Big-Time Comeback Propels Whipsnakes to First Win of Season

The Maryland Whipsnakes completed a miraculous comeback after falling down 8-1 in the second quarter against the New York Atlas on Saturday.

The Whipsnakes outscored New York 11 to 3 in the second half to secure their first win of the season in a 16-12 victory. After Atlas’ attackman Connor Shellenberger found an open Xander Dickson in front of the net to stretch their lead to 12-8 with 9:56 left in the game, a 2-pointer from Maryland midfielder Brad Smith sparked an eight-point run for the Whipsnakes.

“We talked before the game about responding,” Whipsnakes head coach Jim Stagnitta said. “And we certainly put ourselves in a position that we had to respond.”

Maryland scored five points in under 90 seconds to secure a 13-12 lead — its first of the day. Attackman TJ Malone finished the Atlas off after scoring the next two goals with 2:44 and 2:11 left. Malone led the Whipsnakes with five points in a balanced effort from their offense.

The Whipsnakes had six different players register at least three points.

Faceoff specialist Joe Nardella was also crucial to the Whipsnakes’ comeback, besting Trevor Baptiste on seven of the last 11 faceoffs. He held Baptiste under 50-percent for the first time since July 5 last season.

After the game, Stagnitta dished out a pertinent compliment to long-stick midfielder Colin Squires as well, who led all non faceoff specialists with four ground balls. The Whipsnakes rope unit was able to establish an aggressive offense early and often which was their achilles heel through the first two weeks.

The Whipsnakes hardly showed any life until midfielder Colin Heacock scored their first goals of the day in the second quarter. Heacock wasn’t in the Whipnakes roster for either of their first two games.

During the first quarter, it was the Atlas’ quick-striking offense that seemed unstoppable. New York started the game on a six-goal run with half of those scores being shots from behind their backs. On the other side of the field, goalie Liam Entenmann cooled off after a piping-hot start. After making a stop on midfielder Adam Poitras with 7:42 left in the second quarter, Entenmann flexed a 90.4 save percentage.

However, Entenmann only stopped six of the 15 shots on frame in the fourth quarter and finished with a 53.1 save efficiency.

Shellenberger was more aggressive than in the Atlas’ first two games, finishing with seven points, which more than doubled his point total entering the game. Arguably Maryland’s most impressive feat though was defender Matt Dunn limiting 2024 MVP Jeff Teat to just one point.

After scoring at least two points in every game last season, Teat has already been limited to a point in two of New York's games already this year. Stagnitta said Dunn changed the Whipsnakes’ defensive game plan against him after the Atlas’ quick start.

“Part of the key with him is to not let him make anybody else better,” Stagnitta said. “It's like Nardella and Baptiste. I think it’s two really good players lining up against each other, and it's always a battle, but today Dunn won that.”

Outlaws grab first win of the season

After an explosive first half that featured a combined 16 goals from both the Denver Outlaws and Philadelphia Waterdogs, goalies Matt DeLuca and Logan McNaney stole the show in the second half.

In his first career start, McNaney’s 14 saves helped lead the Outlaws to their first win of the season in a 9-7 victory. His 66.7 save efficiency outpaced DeLuca’s 60.9 percent.

Outside of rookie attackman Jake Taylor’s goal with 10:49 left in the fourth quarter, Denver's defense limited the Waterdogs to just one goal in the second half. After Taylor’s score, which secured his first career hat trick, Outlaws’ attackman Brennan O’Neill responded with a speed dodge straight to the net.

Both defenses held strong in the last 8:43 of the game. Outlaws’ attackman Pat Kavanagh posted a career-high four points in the first half alone, which led all players during Saturday night’s game.

2021 Tewaaraton winner Jared Bernhardt scored his first career goal with 3:29 left in the first quarter to bring the Waterdogs’ early lead down to 4-2. Bernhardt dug his shoulder into defensive midfielder Matt Whitcher before rolling back into his right hand to complete a successful question mark dodge.

Behind Kavanagh, long-stick midfielder Jake Piseno was the Outlaws’ leading scorer. Piseno was a major threat in transition, scoring a goal on top of two assists. He also led all non-faceoff specialists with five ground balls.

On the other side of the field, the PLL’s leading scorer, Michael Sowers was held to just two points and no goals. 2024 First Team All-Pro JT Giles-Harris guarded Sowers throughout the majority of the game, but it took a team effort to limit his dodging and passing ability.