PLL Week 11 Recap: Cannons Sweep Boston Doubleheader, Playoffs All But Set

The 2026 Premier Lacrosse League playoff field is nearly complete with four teams joining the Waterdogs in clinching a postseason berth. Boston, Utah and Denver all earned playoff spots thanks to wins this weekend, while Maryland also clinched thanks to New York’s eighth loss of the season.

Carolina suffered its seventh loss Friday, dropping its chances of making the postseason to less than 1%. California’s loss to Boston opened the door a crack, but the Chaos will need the Redwoods to lose to Denver by 11 goals or more to secure the final spot in the West.

CANNONS COMPLETE COMEBACK IN OT THRILLER

Score: Boston Cannons 14, Maryland Whipsnakes 12

Stat of the Game: Boston’s win probability was at just 10.11% with 1:02 remaining. Maryland led 12-10 before chaos ensued and the Cannons pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks in PLL history.

Recap: All season long, the Cannons have been preaching the need to play for “48-plus” [minutes], and it was evident on Friday. Boston erased a two-goal deficit in the final 30 seconds and secured a 14-12 win over the Whipsnakes in overtime thanks to a 2-point game winner from Marcus Holman.

“Something we talk about is playing ‘48-plus’ and it’s a belief. It’s not just talk,” Boston coach Brian Holman said after the win. “Just keep playing and when the whistle blows and it’s over, then it will be over.”

Maryland appeared to have iced the game when Rob Pannell scored with 1:09 remaining. The goal gave Maryland a two-goal lead and a Cannons’ penalty afforded the Whipsnakes an extra-man opportunity on the ensuing faceoff. However, Maryland’s Jack MacDonald was called for a slashing penalty shortly after the faceoff and the Cannons got possession back with one final chance at a comeback

The penalty created a five-on-five situation and Mic Kelly scored with 30 seconds left to pull Boston within one. Andrew McMeekin won the faceoff that followed, and a strong cut by Holman freed up Kelly to tie the game on the power play with seven seconds left.

“I don't think there was ever a second where we thought, you know, we’re in a tough spot,” Kelly said. “We knew we were gonna keep fighting until the very last whistle, and that's what we were able to do.”

In overtime, Coulter Mackesy fed Mikey Weisshaar on the crease, but couldn’t connect. Maryland goalie Emmet Carroll scooped up the errant pass, but Jack Pilling was called for interference on Holman during the ground ball and Boston was given possession back.

Carroll dropped the ball and proceeded to jog back to the net, but Holman wasted no time picking up the ball an initiate a quick restart. With Carroll still out of the goal, Holman sent a shot from well beyond the arc, wizzing past and into the net for the game-winning goal.

“When [Carroll] dropped the ball, I just sprinted out there and was like, ‘If I turn and look at the net and it’s open, I’m just going to let it fly.’ So, I just let it rip… Play fast and win the whistle,” Marcus Holman said about his game-winning goal.

Beyond Kelly and Holman, McMeekin’s effort at the faceoff was critical in the Cannons’ comeback. The rookie faceoff specialist won 20 of 28 faceoffs, including the final five, and had a goal and an assist in the win. His 71.4% faceoff percentage was the sixth time he’s gone over 64% and contributed to his PLL-leading 62.5% faceoff percentage.

“We’re 5-1 since he started playing for us… He really wants to be great. He takes his craft very seriously,” Marcus Holman said. “He’s had a point per game for us and had a big [goal] tonight. It should have been a 2-pointer. He’s probably been the MVP of our team this year.”

“Nothing fazes him at all,” Brian Holman added. “He’s just added a whole new element to our game and our team.”

While the Whipsnakes would eventually secure a playoff berth Saturday, it was a crushing defeat ahead of their season finale in Philadelphia.

“Boston continued to make plays, and we didn’t. We certainly had many opportunities to put that game away, but lack of discipline down the stretch two weeks in a row… we’ve just been in this situation too many times this year,” Maryland coach Jim Stagnitta said. “We’re a good team that has not executed consistently enough to finish games off.”

ARCHERS CLOSE IN ON TOP SPOT IN WEST

Score: Utah Archers 13, Carolina Chaos 12

Stat of the Game: Mac O’Keefe had another big performance against his former team, recording five points on an assist and three goals, including a 2-pointer. He’s averaged 3.9 points per game through his last seven games against the Chaos.

Recap: The Chaos and Archers entered their final game of the regular season with a lot on the line. Utah had a chance to essentially lock up the top seed in the West, while Carolina needed a win to vastly improve their playoff chances. The game was tied five different times, but the Archers ultimately came away with a 13-12 victory thanks to O’Keefe’s power play goal with a little over a minute remaining.

“It felt like a playoff game in a lot of ways. Chaos came out and were hungry. I thought they had a great game plan,” Utah coach Chris Bates said. “By no way do I feel like we played our best lacrosse, but we played well enough to win the game.”

Utah goalie Brett Dobson praised O’Keefe, who not only scored the game-winner, but led the team in scoring. It was O’Keefe’s second game recording five points or more against Carolina this year.

“He’s been on a pretty good tear, putting the ball in the back of the net and freeing up space for everyone else,” Dobson said. “When he’s hot and teams have to respect him, it opens up the field for all of our other O guys.”

With a first-round bye all but locked up, the Archers will likely have a long layover before their semifinal game in Salt Lake City on Sept. 7. Dobson opted to see the positives of having nearly a month off from game action.

“The little time off is good this time of year," he said. "We’ve got a lot of guys that are banged up. It’s not easy playing a 12-game season. We’re looking forward to getting after the playoffs. It’s a long bye, but we know what we've got in our room, and it’s something special.”

The long break also gives former three-time MVP Tom Schreiber more time to make a potential return. The Utah captain has yet to suit up for a game this season while rehabbing from two knee surgeries, but practiced with the team ahead of its game in Boston. Bates called the potential of seeing Scheirber suit up in the semifinals “to be determined,” but praised his “continued presence and leadership” while sidelined.

“The lacrosse world needs Tom Schreiber back,” Dobson said. “Him being back put smiles on a lot of our faces.”

Carolina now must wait for the result of Denver-California next weekend. Unless the Redwoods lose by 12 goals or more, the Chaos will miss the playoffs in 2026.

“What it boils down to is one play for us. I give a lot of love and credit to those Chaos guys. They fought so hard, tooth and nail, week after week after week,” Carolina coach Steven Brooks said after the game. “It’s unfortunate the way it fell through. There’s still a chance, so we’re going to hope and pray we get another opportunity because I know these guys are hungry."

“A pretty typical PLL game, right?” Blaze Riorden added. “It comes down to a play, and they made the last one.”

OUTLAWS ELIMINATE ATLAS

Score: Denver Outlaws 14, New York Atlas 9

Stat of the Game: Owen McElroy stopped 70.4 percent of New York’s shots and made a career-high 19 saves.

Recap: Denver punched its ticket to the postseason thanks to a dominant 14-9 win over New York. It was the Outlaws’ second win over the Atlas this season and officially ended the defending champions' slim playoff hopes.

McElroy’s career day played a critical role in Denver’s win. He started in place of Logan McNaney, who continues to deal with an undisclosed medical issue.

‘[Logan] wasn’t 100 [percent], but he felt way better than he did last week… If he wasn’t 100, we were going to go with Owen and Owen’s proved over the last few weeks that he can step in and be really good,” Denver coach Tim Soudan said. “19 saves is amazing; 70 percent — what more can you ask for?”

Zach Geddes was another key contributor for Denver, both on offense and defense. The Boston native scored two goals, including a 2-pointer, while also playing both short-stick defensive midfield and long-stick midfield at times. Soudan joked that his two goals erased the timeout he called last game that took a Geddes goal off the board.

“When [Zach] was getting on the bus, I leaned in and said, ‘You smell like goals today,’” Soudan said. “I’m happy it happened. It created some fun banter on the sideline.”

Denver attackman Brennan O’Neill led the team in scoring with five points on a goal and four assists. Despite the win, O’Neill still feels the Outlaws have work to do ahead of their final regular season game and eventually the playoffs.

“We knew we had a job to do. We knew a win would get us in… We still have things to work on,” O’Neill said after the game. “I like having the challenge of putting together a complete game, which we haven’t done this year.”

While the loss eliminated the Atlas, New York coach Mike Pressler was proud of how the team battled back. After starting the game down 10-1, an Alex Ross 2-point goal made it a two-possession game late in the fourth quarter. The Outlaws would eventually get an insurance goal, but Pressler praised the team’s effort.

“We kept battling. There’s a ton of pride in that locker room,” Pressler said.

New York will face Philadelphia in its final game of the season next week before turning its sights to an offseason with many questions, including who to select first overall in the 2027 PLL Draft.

CANNONS CONTAIN REDWOODS, CEMENT SWEEP

Score: Boston Cannons 12, California Redwoods 9

Stat of the Game: JC Higginbotham had multiple career highs in his third start for the Cannons, making 15 saves and registering a 62.5% save percentage.

Recap: After losing both games of their doubleheader in Boston to end the 2025 season, the Cannons go 2-0 at home and finish the 2026 regular season with a 7-5 record. Boston’s 12-9 win over California was a full-circle moment for the team that watched its playoff hopes shrivel up at Harvard Stadium a year ago.

“It was definitely a tough way to end our season last year," Coulter Mackesy said. "Just being in a similar position to control our own destiny and finish it the way we did is a truly remarkable achievement for our group.”

Boston took an early 2-0 lead, but California answered with a three-goal run to close out the first quarter. However, it was all Boston in the second as Brian Kelly opened the scoring five seconds in off a fast break feed from Andrew McMeekin. Marcus Holman scored back-to-back goals, including a 2-pointer, and Graydon Hogg capped off the scoring with a goal in the final two minutes to give Boston a 7-3 lead at halftime.

“Not the outcome we were looking for tonight. It was sloppy to say the least,” California coach Anthony Kelly said. “Obviously that second quarter was pretty ugly. We were playing catch-up from there out. Every time we got going a little bit, they seemed to bounce right back and have an answer.”

Back-to-back power play goals by California late in the third quarter made it a one-possession game at 9-7, but Boston responded with a pair of goals of their own and never relinquished the lead. Coach Kelly also credited the home crowd for giving Boston an edge

“It’s a tough place to play," Kelly said. "This is the only team, in my opinion, that gets a real home game. Fans are great here, and it definitely impacts the play on the field.”

“We owe it to the fans and to ourselves to defend home turf. We couldn’t ask for a better way to cap off this weekend,” Mackesy said about the Boston crowd. “It’s truly a one-of-one weekend in this league.”

Despite the loss, California still finished in a position to make the playoffs thanks to a minus-eight score differential. Carolina’s minus-20 score differential means the Redwoods would need to lose to Denver by 12 goals or more to miss the postseason.

However, Ryder Garnsey hopes the Redwoods can end the season on a high note and carry some momentum into an eventual rematch with Denver:

“Hopefully we can peak at the right time. Be better next weekend. Better the weekend after that if we give ourselves a chance at another game, and keep moving forward,” Garnsey said. “We have as good of a chance to win the championship as anybody does, as far as I’m concerned.”