The Premier Lacrosse League kicked off their eighth season Friday night in Salt Lake City, with the California Redwoods taking on the homecoming Utah Archers. The Archers are looking to rebound from a 2025 season in which they finished last in the Western Conference with a 4-6 record, missing the playoffs. The Redwoods finished 5-5, and beat Carolina in a Quarterfinal playoff before falling to Denver in the Semifinals.
California instantly bolstered their back end in the offseason, acquiring goaltender Dillon Ward from Philadelphia in a trade. However, they would be without lefty attackman Chris Kavanagh (currently in the NLL playoffs with the San Diego Seals) and Ryder Garnsey. Likewise, the Archers were without two-time Championship Game MVP goaltender Brett Dobson (playing in the postseason for the NLL’s Georgia Swarm), attackman Tre Leclaire (also with the Seals for the NLL playoffs), and defender Graeme Hossack (also playing for an NLL Championship with the Halifax Thunderbirds). Despite the personnel losses, the Redwoods got a first-half hat trick from Mikey Boehm (filling in for Kavanagh/Garnsey) and a vintage performance from Ward in net to secure a 9-5 victory.
Boehm’s first half hat trick has Redwoods up at the break
Boehm wasted no time scoring the first goal of the season just 17 seconds into the game. Sam King leveled the game for Archers on a crease dive at 2:51, but Boehm struck again (7:18) for a 2-1 lead. Brayden Mayea (10:19) followed for a 3-1 Redwoods lead after the first quarter. California continued their run into the second quarter, with goals from Josh Balcarcel (2:47) and Andrew McAdorey (5:14) making it 5-1. Boehm’s hat trick goal (8:09) and Dylan Molloy (8:37) extended the lead to 7-1. Archers rookie Ryan Stines broke the run with his first career goal (9:27), and Connor Fields added a power play marker (10:35) to close out the first half scoring. However, Utah trailed 7-3 going into the break.
Ward, Redwoods defense keep Utah at bay in second half
McAdorey’s second goal (2:56 third quarter) and Molloy’s second goal (7:39) extended the Redwoods lead to 9-3. Archers got a power play goal from Mac O’Keefe (10:48), and CK Giancola’s first career goal (0:46 fourth quarter) to cut the lead to 9-5. But Ward shut the door the rest of the way, ending the game with a 70.6% save percentage in his Redwoods debut. California plays Denver in another key Western Conference matchup in Week 2 in Rhode Island. Archers will try to salvage a homecoming weekend split when they face Denver on Saturday. Utah then has a bye in Week 2.
Other Stats Of Note
Redwoods: Boehm (3g, 2a); Molloy (2g, 1a); McAdorey (2g); Balcarcel (1g, 1a); Mayea (1g); Aidan Danenza (1a); Brian Tevlin (1a)
Archers: O’Keefe (1g, 1a); Stines (1g, 1a); Fields (1g); King (1g); Giancola (1g)
Dillon Ward (Redwoods): 12 saves, 5 GA; Nick Washuta (Archers): 13 saves, 9 GA
Ground Balls: Redwoods 36; Archers 29
