(Rochester, NY)… Summer lacrosse is coming to an end. Only two leagues are still playing into September. The Premier Lacrosse League Finals are slated for Sept. 20, while the Mann Cup is in the midst of its seven-game series. Three Knighthawks are still playing in those finals.
MANN CUP:
The Six Nations Chiefs currently have a 2-0 lead over the Coquitlam Adanacs. Game One was a complete domination by the Chiefs, who won 8-2. Six Nations had eight different goal scorers in Game One. Shonwahnonkon Thompson notched an assist and four penalty minutes. His assist came on the second Chiefs’ goal of the game; they tied it at 2-2 and never looked back, scoring six unanswered goals through the rest of the second period.
Game Two was the Ryan Smith show. After notching only two assists in Game One, he came to play the next day. Smith scored two goals and added three assists in the second game. He was second in points for the team behind Dhane Smith’s six-point night. The Chiefs’ success in Game Two also came from a strong second period. They outscored the Adanacs 8-3 in the second and carried that momentum into the third to secure win number two.
Games Three through Five are slated for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week, at 8 p.m. at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. The Chiefs only need two more wins to hoist the cup for the tenth time ever and fourth time in a row.
PLL:
Jake Piseno has been one of the best long-stick midfielders (LSM) in the PLL this summer. After a 12-game regular season, Piseno was top three in every LSM stat that matters. He was first in caused turnovers (15), touches (111), points (10), goals (4), assists (4), and shots on goal (9). He was second among LSMs in shooting percentage (.222), passes completed (88), and ranked third in ground balls (38).
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Being one of the best defenders in the league and a nominee for the Brodie Merrill LSM of the Year has helped propel Piseno’s team to a PLL Final. The Denver Outlaws will take on the Philadelphia Waterdogs next Sunday, Sept. 20, at 12:30 p.m. at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey. The game is an opportunity for Rochester lacrosse legend Tim Soudan to win his first-ever field lacrosse championship as a coach.
“The summer has been amazing with Denver,” Piseno said. “To be back on the championship stage two years in a row is something special, and we’re super excited for the opportunity to take that leap and finish the job this year. Emotions are very calm; we’re not worried about the outcome right now as much as just getting prepared for the opportunity.”
“As far as Rochester legends go, it’s been amazing how much crossover we have with the city. Coach’s Soudan and Monte, Mike Manley, and even Greg Weyl. It’ll be super special for our fans in Denver waiting for another one and our family back home.”