Rob Pannell entered Friday’s game between the Maryland Whipsnakes and California Redwoods needing just four points to become pro field lacrosse’s all-time points leader. The stakes for both conference-leading teams were just as intense, with the winner ensuring they maintain a narrow lead over their conference rivals in the standings to start the second half of the season. Pannell would deliver a six-point night to break the historic record, and the Whipsnakes put on a clinic, beating the Redwoods 20-7. Maryland moves to 5-3 on the season, and now sports a league-best goal differential of +26. With the loss, the Redwoods drop to 4-4 but remain atop the Western Conference. However, the door is open for the Outlaws, Archers, and Chaos to take a share of first place this weekend.
Pannell, Malone pace Whipsnakes in first half
Pannell wasted no time continuing to march toward history, scoring 34 seconds into the game. TJ Malone followed with a pair of goals (2:20; 2:49) to give the Whipsnakes a 3-0 lead. Maryland would also get goals from Richie Connell (7:37) and Blake Eiland (10:10) in the first quarter. California got markers from Aidan Danenza (5:21), Josh Balcarcel (6:50), and Chris Kavanagh (8:44), but trailed 5-3 after one quarter.
Maryland extended the lead to 7-3 when Pannell (5:42) scored his second and Malone (8:01) his hat trick goal. A goal from the Redwoods’ Sam English (8:32) briefly cut the lead to three, before Pannell fed Colin Heacock (9:41) for his third point of the day, tying Paul Rabil’s points record. A second goal from Kavanagh (11:45) closed out the first half scoring with the Whipsnakes leading 8-5.
Pannell breaks record while Redwoods break down
Maryland took complete control of this game in the third quarter, starting with Pannell scoring his hat trick goal (1:21) to become the all-time points leader in pro field lacrosse. Malone (1:47) and Joey Spallina (1:52) quickly followed to make it 11-5. Additional goals from Matt Brandau (4:28) and Pannell (8:49) chased California goaltender Dillon Ward.
Ryan Croddick, fresh off an NCAA Championship with Princeton, relived Ward in net, and quickly made his first professional save, but then got caught too far out of net trying to retrieve a loose ball. Spallina took advantage, firing in a 2-point goal (11:20) that made it 15-5. English broke the Whipsnakes run with his second goal of the game 10 seconds later, but the Redwoods trailed 15-6 going into the fourth quarter. Things didn’t get any better for California in the final frame, as Maryland went on another lengthy run. Spallina (0:30), Adam Poitras (3:48), Malone’s fifth of the day (5:50), a fifth from Pannell (7:41), and Aidan Carroll (8:56) gave the Whipsnakes a 20-6 lead. Balcarcel closed the scoring for California with his second goal (11:33) in a game that the Redwoods will have to sit on until Week 11, as they are off next week.
Other Stats Of Note
Whipsnakes: Pannell (5g, 1a); Malone (5g, 1a); Spallina (2g, 1 2-pt g; 2a); Brandau (1g, 1a); Poitras (1g, 1a); Aidan Carroll (1g); Heacock (1g); Connell (1g); Eiland (1g)
Redwoods: English (2g, 1a); Balcarcel (2g); Kavanagh (2g); Danenza (1g); Michael Leo (1a); Ryder Garnsey (1a)
Emmet Carroll (Whipsnakes): 18 saves; Dillon Ward (Redwoods): 8 saves; Ryan Croddick (Redwoods): 4 saves
TD Ierlan (Redwoods): 18-27 Faceoffs; 9 Ground Balls
