Cole, Woodall Lead Blaze Past New York
Published on August 18, 2019 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Atlanta Blaze News Release
Atlanta, GA - The Blaze took all they could handle from the Lizards, needing extra minutes to secure the win over New York 14-13. With this win, Atlanta moves to 7-5 and set their sights atop the standings as they sit just a half a game behind the first-placed Cannons and Bayhawks.
Led by Ryan Walsh (3 goals, 2 assists) and Nick Aponte (2 goals, 2 assists), the Lizards jumped out to a 4-6 lead after the first quarter. Despite being outscored 7-2 in the second and third quarters, New York kept the game close with tallies from Michael Begley, Brendan Kearns, Nick Spillane, Rob Pannell and Nick Galasso helping to extend the game to overtime.
Christian Mazzone continues to heat up in the late season and led the Blaze with four goals scored and seven ground balls collected. Will Nowesnick was a stonewall on defense, causing three turnovers and collecting five ground balls on the night. Chris Madalon collected 14 saves on 27 shots
Alex Woodall continues to underscore his role as a playmaker in Atlanta after collecting seven ground balls and winning 14 of 24 faceoffs while consistently making impact plays in the game. Woodall won the opening faceoff and charged downfield, drawing multiple slides before finding Brendan Sunday for Sunday's 17thgoal of the season.
With just 1:27 left in the fourth quarter, Alex Woodall secured the faceoff and marched down the field with New York faceoff specialist Gregory Piskuldjian attached at his hip. He only needed one hand to find the net, sneaking past New York goalie Austin Kaut put the Blaze up 13-12.
New York refused to go away as leading goal-scorer Rob Pannell tied the game up with a wrap-around goal from X with just a minute left on the clock. Both teams were unable to find the net leading to sudden-death overtime in Long Island.
Bryan Cole made sure that Atlanta came out victorious in overtime, securing the ball amidst huge scrum and finding the net to end the game at 14-13. Atlanta led New York in ground balls 49-38 and both teams had 27 shots on goal.
"It goes to show the character we have in the locker room," Bryan Cole said in the postgame interview. "We had to grind this one out."
After scoring 3 goal tonight, Cole has now tied teammate Shayne Jackson with a team-leading 34 goals on the season.
With four points (2 goals, 2 assists) on the night, Tommy Palasek now holds the Blaze single-season assist record with 27 assists on the season. Palasek broke the record right before halftime by spotting an open Mark Matthews right around the crease. Matthews also totaled two goals and two assists on the night.
Atlanta returns to Silverbacks Stadium next week to take on the Chesapeake Bayhawks who will be coming off a 12-11 loss to the Boston Cannons. Atlanta sits just a half a game behind Chesapeake and head into Week 12 with first place in its sights.
HEAT CHECK: IMPACT PERFORMERS
Christian Mazzone: four goals and seven ground balls
Mark Matthews: two goals and two assists
Bryan Cole: three goals and three ground balls
Tommy Palasek: two goals and two assists (Set Blaze single-season assist record)
Alex Woodall: won 14 faceoffs, seven ground balls
Chris Madalon: 14 saves on 27 shots
Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 18, 2019
- Cole, Woodall Lead Blaze Past New York - Atlanta Blaze
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