MVP Moment: Schreiber's Late Goal Seals PLL Championship for Archers

CHESTER, PA. — Call it a legacy game, or an MVP moment, or whatever you’d like. When it comes down to it, there’s just no stopping Tom Schreiber.

Schreiber, the Premier Lacrosse League’s Jim Brown Most Valuable Player this season, picked up a grounder, evaded a swarming Waterdogs defense and scored the go-ahead goal with 1:37 remaining, willing the Archers to a 15-14 win on Sunday at Subaru Park.

The Archers, one of the league’s original six members, are Premier Lacrosse League champions for the first time.

“It just feels amazing,” Schreiber said. “This is what it’s all about.”

The Waterdogs had a possession and a chance to tie following the goal from Schreiber, and as a missed shot approached the endline, Connor Maher dived toward the line to beat Michael Sowers to the ball, shifting possession the other way. The Archers ran the clock down to 11.7 seconds, and although Jake Carraway got a good look on a two-pointer that would have won the game, it was denied — as was a last-ditch effort by Kieran McArdle to score with 0.6 seconds left after the restart.

The Waterdogs, down by as much as six in the first half, closed the gap to just one in the third quarter. Carraway drilled a two-pointer on a designed play from the top of the arc, cutting the Archers lead to 12-11 with 4:19 left in the period.

Less than three minutes into the final quarter, Zach Currier beat Challen Rogers to knot it at 12. The Archers, refusing to let the Waterdogs repeat as league champions, built a two-goal lead in the next three minutes.

But of course this game would be close. The season series was tied at 1 apiece with both games separated by a goal. The Waterdogs tied it at 14 on Carraway’s power play goal, a result of a push and a 30-second technical.

But Schreiber, one of the best players of all time, wouldn’t be denied in his quest to lead the Archers to the top, even as his Archers squandered a big first-half lead.

“Tom Schreiber’s the league MVP,” Copelan said. “I read an article about, ‘Is this a legacy game for Tom Schreiber?’ I think Tom Schreiber’s legacy was cemented long before this game.”

Six unanswered points in the first half gave the Archers a reasonable cushion. Three of them came within the first three minutes of the second quarter, extending the lead to 8-2.

First was Grant Ament, the local product who sharpened his skills at Penn State before being taken first overall in 2020 by the Archers. He scored a dazzling backhanded goal from goal line extended, beating Dillon Ward in the upper-left corner.

A Waterdogs shot off the ensuing faceoff was saved by Brett Dobson, who clear up the field to Challen Rogers. Rogers then dumped it to Matt Moore, who scored. Less than 90 seconds later, Tom Schreiber scored an MVP-caliber goal, beating Ward low just past his right foot.

Ryan Conrad broke the Archers’ run, and the sides traded goals for the next few minutes.

Newly signed Reid Bowering — who replaced Connor Fields on the active roster this weekend — scored for the Archers with 4:44 remaining.

“Reid Bowering’s shaking guys’ hands, meeting them for the first time two days ago,” Schreiber said. “I’ve never had a practice with Reid Bowering, and we played in the championship game together. And he was awesome, scored a goal for us.”

While the 10-4 lead looked relatively safe with halftime closing in, the Waterdogs woke up.

Zach Currier was the first to chip away. Then Connor Kelly converted on a turnaround jumper from a few yards inside the two-point arc. And with 7.1 seconds left in the first half, Kieran McArdle found Michael Sowers — another local kid with at least 150 friends and family in attendance — on the power play to make it 10-7.