- The Utah Archers secured a 10-7 victory over Denver Outlaws May 30.
- Connor Fields led with a hat trick; Sam King and CK Giancola scored twice.
- Coach Chris Bates praised the team's response after a previous 9-5 loss.
HERRIMAN — Beau Pederson, the Park City native in his third season with the Utah Archers, wasn't celebrating the Premier Lacrosse League's return to his home state after Friday night's season opener.
He was upset, or maybe disappointed. Ultimately, hurt.
Saturday, though? Not so much.
Connor Fields had a first-half hat trick, and Sam King and CK Giancola each scored twice as the Archers earned their first win over the season with a 10-7 win over the Denver Outlaws at Zions Bank Stadium.
Former University of Utah standout Ryan Stines and Pederson also scored for Utah (1-1), which rebounded from Friday night's 9-5 loss to the California Redwoods to pick up a split in front of a home crowd that filled the 5,000-seat Zions Bank Stadium to the top row.
"Last night stung," Pederson said. "It felt like we had all the opportunities in that game last night, but some errors on defense and on offense, between the lines, we saw it all on film last night and this morning.
"Then we flushed it, and we were just grateful that we got to come back and play today," he added, "to compete today, and put a different product on the field — which I think we did. I'm really proud of how we turned it all around and performed today."
CONNOR FIELDS WITH THE BEHIND-THE-BACK SNIPE 🎯@PremierLacrosse | @PLLArcherspic.twitter.com/y87vCOoJXw
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 10, 2026
California took control from the start of a 9-5 win over Utah, sending the home crowd that has filled the 5,000-seat stadium on the west end of the Salt Lake Valley.
The Archers (1-1) wanting nothing more than to create better memories on the second night of what they hope will be two weekends in Utah of the 2026 campaign.
"We take pride in being the Utah Archers, frankly, and last night was a tough go," said Utah coach Chris Bates, whose team could return to Herriman for the PLL playoff semifinals in September. "The challenge was out there, and these guys responded. I give them all the credit in the world for showing up and playing."
Before the game, the Archers and PLL honored West Field teenager Brady Famuliner, the 17-year-old lacrosse player who has Down syndrome that scored a viral ceremonial goal alongside Fremont last month, as the team's honorary captain for homecoming weekend.
Fields scored three goals on his first five shots including a ridiculous behind-the-back snipe, and Pederson fed CK Giancola for his first of two goals as the Archers turned a 3-2 first-quarter deficit into a 7-4 halftime lead with a 5-1 run.
The Park City native scored his first goal of the season to open the second half, and Stines added his second goal in as many matches to start his pro career.
Always a good day when Beau Pederson gets on the board in Utah 😌https://t.co/9cTKr1Rrq2pic.twitter.com/VeDzy6MQuU
— Utah Archers (@PLLArchers) May 10, 2026
Nick Washuta and the defense did the rest. The backup goalie had 10 saves and a 62% save percentage in his second-straight start in relief of Brett Dobson, who backstopped 44 saves in 55 minutes of the Georgia Swarm's 21-10 win over the Halifax Thunderbirds in Saturday's NLL playoff semifinals.
He got plenty of help from the defense, including five caused turnovers and four ground-ball pickups by Mitchell Dunham and two caused turnover and two GBs from Brendan Lavell while holding O'Neill to a single 2-point goal, an assist and three turnovers.
"These guys are day-in, day out professionals, and really good. We challenged them to have a greater edge today against a very good team," Bates said. "To hold Brennan O'Neill to a goal and an assist, to slow down Jared Bernhardt; those are real-deal guys. I just felt like, top to bottom, we did a really good job.
"We played with a little different gear tonight, which we needed," he added. "Last night, we couldn't get into that groove — and tonight we did. We took the fight to them, and it showed."
Much like last year, the heavily pro-Archers crowd booed O'Neill every time the ball was in his stick — a symbol of respect to the former Duke star and 2023 Tewaaraton Award winner given to the best player in college lacrosse.
"I don't want to take anything away from O'Neill," Pederson noted. "He's one of the best players in the word, and we knew we had to bring everything we had to try to contain him."
The Archers are off next week, when the PLL heads to Rhode Island, before facing the Maryland Whipsnakes on May 30 in Baltimore.
