2 months ago
CANNONSBURG Riley Maynard cornered the market on game-winners.
The ball hadn't seen the back of the net for nearly an hour of match time when the Boyd County freshman took care of any shootout concerns in the second overtime period against Ashland.
Maynard lined up her shot near the corner flag, connected with her left foot, and curved it inside the far post to lift the Lions to a 2-1 win in the 63rd District seeding contest Thursday.
Boyd County coach Olivia Pennington said it's not the first time Maynard found her target on the long-distance shot that offers no angle to the goal.
"It's something that she's done multiple times this season," Pennington said. "Any time we have that shot on the left side, Riley is attempting that shot."
#riley #county #left #cannonsburg
The ball hadn't seen the back of the net for nearly an hour of match time when the Boyd County freshman took care of any shootout concerns in the second overtime period against Ashland.
Maynard lined up her shot near the corner flag, connected with her left foot, and curved it inside the far post to lift the Lions to a 2-1 win in the 63rd District seeding contest Thursday.
Boyd County coach Olivia Pennington said it's not the first time Maynard found her target on the long-distance shot that offers no angle to the goal.
"It's something that she's done multiple times this season," Pennington said. "Any time we have that shot on the left side, Riley is attempting that shot."
#riley #county #left #cannonsburg
2 months ago
CANNONSBURG After ninety minutes of intense, goalless soccer, Boyd County coach Levi Pennington still needed five guys for an energized ending.
Ashland and the Lions battled to nil-nil after two halves and two overtime periods. Each player on the pitch had done their part to empower their team, but work remained to determine a victor.
Bracken Peters sent the closing delivery inside the left post and supplied the final point in kicks from the mark for a 1-0 victory over the Tomcats in a 63rd District seeding match Thursday.
"(Thursday night), the (shootout) lineup changed based on how the game was going," Boyd County coach Levi Pennington said, "with body language and players. I felt like some of our guys were more gassed than normal. I pushed them a little further down the list and let their legs get back under them. I told them it's nothing against you, but it's next man up right now."
Ashland's freshman keeper, Karson Freeman, denied Boyd County's first attempt to help the Tomcats grab a quick advantage in the shootout. The visitors' second try clanged off the crossbar, and Zeke Withrow calmly blasted the next shot through to the twine to tie the session.
#boyd #coach
Ashland and the Lions battled to nil-nil after two halves and two overtime periods. Each player on the pitch had done their part to empower their team, but work remained to determine a victor.
Bracken Peters sent the closing delivery inside the left post and supplied the final point in kicks from the mark for a 1-0 victory over the Tomcats in a 63rd District seeding match Thursday.
"(Thursday night), the (shootout) lineup changed based on how the game was going," Boyd County coach Levi Pennington said, "with body language and players. I felt like some of our guys were more gassed than normal. I pushed them a little further down the list and let their legs get back under them. I told them it's nothing against you, but it's next man up right now."
Ashland's freshman keeper, Karson Freeman, denied Boyd County's first attempt to help the Tomcats grab a quick advantage in the shootout. The visitors' second try clanged off the crossbar, and Zeke Withrow calmly blasted the next shot through to the twine to tie the session.
#boyd #coach
2 months ago
Last Saturday night in Minneapolis, the Boston Cannons walked off the field with a win, a spot in the semifinals and one game standing between them and a trip to the U.S. Bank Championship.
Connor and Colin Kirst had plenty to celebrate. Then their family group chat started going off.
Their younger brother, CJ Kirst, was among the first to chime in.
"See you next weekend."
It was the Philadelphia Waterdogs attackman's way of saying congratulations.
#minneapolis #cannons #bank
Connor and Colin Kirst had plenty to celebrate. Then their family group chat started going off.
Their younger brother, CJ Kirst, was among the first to chime in.
"See you next weekend."
It was the Philadelphia Waterdogs attackman's way of saying congratulations.
#minneapolis #cannons #bank
2 months ago
The Boston Cannons weren't supposed to make it this far.
But after starting the season 1-4 and facing plenty of criticism, Boston is now headed to the semifinals.
The Cannons' defense held the Maryland Whipsnakes to seven goals while Coulter Mackesy scored a hat trick in a 9-7 quarterfinal win Saturday night in Minneapolis.
"It's been a process. We struggled early in the year," head coach Brian Holman said. "We're trying to find our way, a lot of moving pieces, new pieces. This league's not forgiving that way, so just patience and a lot of love and a lot of communication."
The story of the week was Matt Campbell's return.
#minneapolis #brian
But after starting the season 1-4 and facing plenty of criticism, Boston is now headed to the semifinals.
The Cannons' defense held the Maryland Whipsnakes to seven goals while Coulter Mackesy scored a hat trick in a 9-7 quarterfinal win Saturday night in Minneapolis.
"It's been a process. We struggled early in the year," head coach Brian Holman said. "We're trying to find our way, a lot of moving pieces, new pieces. This league's not forgiving that way, so just patience and a lot of love and a lot of communication."
The story of the week was Matt Campbell's return.
#minneapolis #brian
2 months ago
The playoffs are kicking off this weekend in Minnesota.
All of that stuff that happened in the regular season? It doesn't matter now.
It just takes one win for a team like the Maryland Whipsnakes to feel dangerous after a losing skid. On the flip side, as hot as the Cannons have been, a subpar performance could send them packing. Which team will advance to meet the top-seeded Philadelphia Waterdogs in the semifinals?
In the Western Conference, the Outlaws and Redwoods are battling for the right to face two-time champion Utah Archers as both teams pursue their first-ever PLL **** le.
Six things to watch in this weekend's quarterfinal matchups:
#waterdogs
All of that stuff that happened in the regular season? It doesn't matter now.
It just takes one win for a team like the Maryland Whipsnakes to feel dangerous after a losing skid. On the flip side, as hot as the Cannons have been, a subpar performance could send them packing. Which team will advance to meet the top-seeded Philadelphia Waterdogs in the semifinals?
In the Western Conference, the Outlaws and Redwoods are battling for the right to face two-time champion Utah Archers as both teams pursue their first-ever PLL **** le.
Six things to watch in this weekend's quarterfinal matchups:
#waterdogs
3 months ago
Years after leaving Boston, Will Manny still runs into fans carrying jerseys he signed more than a decade ago. Jeff Trainor remembers being the kid in the stands at Harvard Stadium, dreaming of one day playing on the same field.
It's the kind of connection Homecoming Weekend celebrates.
Inside the Cannons locker room, every tie to Boston is unique. To some, it's home. Others found it through college, and the team's newest members are just beginning to experience it. But for all of them, wearing "Boston" across their chest carries a meaning that goes far beyond the jersey.
"I think I'm a little bit biased," Trainor said. "But out of all the weekends of the year, this is the one that I look forward to most."
For Manny, the Cannons' offensive coordinator, Boston is where he found a second home.
#manny
It's the kind of connection Homecoming Weekend celebrates.
Inside the Cannons locker room, every tie to Boston is unique. To some, it's home. Others found it through college, and the team's newest members are just beginning to experience it. But for all of them, wearing "Boston" across their chest carries a meaning that goes far beyond the jersey.
"I think I'm a little bit biased," Trainor said. "But out of all the weekends of the year, this is the one that I look forward to most."
For Manny, the Cannons' offensive coordinator, Boston is where he found a second home.
#manny
3 months ago
On Friday night, Boston turned to JC Higginbotham in net, who delivered in his first start of the season, helping the Cannons to an 11-7 win over the Archers in Columbus and snapping Utah's four-game win streak.
After Colin Kirst posted save percentages below 50% over the previous three games, head coach Brian Holman made the decision earlier in the week to startHigginbotham.
"Part of this job that I absolutely detest is doing what I had to do this week," Holman said. "But at the end of the day, my job is to help these guys be in the best position they could possibly be to compete for a championship."
It was just the third PLL appearance and first start for Higginbotham, who went undrafted out of Bellarmine in 2024.
The move paid off early as the 25-year-old stopped four shots in the opening minutes, weathering an aggressive Archers attack and helping Boston find its footing.
#Friday
After Colin Kirst posted save percentages below 50% over the previous three games, head coach Brian Holman made the decision earlier in the week to startHigginbotham.
"Part of this job that I absolutely detest is doing what I had to do this week," Holman said. "But at the end of the day, my job is to help these guys be in the best position they could possibly be to compete for a championship."
It was just the third PLL appearance and first start for Higginbotham, who went undrafted out of Bellarmine in 2024.
The move paid off early as the 25-year-old stopped four shots in the opening minutes, weathering an aggressive Archers attack and helping Boston find its footing.
#Friday
3 months ago
After Chaos faceoff specialist Justin Inacio suffered a right knee sprain in Carolina's 13–12 overtime win over the Boston Cannons and was ruled out for the team's doubleheader in Columbus, general manager Spencer Ford chose not to sign another faceoff specialist to replace him.
Ahead of Friday night's matchup with the California Redwoods — who boast one of the PLL's top faceoff men in TD Ierlan — he explained why.
"There could be guys who could come in and possibly win, but there is not one person who can come and be the whole package for us," Ford said. "Could they get us 40%? Could they be great in the pick game when TD is working to get a switch for [Chris Kavanagh]? Can they stop TD from going forward? He has hurt us at that and usually scores a big goal. Can he be great on offense and enable us to play fast in the 32[-second shot clock]?"
Ford and the Chaos feel more comfortable staying in-house at the stripe with a rotation of offensive and short-stick defensive midfielders.
Ty English, Christian Scarpello and Ray Dearth – who took the remaining 23 faceoffs after Inacio exited against the Cannons in the first quarter – will continue to take a majority of the faceoffs against the Redwoods and the Philadelphia Waterdogs this weekend.
#faceoff #inacio #specialist #great
Ahead of Friday night's matchup with the California Redwoods — who boast one of the PLL's top faceoff men in TD Ierlan — he explained why.
"There could be guys who could come in and possibly win, but there is not one person who can come and be the whole package for us," Ford said. "Could they get us 40%? Could they be great in the pick game when TD is working to get a switch for [Chris Kavanagh]? Can they stop TD from going forward? He has hurt us at that and usually scores a big goal. Can he be great on offense and enable us to play fast in the 32[-second shot clock]?"
Ford and the Chaos feel more comfortable staying in-house at the stripe with a rotation of offensive and short-stick defensive midfielders.
Ty English, Christian Scarpello and Ray Dearth – who took the remaining 23 faceoffs after Inacio exited against the Cannons in the first quarter – will continue to take a majority of the faceoffs against the Redwoods and the Philadelphia Waterdogs this weekend.
#faceoff #inacio #specialist #great
3 months ago
Carolina Chaos defenseman Jack Rowlett has been placed on injured reserve after suffering an upper-body injury in the first quarter of Saturday's 10-8 loss to the Denver Outlaws that required the five-time All-Pro to be transported to the local hospital in Fairfield.
According to Dr. Paul Sethi, Medical Director at the PLL, Rowlett was diagnosed with both a cervical strain and a sternoclavicular strain on the left side of his body.
Rowlett will be reassessed heading into Carolina's regular-season finale against the Utah Archers on Aug. 7.
"He will be out the next two weeks, so three games," Chaos general manager Spencer Ford said on Monday. "[He is] in a lot of pain but will get better."
While on injured reserve, Rowlett will miss Carolina's game against the Boston Cannons on July 25, as well as the Chaos' back-to-back contests against the California Redwoods on July 31 and the Philadelphia Waterdogs on Aug. 1.
#july #reserve #body
According to Dr. Paul Sethi, Medical Director at the PLL, Rowlett was diagnosed with both a cervical strain and a sternoclavicular strain on the left side of his body.
Rowlett will be reassessed heading into Carolina's regular-season finale against the Utah Archers on Aug. 7.
"He will be out the next two weeks, so three games," Chaos general manager Spencer Ford said on Monday. "[He is] in a lot of pain but will get better."
While on injured reserve, Rowlett will miss Carolina's game against the Boston Cannons on July 25, as well as the Chaos' back-to-back contests against the California Redwoods on July 31 and the Philadelphia Waterdogs on Aug. 1.
#july #reserve #body
5 months ago
One is one of the most successful managers in franchise history. Without the other, the franchise might not even be here.
On June 27 at Isotopes Park, former Isotopes manager Lorenzo Bundy and former Pacific Coast League President Branch Rickey III will headline this year's class being inducted into the Albuquerque Professional Baseball Hall of Fame.
Bundy racked up 226 wins as the Isotopes manager from 2011-2013 and was the 2012 PCL Manager of the Year. His .523 win percentage is second only to Tim Wallach's .530 from 2009-10. Bundy's 2012 Isotopes squad tied a franchise record with 80 wins and marked the last time the team made the playoffs.
Rickey, the grandson of Wesley Branch Rickey, who helped integrate Major League Baseball in 1947, was PCL president from 1998-2020 and was a key part of the relocation of the Calgary Cannons to Albuquerque, where the Isotopes played their first season in 2003 following the Dukes' decision to leave town after the 2000 season.
During his tenure, Rickey oversaw the construction of 10 new ballparks, including Isotopes Park, and also helped secure Albuquerque's hosting of the 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game and the 2011 Triple-A Championship Game.
On June 27 at Isotopes Park, former Isotopes manager Lorenzo Bundy and former Pacific Coast League President Branch Rickey III will headline this year's class being inducted into the Albuquerque Professional Baseball Hall of Fame.
Bundy racked up 226 wins as the Isotopes manager from 2011-2013 and was the 2012 PCL Manager of the Year. His .523 win percentage is second only to Tim Wallach's .530 from 2009-10. Bundy's 2012 Isotopes squad tied a franchise record with 80 wins and marked the last time the team made the playoffs.
Rickey, the grandson of Wesley Branch Rickey, who helped integrate Major League Baseball in 1947, was PCL president from 1998-2020 and was a key part of the relocation of the Calgary Cannons to Albuquerque, where the Isotopes played their first season in 2003 following the Dukes' decision to leave town after the 2000 season.
During his tenure, Rickey oversaw the construction of 10 new ballparks, including Isotopes Park, and also helped secure Albuquerque's hosting of the 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game and the 2011 Triple-A Championship Game.
