Gary Groob
All Lacrosse All The Time – A Division of Edge of Philly Sports Network
The Waterdogs (5-3) faced Atlas (5-3) in a battle for second place in the league in Denver, Colorado, Saturday afternoon.
The goalie match-up had Dillon Ward for the Waterdogs facing Jack Concannon in net for Atlas.
A fairly even game through most of the afternoon with numerous lead changes. A frantic last five minutes saw the Waterdogs lead evaporate to a deficit. With merely seconds to go, Captain Steven DeNapoli scored to tie it up. Jack Hannah was then able to put the game away in overtime. Waterdogs come away with the exciting 16-15 victory.
To The Game:
Atlas opened the scoring with Chris Gray converting a Dox Aitken pass at 5:58, but Ryan Conrad tied the game when he fired a Keiran McArdle feed just 0:19 seconds later. Trevor Baptiste gave Atlas the lead once again off the faceoff firing it past Dillon Ward at 6:25.
Keiran McArdle tied the game up scoring on Jack Concannon at 8:13. Ryan Conrad scored his second of the game on the power play off a McArdle pass, giving the Waterdaogs their first lead of the afternoon at 9:17, but Eric Law tied the game again converting a Chris Gray pass at 11:22.
After one quarter, Atlas 3 Waterdogs 3.
Second Quarter:
Mikie Schlosser opened the scoring for the ‘Dogs at just 0:26 seconds, but Koby Smith answered for Atlas with a two point goal off a Trevor Baptiste feed 0:11 seconds later to take the lead again.
Conner Kelly wouldn’t be outdone, scoring for the Waterdogs from beyond the Arc for a two point goal of his own off a Jack Hannah feed at 2:07. The Waterdogs increased their lead with Michael Sowers scoring on the power play at 2:41. Jeff Teat cut into the lead finishing a Daniel Bucaro feed at 5:24.
Michael Sowers scored his second of the quarter for the Waterdogs, but two from Atlas would tie the game. Eric Law scored at 8:24 diving from behind the net, followed by Daniel Bucaro scoring at 10:20.
The Waterdogs got one more before the end of the half with Connor Kelly scoring off a Keiran McArdle pass at 11:23 to end the quarter.
At the half, Waterdogs 9 Atlas 8.
Third Quarter:
Romar Dennis opened the third quarter scoring with a two point goal to give Atlas the lead once again at 2:18, but Ethan Walker tied the game up converting an Eli Gobrecht pass at 2:56. Keiran McArdle continued his big day converting a Michael Sowers pass at 5:03.
Chris Gray tied it up for Atlas off a Bryan Costibile pass at 6:59, but a small flurry gave the Waterdogs the lead heading to the fourth. Connor Kelly scored off a Michael Sowers pass at 10:07, followed by Zach Currier finishing a Ryan Conrad pass at 10:46.
After three quarters, Waterdogs 13 Atlas 11.
Fourth Quarter:
The Waterdogs increased their lead to three with another Connor Kelly goal at 6:20, but Atlas then put it in another gear.
Chris Gray scored first for Atlas off a Jeff Teat pass at 6:50, followed by Eric Law coming from behind the net off a Jeff Teat feed at 7:32. Daniel Bucaro tied the game with a blast off a Bryan Costibile pass 7:58, then took the lead when Dox Aitken, with a beautiful individual effort coming from behind the net, scored at 8:52.
The Waterdogs tried a number of times to get even, but Jack Concannon was spectacular in close in the Atlas net.
Stephan DeNapoli, with just his second goal of the season tied the game up with a perfect shot from the outside off an Ethan Walker pass with just 0:13 seconds left, sending the game to overtime.
After regulation, Waterdogs 15 Atlas 15.
Overtime:
The Waterdogs came out victorious with a Jack Hannah goal off a Zach Currier feed 2:29 into the overtime.
Final score, Waterdogs 16 Atlas 15.
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal were 32-29 in favor of Atlas.
- Faceoffs were dominated by Trevor Baptiste of Atlas, 20 of 29.
- The Waterdogs went 3 for 4 on the power play, while Atlas went 1 for 2.
Top Scorers:
Atlas:
- Chris Gray 3g, 1a
- Eric Law 3g, 0a
- Daniel Bucaro 2g, 1a
Waterdogs:
- Connor Kelly 3g, 1-2pt. g, 0a
- Keiran McArdle 2g, 3a
- Ryan Conrad 2g, 2a
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Gary Groob has been involved with Lacrosse for the majority of his life, whether playing, coaching, or covering the sport for the media.
An avid fan, with a real drive about helping to “grow the game”, Gary became part of podcasts about the game in 2010. Through the podcasts, Mr. Groob was given an opportunity to write about lacrosse, and the rest as they say, is history.
Through many miles (flying and driving) Gary has made inroads with the National Lacrosse League, Major Series Lacrosse League, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, as well as the Arena Lacrosse League, covering the leagues, their teams, and players, working for, and in concert with all of them.
In the year 2020, Mr. Groob was made the media person for the Arena Lacrosse League, voted onto the board of directors of the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club, as well as being made administrator of the Lacrosse page “Global Lacrosse” with a membership of 9000 members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022.
Mr. Groob co-hosts a weekly Lacrosse show on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, as well as writes a weekly lacrosse column for La Portada Canada News (both in print, and online).
Gary also hosts a Lacrosse talk show and podcast for The Edge of Philly Sports Network, seen live Sunday nights at 9pm (ET), and archived on the Edge of Philly YouTube page, as well as Spotify.
Mr. Groob’s other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.
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