The Whipsnakes did not require any late-game heroics from Matt Rambo to top the Redwoods in a rematch of last year’s title game. Bolstered by strong goalie play, a stark advantage at the faceoff X and key contributions from new additions, the reigning champs prevailed 13-9 in the first group play game of the PLL Championship Series at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. 

Faceoff specialist Joe Nardella’s 15-for-22 performance helped the Whipsnakes weather a 4-0 run from the Redwoods that captain Kyle Harrison started with a two-point goal. Trailing 6-4 in the second quarter, Rambo’s lone goal (he added two assists) kicked off a 7-0 run for the Snakes. A diving, backhand goal by Zed Williams that capped a first-half hat trick highlighted the stretch. Whipsnakes head coach Jim Stagnitta picked up Williams through the entry draft this spring. 

The Whipsnakes defense made up for 21 turnovers by the offense and held the Redwoods to only three goals in the second half. Michael Ehrhardt was a standout between the lines with four caused turnovers, seven ground balls and one assist. Kyle Bernlohr made 15 saves (68 percent).

“We play a very blue-collar style of defense,” Bernlohr said a couple days before heading to Utah. “We don't make highlight plays and we don't really want to. We just want to be the defense that keeps guys away from areas of the field where we don't want to see shots.”

Matt Kavanagh led the Redwoods with three points (2G, 1A). 

Chromeback 2020

Under new coach Tim Soudan, Chrome looked like a different team than the one that went 2-8 in the 2019 regular season and surrendered the most goals in the league. 

They topped last year’s top-seeded Chaos 13-9 in a tale of two halves. 

Despite a first-quarter hat trick by Jordan Wolf, Chrome trailed Chaos 8-4 at halftime. Then they settled in.

Connor Farrell won 13 faceoffs in a row in the second half to prolong an eight-goal run. Farrell finished 19-for-24 to win 79 percent of his draws. The extra possessions allowed Chrome to outshoot Chaos 49-29.

Justin Guterding and John Ranagan scored two goals each. Nine different players on Chrome registered at least one point. Rookie attackman Matt Gaudet’s uncensored chirps and cackling laugh provided the mic’d up soundtrack to the barrage. The Chaos drafted Gaudet in the first round of the college draft but traded him to Chrome for the No. 17 pick in the 2021 draft. 

“Thanks for trading me Fieldsy,” Gaudet told Connor Fields after the game. 

Fields tallied three goals and one assist. His behind-the-back finish with 10:01 to play in the third quarter, was the Chaos’s final goal of the evening. 

Tomorrow’s Schedule

 4 p.m. —Waterdogs vs. Atlas, NBC