Gold Rush - The Playoff Are Set!

[00:00:12] What is up guys, welcome to Gold Rush, a Championship Series companion podcast brought to you by The Run Out Podcast. I am your host, Neil Barrett. We are once again joined by Jackson VanVlake who has kind of at the last minute decided to go to the Championship Series, right? Oh yeah, we're boots on the ground. That was not the plan, right? No.

[00:00:38] No. I am a bit of an Archers fan and after seeing the game last night I was like, man, I'm not working Monday and it would be cool to go see potentially another championship in person. So, now we got the first round by locked up, I feel a lot better about it. I think that day of rest is going to be huge. So, really looking forward to it. And the games tomorrow is going to be awesome. So, just looking forward to all of it all around.

[00:01:09] Yeah, I know you were traveling. So, yeah, I don't know if you listened to the one I released this morning. But that was one of the things that I talked about. I thought all the teams that had a day off, a day of rest to really focus could really, except for nobody expected the whips to do anything. But everyone else, I thought, could really, you know, show out.

[00:01:36] And they all did to varying degrees of success. But all of them, you know, looked rested and looked better because of it. So, yeah. Yeah. Going forward, the Archers having that day of rest, I think, is going to be a big deal. We will start with the first game of the day with the Maryland charm. Kind of shocking everybody beating the Palms 13 to 11.

[00:02:00] Even this was kind of crazy, especially Alex Ostholman. It was announced that she was not going to be playing in the game. Like I talked about on yesterday's episode, it was listed as a team-approved absence. No other information has come out about that. We don't know what the deal is.

[00:02:25] Like I said, it's a little weird that, you know, you're in a week-long tournament and you know this is a game day. This was one of the scheduled game days. Regardless of when lose or draw you were going to be playing today. So why she would have had a pre-planned thing, we don't know. But again, we don't know. But so I think we thought coming in that was going to be a big deal for her, for the charm.

[00:02:54] I mean, to be without their captain in Alex Ostholman. But that turned out to not really be the case. Taylor Moreno jumped out, had six saves in the first quarter and then set the WLL record with 15 in the game. But the charm pushed back, closed the first half to a two-goal gap at half.

[00:03:22] And then Sydney Black did what Sydney Black does. She finished with seven points on four goals and three assists. And once again, Kaylee Waters in net was incredible. She kind of only had 11 saves and was at 50%, which, you know, Taylor Moreno I think was statistically slightly better. But I think Kaylee Waters' impact was far greater.

[00:03:50] She was doing what you and I have talked several times about, stealing important goals, taking them off the scoreboard. So, yeah, I mean, that was kind of it for individual performances. But, you know, the charm did what the Whipsnakes have been unable to do and just ten toes down, fight, you know, and take over.

[00:04:17] So, I know you were traveling and I don't know if you've gotten to see some of the highlights or what. But, yeah, that was kind of it for the charm poems game. The charm did ultimately win, but kind of in a strange twist of fate, not by enough goals.

[00:04:44] They needed to win by three or more, and they only won by two. So, they did not overtake the palms, and they were going to need the charging to win by nine plus goals in order to overtake the guard in the rankings. And we can kind of roll into the guard game from there.

[00:05:10] This one was really fun, really intense. The fourth place team not making the playoffs added a layer of this because you knew that there were three teams kind of involved. Like, really all four teams were involved based on who won and by how much it could have meant any kind of combination.

[00:05:37] I guess the charging we knew had made it, but all of the other three teams could have been first place, could have been last. So, it was a really fun, intense game that apparently I wrote these things all down incorrectly. Exactly. The guard ended up winning 20-18.

[00:06:06] The guard kept Emily Harris-Chuck completely quiet. She had two points on one goal and one assist, and those happened in a one-minute span bridging the third quarter. She assisted with like four seconds left in the third quarter and then scored like 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, and that was amazing. That's it, the whole game.

[00:06:30] And it really seemed to be the idea of like, we're going to let the entire rest of the team try and beat us, which obviously was great. Madison Ahern had seven points, but for me, it was less about her point totals and more about when she was scoring. She was scoring.

[00:07:00] She scored three goals that either tied or gave the guard the lead in the second half, which, you know, like I said, it was more about timing and when she was scoring than what she was doing. And I really thought this was a game of transition as well. Meg Carney and Cassidy Weeks both had six points, one on each team getting out, pushing the ball in transition.

[00:07:27] And, you know, that was kind of the story of the game for me was who could, you know, keep the big names quiet, but, you know, take care of their business on their end. And I believe, I need to look at this real quick. I believe that, yeah, Charlotte North, she ended up with five points, but three goals and two assists was relatively quiet for her, I guess.

[00:07:56] So with that result, Boston gets the bye and moves on to the championship on Monday with the palms and charging set for a rematch tomorrow in the semifinals. That should be a lot of fun, I think. Absolutely.

[00:08:16] I think it's a shame that, you know, for putting these teams together, you know, week of, you know, we're not going to get to see all four of them play in a semifinals. I think they probably could have, you know, just done kind of what the PLO traditionally done where, you know, one versus four and two versus three. I think that would have been a, you know, obviously you want to make the round robin games mean something, but I think we are being robbed of a little bit of a chance to continue to see these women play.

[00:08:46] And I personally would have liked to have seen two semifinal games and then obviously the winners of those playing in the championship. Yeah, you know, I didn't even think about the fact that, like you said, it is their first year.

[00:09:04] These teams are new and that, yeah, we're not going to get to see, especially a player like Sidney Black that I really think kind of became, you know, the nation's sweetheart, for lack of a better term, this year or this championship series. And to know that, you know, she's, she's obviously not going to be involved in the championship, but she's not, not going to be in the semifinals either.

[00:09:31] You know, we got, we got three games with her and then that's it. I would really, especially after today when, when, you know, she, she's a big reason why the charm won that game. You know, that, and obviously they're, they're, they just, they, like I said, they just, they did everything right. They did everything they, they should have done. And if I was a Maryland fan, I'd be like, where was this seeing the whole tournament? Yeah.

[00:09:59] So, uh, that is, uh, like I said, it was fun in that second game knowing that, you know, depending by, depending on who won and by how much there was so much in play, it made that, that game a lot of fun. Um, but you, you're also right that we are missing out on, on that extra game.

[00:10:24] And we can talk about this a little bit later when we talk about golden sticks, it's going to come into play for, for both teams that got that first round by that their, their players are going to have one less game to, to score points and, and win potentially win the golden stick. So, uh, that was the thought that I had about how, how disappointing it is.

[00:10:50] I wish those are, those are probably the two changes that I'd like to make. Well, uh, one is PLL day and a WLL day, uh, flipping so that every team gets a day of rest between games. And then, and then, yeah, like you, you said, I, I understand the, the, the, the want to make the round robin games more important, uh, and mean something.

[00:11:16] But I would like to see, I think everybody make it. There's only four teams. Like why not? Right. So, uh, with that said, I guess we can move to the semifinal games of the WLL, uh, or game, I guess, uh, poems and charging. Um, what are you, what are you seeing there? I'm really excited about the goalie battle.

[00:11:44] Um, I can't for the life of me, remember the charging school name, but I looked it up and she had 17 saves today. So I'm sure that has to be some sort of record. Um, I, I should have said that Madison Ducet as her name, by the way. Uh, and I, I wrote it down and then I, I skipped over it. I completely forgot that, uh, Taylor Moreno. So I think she said it last night.

[00:12:08] She set the record at, I believe it was 15 and then Madison Ducet broke it tonight with 17. You're right. Yep. So really excited for that goalie matchup. Um, love watching the charm or excuse me, the palms, uh, in transition. Um, I think, you know, they're, they, they want to run and, um, so it's going to be kind of about limiting that.

[00:12:35] And like we had talked about before, you know, the, the women seem to be a little bit more settled and, um, you know, just with going to X a little bit more. And, um, you know, it, it, it's more of a chess, kind of a chess match where, whereas the men is sometimes can be like that, but it's also a lot of, you know, kind of run and shoot and, um, you know, just up and down back and forth.

[00:12:56] Um, so when the women get into that transition, it means something because that's, you know, you, you're getting a quick one and, um, you're really putting the pressure on the other team. So, uh, really excited to see that I'm super pumped to watch it in person for the first time. Uh, this will be my first in-person viewing of, of women's, uh, lacrosse in general. Um, so really, really excited for that. Yeah.

[00:13:20] Again, the, the women's version of six has been by far my favorite. So I'm, I'm a little jealous that you're getting, you're going to get to see it live. Um, I'm hoping that, that there's something that happens over the summer and, uh, we, again, I live just outside of, well, not just outside of Boston, but within an hour of Boston.

[00:13:44] And, uh, I'm hoping that, you know, cause of the guard that, that if something happens this summer that I will get to see it in, in Boston. So, uh, pretty jealous. Do you have any, any predictions? You're just hoping for a good game. I'm hoping for, for, for a great game. Um, I had been on the charging, um, and I think I'm going to stick with that for tomorrow.

[00:14:12] We'll have to get back to the championship game, but, uh, for tomorrow, I think I'm going to take the charging as much as I would like to see the palms, you know, do well. And, and I, I just think that that charging team is, um, on, on paper, at least looks, looks to be a little bit more, um, seasoned maybe. Um, yeah. So I think I'm going to ride with the experience there. Yeah.

[00:14:37] Uh, I think this, I think this might be the first time that we've, we've ever picked opposite. Uh, I, I really liked this palms team. They've, they've kind of become my, my favorite team to watch. Uh, I love the, I love Taylor Moreno and goal. I love watching them get up and down the field. Uh, Ali Mastroini has like just taken over. She is one of my favorite players.

[00:15:02] I'm, I'm actually having a little bit of a tough time because the other player that I've like really fallen in love with for different reasons is Kylie O' Miller, uh, who plays for the charging. So I'm like, man, but a palms win means Kylie O' Miller's out. And I'm like, uh, but, but yeah, I've, I think I've, I've kind of gone, I don't know if I want to say all in, but mostly in on, on the palms. The guard was my, my original pick.

[00:15:28] So, uh, you know, so, okay, cool. All right. Well, we'll see, we'll see what happens with that. Uh, with the, with the WLL semifinals tomorrow. Uh, we'll have to get your, your thoughts tomorrow, tomorrow afternoon evening. I don't, uh, I know the games are a little bit earlier, but I don't remember exactly when they are off the top of my head. Um, but we'll, we'll have to get your thoughts after, after seeing it live tomorrow at some point. Uh, then we roll into the PLL.

[00:15:58] Uh, the cannons took on the New York Atlas, uh, went and, and the cannons won, uh, 23 to 15. For me, this felt like two teams responding to the same issue in completely different ways.

[00:16:19] And I wonder, I wonder what it was like there where you maybe didn't have, you know, you didn't have an announcer talking you through things, but it really felt like both teams kind of their main guys were, were relatively quiet. Asher was relatively quiet. If I remember correctly, he finished one goal. Was it one? Yes. One goal. Yes.

[00:16:48] So Asher, Asher had one goal. Uh, uh, Marcus Holman had one goal. He obviously went out injured, but he, he only had the one goal. Uh, and then on the, on the flip side, on the Atlas side, you know, Brian Costabile was leading the league in, in goals. He only had one goal. Uh, Xander Dixon, uh, had been really good for them. He only had one goal. Uh, Miles Jones is probably the one kind of name that had a decent game. He finished with three goals and an assist.

[00:17:18] Uh, but it was really about how everyone else responded. I felt like, and for the cannons, they like everybody stepped up every single player for the, for them stepped up. And it felt like the Atlas just didn't really have that. Yeah. And, and, and, and the back of people's heads too, it could have been, you know, we're playing this game again tomorrow, so we don't want to show all of our cards.

[00:17:43] Um, you know, taking it a little easier, maybe a little easier on the body and, um, you know, saving a little bit of gas. Um, that being said, you know, like you had mentioned, you know, those bigger names on the Atlas just really, you know, didn't, didn't show up tonight. Um, you know, the cannons had a good game plan and, um, you know, kind of like the archers have been, you know, as a cancer and you'd probably feel good knowing that you can win a game when actually only scores one goal.

[00:18:12] Um, and, and no Marcus Holman. And, you know, you have the guys kind of in place to, um, you know, to, to not have to rely on, you know, those, those two, two main guys at the top. I, I, did you mention, um, what, what did Matt Campbell finish with? Cause that's another just kind of big name on, on the cannons. I didn't mention him.

[00:18:37] He, he led, he led the, the, the cannons and points, uh, six goals to or six points, two goals, four assists. So getting it done perhaps in a little bit of a different way. I think, I think a lot of times he's a finisher for sure. Yeah. He's, he's usually more of the guy finishing shots. This time he became more of a facilitator for them. The guy that really stepped up in, in terms of being a finisher was Alex Madaro who ended up with five goals. He had five goals on seven shots.

[00:19:07] So, you know, lights out Ryan Drenner. Yeah. Ryan Drenner ended with five points, uh, on, on, uh, three goals, uh, three, one point goals and one, two point goal. Uh, that I, I, I think everybody knows that Ryan Drenner is capable of that kind of an output, but it's not generally what we have seen from him over, over even the last kind of few years.

[00:19:33] Um, so again, again, like I said, the story for me was kind of two teams responding to the same issue in very different ways. Yeah, absolutely. The other, the other thing I think that was, was very noticeable was Liam Anteman not having the best night ever.

[00:19:55] Uh, he finished with 27%, um, on, I believe it was 13 saves. Oh, no, it was 10 saves. Sorry. 10 saves at a, oh, he finished at 32%. He was the last time I checked after the game, it was 27, but they've updated it to 32.

[00:20:15] But, but even when he was making saves, it wasn't working out that he made, he made a great reflex save on, I think it was Drenner and it popped right into Chris Aslanian stick. And he around the world at it just right past him. And it was like, you know, he, he, he's making the play and he's still getting scored on. And so, you know, it's like we talked about kind of make, making your own luck and, um, you know, being in the right place when the ball bounces to you.

[00:20:44] So, um, you know, it was the can tonight and, uh, we'll see, you know, obviously you can hope and, you know, we've come to expect Anteman to probably have a better game, uh, tomorrow. So we'll, we'll, we'll see how that, that ends up, you know, coming out. Yeah. And, uh, again, this is another one of those situations where I think the cannons having a day of rest where there's the, the Atlas played yesterday, I think was, was a factor here.

[00:21:10] Um, but you know, the result today, I don't think is necessarily indicative of what it'll be tomorrow. Um, my, I'm, my hope would be, uh, Miles Jones figured it out. He looked like today a light bulb clicked in his head and he was like, oh yeah, no one, no one can stop me. I, I would hope that he's a little bit more accurate tomorrow. Um, he ended up with, I believe it was five points. Was that what I said?

[00:21:40] Five, uh, four points on three goals and an assist. Um, I think he, he, he took eight shots. I think he probably could have had another two or three more goals, uh, if he was a little bit more accurate, but yeah, it was like that light switched in him. And he was like, oh yeah, I'm bigger and stronger and faster than everybody. Like no one can stop me. So, uh, kind of the, kind of the, uh, I felt like Asher had one.

[00:22:04] And I, uh, were you, were you there in time for Asher's one handed, like just getting mobbed by the defense? Just slung it in. Yeah. They were really letting those guys play. Um, you know, I thought there were several times where, you know, it's, you know, Asher is just bigger. And the only way you can stop him is by tackling him.

[00:22:30] Um, but you would think if you're going to tackle him, you know, that would be a penalty, but they seem very, uh, inclined to just let them play. And, um, you could see a little bit of frustration for Masher at times as well. Just like, Hey, like, you know, I'm on the ground, I'm being wrestled to the ground and, you know, they scored off a few of them.

[00:22:52] So I guess, you know, you get a couple of penalties wiped out, but there were some that, that went the other way and I'm like, no, that should, that should be staying on this end. Um, yeah. There was specifically the one in the third quarter. I think it was where it was like clear to every single person on the field, in the arena, watching at home on TV. The announcers were like, what in the world? And, but the refs, everyone else saw it, but the refs.

[00:23:22] So, um, I, I think that was, it felt like it was almost like a point of emphasis maybe to kind of let some things go because I felt like even in the WLL games, they had swallowed some whistles. So, so maybe, maybe it was something they, they were, they were doing overall. Um, with, with that being said, let's move on to the final game of the day. You're, I'm, I'm sure you are excited to talk about that.

[00:23:52] Yeah. No. You got, the archers beat the whip snakes 29 to 25. Do not let that final score fool you. It was not even kind of a four point game. That was, that was a, a, an absolute blowout that the whip snakes just kind of scored some points when the, when the archers started taking their foot off the gas. Uh, it was 17, eight at half.

[00:24:21] And even that felt, felt generous, I think. So, um, before, before I let you talk, cause you were there and I, and I want to know what it was like there. Um, I, I have a little mini rant here that you've, you've probably seen. This game was the third now game that we've had that started about 10 minutes before it was supposed to. Yeah.

[00:24:50] With, with, with basically no warning. Um, and I don't understand that. I don't, I, I'm so frustrated. Like, why do we have a schedule? Why? I turned the game on and it was already 4-1 to the archers. And it, and I, that was probably the closest it ever was while I was watching. And I was like, what the hell? Like.

[00:25:17] There was, and you may have missed it, but there was a, um, I, I think the whip snakes should have gone up three to nothing to start. I can't remember who it was probably Brad Smith, um, hit a two and I don't know if it was a crease violation or if they had six guys on offense, but that goal was actually wiped off. And then the archers go on a four Oh run.

[00:25:42] And so I really, from the get go, it was, you know, it could have been big momentum towards the whip snakes. Yeah. Um, but that, that misstep by them really cost them, you know, it was ended up being a basically a six goal swing. Um, you know, when the archers really got going there and, um, I don't, I mean, like we had talked about there, there wasn't much hope for the whip snakes to come out and win that game.

[00:26:10] Let alone, I think their goal differential was minus 25 before the game started. So they needed to win by 27, I believe to make the playoffs. Yeah. Um, and so, you know, they didn't have, I mean, they were, they were kind of playing for pride at that point. Um, so yeah, I mean, they, like you said, it was not a four goal game.

[00:26:35] And really that to me, that's kind of been a theme for the archers at least is, you know, I don't think they've played a full game yet. I think, you know, in the fourth quarter, they've, they've started to, to let up. And a lot of times, um, it's been, you know, maybe on the back half, maybe the last two minutes, you know, out of a timeout, they just go and put, you know, that kind of the, the, the lineup that's been the starting lineup.

[00:26:59] So Bond, Marr, Woodward, Pedersen, and, um, Augurvin out there. And they just kind of play a little bit of keep away. It's almost not like they're, they're trying to score. You know, I really wanted to see them get to 30 tonight. Uh, I feel like that would have been, you know, to, to get to that number, I feel like would have been a great confidence boost. Um, it, it did get a little hairy toward, towards the end where, you know, it was a minute and a half left and, you know, it was, you know, five or six goal lead.

[00:27:28] Um, and you're thinking, okay, well, they, they've got some guys that can shoot the two, you know, let's not fool around here. And, you know, we've come all this way. Let's go ahead and lock up that, that first round by, you know? Right. So, but otherwise it was great. I mean, the story continues to be getting points out of the other guys. I mean, the, the four defenders continue. I mean, Woodward had at least one, two, he might've had two tonight.

[00:27:57] I can't remember if he finished with, you know, three, four or five points, but I mean, you look at the, the three games, I bet you the other guys have 30, 35 points. Yeah. Yeah. I could, I could see that. Cause I probably on any given night there, there are a majority of them have three points and then you have, you know, who was it? Was it Pedersen or, or one of them, you know, one of them had like a seven point night a couple of nights ago. Yeah. Two twos last night.

[00:28:27] So. It's unbelievable how much production they're getting out of those guys. And then obviously, you know, kind of tell two, two games where, um, against, I guess, who do we start with? The Atlas. I can't read. I can't remember who our last game was against. I know it's all blurring together. I know. Uh, but any, anyways, last night, Matt O'Keefe has one, one goal and tonight he ties the record with eight.

[00:28:56] So the, the, the archers just have so many ways that they can beat you. Um, you know, and, and on a night where Matt Moore didn't even play, um, what, and what I believe is kind of a precautionary thing. Um, and get to see, you know, Jack Van Overbeek, um, was awesome. I mean, he played lights out. He hit a two and had probably two or three other goals and was kind of just in the right place at the right time.

[00:29:22] And, you know, to me, I don't know why it's taken this long to get him in the lineup because he already had familiarity with a lot of those guys from playing over the summer. Nothing against Jackson Morrill or anything, but, you know, you, you kind of want to see that familiarity and, um, you know, I, I like him better than, than Morrill. And obviously, you know, different opponents, you know, kind of can say different things.

[00:29:48] But, um, if I was going to put a 12 man roster out there for, for Monday, I think I would have, uh, Vanna over, over Morrill. Yeah. Yeah. I think before, before any of the games played, I think you and I thought of him as, uh, as one of those guys that would, that would be in there and could potentially be a difference maker.

[00:30:09] And then he hasn't really gotten to, to play a ton. I mean, I'm sure he's been on the field, but honestly, I haven't, I haven't really noticed him out there at all. This is the first night that he dressed. He didn't, he didn't dress either of the other two games. That would explain it then. Um, but he had eight points and I know, I know it's, I know it's the whips. I know it was, was a bit of a blowout, but you know, like we've said several times, all you can do is play the team on the field.

[00:30:39] Like, so, so to have four, four goals, a two point goal and two assists in, in essentially your opener, you know, you're, you, you've been practicing, but you haven't, you haven't been out there. You're not up to game speed. Uh, again, it's a, it's a weak opponent and it's a bit of a blowout, but you know, it's also your first time being on the field with these guys in a meaningful way.

[00:31:05] So I'm, I'm, I'm with you. I would, I would have him, uh, Jackson. I mean, Jackson moral did have seven points tonight. That's, you know, not, not too bad either, but, uh, he had one point in the game before and then three, the game before I'd, I'd rather roll out Jackson over beak. Like, like you, like you're saying. And, uh, over Beck, I, how do you say his name?

[00:31:32] I want to say it's over, it's not over beak. Um, I swear when I was, when I was working, I swear when I was working high point games, that's what, that's what they called him was over beak. I swear, maybe I'm wrong, but I swear that's what it was. I did hear him. He would, they did something for the, um, the arrowheads and it was him. And I want to say Connor Marr. And he said, van over Beck, I believe it wasn't beak. I do remember that.

[00:32:01] Um, I think that's what they called him on the broadcast tonight too, was over back. Yeah. So I'm going to, I'm going to take it from the horse's mouth. And like I said, I know for sure it's not beak. Um, but, uh, it was like I said, great to see him out there. Um, great to see, um, Mac O'Keefe kind of getting back in, in,

[00:32:18] a groove and, um, you know, they'll probably get a practice in tomorrow and, um, you know, watch, you know, the semifinal game and then kind of put a game plan together. And I think they have as good of a shot as, as they've ever had. Um, so feeling, feeling really good about it. Um, and excited to, to be here for it. Nice. So archers move to the championship on Monday, the cannons will take on the Atlas in the semifinal tomorrow.

[00:32:47] What are you seeing for the semifinal tomorrow? I just think the, the, the, the Alistair going to live and die by how Brian Costabile and, um, and Xander Dixon play tomorrow. I think, um, you know, Brian Costabile is built for sixes. Um, so, you know, like I said, they're going to kind of live and die by how he plays. Um, like you said, I think Myles Jones is turning the corner and not that he's been playing bad, but I think, um,

[00:33:16] um, you know, he, there's, there's not a lot of guys on, on that cans roster that can match up with him one-on-one. Um, and so like some of the games before he's going to get to his spots, it's just going to be all about, does he finish? And, um, you know, Colin curse was the best goalie in the series a year ago. Um, so, you know, and that's going to be another thing like the, like the WL game is, is it, you know, it's two great goalies. Um,

[00:33:43] and we'll, we'll just see, you know, pending the health of Marcus Holman, we, we kind of may get another Tommy Palasek kind of slide in at 4 a.m. Cause I know, um, Jeff trainer is still kind of nursing that lower body injury. So pending the health of Marcus Holman, um, you know, they, they will be in a position if he's not good to go, we'll be in a position to pick up a guy from the player pool. I, you know, all bets are off as to who that might be.

[00:34:09] Um, and another interesting thing to note too, is that the, the Atlas with Christian, Christian Mule going out are now riding with those 12 guys that they, um, they brought to the series. So there's not going to be a replacement for him. So, um, you know, it's just kind of a kind of grit to the finish now where, um, you know, next man up and, um, you know, roll with the guys you got.

[00:34:34] So it's, it's going to be awesome. Uh, if I had to pick a winner, I think I'm going to, I think I'm gonna go with the cannons. Um, they just have to me a little bit more firepower. And, um, and I think that when you boil it down, I think that's what, that's what six is is, is, is, is, you know, it's, it's a game of, of runs and scoring and, um, and momentum.

[00:34:56] And I think the, the cannons are better suited to, to pick up that momentum. And, um, I could see them really shooting the ball well from two tomorrow and, um, kind of making a statement. Nice. Okay. I, uh, I, I think we're going to, we're going to go two for two here on, on picking opposite.

[00:35:16] I, I, I just really felt like the cannons were rested and prepared and I know Atlas will be less rested and less prepared tomorrow. Um, but I also, I, I felt like cannons were, were rested and prepared and the Atlas had a bad game on the wrong day.

[00:35:43] Um, I, I don't expect to see Liam Intamin playing that low. Um, which, which cursed is in goal for the cannons? Colin. Colin. I always get them confused. I think I have called him Cole several times. This is a series. Yeah. Cole's the midfielder for the red, the Redwoods. And then they, they have, um, which other one do they have?

[00:36:11] Well, CJ's at Cornell and then there's another pro. Yes. It starts with a C. Yeah. They all, yeah. I don't know. Uh, I know the youngest one's Caden. Um, anyways, the other one's playing in the NLL with the desert dogs. Uh, but I, I think again, last year he was the best goalie in the championship series.

[00:36:40] I, I think since then he's been good, but not today. He was at 58% and made 18 saves, which again, I believe is a PLL record for saves in the championship in a single championship series game. Um, so I feel like you're not going to have Liam Intamin that bad and you're not going to have, uh, Cole curse that good. Uh, so I think that'll balance out a little bit.

[00:37:09] And then, yeah, I, I think it will depend a lot on, on what, which Brian Costabile shows up so far based on the evidence that we have in this championship series. I'm going to bet that more than one point shows up out of him. I won't say it'll be 12, but you know, if I think even if they get five or six out of him,

[00:37:34] you know, that could be, that could be a big, big swing in, in how the game turns out. So I think I'm going to roll with the Atlas and we'll, we'll have a Archer's Atlas matchup come Monday. Um, with that being said, we'll, we'll kind of wrap this up. I know it has been a long day and we can, uh, enjoy tomorrow when it, uh, comes,

[00:38:03] but we'll end, I guess the way that we have ended all week now, where are you on? You know, I'll, I'll start, I'll start with the golden stick. Um, the current leader right now is Sydney black. She has 12 goals, but she is also done. She will not play any other games.

[00:38:26] So you have to imagine that is not going to hold, uh, Ali Mascherini is also at 10, uh, or is that 12? I mean, sorry. Uh, you know, she has at least one more game, if not two more games. Um, so far she has, she's been a solid four goals every game. Uh, so, you know, you, you imagine she's, she's going to be somewhere in that 16, even if they don't win tomorrow.

[00:38:54] So Sydney black is going to be out. Charlotte North is at 11, but she will only play in the championship game. So for me, I think it it's, it's going to come down to Emily, uh, Harris Chuck at 10 or Ali Mascherini at 12, depending on which one makes, which one plays in both games, whoever's team wins. So for right now I've picked the poems and Ali Mascherini is in the lead.

[00:39:24] So I have no reason to think it would be anyone other than her, even though I did technically pick Charlotte North. And I think, and this goes back to what we were talking about, about there not being an even distribution of games. Sometimes you're punished for your team being better in, in your opportunity to win this, this, uh, award. So that, that is kind of a flaw in this.

[00:39:52] So, uh, for that, for that thing, I, I have to say it's, it's gotta be Ali Mascherini. I like it. Um, I'm going to go with a little bit of a dark horse here, a little come, come from behind. Um, she's, she's turning it on recently. Uh, had a great game tonight. I'm going Meg Carney from the New York charging. Um, I don't know where she sits right now, but like you said, I think she's going to have two more games. I think they win tomorrow.

[00:40:22] Um, and I'm gonna, I'm gonna ride with the charging still. Um, you know, a little setback tonight against the guard, but I think they can, it's hard to beat a team twice. Um, so I'm going to go Meg Carney and the New York charging. Um, so new, new tradition for the women where the, the winner of the golden stick also wins the championship. Okay. All right. So just, just so that you know, Meg Carney is at nine. So she's, she's one behind Emily Harris Chuck.

[00:40:52] So not, not out of the race by any stretch of the imagination, especially if they win tomorrow and get the two games. Um, you would, you would imagine that's a, that's a pretty good pick. Uh, we'll go with you for, for, oh, you, you, you just said WLL champion is the Atlas. Um, I think the charging. Yes.

[00:41:18] God, the blue, the bulls, you know? Um, yes, you said charging. I think I, yeah, I think I'm, I think I'm going to hold out with the guard. Uh, again, I think, I think that day of rest is so important, especially, especially come, come championship Monday.

[00:41:41] The charging, I, I believe both the charging and the palms, whoever makes it will have played Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Uh, so regardless of who, who makes it on the other side, you're looking at playing three games in three days and the guard will have that rest. So I'm going to, they were my pick at the beginning, just by sheer dumb luck. Uh, and I see no reason to change it. So I'm going to stick with them.

[00:42:11] We will roll into the PLL golden stick just so that, uh, we're all on the same page. CJ Kostabil is still currently in the lead with 16. Uh, Asher and Mac O'Keefe are tied in second at 15 and Marcus Holman and Alex Vidaro both have 13.

[00:42:35] Yeah, I think, um, I think the game plan for the cannons has always been, or against the cannons, at least has always been make Asher a scorer. Um, I'm taking the cannons tomorrow. Um, so by virtue of that, I think Asher probably, you know, kind of helps lead them to that win. And, um, and then obviously he'll play another game in the championship. So I'm going to take Asher Nolting, uh, as my golden stick winner.

[00:43:03] Unfortunately, I can't say Mac O'Keefe anymore. Um, although he could go for another eight and, uh, you know, surprise me, but I think just by the numbers, I think you have to take Asher. Um, but I am going to stay on my pick with, with the archers. Like I said before, they, they just have so many ways to beat you. Um, the other guys are going to get theirs and then your known quantities. Um, you know, Matt, Matt Moore, Mac O'Keefe, um, Cole Williams had a great, great series.

[00:43:33] So, uh, I'm staying with the archers on that. Yeah. Yeah, no, I, I agree. I, again, same number of games. I think Mac O'Keefe is probably the shout, but Asher getting an extra game makes it, makes him the clear favorite. I think, I, I think, you know, obviously Brian Costabile still has the lead and could have the two games as well.

[00:43:57] Um, but I, I think you would expect, even if he plays really well, a big reason why he's up here is because he had a 12 point game. Um, you know, not all of those were, were goals scored, but you have 12 points. It's an eight of those. I don't remember what the exact numbers were, but a good amount of those were goals. So, I mean, that's really why he's up here. He could play very well.

[00:44:22] He could lead the, the Atlas and points and still not have, you know, the, the goals. Whereas, again, like, like you've said several times, Asher, the game plan against Asher is make him the scorer and that only inflates his numbers. So, uh, I, I, I held out on Marcus Holman, even, even, uh, in the last episode, I, I held out on him, but him going down and missing, you know, a good, good portion of that game today.

[00:44:52] I just kind of shot him in the foot. Uh, no, no pun intended. Cause I'm pretty sure it was a foot injury that was causing him some problems, but, uh, yeah, I, you know, it, I wouldn't say it'd be crazy if he, you know, had two nine point games and, and stole it. But I think, I think it's Asher and I, who's picking against the archers right now?

[00:45:21] Like I, if you're a diehard Atlas fan, maybe if you're a, if you're a diehard cannons fan, maybe, but even a lot of them, I got to think, look at this archers team right now. And they're like, I don't know about this. Right. Right.

[00:45:40] So, cause as you said, several times you stop one thing and they just, the rest of them pick up the slack in whatever formation you try to stop the rest of them just get the job done. So yeah, I, I, I'm with you there as much as we disagreed on the semifinals, we're in and up in the same place pretty much. So with that being said, uh, I know you got to get out of here, get some rest, get ready for the semifinals tomorrow.

[00:46:08] We will be back tomorrow. Jackson will be with us on the ground there in Springfield, Virginia, and we will see you guys tomorrow. We will see you guys tomorrow.