Matt Gaudet reportedly did not want to be a distraction for Chrome LC. He turned out to be a major distraction for Redwoods LC.

Gaudet’s on-air cackling and derisive comments toward Chaos goalie Blaze Riorden were the most polarizing developments of the Premier Lacrosse League Championship Series opening weekend. According to the NBC Sports broadcast, he chose not to wear a microphone Tuesday. But that did not stop the Redwoods from targeting the PLL’s newest villain — and it cost them dearly.

Chrome scored 10 first-half goals, including three on power plays that were the result of late hits on Gaudet, and held off Redwoods’ second-half surge in a 12-11 victory at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. They moved into a first-place tie with Archers LC, both teams standing at 2-0 in group play.

Ned Crotty had two goals and two assists and John Galloway made 14 saves for the Chrome, who took advantage of a pair of non-releasable, one-minute penalties assessed to Redwoods defenseman Garrett Epple after he crosschecked Gaudet twice in the head late in the second quarter. Chrome scored twice to go up 10-4 at halftime.

Chrome also converted on an earlier extra-man opportunity after Redwoods midfielder Nick Ossello checked Gaudet in the back.

“We knew that they were going to go after Gaudet,” Galloway said on NBC Sports after the game. “Gaudet is our teammate and he’s a guy that we’re going to continue to stick up for. I thought we did our talking by putting the ball in the back of the net when we were man-up.”

Cooler heads mostly prevailed in the second half. Trailing 11-4, the Redwoods mounted a 5-0 run that included a 2-point goal by Sergio Perkovic. They pulled within 11-9 when Brendan Gleason snuck a shot between Galloway’s legs midway through the fourth quarter.

Jesse King stopped the bleeding for Chrome, ending an 18-minute scoring drought with a smooth lefty release coming out of the substitution box. It proved to be the game-winning goal, as Perkovic would sink another 2-pointer from 20 yards out with 12.3 seconds remaining to make it 12-11.

Chrome’s Connor Farrell (14-for-22) won the ensuing faceoff and defenseman Jesse Bernhardt absorbed a desperation full-field heave as time expired to preserve the win.

All Archers in Second Half

Trailing 6-3 at halftime, Archers LC limited Waterdogs LC to just one goal in the second half en route to a 9-7 victory.

Goalie Adam Ghitelman made 10 saves (90.9 save percentage) in relief of Drew Adams to pick up the win, as the Archers improved to 2-0 in the PLL Championship Series. The expansion Waterdogs fell to 0-2, relinquishing a three-goal second-half lead for the second time in as many games.

Rookie Grant Ament starred for the second straight night with a goal and three assists, including a breathtaking no-look behind-the-back pass that found Tom Schreiber cutting down the right alley before time expired in the third quarter. Schreiber scored to put the Archers ahead 7-6.

“He sees everything.” — @TomSchreiber26 moments after finishing this no-look BTB feed from @GrantAment

Is it even fair that @PLLArchers can stretch a defense with the two most visionary passers in the game? Sheesh! pic.twitter.com/Q1DgJCunFV

— US Lacrosse Magazine (@USLacrosseMag) July 29, 2020

Ben McIntosh tied it for the Waterdogs midway through the fourth quarter, but Schreiber again had the answer, taking advantage of a rare short-stick matchup behind the goal and wrapping around the left side to score the go-ahead goal with 2:12 remaining.

After Scott Ratliff scored on an empty net with 30 seconds left to make it 9-7, the Waterdogs had a chance to tie it on a 2-point attempt by Ryland Rees, but the long pole’s shot with two seconds left sailed just high.

PLL Standings

Chrome 2-0 (+5)
Archers 2-0 (+3)
Whipsnakes 1-0 (+4)
Atlas 1-1 (0)
Chaos 0-1 (-4)
Waterdogs 0-2 (-3)
Redwoods 0-2 (-5)

Tomorrow’s Schedule
All Times Eastern

11 p.m. - Redwoods vs. Chaos, NBCSN