With Record in Tow, Pannell Remains Focused on Championship Goal

SAN DIEGO — Twenty years ago, Mark Millon released a DVD that became the how-to resource for a generation of attackmen. “Offensive Wizardry” spawned imitators of the Hall of Famer’s iconic moves, like the right-to-left split dodge he used to dust Canada’s Steve Fannell and score the overtime winner in the 1998 world championship.

Rob Pannell was 13 when it came out. Never did he imagine that one day he would surpass Millon as the United States’ all-time leading scorer in world championship competition.

That day arrived Wednesday.

A two-time All-World and three-time U.S. team attackman, Pannell scored two goals and added an assist in a 19-3 win over Israel in the World Lacrosse Men’s Championship quarterfinals at Torero Stadium. He set the record with his 68th career point, an otherwise nondescript goal on the tail end of a fast break off a turnover with 28 seconds left in the third quarter.

“He’s one of the best ever to play attack, one of the best ever to wear a USA uniform,” Pannell said. “The record just means I’ve been playing the game for a long time, and I’ve been on some great teams with a lot of great players.”

Pannell didn’t realize he was approaching Millon’s mark until a News 12 Long Island reporter asked him about it during a Zoom interview before the games here began.

A gold medal, he said then and reiterated Thursday, is the only thing on his mind.

The U.S. got one step closer Wednesday, continuing the offensive awakening that started in its pool play finale against England three days earlier. Nine different players scored. Thirteen of 18 goals were assisted.

Midfielder Connor Kelly, who came into the game in a 2-for-21 shooting slump, broke out for four goals scored from four different spots on the field.

“Within this offense there are so many good shooters and so many good ball carriers. I’m kind of finding my role,” Kelly said. “I definitely left a few on the table during pool play. I’m glad to get a few tonight and keep it rolling.”

Pannell, 33, sees it as his responsibility to get rhythm shooters like Kelly going and grease the wheels for a U.S. offense that has been stuck in its tracks at times during the world championship. He attacked the cage more in 2014, scoring 17 goals and adding 15 assists in seven games. He took on more of a quarterbacking role in 2018, notably going scoreless in the gold medal game until his game-winning assist on Tom Schreiber’s goal in the last second of regulation.

Pannell tied Millon’s record on an assist to Charlie Bertrand, who ripped an around-the-world shot to score to make it 14-2 in the third quarter. His 68th career point came in the last minute of the quarter. After an Israel turnover, the U.S. had a fast break going the other way. Kieran McArdle received the ball at the point and passed it to Pannell, who scored with 28 seconds left.

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Millon, who still holds the U.S. record for points (41) in a single world championship (1994), congratulated Pannell. “Playing for Team USA and winning two world championships was a lifelong dream for me. To be anywhere on that points list with so many legends is pretty amazing,” he texted late Wednesday. “I’ve known Rob for a long time. He’s a great guy and incredible player. I couldn’t be happier for him.”

Pannell has been reticent to talk about the record. “At the end of the day there’s only one thing I want to leave San Diego with, and that’s a gold medal,” he said.

Now it’s history. Pannell also ranks No. 2 and No. 3 on U.S. career lists for goals (35) and assists (33), respectively.

Head coach John Danowski praised the veteran’s high IQ while playing international rules and his participation in a U.S. culture that preaches selflessness and second assists.

“He’s the quarterback,” Danowski said. “He can score. He can distribute. Today, he rode and got the ball back. He’s a cerebral player.”

Pannell’s longevity might be his most impressive attribute. While he continues to play professionally in the Premier Lacrosse League, the 2013 Tewaaraton Award winner and all-time leading scorer in Cornell history also works full-time in New York in business development for The Whitmore Group, an insurance agency.

“It’s a testament to keeping his body in shape and being committed to doing the right thing on and off the field,” Danowski said. “It’s very easy to get caught up in your professional life and other things, but he’s been tremendously focused. On many levels, it’s an unbelievable accomplishment — not just the points, but a very hard thing to do over the span of nine years.”