ALBANY, N.Y. – For the second-straight season, the Premier Lacrosse League held its opening weekend at the University at Albany, hosting four games over two days at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium this weekend. This year's opening weekend saw five former Great Danes take the field.
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The weekend started with a marquee matchup at the faceoff X between the Redwoods' TD Ierlan and the Atlas' Trevor Baptiste, the two best faceoff specialists in NCAA history. This was followed by Connor Fields and the Atlas taking on the Cannons. Sunday began with three former Great Danes, Blaze Riorden, Troy Reh, and Jakob Patterson with the Chaos matching up against the Waterdogs in a rematch of the 2022 PLL title game. And finally, the Whipsnakes and Chrome closed out the weekend in Sunday's late game.
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Redwoods 13, Atlas 12
Ierlan: 1G, 3GB, 1CT, 10-26 FO (.385)
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For the second-straight year, the Redwoods and Atlas opened their seasons against one another. TD Ierlan won the opening faceoff and scored on the Redwoods' first possession. Trevor Baptiste got the better of the matchup with Ierlan, winning 19 of his 28 opportunities, but Ierlan won the game-clinching faceoff at the end of the game after the Atlas had cut the Redwoods' lead to one with 43 seconds remaining.
Archers 16, Cannons 13
Fields: 4G, 2GB
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Connor Fields led all players in the second game with four goals, including one of the highlights of the weekend on a between-the-legs shot. After being held scoreless in the first quarter, the Archers scored 16 goals in the final 36 minutes of the game to upend the Cannons, playing without superstar Lyle Thompson this year, by three.
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Waterdogs 8, Chaos 7 (OT)
Patterson: 3S
Reh: 1G, 1GB
Riorden: 18SV, .720 Sv%, 3GB, 1CT
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The Chaos have long featured the highest number of former Great Danes on their roster and 2023 is no different. Mainstays Blaze Riorden and Troy Reh remain on the team, and Jakob Patterson joined their ranks this year. The rematch of the 2022 title game ended in the same result, a Waterdogs victory, but it took overtime to knock off the Chaos. Riorden made 18 saves in net and Reh scored one of the Chaos' seven goals, while Patterson attempted three shots on goal in his PLL debut.
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Chrome 12, Whipsnakes 11
The fourth and final game of opening weekend did not feature an active former Great Dane, however the Whipsnakes drafted
Elijah Gash 30th overall in last month's college draft. Gash is currently sidelined with an injury he suffered in the Great Danes' regular-season finale at Binghamton that prematurely ended his collegiate career. The Chome, winners of the 2023 PLL Championship Series in February, led by two at halftime, but allowed the Whipsnakes to score to tie the game in the final minute. After winning the ensuing faceoff, the Waterdogs scored with under five seconds remaining to clinch a win in their opener.
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On Saturday, the PLL revealed the list of cities under consideration for the fan voting process for when the league makes a switch to host cities for each of its teams starting with the 2024 season. Albany is one of the cities on the list. View the full list and vote for your picks
HERE.
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The PLL moves on to Charlotte, N.C., for Week 2. The All-Star Game will take place on July 22 in Louisville, Ky., and the playoffs begin September 4 in Boston with the championship game taking place in Philadelphia on September 24.
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