Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 9/1/25 – From Press Release
Rookie Matt Traynor (Malvern Prep, Penn State) had 3 goals and an assist as the East’s No. 1 seed, New York Atlas, held off a late rally and defeated the Philadelphia Waterdogs, 13-11, today at Subaru Park to move on to the Premier Lacrosse League Championship game for the first time in franchise history.
New York will meet the Denver Outlaws in the championship game at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey on Sept. 14 in Harrison. The Outlaws downed the California Redwood, 12-7, in the nightcap.
The Atlas got off to a hot start out of the gate, scoring six unanswered before the Waterdogs’ long stick midfielder, Ben Wayer scored a 2-pointer for their first goal of the game to end the first quarter, 6-2.
C.J. Kirst put one in the net to start the second and another Wayer 2-point goal put the Waterdogs down by one goal.
New York scored another before Kirst answered with a short-handed goal to keep it a one-point game. The Atlas put up another 4 goals in the third to stretch the lead.
Connor Shellenberger led the Atlas with 5 points, having 4 assist and 1 goal. Xander Dickson with 4 points after scoring 4 goals and an assist for New York.
Ben Wayer led the Waterdogs with 4 points after scoring two 2-point goals. Michael Sowers (Upper Dublin) had two goals for the Waterdogs.
