WASHINGTON, D.C. — Zed Williams took the national sports stage Sunday afternoon in the Premier Lacrosse League championship game.

This time, however, Williams and the Whipsnakes didn’t defend their title.

The Silver Creek Central School graduate and former University of Virginia standout was credited with two assists and had eight shots, but the Whipsnakes fell to the Chaos 14-9 at Audi Field.

Yesterday’s matchup marked the third straight year that the Chaos and Whipsnakes met in the postseason. In addition to playing in last year’s championship game, the two clubs met in the first round of the 2019 playoffs, which resulted in a 15-7 Whipsnakes’ victory.

This season, the Chaos finished sixth in the league with a 4-5 record, defeating the Archers 13-10 in the quarterfinals, and the Atlas 15-9 in the semis. With a 5-4 record, the Whipsnakes finished fifth in the league. Against the top-seeded Waterdogs in the semifinals, Williams tallied five goals to lead the Whipsnakes to a 14-10 victory and a return trip to the PLL Championship Game for the third straight year.

In last summer’s PLL championship contest, the Whipsnakes trailed the Chaos 6-2 in the second half and 6-3 early in the fourth quarter, but Williams came to the rescue, recording six goals in the final period as part of a 10-0 Whipsnakes run to take lead on their way to a 12-6 championship win.

Williams’ personal accomplishment earned him the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, an award named in honor of Jim Brown, arguably the greatest lacrosse player in history.

In 2021, Williams continued his dominant run, leading the PLL in goals scored with 23. In the quarterfinals against the fourth-seeded Redwoods, Williams collected nine points on three assists and five goals, including a 2-point goal.