RP300: Rob Pannell Crosses Another Milestone With 300th Goal
By Jerome Taylor
Jul 31, 2023
Rob Pannell has made his mark on lacrosse several times over.
And with six minutes remaining in the first quarter against the Cannons, he did it again.
After rolling upfield from goal line extended, RP3 put the ball in the back of the net for the 300th time in his professional career.
“Honestly, I’m just glad it’s over so we can stop talking about it,” Pannell said after the game. “It’s cool to be with those guys on that list, but at the end of the day, it’s not why I play the game. I play the game to win and to compete. That’s what I'm focused on right now.”
Before Saturday’s game, Pannell acknowledged that after his career, he’d look back at how “awesome” some of his accomplishments are. But coming off of the third Redwoods loss in four games, it’s understandable that his focus is elsewhere.
However, becoming the fifth player in professional lacrosse history to score 300 goals further decorates his already prestigious Hall of Fame resume, one he’s been adding to all summer.
First, he headed to San Diego to compete with Team USA for the third time, where he became the country’s all-time leading point-getter on the international stage en route to winning his second gold medal for the red, white, and blue.
Then a week later, the “RP3 Summer” continued as he ascended to third all-time in assists against Chaos.
After all the accomplishments, some think the former Tewaaraton winner, MLL champion, and nine-time all-star is playing some of his best lacrosse right now.
Despite the 16-10 loss to the Cannons, Pannell had a goal and an assist in the game and currently ranks 3rd in assists and 5th in points all-time in year 11.
“What makes me proud personally is just the work you put in and the sacrifices you make to perform at a high level,” Pannell said, reflecting on his milestones.
“I'm not talking about one, two, or three years. I'm talking about for 11 years. And that's what I'm most proud of, being able to play at this high level and have done it for a consistent and a long period of time.”
Considering he prefers to set up goals, this most recent milestone is a testament to Pannell's extraordinary skill set. His versatility has terrorized opposing defenses. Now, it’s led to him being grouped with players like his assistant coach John Grant Jr., Paul Rabil, Brendan Mundorf, and Marcus Holman (who reached the 300-goal mark earlier this year).
“I look at the guys on that list as goal scores, and I don't think of myself as a goal scorer. I think of myself as a quarterback. It surprised me a little bit that I've scored that many times,” Pannell explained.
The Move that Helped Pannell Get to 300
Despite not considering himself a scorer, Pannell's signature move – a jump shot off a question mark dodge – is etched into the lacrosse world’s collective memory. It’s been part of his arsenal since his time at Cornell, and he's continued to evolve it throughout his journey to 300.
“[The question mark] allowed me to have success, but it's also allowed me to evolve my game,” Pannell said. “You can go to the rocker or hesitation, and I'm not necessarily going to do the question mark, but knowing that it is there allows me to set up other moves.”
“I think it became known as my move over the years. So I've tried different ways to do it, faster pace, going to both hands, because defenders are waiting for it.”
Rob Pannell's journey to his 300th goal has been a testament to not only his exceptional skill but to a player who gave his all to professional lacrosse and consistently raised his level of play throughout his career.
