including the game-winner in the fourth quarter. Traynor has truly come into his own over the past five games, emerging as a key contributor who can find open teammates in tight spots and generate crucial scoring chances, becoming a true gem to watch this year. Connor Shellenberger added two goals and an assist of his own, providing timely offense for an Atlas squad that refused to fold under pressure. On defense, Danny Logan proved that he is the anchor on the backend as his presence makes New York look calm, cool, and collected whenever he’s on the field.
On the other side, the Archers were powered by Connor Fields, who tallied a hat trick to keep his team in the fight, while Grant Ament contributed two goals and an assist in the loss. Mac O’Keefe added three points of his own, and the Archers stayed close in this contest thanks to ten big saves from goalkeeper Brett Dobson when the Atlas were primed to take over.
Looking Ahead
With the win, the Atlas bounced back from their slow start to the season and now continue to build momentum as they tie the Waterdogs and Cannons for first in the East. After the All-Star break, the Atlas will face the Cannons in what promises to be a fierce battle for the top spot. Meanwhile, the Archers will look to regroup and tighten things up after letting an early lead slip away. After the break, they’ll take on the Waterdogs, who are coming off a win of their own against the Redwoods.
As for this weekend, it’s All-Star Weekend in the PLL! Over Fourth of July weekend, the league will showcase its best with the Eastern Conference facing off against the Western Conference in the annual All-Star Game. Meanwhile, the WLL will hold its own All-Star matchup as Team Izzy squares off against Team North. Fans can also look forward to seeing the PLL and WLL’s top talent compete in the always-exciting skills competition.
