It was just a matter of time before the sleeping giant Chrome offense emerged.
Chrome set a new Premier Lacrosse League record for goals in a game – impressively without landing a single 2-pointer – in one of the most one-sided games we’ve seen so far, a 19-11 win against Chaos on Sunday at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
For Chrome, it marked the end to an unlucky funk which saw the team lose its first five games by a combined six goals. Amazingly for the 1-5 squad, it now has a positive goal differential and is only a game out from a playoff spot.
Jordan MacIntosh had a monster performance, notching five goals and two assists, while teammate Jordan Wolf added four goals.
Perhaps Chrome turned a corner this week? As the team’s Twitter account put it, “Chrome wasn’t built in a day.”
CHROME WASN’T BUILT IN A DAY pic.twitter.com/mcRhq3O5YB
— Chrome Lacrosse Club (@PLLChrome) July 7, 2019
Chaos, which went on a long scoring drought, was notably without Miles Thompson due to injury.
Heningburg stays undefeated
Jules Heningburg may never lose a PLL game.
He personally made sure he continued his undefeated streak on Saturday thanks to a bit of luck in overtime.
Sergio Salcido took a shot from the right side that ricocheted off the bar and right to Heningburg on the other side, who buried a shot from in close to give Redwoods a 9-8 victory against Archers.
THE WOODS ARE ROLLING!
— Redwoods Lacrosse Club (@PLLRedwoods) July 6, 2019
3 STRAIGHT WINS
pic.twitter.com/tSIGOGvTIa
“I just got lucky,” Heningburg told NBC Sports Gold after the game. “I was just in the right place at the right time.”
Brent Adams and Salcido each had a hat trick for the Woods, which overcame a 17-for-18 performance at the faceoff X from Archers’ Stephen Kelly. Greg Gurenlian is out with injury for Redwoods and coach Nat St. Laurent opted not to dress a faceoff specialist in his place.
The Archers, now losers of four straight, forced the extra frame with a goal from Marcus Holman with 2:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Whipsnakes sweep series
Whipsnakes earned a season sweep against rival Atlas with a close 11-9 victory in a game extended by lightning delays Saturday night. By the time fans were leaving the stadium, it was after midnight.
Ryan Drenner scored the eventual game-winning goal, breaking a 9-9 tie with just over two minutes remaining in regulation with a low bouncer on the crease. Atlas had made a late push after entering the fourth quarter trailing 9-7.
RYAN DRENNER PUTS THE WHIPSNAKES UP 1! pic.twitter.com/ND6E02uGzN
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 7, 2019
Joe Nardella stepped up from the faceoff X for the Whips, surprisingly serving as the team’s only multi-goal scorer. He notched a pair, his first two in the PLL, while also dealing with Atlas’ stellar FOGO Trevor Baptiste.
With Chaos’ loss, Whipsnakes is back alone atop the standings with a 5-1 record.
All-Stars announced
The PLL unveiled the 44 players heading to the All-Star Game in Los Angeles on July 21, with Baptiste and Matt Rambo earning captain status by receiving the most votes.
Also heading to the Banc of California Stadium, in alphabetical order by position:
Attack
Ryan Brown (Atlas), Josh Byrne (Chaos), Ryan Drenner (Whipsnakes), Connor Fields (Chaos), Justin Guterding (Chrome), Jules Heningburg (Redwoods), Marcus Holman (Archers), Matt Kavanagh (Redwoods), Will Manny (Archers), Miles Thompson (Chaos), Jordan Wolf (Chrome)
Midfield
Jake Bernhardt (Whipsnakes), Connor Buczek (Atlas), Mike Chanenchuk (Whipsnakes), Ned Crotty (Chrome), Jake Froccaro (Chaos), Mark Glicini (Chaos), Kyle Harrison (Redwoods), Myles Jones (Chaos), Sergio Perkovic (Redwoods), Paul Rabil (Atlas), Sergio Salcido (Redwoods), Tom Schreiber (Archers), Drew Snider (Whipsnakes), Joe Walters (Redwoods), Ty Warner (Whipsnakes)
Defense
Matt Dunn (Whipsnakes), Tucker Durkin (Atlas), Garrett Epple (Redwoods), Matt Landis (Redwoods), Matt McMahon (Archers), Jerrod Neumann (Chaos), Brodie Merrill (Chaos), Bryce Young (Whipsnakes)
Long-Stick Midfield
Michael Ehrhardt (Whipsnakes), Kyle Hartzell (Atlas), Scott Ratliff (Archers)
Goalie
Kyle Bernlohr (Whipsnakes), Jack Concannon (Atlas), Blaze Riorden (Chaos), Tim Troutner (Redwoods)
Faceoff
Greg Gurenlian (Redwoods)
The two teams will be determined by a draft between Baptiste and Rambo. The pair made their first two selections each this weekend, with Baptiste taking Paul Rabil and Tom Schreiber and Rambo getting Michael Ehrhardt and Connor Fields.
Play of the Week
Defenseman Matt McMahon became goalie Matt McMahon for a moment on Saturday, making a pair of saves in the net after Archers goalie Drew Adams was caught out of the cage.
MATT MCMAHON WITH TWO SAVES AS A POLE! pic.twitter.com/Kzq4u8WB0h
— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 6, 2019
Noteworthy
Archers’ Drew Adams and Chrome’s Brett Queener got their first PLL starts in net, but Queener departed early due to injury. He was replaced by the team’s original starter, John Galloway. … Redwoods’ Wes Berg scored a goal in his debut with the team. He was traded from Chrome earlier in the week. … Jeremy Thompson was inserted into the lineup for Chaos for the first time since Week 2. … The PLL was featured this week in the Washington Post and NBC Sports Washington … In the gear department, we saw the debut of two helmets: Atlas’ blues and Archers’ whites.
Up Next
The PLL heads into the bye week before the All-Star Game festivities, set for July 21.