Rob Pannell has officially etched his name atop the PLL record books.
With a pinpoint feed to attackman Matt Brandau in the Maryland Whipsnakes’ 13-12 loss to the Boston Cannons on Saturday in Baltimore, Pannell recorded his 293rd career assist, surpassing Ryan Boyle for the most in the history of professional lacrosse.
“I’m very proud,” Pannell said. “I’ve been playing a long time and very fortunate to play on some good teams, and there’s a lot of other players on the end of those passes that are finishing it. I mean, [there were] a couple tonight that Brandau finished that maybe other guys wouldn’t finish.”
ROB PANNELL IS THE ULTIMATE DISTRIBUTOR 🍎@PremierLacrosse | @PLLWhipsnakes pic.twitter.com/raMzQwWbHH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 22, 2025
The milestone moment came nearly 12 years after Pannell’s first career assist in 2013, a setup to New York Lizards midfielder Stephen Peyser in his pro debut. Since then, the former Cornell star has built a legacy defined by elite vision, longevity and his love for creating for his teammates.
“[My first assist] was a man-up pass to Stephen Peyser, against Coach Stags and the Charlotte Hounds, I think,” Pannell recalled, to which Whipsnakes head coach Jim Stagnitta quickly and jokingly interjected: “I don’t remember it.”
“It’s really cool,” Pannell continued. “There are so many passes between now and then, and so many guys on the other end of those that I credit that to.”
Boyle, whose final professional assist came in 2014 while playing for the Cannons, held the record for over a decade. Fittingly, Pannell’s record-breaking dish came against Boyle’s former team. The two legends are forever linked — both former Rookies of the Year (Boyle in 2004, Pannell in 2013), league champions and now the top two assist leaders the pro game has ever seen.
“I’m glad we don’t have to talk about it anymore,” Pannell joked. “I am more concerned with my shooting right now, concerned with us winning games and what I can be doing to help.”
Pannell also ranks third all-time in points, trailing only Paul Rabil and John Grant Jr., and fourth in goals behind Grant Jr., Rabil and Marcus Holman.
The 35-year-old left the California Redwoods this past offseason to sign with the Whipsnakes, searching for another championship in the tail end of his 13-year career.
His historic feed was his sixth assist of the 2025 campaign with Maryland. He finished with three helpers in Saturday’s loss.
“My dad always told me that an assist counts just as much as a goal,” Pannell said during training camp in Albany. “I always loved feeding. I always got more satisfaction after creating a scoring opportunity for a teammate. Beating my guy, drawing a double team and passing it to a guy where he can just catch and put it in.”
