Top-Seeded Boston Closes with OT Victory
from press release
BOSTON - Midfielder Brad Ross scored the
game-winning goal just 27 seconds into overtime as the Boston
Cannons (9-3) rallied from a late deficit to earn their third
straight win, a 16-15 Major League Lacrosse victory over the
Rochester Rattlers (2-10) in the regular season finale for both
teams at Harvard Stadium on Saturday evening.
Ross, who earned Bud Light Player of the Game honors, scored off a
pass from attackman Matt Poskay with 9:33 remaining in the extra
period as the Cannons scored twice in a 30-second span to get the
victory.
After the Cannons jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals from Poskay and
midfielder Mike Stone, the Rattlers tied the game with two goals in
a 65-second span. The teams traded goals before midfielder Paul
Rabil scored a power-play goal off an assist from midfielder Kevin
Buchanan to give Boston a 4-3 advantage with 18 seconds left in the
first quarter.
Attackman Ned Crotty tied the game at 4-4 early in the second
quarter with an unassisted goal before the Cannons answered with
two goals from Buchanan and rookie defenseman Brian Farrell to
regain a 6-4 lead.
But, the Rattlers responded with three straight goals, including a
pair of markers from rookie attackman Grant Catalino, to take a 7-6
advantage with 4:53 left in the first half. However, Boston
countered with a three-point run, including a two-point goal from
Rabil, to end the first half with a 9-7 advantage.
The Rattlers tied the game at 9-9 in the first five minutes of the
second half with goals from Crotty and rookie attackman Jordan
McBride, but the Cannons answered with three straight goals to
regain a 12-9 cushion with 5:05 left in the third quarter.
The Rattlers put together a three-goal run over a four-minute span
to even the score at 12-12 before the Cannons used goals from
Buchanan and attackman Max Quinzani to gain a 14-12 edge with 10
minutes remaining in regulation.
But, the Rattlers had another answer by scoring three consecutive
goals, including a pair of markers from midfielder Martin Cahill,
to regain the advantage at 15-14 with 2:49 left.
With just three seconds remaining, Buchanan tallied his third goal
of the game off a feed from attackman Ryan Boyle to force the extra
session and set up Ross' heroics.
Rabil led the Cannons to the victory by scoring three goals,
including a two-point marker, and contributed two assists while
Buchanan added a three-goal, two-assist effort. Poskay scored twice
and added two assists as the Cannons outshot Rochester by a
commanding 57-45 margin.
Crotty led Rochester in a losing effort by scoring three goals with
an assist while Cahill and McBride each added a "hat trick."
Goalkeeper John Galloway made 18 saves, including eight in the
third quarter, for the Rattlers, who end the season with a
three-game losing streak.
The Cannons will face the Chesapeake Bayhawks in the first
semi-final of the 2011 Sports Authority MLL Championship Weekend on
Saturday, August 27 at 12 p.m.
