Maryland Whipsnakes 12, Philadelphia Waterdogs 6

Adam Lamberti: Brendan Krebs’ career day headlines Whipsnakes team win

The Whipsnakes did not disappoint in their first of two games on Homecoming weekend.

Storming out to a 9-0 halftime lead, the Whipsnakes cruised to victory in the second half behind Brendan Krebs’ career-high 19 saves.

While the Waterdogs went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to five in the third quarter, Krebs continued to make save after save to thwart any shot of a comeback.

The defense in front of Krebs was stout, especially rookie defenseman Ajax Zappitello, who quieted Michael Sowers when he was guarding him with unbelievable angle play and footwork.

Offensively, Matt Rambo, Colin Heacock, and Zed Williams all scored multiple goals while TJ Malone dished out four assists. While the Whipsnakes offense only scored three goals in the second half, they did enough in the first half and let the defense effectively shut the door as they rolled to victory.

The term "team win" gets thrown around a lot, but this truly was a "team win" in every aspect for the Whipsnakes.

On a hot day with a quick turnaround, don’t be surprised to see a few lineup changes when the Whipsnakes face the Boston Cannons in 24 hours.

Up next for Maryland: vs. Boston Cannons (Sunday, Aug. 4, 3 p.m. ET)

Wyatt Miller: The nail in the coffin

The Waterdogs hadn’t lost by more than four points all season until Saturday. Despite their 1-6 record, Philly fought until the end of every single matchup, including four one-score games. But this game against the Whipsnakes was anything but close. This was the nail in the coffin of the Waterdogs’ season.

The Waterdogs didn’t score until over halfway through the third quarter when Sowers took matters into his own hands with a sliding goal off the X dodge. That made it 11-1, ending an 0-for-26 shooting slump. By the time the first half ended, the Waterdogs were 1-for-41 shooting over their last four quarters of play. 

The Waterdogs did make a run with six straight goals in the second half, but it was far too little and far too late for that. Apart from that six-minute period, it was nothing but poor shot selection, disconnected movements and missed opportunities. They ended the game shooting 6-for-46 (13%).

Head coach and general manager Bill Tierney said the team came out with more passion and just forgot about the X’s and O’s in the second half. They played for pride and for each other, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a nine-score deficit. 

"A loss like this is on no one but the coach,” Tierney said. “We didn't have the guys ready."

Ryan Conrad disagreed, saying the players were disappointed in their own performance. 

"I don't know if it was the pressure, it's just guys being so excited to do what they can for the team to win,” Conrad said. “The reality is, we just have to play better lacrosse."

Defensively, the Dogs were too slow on slides, leading to a slew of transition scores and doorstep dunks. Of Maryland’s 12 goals, five of them came right outside the crease and three were in transition. Matt DeLuca barely had a chance to replicate last weekend’s career performance.

With this loss, the Waterdogs can now be eliminated from playoff contention if the Denver Outlaws and Carolina Chaos both win this weekend. And even if the Dogs are still in the hunt next weekend, their score differential has dropped from -6 to -12, which greatly decreases their chances of leaping the competition in the standings. It has been a complete downward spiral for Philly this season.

Up next for Philadelphia: vs. California Redwoods (Friday, Aug. 9, 10:30 p.m. ET)

Denver Outlaws 18, California Redwoods 5

Topher Adams: Outlaws are a playoff-caliber team

With four games left in the regular season, the Outlaws were in the heat of the playoff race. A loss to the Redwoods would put the pressure on down the stretch. However, Denver proved that the one-year rebuild is complete and this is a playoff-caliber team.

The Outlaws never gave California a chance to breathe Saturday. From the moment JT Giles-Harris forced a turnover on the game’s opening possession to the time the game was called due to lightning with 9:46 remaining, the Redwoods never had a chance.

Denver put together its most complete and dominant performance of the season when it needed it most. The offense executed at a high level, shooting 34.1% with eight assists. The ball moved better than it has all season, and the Outlaws made goals look routine.

The stars all showed up once again, as well. Brennan O’Neill turned in another strong performance with two goals and two assists, Graham Bundy Jr. scored two more two-pointers and Sam Handley reemerged with his first three-point game since June.

The defense -- sans injured captain Jesse Bernhardt for the first time this season -- did its job on the back of Owen McElroy’s 16 saves (76.2%) between the pipes.

California never got off the bus, but Denver delivered and capitalized against a weak opponent. And now the Outlaws will push to potentially contend in the postseason.

Up next for Denver: vs. Maryland Whipsnakes (Friday, Aug. 9, 8 p.m. ET)

Jerome Taylor: Redwoods need a miracle after crushing defeat

The Redwoods got off to a rough start when, on their first possession, Giles-Harris dispossessed Rob Pannell on his first touch. The Outlaws converted the turnover immediately when Ryan Terefenko pumped one by Jack Kelly.

It only got worse.

Kelly was pulled at the start of the second quarter after letting up seven goals (including a two-pointer). Chayse Ierlan didn’t fare much better in his relief, allowing six goals (including a two-pointer) in the second.

The path to a comeback was virtually hopeless at halftime as the Woods trailed 15-3.

The fact is, though, that both goalies got peppered with shots and, ultimately, goals can’t solely fall on them, as the defense seemed a second or more late to every slide.

And the defense wasn’t totally at fault, either, because per usual, TD Ierlan dominated the stripe (16-for-19), yet because of 16 turnovers, the Outlaws had equal possession, and more critically, the live-ball turnovers put the Woods’ defense in vulnerable positions time after time.

Though the dead-ball turnovers are less costly because the Woods can substitute proper personnel, shot clock violations become increasingly frustrating when you’re outshot 44-34 (and 25-22 on goal) on the other end, and when you get the ball, you’re ending possessions by rolling the ball in the corner.

Any loss at this point in the season would be a bad one because it puts further distance between California and the playoffs. But when you lose by 13 to the team you were most closely chasing in the standings, it hurts that much more.

Now the only realistic way for the Woods to make the playoffs is to win out and become fans of any team facing the Chaos.

Up next for California: vs. Philadelphia Waterdogs (Friday, Aug. 9, 10:30 p.m. ET)