Conners, Moore Help Archers Capture 2023 PLL Title

CHESTER, Pa. – Former Virginia long-stick midfielder Jared Conners and attackman Matt Moore helped the Archers Lacrosse Club capture the organization’s first Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) championship Sunday afternoon (Sept. 24) at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa. The Archers defeated the then-reigning champion Waterdogs, 15-14, whose roster consisted of three former UVA midfielders in Ryan Conrad, Thomas McConvey and Jeff Conner.

Moore, a two-time PLL All-Star, finished Sunday’s championship with four points, including a game-high three assists to wrap his second professional season. Conners, who was a finalist for the league’s LSM of the Year, picked up two ground balls and fired one shot.

For the second consecutive year, Conrad recorded a hat trick in the league’s championship game. McConvey was designated to the Waterdogs’ reserve roster, while Conner was not listed on the club’s gameday roster. McConvey appeared in four games this year, while Conner competed in five.

Conrad’s third goal of the game came on a powerplay and cut the Archers’ lead to 14-13 with 5:35 remaining, which the set backdrop for a dramatic finish. The score was tied 14-14 with under 2:00 to play when the league’s MVP, Tom Schreiber, picked up a ground ball and fired the game-winning goal to put the Archers ahead for good. After the Schreiber goal, the Waterdogs had multiple chances on the offensive end, but to no avail. Archers’ goalie Brett Dobson was crowned the championship MVP after recording 18 saves against 31 Waterdog shots on-goal.

Including Conners, Moore, Conrad, McConvey and Conner, 13 former Cavaliers appeared on a PLL roster this season: Xander Dickson (Atlas), Adam Ghitelman (Cannons), Evan Zinn (Chaos), Charlie Bertrand (Redwoods), Chris Merle (Redwoods), Petey LaSalla (Whipsnakes), Grayson Sallade (Whipsnakes) and Zed Williams (Whipsnakes).

Since the league’s inception in 2018, Virginia has had six PLL Draft first-round selections, including Conners, Moore and McConvey, which leads all collegiate programs nationally.