The New York Lizards needed another big stop in order to set its offense up for transition, with less than two minutes remaining in a 14-all game. New York held the Boston Cannons in-check through the first three quarters, but were rocked in the fourth. The Cannons scored three unanswered and tied the game with little time remaining in the fourth.
Boston attackman Mark Cockerton fired an off-balanced shot as the New York defense added pressure. Lizards goalkeeper Austin Kaut set his feet ready to make another save– he already had 12 on the day. This time, the shot sailed past the goalkeeper and put the Cannons ahead– for good.
The Lizards dropped their MLL 2020 Season Opener to the Cannons, 16-14, on Saturday, July 18 at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, M.D. The Boston attackmen broke through the opposing defense and scored five goals in the game’s final 20 minutes.
Victory was within reach for New York entering the fourth. Leading 14-12, the Lizards were the more dominant team and converted 17 turnovers in to scoring drives. However, their offense hit a massive slump after Connor O’Hara scored what would be the team’s last goal with 6:40 remaining in the third quarter.
Cannons attackman Randy Statts cut the Lizards’ lead to 14-13 with 10:11 left in the game. Teammate Kyle Jackson tied the game after sneaking in-front of Kaut for the 1-on-1, forty seconds later. Jackson provided Cockerton with the assist for the go-ahead score.
New York took a 12-8 lead into the locker room off good shooting. The team converted half of its attempts including man-up goals by with O’Hara and Nicky Galasso. But, the Cannons improved defense held their opponents to only two goals on 26 shot attempts in the second half.
The Lizards struggled finding success after their transition offense was slowed down by the Cannons. Six of the New York team’s second quarter goals came off transitioning from defensive stops. They finished the game with a .269 shooting percentage.
Cockerton opened the second half with back-to-back scores, cutting the deficit to one with 7:56 remaining in the third. New York attackmen Dylan Molloy and O’Hara protected the lead with goals on the ensuing possessions. But, Cockerton’s behind-the-back cut the Lizards lead to 14-12. The attackman led the game with four goals, alongside teammate Bryce Wasserman. Wasserman scored the final goal to ice the game.
The eight-month wait was finally over Saturday afternoon. Professional lacrosse was back on TV after not one, but two, postponements of the Major League Lacrosse season opener.
Boston capitalized off the New York team’s mistakes for two goals in the first. An errant pass and a penalty by O’Hara resulted in Wasserman completing the alley-oop score from midfielder Challen Rogers. Rogers later connected upstairs for the goal after Lizards defenseman Ben Randall lost his stick.
O’Hara made up for the error with a goal off the inside feed from midfielder Justin Reh. The Lizards smothering defense led to a score from Andrew Pettit for his first professional lacrosse goal. Midfielder Collin Burke scored from the corner of the wing, giving New York the 5-3 lead after 15 minutes. Burke and O’Hara finished the contest with hat tricks for New York.
Goals were fast and plentiful four minutes into the second quarter. After a Ben Spencer goal cut the Lizards lead to 6-4, faceoff specialist Mark Andrejack answered back with a score win seven seconds later. Reilly O’Connor countered that with a diving goal 15 seconds afterwards. Both teams traded four goals across the three minute segment.
New York suffered the defeat despite committing less turnovers and dominating on the ground. Led by long-stick midfielder Alex Spring‘s 11 groundballs, the Lizards outscooped their opponent 46-29. The tight-defense also factored into many of Boston’s 20 turnovers, while they only gave up 16.
The Lizards will return to action tomorrow against the Chesapeake Bayhawks at 1 p.m. The defending champions defeated the Philadelphia Barrage, 16-11, opening the MLL 2020 season earlier today. Every game this season will take place at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Find out how you can watch every MLL game here
