PCLC Opens Season with Victory over Vancouver Warriors

Vancouver, BC (December 1, 2023) – The Panther City Lacrosse Club opened their 2023-24 season with a decisive victory on the road, 11-7, over the Vancouver Warriors. The team has started 1-0 now in two consecutive seasons.

18-year veteran Callum Crawford led the way for Panther City as he recorded five goals on the evening and now is one goal shy of passing Mark Steenhuis for 10^th place all time in NLL history for most goals scored.

The game was dominated by Panther City’s defensive unit, as they never allowed more than three goals in a quarter including only allowing a single goal in both the second and third quarters.

Second-year forward and reigning NLL Rookie of the Year, Jonathan Donville scored the first goal of the season for Panther City as he found the net 3:16 seconds into the game. Donville finished with four points (1G/3A). Returning to Vancouver where he spent the previous five seasons, defenseman Brandon Goodwin went 3-3 from the dot in the first quarter, while also registering his first point in a Panther City jersey as he assisted on Donville’s goal.

Panther City’s offense awoke in the second quarter as the team scored three goals in the first 3:40 of the period with goals by brothers Tony and Will Malcom and rookie forward Ryan Sheridan scored his first career NLL goal. Goalie Nick Damude found his groove in the second quarter as he stopped 10 of the 11 shots he faced. Damude’s play continued to build momentum for the defense as he stopped 25 of the 28 shots he faced in the second half and finished the evening stopping 45 of the 52 shots he faced for a .865 save percentage.

Crawford ended the first half with a snipe of a goal with 2.0 seconds remaining as Panther City took a 5-4 lead into halftime. Crawford’s scoring streak would continue into the third as he scored the first three goals for PCLC, all within a three-minute span and was the lone visitor to score in the third frame.

Panther City’s defense continued its strong play in the third quarter as they only allowed one goal. Defensively for the evening, Matt Hossack led the unit with 10 loose balls and three caused turnovers. Third-year defenseman Pat Foley was also stout all game for Panther City as he finished with five loose balls and two caused turnovers. As a team, Panther City forced 10 turnovers on the evening.

Panther City’s offense was solid throughout the evening and the scoring was equally distributed as 12 different players recorded a point led by Crawford, W. Malcom (4 points – 1G/4A), Donville and Mathieu Gautier (4 assists). In his NLL debut, the Victoria, BC native, Sheridan recorded two points (1G/1A). Fellow rookie Jason Knox chipped in with two assists in his debut.

Panther City returns home to Fort Worth for their home opener next weekend as they face the Las Vegas Desert Dogs on Sunday, December 10 at 3:00 p.m. CT with broadcast coverage on Bally Sports Southwest Extra and ESPN+.