Pannell Passes Grant Jr. for 2nd All-Time as Whipsnakes Rout Cannons 17–10 in Baltimore

By: J.J. Pavlick | Baltimore, MD | May 29, 2026 |

Baltimore, MD—Rob Pannell didn’t wait for drama. He made history in the middle of a blowout, and the Maryland Whipsnakes made sure the moment landed with force.

In a three‑minute, 48‑second burst in the third quarter, Pannell scored on the power play, set up a goal, then buried another. He jumped from 642 to 644 career points, passing John Grant Jr. (643) for second on the Premier Lacrosse League’s all‑time scoring list. Only Paul Rabil’s 657 remains ahead of him, and Saturday’s 17–10 win at Ridley Athletic Complex cut that gap to 13.

Maryland moves to 3–1. Boston drops to 1–3. The scoreline settled the game. Pannell’s afternoon defined it.

First Quarter: A Back‑and‑Forth Start

Boston opened with urgency. Matt Campbell struck first at 10:36, and the Cannons played like a team trying to avoid a 1–3 hole.

Mic Kelly carried that energy. The Denver product scored at 7:35, then created at 2:20, feeding Marcus Holman for a 3–2 Boston lead. A goal and an assist in one quarter—Kelly looked like Boston’s most dangerous option.

Maryland refused to trail into the break. Tyler Malone scored twice, at 8:05 and 3:02, and Aidan Carroll tied it at 1:47 with a clean finish from the wing.

End of Q1: 3–3. Nothing settled.

Second Quarter: Kelly Keeps Boston Alive, Maryland Closes Hard

Pannell’s chase started quietly.

Adam Poitras, playing in front of a Baltimore crowd that knows him well, gave Maryland a 4–3 lead at 10:38. Boston answered with the Kelly‑to‑Kelly connection. Brian Kelly set up Griffin Hogg at 8:26, then scored himself at 3:33 to tie it 5–5 after Chase Heacock briefly restored Maryland’s lead.

Heacock’s earlier goal — assisted by Pannell — marked career point No. 641. The countdown had begun.

Boston couldn’t finish the quarter. Maryland could. Heacock scored again at 2:55, and Joey Spallina added another at 1:09. A 3–0 run closed the half and flipped control.

Halftime: Maryland 7, Boston 5.

Third Quarter: Pannell’s Moment, Maryland’s Breakaway

Maryland came out of halftime with purpose. Pannell came out hunting history.

He scored on the power play at 9:50. Career point 642. One behind Grant Jr.

At 7:34, he assisted Poitras. Career point 643. Even with Grant Jr.

At 6:02, he scored again off a Spallina feed. Career point 644. Second all‑time.

The Ridley crowd rose. Pannell didn’t linger. He jogged back on defense while the Whipsnakes kept pushing. Poitras scored again at 5:32, stretching the lead to 11–5.

Boston tried to respond. Brian Kelly scored at 4:22. Carroll answered at 3:55. Then came the wildest play of the day: Boston goalie Colin Kirst launched a pass that turned into a Mic Kelly two‑pointer at 1:18.

End of Q3: Maryland 12, Boston 8. The Kelly‑Kirst combo delivered the highlight, but the Whipsnakes owned the quarter.

Fourth Quarter: Maryland Closes, Boston Arrives Too Late

The fourth quarter played out like a formality — a sharp one.

Carroll completed his hat trick at 11:21. Poitras added a power play goal at 9:30. Coulter Mackesy finally broke through at 9:10, then scored again at 7:41, but both goals came with Maryland’s win probability above 99 percent.

Maryland erased any hint of a comeback. Heacock scored at 5:29. Malone added another at 2:23. Spallina finished the day at 0:42.

Final: Maryland 17, Boston 10.

Mackesy’s late goals padded the box score, but the Cannons needed him earlier. Maryland never let him breathe.

The Kelly Connection: Boston’s Bright Spot

Mic Kelly and Brian Kelly kept Boston competitive longer than expected.

Mic Kelly: A goal, an assist, and a two‑pointer. He created, he finished, and he pushed tempo when Boston needed it most.

Brian Kelly: Two goals and an assist. He attacked the crease with force and gave Boston a second scoring option when Mackesy struggled.

Their shared surname may be a coincidence, but their impact wasn’t. They were Boston’s heartbeat.

Carroll’s Georgetown DNA Shows Up Again

Aidan Carroll scored in the first, third, and fourth quarters. Each goal mattered. Each one arrived at a moment when Maryland needed a push.

He now leads the Whipsnakes with 11 points this season. Georgetown attackmen tend to show up in big moments. Carroll did exactly that.

Poitras Delivers a Four‑Goal Homecoming

Adam Poitras played like a man who knew every inch of Ridley Athletic Complex. Four goals. Three quarters. All timely.

The Loyola Maryland alum gave the Whipsnakes a steady scoring engine and helped bury Boston’s second‑quarter surge.

Not a bad homecoming.

Pannell: 644 and Counting

Pannell entered the day with 640 career points. He left with 644 and sole possession of second place all time.

His third‑quarter burst—goal, assist, goal—was pure PLL history. No theatrics, no stat chasing. Just a veteran creating the moment on his terms.

Grant Jr. moves to third. Rabil’s 657 is next. At Pannell’s pace, that conversation is coming faster and with more weight.

Box Score Summary

Final: Maryland Whipsnakes 17, Boston Cannons 10 Q1: 3–3 Q2: 7–5 Maryland Q3: 12–8 Maryland Q4: 17–10 Maryland

Maryland Scoring: Carroll 3G; Poitras 4G; Pannell 2G–2A; Heacock 2G–1A; Spallina 2G–2A; Malone 2G–1A Boston Scoring: Mic Kelly 2G (1 2PT)–1A; Brian Kelly 2G–1A; Mackesy 2G; Holman 1G–1A; Campbell 1G; Hogg 1G

Career Totals: Pannell 644 (2nd all‑time) Grant Jr. 643, Rabil 657 (record) Pannell needs 13

Rob Pannell didn’t just climb the record book — he kicked the door open and kept running. And if this pace holds, the PLL’s all‑time scoring crown won’t stay untouched for long.

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