CJ Kirst scored three goals and had two assists, leading the Philadelphia Waterdogs to a 13-10 victory over the visiting Boston Cannons on Monday at Zions Bank Stadium to advance to the PLL championship.
Kirst had a game-high five points for the Waterdogs, who received a balanced offensive effort. Michael Sowers contributed two goals and two assists, and rookie Kyle Lewis recorded a hat trick. Fellow rookie Josh Yago added two goals and an assist. Sean Byrne finished with 14 saves to secure the win.
For the Cannons, Marcus Holman, Mikey Weisshaar and Jack Regnery each scored two goals, and Jeff Trainor added a 2-point goal. Coulter Mackesy chipped in with a goal and an assist. JC Higginbotham made seven saves before being replaced by Colin Kirst, who stopped three shots.
Philadelphia established control early, building a 7-3 lead by halftime. The Waterdogs held the Cannons scoreless for nearly 19 minutes of game time between the first and second quarters. Boston mounted a comeback in the third, with a 2-point goal from Trainor sparking a run that cut the deficit to 7-6. However, Philadelphia answered with a 5-0 run that stretched into the fourth quarter to build a 12-6 advantage.
The Cannons made a final push, scoring four unanswered goals to pull within 12-10 with just over three minutes remaining. But CJ Kirst netted his third goal of the game at the 10:02 mark of the fourth quarter to halt the rally and seal Philadelphia's trip to the title game, where the Waterdogs will face the Denver Outlaws.
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