Following a pair of exciting MLL Semifinal games, here are the top three stars from the weekend.
3) Drew Adams (New York) – 20 saves, 13 goals allowed
Drew Adams finished with 20 saves in the Lizards’ thrilling 16-15 semifinal win over Boston, including stopping four-of-five in the third quarter as New York took a commanding 12-7 lead after 45 minutes of play. The Cannons’ offense exploded for eight points in the fourth quarter, but Adams made seven stops. He continued with two more in overtime, leading to Matt Gibson’s game-winning goal. Named the Major League Lacrosse Goalie of the Year on Monday, Adams’ 20 saves on Saturday marked a playoff career high.
2) John Galloway (Rochester) – 15 saves, 7 goals allowed
Another goalie is the weekend’s #2 star as John Galloway stopped more than two thirds of the shots sent his way in Rochester’s 12-8 semifinal win. Galloway played his best in the second half, making four saves in the third quarter and stopping all six shots sent his way in the fourth. The Rattlers were leading 10-8 after three quarters and Ohio held a 6-5 edge in shots on goal in the fourth, but Galloway’s play helped Rochester open a 12-8 lead, which proved to be the final.
1) Matt Gibson (New York) – 4 goals, game-winning goal in overtime
Four different Lizards tallied four points in a balanced offensive attack, but it was Matt Gibson who led the way. Gibson scored a game-high four goals, including the game-winning goal 2:46 into overtime to send New York to the MLL Championship Game. After a 29-point regular season, Gibson set a career high for goals and points in a playoff game (he had one point in the 2012 playoffs and two points in the 2014 playoffs). Gibson’s other three goals came as part of New York’s 8-0 run bridging the end of the second and beginning of the third quarters.
