After scoring just 10 goals in their opening game of the 2022 campaign, the Archers got their offensive swagger back, putting up double digits in the first half on Friday night en route to a 17-12 victory over Chaos in Charlotte.

Chris Bates’ squad spread the offense out well on the night, with nine players finishing with two-plus points. Will Manny (5G) led the way while rookie Matt Moore (3G, 1A) and Tom Schreiber (1T, 2A) also came up big in the victory.

The game was a tale of two halves, with the Archers coming out hot to start. They led 5-3 after the first quarter, with back-to-back markers by Manny putting them out in front after one.

Moore got going in the second quarter, getting his first PLL goal at the 8:38 mark before adding his second off a low-to-low short side rip from distance. 

“I’ll just remember how happy my teammates were and how I got to share that moment with all of them. Getting to run off the field and just seeing smiles on their faces. It’s definitely something that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Moore said of his first goal.

After outsourcing Chaos 4-1 to end the half, the Archers looked to be in firm control, going into the locker room with a 10-4 advantage. 

Chaos lived up to its namesake in the second half, turning the game into a track meet, fitting more into their run-and-gun style that lends itself well to transition. 

After the team traded goals, CJ Costabile hit his second 2-pointer of the night, following it up with his third goal of the night seconds later off the ensuing draw. Moore added his third before Kyle Jackson and Austin Staats answered, making it 12-10 for the Archers heading to the fourth. 

Despite a Chaos run in the final frame, the Archers flexed their offensive muscles down the stretch with Jeff Trainor sinking a 2-pointer in the dying seconds to ice the game. 

Now sitting at 0-2 to start the season for the third consecutive year, the Chaos look for answers.

“That’s obviously something we’re not proud of,” Chaos goalie Blaze Riorden said post game. “What you do is dissect the game and take the positives out of it and one of the positives is that our identity has remained the same through those losses. …Week 1, we let our foot off the gas in the second half, and this week, we started slow and had to climb back. 

“In order to be successful in this league, we know we have to play a full 48 minutes, and hopefully we put those pieces together sooner rather than later.”

Chaos will have a chance to get their first win of the campaign in Long Island against the Redwoods. The Archers will look to make it two straight victories against the Cannons.