Caden Balint – Albany Correspondent, StreamPunk Sports / All Lacrosse All The Time
The Maryland Whipsnakes finally found their stride on Sunday afternoon, earning a much-needed 16–12 victory over the New York Atlas in a physical and intense matchup. After an 0–2 start to the season, the Whips put together their most complete performance yet—anchored by strong goaltending, aggressive defense, and timely scoring in the clutch moments of what was a must-win for Maryland.
First Half: Atlas Set the Tone
From the opening faceoff, it was all New York. While the Whipsnakes won the initial draw, the Atlas immediately applied pressure with crisp ball movement and standout goaltending from Liam Entenmann. That combination allowed New York to jump out to a commanding lead, keeping Maryland scoreless in the first quarter while netting six straight goals through the early stages of the second.
After Xander Dickson opened the scoring, the Atlas offense came alive—fueled by the first career goals from Hugh Kelleher and Matt Traynor, with Traynor’s tally, a beautiful behind the back goal while moving on net, which is possibly an early contender for Goal of the Year, scored in front of his personal fan section.
With full control of the first quarter, New York looked to maintain that dominance into the second. Just one minute after Dickson extended the lead to six, Colin Heacock finally got the Whipsnakes on the board. However, Brett Makar responded immediately with a laser two-point goal past Whipsnakes goalie Brendan Krebs, pushing the Atlas lead to 8–1 and threatening to put the game out of reach.
But that’s when the tide began to turn. Heacock scored two more to give the Whips life, and despite Dickson completing his hat trick, Maryland’s momentum continued to build. Late second-quarter goals from Aidan Carroll and Adam Poitras cut the deficit to 9–5 heading into halftime, setting the stage for a dramatic second half.
Second Half: Whipsnakes Battle Back
The Whipsnakes carried their momentum into the third quarter, but it was their defense that led the charge. Maryland clamped down, limiting the Atlas to just one goal in the frame—scored late by Connor Shellenberger—and forcing turnovers that stalled New York’s attack.
The fourth quarter was a total reversal of the first. It was all Whipsnakes as they turned up the offensive intensity. Aidan Carroll scored four minutes in, and although Shellenberger and Dickson responded to push the Atlas lead back to four, New York lost its grip on the game from there.
The turning point came with eight minutes remaining when Brad Smith buried a two-point goal to bring the Whips within two. That strike opened the floodgates—Maryland scored six unanswered goals to complete an 8–0 run and steal the game from the jaws of defeat.
Postgame Notes
- Brendan Krebs finished with a season-high 12 saves for the Whipsnakes.
- Liam Entenmann made 17 saves in the loss for Atlas.
New York Atlas Leaders:
- Connor Shellenberger: 3G, 4A
- Xander Dickson: 4G
Maryland Whipsnakes Leaders:
- TJ Malone: 3G, 2A
- Adam Poitras: 4G
The Whipsnakes improve to 1–2, while the Atlas fall to 1–2.
The faceoff battle was won by Joe Nardella, who went 16-for-29, edging out Trevor Baptiste (14-for-30) and giving the Whips a crucial possession edge in the second half.
Looking Ahead
The Whipsnakes hope this win is a turning point in what has been a turbulent start to the season. With their stars producing and role players stepping up, they looked like the Whips of old—gritty, confident, and clutch when it mattered most.
For Atlas, the loss raises questions about consistency, especially on the defensive end, where second-half breakdowns proved costly.
Both clubs are back in action next week. The New York Atlas look to get back in the win column against a red-hot Philadelphia Waterdogs squad. Meanwhile, the Whipsnakes will host their homecoming weekend, aiming to avoid the fate of the previous three homecoming hosts. They’ll face the Boston Cannons on Saturday, followed by the Carolina Chaos on Sunday in a critical back-to-back.
