Gary Groob
All Lacrosse All The Time – A Division of Edge of Philly Sports Network
Day two of the opening weekend had the Cannons face the Waterdogs. Both teams had undergone off season changes, and were eagerly anticipating how the teams would do.
The Cannons rode a start where they scored early and often leading 12-3 at the half. The Waterdogs put up a fight in the second half, but it was not enough to propel them to victory. Final score was 16-10 for the Cannons.
To The Game:
The Cannons got on the board first with Asher Nolting finishing off a Lyle Thompson pass just 0:48 seconds in. Shayne Jackson increased the lead converting a skip pass from Jake Froccaro at 1:46, followed by Lyle Thompson scoring himself at 2:17 for a quick 3-0 Cannons lead. Lyle Thompson scored again while fending off a defender. Lyle was able to get his arms free, firing a laser for the goal at 6:42.
Ryland Rees fired a howitzer from beyond the 2 pt. Arc, Morroco made the initial save but Ethan Walker was there for the rebound scoring the Waterdogs first goal at 7:38.
Lyle Thompson scored the next two goals only 0:05 seconds apart. Jake Pulver added to the Cannons total 0:14 seconds later to make the score 7-1. Ben Randall scored for the Waterdogs with just 0:40 seconds left, and that would be how the first quarter ended..
After one quarter, Cannons 7 Waterdogs 2.
Second Quarter:
Once again the Cannons were explosive, scoring four times in a row to take a stranglehold on the game. Tyson Bell scored just 0:15 seconds in. Stephen Kelly won the draw marching down the field and scoring unassisted just 0:05 seconds later. Asher Nolting scored his second of the day converting a Lyle Thompson pass at 1:10, followed by Ryan Drenner picking up a rebound and putting it home at 4:40.
Michael Sowers scored for Waterdogs with a great individual effort, coming from behind the net and firing it past Morroco at 9:16. Brendan Bomberry got it back for the Cannons when he converted a Stephen Rehfuss pass at 10:55.
At the half, Cannons 12 Waterdogs 3.
Jake Withers was only 4 for 15 on the faceoffs, while Stephen Kelly was 11 of the 15 in the first half battle.
Third Quarter:
Zach Currier scored for the Waterdogs to begin the half bouncing it five hole into the net at 2:18, but Ryan Drenner got it back with his second of the day. A great individual effort by Drenner fighting through a hold and scoring at 2:56. Shayne Jackson scored a beauty from the outside off a Ryan Drenner feed at 5:03 giving the Cannons a ten goal lead in the game.
The Waterdogs kept coming. Ethan Walker scored his second of the day converting a Michael Sowers pass at 6:29, followed by Keiran McArdle with a shot to the top corner at 7:12. Jack Hannah fired a shot high to low at 8:19, and it was now a 14-7 game. Michael Sowers second goal of the game came on the power play, scoring from the top of the crease at 11:10.
The Cannons stopped the Waterdogs run with just 0:10 seconds left in the quarter when Stephen Rehfuss scored on a shot to the far corner.
After three quarters, Cannons 15 Waterdogs 8.
Fourth Quarter:
Waterdogs got on the board when Eli Gobrecht scored with a shot between his legs with the long pole at 3:31, but the Cannons scored with a blast from Ryan Drenner at 8:47. Zach Currier scored his second of the day on a bounce shot at 9:15 to make it 16-10, but it was too little too late.
Final score, Cannons 16 Waterdogs 10
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal were 31-29 in favor of the Waterdogs.
- The faceoff battle became much more respectable finishing at 16-14 in favor of the Cannons. Jake Withers went 14 for 29 while Stephen Kelly went 14 for 25.
Top Scorers:
Waterdogs:
- Michael Sowers 2g, 1a
- Ethan Walker 2g, 0a
- Zach Currier 2g, 0a
Cannons:
- Lyle Thompson 4g, 2a
- Ryan Drenner 3g, 1a
- Jake Froccaro 0g, 3a
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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