The California Redwoods punched their ticket to the PLL postseason Friday night with a thrilling 18-17 win over the Boston Cannons. Chris Kavanagh tallied six points, while four other players had four-point games for California (5-5), who jumped up to the #2 seed in the West Conference. The Cannons were paced by Coulter Mackesy, who scored four goals, and Matt Campbell and Ryan Drenner, who each scored twice. The loss dropped Boston to 4-5 and prevented them from clinching a playoff spot on their Homecoming Weekend. They have one more chance to clinch on Saturday, when they face the Maryland Whipsnakes (3-6) in the back end of their doubleheader.
Danenza nets four, but Boston stays even with California at the half
California opened the game with a three-goal run. Kavanagh (0:39), Brian Tevlin (2:08), and Aidan Danenza (5:21) put the Redwoods up early. Four seconds later, Zac Tucci broke the run, and Drenner followed (6:32) to cut the lead to 3-2. Kavanagh scored his second (7:08) to make it 4-2 before Boston reeled off four straight points. Matt Campbell (7:40) and Will Manny (7:56) scored 16 seconds apart to tie it, then Marcus Holman drilled a 2-pointer (8:36) to give the Cannons a 6-4 lead after the first quarter.
Danenza (0:25 second quarter) and Ryder Garnsey (2:29) knotted the game at 6-6. The Cannons pushed their lead back to two with goals from Holman (2:58) and Mackesy (4:09). However, another three-goal run form California put them on top once again. Danenza scored his hat trick goal (6:54), Kavanagh assisted Dylan Molloy (7:24), then Danenza scored his fourth goal of the half on a power play (8:43) to give the Redwoods a 9-8 lead. Campbell netted his second just before the buzzer (11:57) to tie the game at 9-9.
Garnsey puts California back in playoffs as shootout continues into the fourth
California hit the repeat button to start the third, as Molloy went back-to-back (2:00; 2:29) and Garnsey scored his second (5:44) for a 12-9 lead. Jeff Trainor broke the run at 5:55, but the Redwoods went on their second three-goal run of the quarter, and fourth such run of the game. Kavanagh scored his hat trick goal (6:14), Charlie Bertrand got on the board (9:03), and Molloy tallied his fourth goal (10:09 power play) to give California their largest lead of the game, 15-10. The final minute of the quarter saw three more goals, with Boston getting markers from Jules Heningburg (11:05) and Owen Grant (11:52), with Kavanagh’s fourth goal for the Redwoods (11:12) in between. California led 16-12 going into the fourth quarter.
Andrew McAdorey (0:34) pushed Redwoods’ lead back to five to start the fourth quarter, then Boston went on a tear. The Cannons got goals from Mackesy (1:21), Drenner (1:45), Mackesy again (4:28), Asher Nolting (5:06), and Mackesy’s fourth of the game (5:40) to tie the game at 17-17. But Garnsey would strike once more, with a one-handed effort (9:23) to give the Redwoods the lead again. Boston had a good look in the final seconds to force overtime, but Redwoods goaltender Chayse Ierlan made his only save of the quarter to preserve the win and clinch a spot in the postseason.
Other Stats of Note
Redwoods: Kavanagh (4g, 2a); Molloy (4g); Danenza (4g); Garnsey (3g, 1a); McAdorey (1g, 3a); Bertrand (1g, 1a); Tevlin (1g)
Cannons: Mackesy (4g); Campbell (2g, 1a); Drenner (2g, 1a); Holman (1g, 1 2-pt g); Nolting (1g, 3a); Grant (1g, 1a); Manny (1g); Trainor (1g); Heningburg (1g); Tucci (1g)
TD Ierlan (California): 21-35 Faceoffs, 12 Ground Balls, 1 assist
Chayse Ierlan (California): 10 saves; Colin Kirst (Boston): 10 saves
