Conor Gill has been a cornerstone on every team he has played on and his loyalty is helping the Cannons make championship run in ’06.

On May 29, 1999, he put everyone on notice. With 5:36 gone by in the first quarter and his team leading 3-1, the relatively unknown freshman scored the first of his five opening quarter goals, helping the University of Virginia to a 9-3 first quarter advantage and ultimately into the NCAA Championship Game. And since that day Conor Gill has not slowed down.

The 6’2”, 195 lb attackman finished his illustrious college career with 77 goals and 146 assists. In that span Gill was named All-American three times (2000, 2001, and 2002), ACC Rookie of the Year (1999) and the Most Outstanding Player of the 1999 NCAA Championships. And this streak of success has not slowed in the MLL.

After being drafted 3rd overall by Boston in the 2002 MLL Collegiate Draft, a pick that some critics had a hard time with, Gill has gone on to secure his place in the Cannons record books. Entering the season, Gill was first for Boston in both all-time assists (130) and points (220), and holds the MLL single season assist record with 40 (2003, 2004).

And while Gill’s production ranks him with the top group of players ever to compete in the MLL, his ability to serve as the foundation of the Cannons is even more impressive. And that leadership was developed around his loyalty to the Virginia Cavaliers.

After graduating from UVA and embarking upon his professional playing career, Gill made his return to the Cavaliers sidelines in 2004, though this time he was wearing a different uniform. “I thought I might enjoy coaching, so I gave it a shot,” Gill said of his two-year stint at UVA. “Virginia has meant so much to me, and I wanted to give back.”

While trying to give back to the program that launched him as a lacrosse icon, Gill realized the struggles of coaching. “You have so much less control over the game than a player does, but I really enjoyed it. As a coach you get to see the growth of a team and of individuals. To influence the team and to be a part of it in that way is a unique experience.”

Along with being unique in the sense that he was a role model to the growth of the athletes, as players and people, Gill dealt with the struggles of what was arguably the worst season in the history of the program. The Cavaliers limped to a 1-4 start and never recovered, going 5-8 while missing the playoffs. Gill, who was a volunteer assistant that season, had a decision to make: do I want to sign on as a full time assistant coach and deal with the frustrations of rebuilding, or should I move on?

“It wasn’t time to bail,” Gill said, referring to his decision to stay for another season. Not only did Gill decide to stay, but he helped the Cavaliers to an 11-4 mark and a run at the National Championship, a bid that fell short in an overtime loss to Johns Hopkins in the semis. “It was very rewarding to brush that year off and bring the program back to the level it should be at.”

Since that time, Virginia has maintained its historical status, and Gill has continued his. In five years with the Cannons, Gill has scored 109 goals, along with three two-pointers and dished out 165 assists. In that span, the assist king has been named the league’s Rookie of the Year (2002), Bud Light MVP (2004), All-MLL (2004) and a three-time All-Star (2003, 2005 and 2006).

But Gill had more decisions to make after the ’05 season.

While living in San Diego at the time, and quickly gathering frequent flyer miles with the Cannons, Gill had an opportunity to change professional addresses thanks to expansion. But he didn’t bite.

“I considered moving during expansion,” Gill admitted. “It would have been easy to request a trade to Los Angeles, but I didn’t want to start over. And there was some unfinished business in Boston.”

The unfinished business Gill spoke of is the Cannons drive to win the MLL Championship. Since joining the league in 2002, Gill has helped the Cannons to the postseason four straight times, but Boston has yet to reach the Promised Land. With semifinal losses in 2002, 2003 and 2005, and a Championship Game loss in 2004, Gill is hoping the Cannons can finally break through this season.

“All the right parts were coming back to Boston,” figured Gill, who was voted the Bud Light Game MVP for scoring three goals and two assists, including the game winner in Boston’s 13-12 victory over Rochester this past weekend, helping the Cannons improve to an Eastern Conference leading record of 7-2. “I’m still playing this game to win championships.”

But while a championship was the goal entering the season, the Cannons faced as much uncertainty as any team in the league, with the exception of the Baltimore Bayhawks. Offensively, Boston lost two of the league’s best attackman, Mark Millon and Kevin Leveille, and one of the league’s best midfielders, Chris Rotelli. Despite the return of its top two defensemen, Ryan Curtis and Chris Passavia, and goalie Chris Garrity, the roster upheaval had the potential to create chemistry issues.

“It definitely took time,” Gill said of the team building process. “I don’t think everyone was comfortable in our first game against New Jersey (an overtime loss). Training camp is not a lot of time to figure things out, with three weekends to prepare. From that point on, though, the chemistry has been building and now we just need to peak at the right time.”

With three games left against New Jersey, Baltimore and Rochester, three teams that currently have losing records, the Cannons are poised to find their groove at the right time. One more win secures Boston a spot in the MLL’s postseason play and if that time comes, Gill and the Cannons will have the opportunity to clear the hurdle they have yet been unable to do.