Boston Cannons 24, New York Atlas 23

Sarah Griffin: Cannons complete the comeback as Kirst stands tall in overtime

The Boston Cannons delivered one of the most dramatic finishes in Lexus Championship Series history, completing a thrilling comeback to defeat Atlas 24-23 in overtime and punch their ticket back to the title game. 

Down 22-19 with just under a minute remaining, the Cannons looked like they were out of time, but Jeff Trainor drilled a clutch two-pointer to cut the deficit to one before Alex Vardaro beat the buzzer with a last-second goal to force overtime. It was a stunning sequence that shifted all the momentum in Boston’s favor, but once overtime began, it was Colin Kirst who took over.

Kirst, who had been battling all game, saved his best for overtime. He made four massive stops to keep Atlas scoreless in extras. New York had controlled much of the game behind a dominant offensive performance from Myles Jones, but when it mattered most, Kirst refused to let them finish the job. His ability to shut the door gave the Cannons the opportunity they needed, and after a hard-fought possession, Ryan Drenner buried the sole goal and game-winner in overtime to complete the comeback and send Boston to the finals.

Matt Campbell once again led the Cannons’ offense, finishing with 9 points (6G, 1T, 2A). Asher Nolting continued to play the role of facilitator, racking up three assists and a pair of goals on his own.

With the win, the Cannons now advance to the Championship Series finale against the Utah Archers. If Kirst continues playing at this level and the offense can recover quickly as they now prepare to play their third game in three days, Boston has a real shot at finishing the job and lifting the trophy once again.

Paul Lamonaca: Final minute mistakes costs New York a trip to the title game

The New York Atlas did not trail during regulation. New York had played their best brand of lacrosse until the final minute of the fourth quarter in which the Boston Cannons sank two 2-point shots to send the game to overtime. 

New York was then held scoreless in the overtime period, ending their Lexus Championship Series run and the hopes for the team to claim their first-ever tournament title. 

“We did a phenomenal job,” said acting head coach Steven Brooks. “In the name of the game somebody has to win, and unfortunately it was not us. I am so proud of these guys battling especially after playing in their third day in a row and being able to respond after last night.” 

New York was able to find a spark in their offense as veteran Myles Jones stepped up with seven points (5G, 2A) for New York. Jones finished the Lexus Championship Series with 19 points. 

Despite not feeling 100% prior to faceoff, Jones found his next gear to play not only for his teammates, but for his coach in Steven Brooks. 

“Playing for a guy that has dominated the game at every level, he knows what I’m going through. He's the ultimate pro’s coach,” said Jones. “He’s not too far removed from wearing this Atlas jersey. He knows what it takes to not only be a player, but be a coach and lead the guys in the huddle.” 

Defensively for New York, Liam Entenmann finished the game with a 44.4% save percentage, nearly 12% higher than in last night's loss against Boston.

Even with the loss, Brooks credited his team for being able to recover quickly to play their third game in just three days. 

“These guys took care of their bodies yesterday,” said Brooks. “These guys are ultimate pros and they did a phenomenal job.”