The California Redwoods staged a fourth quarter rally from a 13-10 deficit, shutting out the Maryland Whipsnakes to win 14-13 on Saturday. The win puts the Redwoods (4-5) in the driver’s seat for the final playoff spot in West Conference, one game ahead of the Utah Archers (3-6). The Whipsnakes fall to 3-6 with the loss, and are on the outside of the East Conference playoff picture looking in with one game to play.
McDonald, Pannell put Whipsnakes up at the half
Maryland opened the scoring, courtesy of Jack McDonald’s first career goal at 1:57. Dylan Molloy tied the game less than a minute later (2:48) for California. McDonald found the back of the net again (7:24), but Ryder Garnsey (8:51) responded for the Redwoods. The Whipsnakes then scored three times in a span of 43 seconds to end the quarter. Levi Anderson (10:11), Joe Nardella (10:17) and a 2-pointer from Jake Bernhardt (10:54) gave Maryland a 6-2 lead.
Molloy broke the run with his second goal of the game (0:46) to start the second quarter. Rob Pannell (1:19) pushed the lead back to four, before the Redwoods reeled off three straight goals to close the gap. Aidan Danenza (1:42), Josh Balcarcel (2:50), and Chris Kavanagh (8:22) pulled California within 7-6. However, Pannell scored again (9:03) to give the Whipsnakes an 8-6 halftime lead.
Redwoods rally in fourth quarter for crucial win
Goals from Aidan Carroll (0:38) and TJ Malone (1:12) extended Maryland’s lead to 10-6 to start the second half. Kavanagh scored his second to break the run and make it 10-7. Carroll’s second goal (5:07) briefly pushed the lead to four, before Danenza countered with his second goal (5:53). Another goal from Malone (6:56) made it 12-8, but Molloy’s hat trick goal (8:15) and Garnsey’s second (8:37) quickly cut the Whipsnakes lead in half. Carroll then scored his third goal of the quarter on a power play (10:07) to put Maryland up 13-10 after three quarters of play.
The fourth quarter was all Redwoods, as they shut the Whipsnakes out 4-0. Kavanagh assisted Molloy on his fourth goal (2:53), then Andrew McAdorey (4:01) cut the deficit to one, 13-12. Kavanagh’s hat trick goal (9:10) tied the game at 13-13, then Molloy netted his fifth goal to give Redwoods their first and only lead, which they would hold on to for the win.
