Utah Archers 8, Maryland Whipsnakes 7

Zach Carey: Connor Fields carries Archers to season-opening victory

Connor Fields was the offense for the Archers in Saturday's 2024 Cash App Championship rematch. Scoring five points (4G, 1A), the UAlbany alum was back in his element on his college field at Casey Stadium. Maryland changed the matchup versus Fields, putting Ajax Zappitello on the three-time All-Star attackman after Matt Dunn guarded him in previous Utah-Maryland battles.

Fields didn’t score his first goal until 18 minutes in. After that, though, he dominated on the lefty wing that he calls home.

Rookie Sam King was the other standout for Utah with three assists, including helpers on the team’s final two scores of the game. The Whipsnakes slid early to the Tewaaraton Award finalist, so he responded by finding his teammates around the offense. His contributions were particularly important with Grant Ament leaving the game late in the third quarter due to injury. 

“He’s a matchup nightmare,” Fields said postgame.

Brett Dobson was lights-out in the cage with 15 stops and only seven scores allowed for a 68.2% save rate. He stole a number of Maryland shots on the doorstep and kept the Archers in the game while the offense found its legs in the first half. 

“When he sees ‘em where he wants ‘em, he does save ‘em,” head coach and general manager Chris Bates said after the win.

Utah’s physical defense in front of Dobson also consistently collapsed hard on the Whips when Maryland tried to feed the crease. The hard-hitting trio of Graeme Hossack, Warren Jeffrey and rookie Brendan Lavelle was on point from the jump.

The Archers will look to be better at the faceoff stripe — where they went 4-for-19 (21.1%) — and on offense beyond the contributions from Fields and King. Matt Moore (1G, 1A), Tom Schreiber (1G) and Dyson Williams (1G) all had their moments, but the staff will look for a more well-rounded performance against the Boston Cannons next Saturday.

Up next for Utah: Saturday, June 7 vs. Boston Cannons (1 p.m.)

Miles Jordan: TJ Malone, Joe Nardella shine, but Whips can't capitalize

One of Maryland's biggest questions heading into the 2025 season was whether TJ Malone could replicate, or even build upon, his sensational Rookie of the Year campaign. The bar was set high after racking up 37 points (19G, 18A) in 2024. But if Opening Weekend was any indication, Malone is more than ready to raise it.

Malone was a bright spot in Saturday's season-opening loss, leading the Whipsnakes with a hat trick. It was a near mirror image of his professional debut last summer, when he also struck three times and announced himself as a major threat at the next level.

But Malone is proving he’s not just a scorer—he’s a well-rounded scorer. Known for his ambidexterity, Malone was the only player in the league last season to score 10 or more goals with both his right and left hands -- a rare feat that highlighted his skill and unpredictability.

Malone’s versatility continues to make him a nightmare for defenders and goalies alike. As Maryland searches for a rhythm early in the season, it’s clear Malone will once again be at the center of the offense and of any future success.

Joe Nardella turned in a dominant performance at the stripe. The veteran faceoff specialist won 13 of 17 draws, consistently giving Maryland valuable possessions throughout the game. Jake Bernhardt aided the effort by going 2-for-2 in relief, helping the Whipsnakes finish with a staggering 15-4 edge on faceoffs.

Yet, despite the dominance at midfield, Maryland struggled to convert those extra opportunities into offense. The Whipsnakes failed to score a single goal off a faceoff win and struggled to find their rhythm in the tight 32-second shot clock.

“I would like to look at the film,” Whipsnakes head coach Jim Stagnitta said. “I think we had some opportunities, and we didn't finish them and certainly started slow in the early offense. We have to do a better job. It's a fast clock, we have some new young guys in there, and you can do whatever you want to do in early offense to create, but it doesn't make a difference if you don’t put the ball behind the goalie.”

Up next for Maryland: Friday, June 6 vs. Philadelphia Waterdogs (8:30 p.m.)