Boston Cannons 34, Maryland Whipsnakes 21

Miles Jordan: Public Service Announcement - TJ Malone is back

“Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is TJ Malone.”

I imagine that is what was going through the head of the reigning Rookie of the Year after his massive performance against the Cannons, in which Malone shined bright even in a loss.

This is the TJ Malone that Whipsnakes’ fans remember from the field season. After an insufficient shooting performance against the Atlas two nights ago (1-for-7, 14.3%), he showed the Champ Series why he deserved the stardom.  

Malone was perfect in the first half and the catalyst for why the Whips held a 15-15 tie at the break after losing to New York by a dozen on Tuesday. He tallied eight points, connecting on all five shot attempts and dished out three assists. 

It was clear after Tuesday night that Malone needed to get himself in the action more. The facilitator who recorded 18 assists in Maryland field season in 2024 only had 12 touches against the Atlas. Head coach Jim Stagnitta and the rest of the guys recognized this early and made a change. 

Malone tallied 14 touches at the half, and his three assists tied the Whips total from Tuesday night. He got in the action early, assisting Ryan Conrad to put the Whips up 1-0 to start the game. 

He finished the contest with 26, doubling his time with the ball from just two nights ago. He made efficient work with his nearly 30 touches, recording a team-high 10 points (6G, 4A) and shooting percentage (6-for-9, 66.7%).

Yet, even with a stellar performance, the Whips could not shake off their second straight loss, and one of Maryland’s most prominent issues was fatigue. The Cannons closed the game on a 16-3 run, lighting up the scoreboard, seemingly picking and choosing their spots, and hammering shots into the cage.

“We had a really great first half. We learned a lot from a couple of days ago. We had a great gameplan and we kind of got away from it in the second half,” Malone said. “We got a little fatigued and less disciplined.”

“I felt like we had our opportunities, and we didn't finish,” said Stagnitta. “And when you don’t finish, it stacks on, and they did, at the end of the day, they went on that run in the second half, and we couldn't answer it.

The Cannons set a record for most points scored in a Championship Series game, but that feat was not the main goal for Boston entering the contest. 

“We wanted to step out on defense, and we did that the whole game,” Cannons forward Matt Campbell. “When it comes down the stretch, those things aren't as easy as they sound, but that is what made the difference. Discipline and consistency.”

That is the best way to describe what the Whips faced. Maryland was, once again, inconsistent, and even with a phenomenal performance by Malone, it takes all six guys on the field to make an impact. 

Sometimes, good defense is the best offense, and the Cannons shut down the Whips in the second half. 

Up next for Maryland: vs. Utah Archers (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET)

Sarah Griffin: Cannons' 13-1 Run Fuels Historic Win Against Whipsnakes

After a back-and-forth first half, the Boston Cannons erupted in the second, using a 13-1 run and a much-improved defense to storm past the Whipsnakes, 34-21. Not only did Boston bounce back from its opening loss, but it also set a new single-game scoring record in the Championship Series.

At halftime, the Cannons needed to tighten up their defensive rotations and limit easy crease looks - and they did just that. Boston went from allowing 15 first-half goals to holding the Whipsnakes to just 6 the rest of the way. A major factor? Caused turnovers. After forcing only two turnovers in Game 1, the Cannons racked up eight in this game, leading to quick-strike offense the other way.

Colin Kirst turned into the stonewall Cannons fans know from last year, making back-to-back big stops to shut down any hopes of a Whips comeback in the late stages of the game.

While it was nice to see Kirst settle in in cage, the real breakout star was Matt Campbell. After a scoreless first game, Campbell exploded for 11 points (6G, 1T, 4A), instantly inserting himself into the conversation for the Golden Stick Award. 

Of course, you can’t discuss tonight’s dominant victory without talking about Asher Nolting. Known as the quarterback of Boston’s offense, he dished out only one assist; a quiet night as a feeder for the facilitator. Instead, he racked up four goals and his second two-point goal of the tournament, proving that when teams slide to him, he’ll find the open man.

Boston set a new Championship Series record with 34 goals in a single game, surpassing the previous high of 31. Their second-half dominance was fueled by a 10-point run to close the third quarter, which turned a tie game at halftime into a 25-19 lead heading into the fourth.

Sitting at 1-1, the Cannons now turn their attention to their next challenge in the New York Atlas on Saturday, armed with the momentum of a statement win and the confidence that their best lacrosse is still ahead. 

Up next for Boston: vs. New York Atlas (Saturday, 6 p.m. ET)