Rob Pannell absolutely shattered Paul Rabil’s all-time professional lacrosse points record last night, hitting 660 points as the Maryland Whipsnakes completely obliterated the California Redwoods 20-7 in Fairfield. This wasn’t just another game, it was the Whips’ second straight win, a huge step after they hadn’t strung together two victories since Homecoming Weekend in Baltimore. TJ Malone knew how crucial it was for them to build on last week’s win, and man, did they ever build on it.
Pannell Makes History, The Pressure Is OFF
Pannell, the attackman, put on a show with 5 goals and 1 assist. He tied Rabil’s 657-point record in the first half, then blew past it in the third quarter, finishing the night with a stunning 660 career points. It was a milestone that had everyone buzzing. Pannell admitted postgame that the chase had added a “little pressure” and he was just glad it was finally over, so he could get back to focusing on his locker room and the group of guys. The record-setting goal itself was a thing of beauty: Malone fed Pannell from X, and the veteran delivered, making history official. While Pannell led the charge, the Whips’ offense was firing on all cylinders, with Malone and Joey Spallina each totaling six points. Seriously, this was their best offensive performance of the season.
The Second Half Was Nuclear
The Whipsnakes came out with urgency, grabbing a 3-0 lead early, moving the ball quickly and exploiting every Redwoods misstep. After the Redwoods clawed back, Maryland still tallied four of the next five, making it 7-3. But a goal from Chris Kavanagh right before halftime cut the Whips’ lead to 8-5, and coach Jim Stagnitta was not happy. He “had his say” in the locker room, feeling his team might have lost focus. But whatever was said, it worked. Pannell and the guys knew they had to respond, and boy, did they. Stagnitta said that kind of execution showed the team was “starting to really get it.” They unleashed a ridiculous 7-0 run to start the second half that completely put the game out of reach. Malone scored his fourth goal, then five seconds later, Petey LaSalla dished to Spallina for an 11-5 lead. Three more goals from Matt Brandau, Pannell, and a two-pointer from Spallina sealed the rout. The Whips were converting 38% of their shots through three quarters and punishing goalie Dillo. This was a complete game, just like Pannell said, “as complete a game as we’ve played all season long.”
That second straight win? That 7-0 run after halftime? That’s the kind of momentum you can build a season on. The Whipsnakes responded to their coach, they responded to the challenge, and they responded to a Redwoods team that’s had a good season. They played the complete game Pannell talked about, and that’s exactly what you want to see as they push forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply