PLL Championship Series Semifinal Matchups Set

In the words of Romar Dennis, “shoot to get hot, shoot to stay hot.”

The California Redwoods sharpshooter was the antithesis of sharp during regulation of Saturday’s third and final round-robin game of the Premier Lacrosse League Championship Series at The St. James in Springfield, Va.

Dennis, last year’s Golden Stick Award winner as the player with the most goals in the Championship Series, was 1-for-9 prior to his two-pointer in overtime that lifted his side past the Utah Archers 18-16.

Dennis tried to win it for the Redwoods to end regulation, shooting a lefty howitzer on the run right into the chest of Archers goalie Nick Washuta, who made 16 saves. So, he tried again on the first possession of overtime after Rob Pannell — suddenly a faceoff ace — won his fourth faceoff in five attempts.

But this time, Dennis shot a righty laser from the right wing. It appeared to skip off Washuta high into the cage. Dennis finished with three points on 30 touches. Sergio Perkovic led the Woods with six points (two goals, one two-point goal and two assists) on 26 touches.

It was never a runaway lead for the Archers, but Utah led the entirety of the first half before the Redwoods quickly erased a 10-7 halftime deficit.

Pannell kicked off the third quarter with a two-pointer, then Brian Tevlin assisted Nakeie Montgomery for the equalizer. Pannell put the Woods ahead 11-10, but the teams traded one-point leads until Dennis, Tevlin and Kyle Long turned a 13-12 deficit into a 16-13 lead.

Ronan Jacoby was consistently Utah’s best offensive threat, and he did his best work late in the game. He made it 16-14 and then hit a two-pointer late in the fourth to tie it at 16 with 4:02 left.

But the Archers missed their final five shots, setting the stage for Dennis to get hot — and possibly stay hot leading into the semifinals.

WATERDOGS CRUSH CANNONS

The Philadelphia Waterdogs continued their dominance of the Championship Series, downing the Boston Cannons 22-12 behind a nine-point evening from Ryan Conrad.

Conrad buried three of the Waterdogs’ seven two-point goals — and this one was all about the long ball for Philly, which started the game with three in a row from distance to go ahead 6-2. It was 10-4 at halftime and all Waterdogs in the second half.

SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS
SUNDAY, FEB. 18

(2) Redwoods vs. (3) Cannons, 1 p.m.
(1) Waterdogs vs. (4) Archers, 3 p.m.