A third-quarter collapse would end up costing Atlas as they lost 14-13 in the thriller against the Cannons in PLL action on Friday night.
Atlas held a two-goal lead at halftime including shutting out the Cannons 4-0 in the second quarter. However, Atlas was outscored 8-2 in the third quarter as the Cannons buried three two-point goals.
On a brighter note, Trevor Baptiste reached a milestone for Atlas as he picked up his 500th career groundball. Marcus Holman’s goal to open the second half for the Cannons now leaves him three short of moving into third all-time in career goals.
The win keeps the Cannons in the race for second place where they are tied with the Waterdogs at 6-3. Atlas will need some help in seventh place at 2-7.
Cannons Jump Out To First Quarter Lead
Adam Charalambides got the Cannons on the board first at 9:51 by dodging a number of defenders from behind the net and burying it. Myle Jones replied right back less than two minutes later to tie up the game 1-1.
Xander Dickson found the back of the net with 3:31 to play in the quarter to make it 2-1 for Atlas. Charalambides tied it up by picking up a loose ball and scoring with 2:18 on the clock.
Asher Nolting scored with 1:10 left to play. Jonathan Donville then rounded out the scoring with 21 seconds left to make it 4-2 for the Cannons at the first break.
Atlas Shut Out Cannons In The Second
It was all Atlas in the second quarter as they outscored the Cannons 4-0. The scoring opened the Myles Jones bullied his way into the offensive zone to find an open Jeff Teat to make it 4-3.
Chris Gray would then tie it up at 9:14. He took a pass from Bryan Costabile and scored with a behind-the-back shot. Gray added an unassisted marker at 6:51 to give Atlas the lead.
Chet Comizio rounded out the scoring as Atlas would take a 6-4 lead at halftime.
Third-Quarter Collapse For Atlas
Once again, Atlas was unable to hold on to the lead. They gave up three two-point goals as they were outscored 8-2 in the second frame.
The Cannons opened the scoring at 8:05. Chris Aslanian’s pass from behind the back of the net found Holman to make it 6-5.
Gray replied 36 seconds later to restore Atlas’ two-goal lead.
The floodgates opened starting at the 7:01 mark with Charalambides scoring his hat trick goal. Aslanian added a two-point goal at 5:26 as the Cannons took a 8-7 lead.
At the 2:34 mark, Cade Van Raaphorst dropped a bomb for two-point range to extend the Cannon’s lead to 10-8.
Eric Law got Atlas back on the board at 2:12. However, Ryan Drenner netted a two-point goal on the dying seconds of the third as the Cannons led 12-8 heading into the fourth.
Atlas’ Comeback Falls Short
Donville opened the scoring at 10:31 as the Cannons went ahead 13-8
Gray scored at 10:13 of the fourth quarter as part of a four-goal run for Atlas. Costabile added another less than a minute later to get Atlas within three.
Dylan Malloy added Atlas’ 11th goal at the 5:59 mark. Xander Dickson scored at 3:08 when the Myles Jones shot deflected off of him and into the back of the net to make it 13-12 in favour of the Cannons.
Drenner would come up clutch with 1:57 left in the game. With a point-blank shot, he scored the eventual game-winner.
Gray got Altas within one with 11:22 left but the third-quarter collapse was too much to overcome as the Cannons went on to win 14-13.
Top Scorers
Cannons
Asher Nolting, 1-1g 3a
Chris Aslanian, 1-2g, 2a
Adam Charalambides, 3g
Ryan Drenner, 1-1g 1-2g
Atlas
Chris Gray, 5g
Myles Jones, 1-1g 2a
Jeff Teat, 1-1g 2a
Bryan Costabile, 1-1g 2a
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Shawn Slaght has been a sports reporter across the Canadian prairies for over 10 years and has experience covering everything from junior hockey to World Cup skiing to all levels of lacrosse. He is the Saskatchewan correspondent for All Lacrosse All The Time.
