The Boston Cannons, a squad that started this season 1-4 and caught serious flak, are officially headed to the semifinals after a clutch 9-7 quarterfinal win over the Maryland Whipsnakes on Saturday night in Minneapolis. Talk about a turnaround! This team faced a ton of criticism early on, but they just proved they’re for real when it counts most.
The Defense Is The Undeniable Star
Listen, if you hold a playoff team to seven goals, you’re doing something special. The Cannons’ defense absolutely locked down the Whipsnakes, allowing goalie JC Higginbotham to settle right in during his first professional playoff start. Higginbotham was huge, stopping 70% of Maryland’s shots in the first half and showing zero signs of being rattled. It wasn’t just him, though. Will Donovan’s move to close defense has been paying off huge, and Coach Brian Holman says his instincts are “off the charts.” He’s been guarding pretty much every number one attackman they’ve faced. Donovan, alongside Ethan Rall and Owen Grant, made life miserable for Maryland’s offense. Rall was a beast, notching a goal, causing three turnovers, and scooping up seven ground balls. Grant added two caused turnovers himself, constantly disrupting possessions and denying second chances. Veteran attackman Marcus Holman summed it up perfectly: “If you hold a team to seven goals, you should win that game.” This defense isn’t just reacting, it’s actively creating problems, and it’s what put Boston in control.
Mackesy Steps Up, Campbell Returns
While the defense was the backbone, second-year attackman Coulter Mackesy came out absolutely firing in his first professional playoff game. He lit up the scoreboard twice in the first quarter and finished the night with a hat trick, scoring three goals on 11 shots. He even surprised himself, saying his first goal was his “first BTB goal ever!” This kid looked super comfortable on the biggest stage of his young career. The game also marked the return of Matt Campbell, the 2025 Gait Brothers Midfielder of the Year, who missed nearly two months with an injury from Team USA tryouts. Campbell was quiet in his first game back, logging five shots but zero points, yet the Cannons still found another player making a massive impact.
This journey has been a “process” for Coach Holman’s team, who struggled early trying to find their way with a lot of “moving pieces, new pieces.” But they’ve got patience, love, and communication, and it’s paying off big time. After missing the playoffs last year, the Cannons are now headed to Salt Lake City to face the No. 1 seed Philadelphia Waterdogs on September 7. Can they keep this incredible run going? You better believe we’ll be watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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