ALL ABOUT THE ATLAS
The Atlas are the only 3-0 team in the PLL, with Xander Dickson’s four points lifting New York past the Chaos. But the emerging league-best 1-2 punch of Jeff Teat and Connor Shellenberger combined for seven points (and seven ground balls).
There’s a distinct Virginia flavor on the Atlas, with Dox Aitken also contributing two goals.
Though the 15-12 final would seem to be a close contest, the Atlas dominated the box score. They won the ground ball battle 47-18, outshot Carolina 49-30 and won 20 of 27 faceoffs behind Trevor Baptiste’s 20-for-23 performance.
Most notably, Tim Troutner again started over Liam Entenmann and Drake Porter. Troutner made eight saves (44.4 percent).
O’NEILL CARRIES OUTLAWS
Welcome to the pros, Brennan O’Neill. After a slow week one, O’Neill burst onto the scene in Carolina, posting nine points and the overtime winner for the Outlaws over the Utah Archers. He had seven goals (one two-point goal) and one assist.
Denver was led by its youth all evening, with rookie Luke Wierman dominating Mike Sisselberger at the faceoff dot. He won 23 of 36 draw attempts. Josh Zawada, another rookie and O’Neill’s Duke teammate in 2024, was second on the Outlaws with five points.
Utah built a 17-14 lead late in the fourth quarter when Tre Leclaire and Grant Ament scored 67 seconds apart. But Justin Anderson quickly answered, scoring 11 seconds after Ament to cut it to 17-15.
Then Graham Bundy — another one of Denver’s rookie class — put the Outlaws down 17-16 with 2:42 remaining.
O’Neill tied it 15 seconds later, leading to overtime, where he again scored to win it for Denver.
CANNONS BLAST OFF
The Boston Cannons scored the first nine points of the second half, building enough cushion to withstand a late Maryland Whipsnakes rally in a 13-9 win.
Asher Nolting orchestrated the offense with a game-high six assists, while Marcus Holman had five points on four goals (one two-point goal). Ryan Drenner, Pat Kavanagh and Matt Campbell each scored twice.
