After a star-studded weekend in Louisville, we head into the second-half stretch of the 2023 PLL season. The league is as competitive as ever, and with all the talent, everyone still has a shot at making the playoffs. The second half of every PLL season normally leads to some shake-ups in the standings, and I expect this year to be no different. Here are my second-half of the 2023 PLL season predictions.

Asher Nolting Wins MVP
Nolting is the QB for the Cannons’ surprisingly effective offense and is currently tied for first in points with Ryder Garnsey. If the Cannons make the playoffs and Nolting continues to play at this level, giving the MVP to anyone else will be hard.

Atlas Miss the Playoffs
Atlas are currently in 7th place due to the goal differential tiebreaker. Many people still believe Atlas will get things going and turn into the version of the team we expected. However, I think Atlas will continue struggling, and Chrome will sneak into that final PLL playoff spot.

There Will Be a Major Trade Before the Deadline
Will it be Myles Jones or Sergio Perkovic? Will there be another big name on the move? Even with all the talent and competitiveness right now in the PLL, someone will look to shake things up at the trade deadline.

Mike Sisselberger Wins Rookie of the Year
Sisselberger currently is 70% at the faceoff dot and has been able to play through the new “prevent” defense. He will become the league’s top rookie if he continues his dominance.

One of the 2024 Championship Series Teams Will Win the PLL Title
Last season we saw the 5th and 6th seed play for the championship. I think we see a team in the top four win the PLL title this season.

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Myles Jones and Sergio Perkovic have been staples of the Redwoods offense over the past few seasons, but this year they have yet to perform to the level we are used to. With all the PLL rule changes, the two midfielders were expected still to be a massive part of Redwood’s success. Is this a slow start for the duo, or does the new system not fit their play style?

The Redwoods hired John Grant Jr. as offensive coordinator during the off-season, and the team has employed a more fast-paced movement-style offense. Nat St. Laurent mentioned they were looking for box-style skill sets; with the signings of Wes Berg and Eli McLaughlin and the return of Ryan Lee, it was apparent the Redwoods would be using more motion and have more two-man offensive sets.

So far this season, the new offensive style is proving effective. Even though the Redwoods still score similar points per game, they have yet to score beyond the 2-point arch. It’s all been inside, partly due to Ryder Garnsey’s resurgence. While the Woods have been rolling, its two biggest stars have yet to have the same success.

This season, Myles Jones has only put up three points (1G,2A) and has yet to look like his usual dominant self. In the past, Jones has been able to create offense up top and facilitate or punish his defender and create shots by using his body to get separation. With the added ball movement in Grant Jr.’s offense, Jones has had fewer opportunities to create offense for the Woods. Myles Jones is an outstanding player but doesn’t seem to have a significant role right now.

Sergio Perkovic has been known for his two bombs and for being dangerous in transition. Through three games, not only is Perkovic 0-11 shooting, but he already has four turnovers (he only had seven last season) and has only had two shots that have been on goal. It’s not just that Perkovic is scoreless; he needs to be more accurate and has been hurting the offense’s efficiency. Perkovic’s presence still affects opposing defenses, so he’s not entirely hurting the Redwoods. Perkovic has always been known for a solid two-way game, but offensively he’s on pace for his worst offensive season in his career.

With how stacked teams are in the PLL and that seven of the eight teams make the playoffs, it takes a lot of work to make in-season trades. Even though Jones and Perkovic have been key pieces for the Redwoods in the past, it might be best for Nat St. Laurent to look at moving one or both of them to upgrade this current squad or trade them in the off-season and add draft picks to bolster the team for the future. Jones and Perkovic are still high-level talents in the PLL and should be for many seasons to come, but unfortunately, their skill sets might not mesh well with the Redwoods going forward.

Whether it’s the system or something else, it might be best for the Redwoods to let Jones and Perkovic go somewhere where their talents can be utilized better.

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Every team in the PLL is loaded with talent, but over the past four years, the Archers have been one of the more disappointing teams compared to the rest of the league. They have always been considered a title contender since the PLL’s inaugural season, but they have failed to live up to expectations and have had some pretty disappointing playoff performances.

After an off-season where some franchise cornerstones moved on to new teams, the Archers have been forced to retool on the fly. Without the big names and high expectations, are the Archers being overlooked in 2023?

Their 2022 season fell short yet again as they lost another heartbreaker to the Chaos. That loss to Chaos finished off a season where the Archers never played to their full potential. Will Manny started the season off hot while Grant Ament was injured. When Ament returned, it was apparent he wasn’t 100%, and the offense was inconsistent because of it. With all the disappointments over the years, It felt like the final chapter for this iteration of the Archers.

During the off-season, the Archers saw Will Manny, Marcus Holman, Adam Ghitelman, and Jeff Trainor leave via free agency, while Dominique Alexander and Scott Ratliff retired. The Archers had some big shoes to fill. They went out and signed Mac O’Keefe, Challen Rogers, and retained vital pieces like Tre LeClaire, Latrell Harris, and Ryan Aughavin. Even with the players they signed, it still doesn’t replace the leadership and hall-of-fame talent they lost.

In the draft, Archers finally addressed their gaping hole at the face-off, drafting Mike Sisselberger with the fifth pick and added some defense with their final three picks. They also decided to turn to their goalie of the future, Brett Dobson, to be the full-time starter. If the Archers can get better production from those three areas, it will take more pressure off the offense and make life easier for Ament and company.

Speaking of Ament, having him healthy to start the season will be a massive boost for the Archers. Ament is easily one of the top players in the league, but he wasn’t able to showcase his talent consistently due to injuries last year. If he can stay healthy, he should easily be a top-five player again and reason enough for the Archers to be a dangerous team.

The off-season changes may prove too much, or people may still expect postseason failures. Whatever it is, it seems like the Archers are the forgotten contender heading into the season. If the Archers can stay healthy, this group might be able to finally slay their postseason demons and finally claim their first PLL Championship.

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Buffalo in the NLL Finals. Sounds familiar? For the third straight season, the Bandits will play for a chance at a championship, and while the previous two attempts didn’t end the way they wanted, things feel different this time in Buffalo, who is looking for their first NLL Cup in 25 years. Let’s look at how the Bandits have overcome the heartache and used it as motivation. 

Buffalo has had a lot of success since they were formed in 1992. They have won 13 division titles, seven conference titles, and four championships. Even with that winning tradition, they have been known for coming up short lately. They have made the NLL Cup final four of the last six seasons (which includes this season), and the three times prior, they have lost. 

In 2016 Buffalo went 13-5 and won the East. Dhane Smith was MVP, and Buffalo rolled past New England in the East Finals. They faced the Saskatchewan Rush and lost the series 2-0. The Bandits played the Rush tough, losing by three combined goals in the two-game series. 

In 2019 Buffalo again was the top seed entering the playoffs. They defeated New England, followed by Toronto to win the East. They played Calgary and were swept once again in the NLL Cup. 

After the long Covid-19 break, Buffalo came out and proved to everyone that they were still the top dogs in the East. Dhane Smith won his second MVP leading Buffalo to a 14-4 record. They handled Albany in round one and snuck past Toronto in the East Finals, winning both games by one goal. It seemed like Buffalo was on their way to a title, but they were upset by the Colorado Mammoth, losing game three in Buffalo. 

Unfortunately, Buffalo has a painful history in the playoffs, whether it’s the Bills’ failures since 1965 or the Sabres still needing a Stanley Cup. However, even with their previous championships, the Bandits are hoping to avoid being included in the long history of failures. 

“We’re here to do a job that we haven’t been able to get done the past two times,” Bandits forward Chris Cloutier said. “We’ve got to come with a different mentality and come ready to play and not take any games off, not take a minute off.”

A lot is at stake for Buffalo. If the Bandits aren’t able to get over the hump, could it be time to shake up the roster? Matt Vinc isn’t getting any younger; if the Bandits don’t win it this year, does Vinc come back at age 41 for one more shot with the Bandits? John Tavares is one of the greatest players the league has ever seen, but he might be labeled as a coach who “can’t win the big one.” You never want to look ahead, but if Buffalo doesn’t win this year, there might be changes before next season. 

It’s not all doom and gloom. This Buffalo Bandits team has a different look and feel compared to the previous two years. They have more grit and toughness to them and more resilience. Dhane Smith commented on that after their playoff win against Rochester. “We found ways to win. I think that was the difference from this year than last year. I think last year we were a little bit cocky, and we were the team to beat.” 

Having that chip on their shoulder, and battling through injuries, has helped the Bandits find chemistry throughout the season, but Smith knows that it doesn’t matter how well you play in the regular. What matters is what happens in the postseason. “We need to work together, and everyone needs to step up. I know for myself I need to do the dirty things, especially in the playoffs. It’s never going to be handed to us.”

They say, “third time’s a charm,” and the Buffalo Bandits hope that saying stays true. This Bandits team may have some similar names as the previous two seasons, but the team has made some changes to their game and mentality this season. Hopefully, the team and the city of Buffalo will be able to end the heartbreak and capture their first NLL cup since 2008. 

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Dillon Ward has been considered one of the world’s best goalies for quite some time; with his dominance in both indoor and the field, he’s one of the few who can excel at both positions. But over the last 13 months, he has had quite a run. With his third championship appearance in that time frame, it’s time to ask the question, is Dillon Ward not just the best goalie but possibly the best lacrosse player in the world right now?

Since coming into the professional game, Ward has always been one of the top goalies in the NLL. He’s a multiple-time all-star, winning Rookie of the Year in 2014 and Goalie of the Year in 2017. While he had instant success in the NLL, his outdoor career started off a little slow. He played sparingly his first few seasons of the MLL but really broke out in 2019 with Denver.

Ward had gained some momentum in that year, but it all came to a halt in 2020. Not only was the NLL season canceled after allowing only nine goals per game with an 81% save percentage, but he was a backup for Blaze Riorden during the 2020 PLL bubble season.

Things changed when the Chaos traded Ward to the Waterdogs. He made an instant impact, helping the Waterdogs clinch the No.1 seed in only their second season. Ward proved to everyone again that he was still one of the best goalies in the world.

But 2022 is where the legend of Dillon Ward wrote its next chapter. He led the undermanned and underdog Colorado Mammoth to the NLL Cup, where they upset the Buffalo Bandits, putting on a historic performance and taking home MVP honors. Then came the PLL season. It started slow, with Ward breaking his thumb during his first start of the season. Even with the disadvantage, Ward played every game the rest of the season; in the postseason, he took his game to another level, saving 59% of the shots he faced and only allowing 11 goals per game, helping lead the Waterdogs to a PLL Championship over the Chaos.

After two championships in less than 100 days and playing extensive minutes in both the NLL and PLL, Ward started the 2022-23 NLL season slow. But when the games mattered, Ward was at his best, and once again, he has led his underdog Mammoth to another date with the Bandits for the NLL Cup.

When people consider the best players in the world, you hear familiar names like Lyle Thompson, Tom Schreiber, Trevor Baptiste, and Blaze Riorden. However, Dillon Ward is the forgotten name in that group. If we look at the resumes and his current hot streak, Dillon Ward needs to be added to the conversation. Not only is Ward dominating in two disciplines of lacrosse, but he’s doing something most of the other top names aren’t doing, winning championships. Depending on how the next two months go, Ward might be adding another NLL Cup and, quite possibly, a World Championship with Team Canada. No player has ever had as dominate of year as Ward.

Regardless of what happens in the 2023 NLL Cup, Ward has proven himself once again he’s the best goalie in the world right now. While that’s a huge honor, Ward’s game needs to be recognized more and should be easily considered as a top three player, if not the top player in the world right now.

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We are one step closer to the NLL Championship! The NLL Conference Finals returns some familiar faces and with a best of three format, we should be in for some exciting action this weekend. Lets preview the NLL Confernece Finals.

West Conference Finals: Colorado Mammoth vs Calgary Roughnecks

Here we are in the West with Colorado vs Calgary, just like everyone predicted. All jokes aside, we have two of the scrappiest teams in a reimatch of last season’s Western Conference Semifinals.

Colorado is looking to build a playoff win streak against Calgary and win against the Roughnecks for only the third time since 2006. Colorado is healthier and more dangerous than last season, as was evident with their last second win versus the heavily favored Seals last week.

Consistency is still a major factor for the Mammoth; they have been up and down all season. That inconsistency allowed San Diego to battle back and almost force overtime after having a four-goal lead at the half.

Calgary comes into a very similar situation to last season’s Colorado team. I personally thought that they would miss the playoffs after losing Curtis Dickson, and all the improvements made by the rest of the West, but here they are.

Jesse King has been the leader on offense and Christian Del Bianco has been dominant all season long. While it might not be flashy, defense and timely scoring is Calgary’s recipe for success.

It will be a battle between the pipes as the two best goalies in the West look to shut down the opposition. Dillon Ward and Del Bianco have easily been the best goalies in the West all season long and we will probably see a low scoring series.

I have doubted Colorado all the way back to last season, but I’ve learned my lesson, so I have Colorado winning and heading back to the NLL Finals.

Colorado wins the series 2-0. 

East Conference Finals: Toronto vs Buffalo

Since the NLL season began, it’s been “will it be Toronto or Buffalo representing the East in the NLL Finals?” These two have easily been the cream of the crop in the East.

Buffalo has dominated all season, which is nothing new, and they are hoping they can get back to the Finals and FINALLY get over the hump. Offensively, they continue to be a juggernaut, and Matt Vinc is still defying Father Time and dominating at age 40.

Buffalo swept the Rock during the regular season, outscoring The Rock 40-25 in their three meetings. Rock Head Coach Matt Sawyer knows the challenge ahead. “It starts with their goaltender on out. They have a lot of firepower on offense and they have a big physical defense. We played them three times this year and played them in the playoffs last year. Usually, each game is just decided by one mistake here or there.”

Toronto is no slouch though, and they are looking for revenge after having their championship dreams end at the hands of Buffalo and a tough review that ended their season.

While the Bandits already pose a tough task, it might be even more daunting for the Rock if Tom Schreiber isn’t healthy. He missed last weeks game against Halifax. That being said, goaltending can steal a series (or two) and guide you to a championship. If Nick Rose can stand on his head, it might be enough to stifle the Bandits. Regardless of Schreiber’s availability, Dhane Smith knows The Rock will be a tough matchup. “It’s never an easy battle when we play each other. They’re a really talented team from goaltender to defense to offense. At the end of the day, I think we’re a great team as well so it’s two great teams playing against each other and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

This years matchup should be just as exciting as last year and I think we will be treated with a full three game series, but I think Buffalo will be up to the challenge and squeeze out a series win against the Rock.

Bandits over the Rock 2-1.

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After 22 action-packed weeks, the 2023 NLL Playoffs have arrived, and eight teams have their eyes on hoisting the NLL Cup in June. Does Colorado silence the doubters and defend their championship? Is the third time the charm for Buffalo? Or does a new team hoist the Cup?

Here are my predictions for the first round of the 2023 NLL Playoffs!

Halifax at Toronto

The Thunderbirds had a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde type of season, looking unbeatable some weeks and like a team battling for the number one pick in other weeks. The Rock have been one of the league’s best all season, and many believe they can challenge the Bandits for a chance to represent the East Conference in the NLL Cup.

The great thing about the playoffs is anything can happen; the regular season doesn’t matter anymore. I’m throwing everything out the window and expecting Halifax to upset the Rock and move on to the East Conference Finals.

Prediction: Halifax over Toronto 13-12

Colorado at San Diego

Everyone was curious to see how the offensive talent would mesh in San Diego. The talent blended perfectly, as the Seals have been the class of the West all season. The regular season has never been a question; it’s always been about how this team would play in the postseason. San Diego has a chance for revenge against the Mammoth as they seek their first championship. The Mammoth come into the 2023 NLL Playoffs as a significant underdog for the second season in a row. Struggling offensively and playing poorly on the road are the same issues they faced last year, but they overcame their deficiencies when it mattered most. Can they find that same recipe for a second straight year?

San Diego and Colorado have been a contentious matchup this season. Both teams dislike each other, and the Seals are looking for revenge after Colorado ended their title hopes last season. This game will come down to which team plays with composure and who can stay out of the penalty box. Ultimately, the Seals will avenge last season’s playoff loss and move on to the West Conference Finals.

Prediction: San Diego over Colorado 9-6

Rochester at Buffalo

Rochester was the surprise team of the 2023 regular season. Connor Fields rejuvenated the city of Rochester and helped lead them to their first playoff appearance in the new Knighthawk regime. Buffalo again finished the season with the top seed in the East Conference. Like the Seals, the regular season is just a rehearsal for the playoffs. Will this be the year Buffalo finally gets over the hump and ends their quest year quest for an NLL Cup?

Buffalo has all the experience and all the motivation in this game. While you can never completely count out a team, I don’t see Rochester upsetting the Bandits in this one.

Prediction: Buffalo over Rochester 16-9

Panther City at Calgary

Panther City proved to the rest of the league that they were ready to take the next step this season, making the playoffs in their second year. Will Malcom has made his case to be in the MVP discussion, leading the Panther City offense behind his career year Despite losing another critical piece in Curtis Dickson, Calgary keeps on winning. A considerable part of that is Christian Del Bianco, who allows under ten goals per game and saves over 80% of the shots he’s faced.

In sports, one of the most challenging things to do is beat a team three times in a season, and if the two teams play the way they did in April, it should be a close battle. But Calgary’s playoff experience will be what helps them advance to the West Conference Finals.

Prediction: Calgary over Panther City 15-12

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Don’t look now, but after a 0-7 start to the season, the Georgia Swarm is one of the hottest teams in the league currently on a 7-1 run. Because of their current hot streak, they are currently sitting 4th in the East and hold the last playoff spot. Let’s take a look at the incredible turn around the Swarm have had.

The Swarm had the least efficient offense in the league earlier in the season, at one point they were averaging just under 10 goals per game. According to Lacrosse Flash’s Tyler Merrow, they struggled in their even strength efficiency, scoring at an 8.4% clip, yet leading the league in 5 on 5 possessions at 67.6%. When you have one of the best players in the world, it’s hard to fathom an offense struggling as much as Georgia did.

Things have changed now as Georgia is averaging 14 goals per game over the last 8 games and have a scoring differential of +41. They also lead the league in power play conversion, scoring on 58% of their power play opportunities, which is a stark contrast from where they were the first half of the year.

Defensively Georgia wasn’t terrible, but having unproven starters at goalie didn’t make things easier. With Georgia investing a high draft pick in Brett Dobson, there were hopes that he could come in and be successful right away, but there were definitely some growing pains to begin the season. He had a 76% save percentage during the first 6 games he played in, giving up over 9 goals per game.

Dobson has definitely found his footing and is a huge part of Georgia’s recent success, having a save percentage above 83% in 7 of their last 8 games and giving up a 8.75 goals per game. The most impressive stat is he’s stopped 304 shots during the last 8 games compared to 155 in his first 6. He’s not only in the running for Rookie of the Year, but he’s also making a case to be in the conversation as one of the best goalies in the NLL with his recent play.

If Georgia continues their hot streak and makes the playoffs, they would be playing their best at the perfect time. As we saw last year with Colorado, anything can happen once you get into the playoffs.

The Georgia Swarm have proven that it ain’t over until you have been mathematically eliminated, going from dead last in the league to controlling their own playoff destiny. It’s been amazing to see the turnaround the Swarm have had this season. If they do end up making the playoffs, it would be one of the greatest in-season turnarounds in NLL history. 

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The PLL had their first ever free agency period this off-season. There was a lot of excitement heading into the off-season with lots of players looking for new contracts. While a lot of players stayed with their current teams, there were definitely some major signings.

Here are my grades for each team so far and some of their key moves in the 2023 PLL free agency period.

Atlas

Grade: C+

• Signed: Justin Guterding
• Re-signed: Mark O’Rourke, Peter Dearth, Cade Van Raaphorst, Tucker Durkin
• Retired: John Crawley

The Atlas weren’t expected to be huge players in free agency. They currently hold the No.1 pick from Cannons as well as their first round selection. Atlas will find their 2023 additions through the draft.

Archers

Grade: B+

• Signed: Challen Rogers, Mac O’Keefe
• Re-signed: Connor Fields, Matt McMahon, Tre LeClaire, Ryan Aughavin, Latrell Harris 
• Retired: Dominique Alexander
• Lost: Will Manny, Marcus Holman

Losing the “Bunk Bed Boys” is a big loss for Archers, but signing Mac O’Keefe, Challen Rogers and resigning Connor Fields should still make the Archers offense a dangerous group in 2023.

Cannons

Grade: B

• Signed: Marcus Holman, Adam Ghitelman, Jeff Trainor, Kyle Hartzell
• Re-signed: Brodie Merrill
• Acquired via Trade: Matt Kavanaugh

The Cannons made some solid moves to sure up some deficiencies on their roster and that will make them more competitive in 2023.

Chaos

Grade: B

• Re-signed: Ian MacKay, Ryan Smith, Jarrod Neumann, Chase Fraser, Max Adler, Pat Resch, Kyle Jackson
• Off Holdout List: Johnny Surdick

Chaos brings the band back for next season. As long as they do enough during the regular season, they will be a contender to make it back to the PLL Championship game.

Chrome

Grade: B

• Re-signed: Jordan MacIntosh, Mike Manley, Connor Farrell, Justin Anderson
• Off Holdout List: Jesse King

Chrome brought back their key free agents and should improve as their young stars continue to get better. Resigning Connor Farrell was huge for the Chrome as they were able to hold on to one of the top faceoff guys in the game.

Redwoods

Grade: A

• Signed: Eli Mclaughlin, Wes Berg, Ryan Tierney
• Re-signed: Myles Jones, Isaiah Davis Allen, Eddy Glazener
• Retired: Drew Simoneau

The Redwoods offense should be very different from last season, especially with the additions of McLaughlin and Berg. With all the extra offensive talent, we could see big years from Rob Pannell and Myles Jones.

Waterdogs

Grade: A

• Re-signed: Everyone
• Signed: Jake Carraway
• Retired: Ryan Brown, Steven DeNapoli

Other than their two retired players, The Waterdogs are bringing everyone back from their championship team. Will adding Jake Carraway add even more scoring for the reigning champs in 2023?

Whipsnakes

Grade: B+

• Signed: Will Manny
• Re-signed: Jake Bernhardt, Mike Chanenchuk

The Whipsnakes made a huge splash snagging Will Manny, who should fit nicely with Zed Williams and Matt Rambo. Keeping their defensive leader Bernhardt, and their Swiss Army Knife Chanenchuk, are huge additions even if they don’t move the needle.

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We are a month into the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Lacrosse season and even though there has been chaos so far, we are starting to see the cream of the crop rise to the top. One of the biggest storylines of the NCAA Tournament last year was the fact that No.6 Notre Dame was left out of the field. It’s obvious that the Fighting Irish are on a mission to leave no doubt that they are tournament worthy this year, but with the way they are playing, the Irish aren’t just tourney worthy, they are proving to be a championship contender.

The way the 2022 season ended has been on the minds of Irish fans and players all offseason, and it is definitely been their main motivation heading into this season. Fifth year senior Quinn McCahon’s tweet after missing the tournament last year sums up the team’s focus perfectly.

While all the talk has been about Virginia dominating their early season schedule, Notre Dame is quietly flying under the national lacrosse radar. The No.2 team in the nation is currently tied for the largest scoring margin in the country beating their opponents by 9.33 goals per game. They are also the second highest scoring team in the country behind Virginia, averaging 18 goals per game. They are also second in the nation with 11.33 assists per game. While most of the attention has been on the Kavanaugh brothers, they currently have three other players with 7 points this season (through three games).

While the offense has been dominant, the defense has done well enough to shut teams down. They are currently causing 10+ turnovers a game, which is 12th best in the country, and have only allowed one extra man goal so far this season. Their biggest flaw right now is at the faceoff, where they are currently winning only .489 of faceoffs, but with sophomores at the faceoff position, the Irish could see improvement in that category as the position group gets more comfortable as the season progresses.  Notre Dame is not afraid to get dirty and find other ways to create chances for their offense by battling for ground balls, grabbing an average of 38.67 per game.

Their play has definitely something that their opponents have noticed early on this season. Georgetown Head Coach Kevin Warne said “That team is playing with a purpose this year…that is a Final Four, Memorial Day roster. They play hard, their lacrosse IQ is through the roof. They make so many little plays. …they are very, very, very good. …they have rallied around something that is allowing them to play at a different speed.”

While it’s still early in the season, and we have seen a lot of parity in the first month, its clear that there are two teams who are looking like championship contenders. While there is still a ton of time between now and Memorial Day, including playing No.1 Virginia twice (at the very least), Notre Dame is motivated to prove to everyone that not only were they worthy of a tournament bid last season, but that they are definitely in the conversation as the best lacrosse team in the country.

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With the PLL Championship Series starting today, it’s time to get excited for Sixes! The fastest sport will be even faster in Washington DC, and we are here to rank the four teams rosters before games kickoff tonight.

4) Whipsnakes

Last but certainly not least (and honestly they might prefer this ranking for motivation) is the Whipsnakes. Yes, their big names have NLL obligations, but this will be a showcase of their roster depth. Justin Guterding, Jay Carlson and Brad Smith are still really good lacrosse players and I think this tournament gives them a chance to remind people just how good they are. It will also be interesting to see how big of an impact Roman Puglise wil have. He missed the PLL season due to a wrist injury, and this will be his first professional action. If he plays to the expectations most had for him during the draft, he will be a menace on the defensive end.

3) Chrome

Even though they are listed third on the list, Chrome is still loaded with offensive talent. Dylan Molloy and Logan Wisnauskas should feast offensively and create problem for every team they play. The two big omissions were Brendan Nichtern, which was probably due to military obligations, and Ryan Terefenko. Yes, Terefenko has NLL obligations, but it would have been great to see his defensive prowess locking down players in a discipline that I think he would thrive in.

2) Archers

Any group that has Will Manny, Grant Ament, and Marcus Holman should be considered one of the top groups in any tournament. The Archers seemed to focus on offensive skill with their roster, but the biggest exclusion from this team is Adam Ghitleman. He is easily one of the most athletic goalies in the PLL and played some offense on the USA Men’s Sixes team. His roster versatility could be huge when rosters are limited to 12 players.

1) Atlas

The Atlas might have the most athletic team in the PLL Championship Series, in the sense of pure athleticism. Even with Jeff Teat out due to NLL commitments, Atlas still have Chris Gray, Dox Aitken, and Jake Carraway as the most likely offensive unit, but the big factor is having Romar Dennis, Dan Bucaro and Bryan Costible being versatile enough to be big factors on both offense and defense. The two wild cards for Atlas will be Koby Smith and Drake Porter. Smith is known for his ability in transition, and having a short stick SHOULD benefit his transition play. Drake Porter has sixes experience and it might be what gets him the starting nod in the PLL Championship Series.

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Maryland has been the class of Big Ten Lacrosse for a number of years now. After making it to the national championship game in 2021 and winning it all in 2022, it’s easy to say that the Terps are still the team to beat. But Maryland wasn’t the only team that made the NCAA Tournament last season. With Maryland losing some offensive firepower, could Rutgers, Ohio State, or even another Big Ten team finally end Maryland’s Big Ten dominance?

Maryland

Maryland was one of the most dominant teams in recent history in 2022 and they dominated Big Ten opponents, outscoring them 129-65 during conference play. Even though they lost ton of scoring due to graduation, they still return Brett Makar and Ajax Zappitello on defense along with Logan Mcnaney at goalie. This trio was dominant in 2022 and didn’t allow more than 12 goals in a single Big Ten game.

The biggest question for Maryland will be where their offense comes from. They are replacing most of their 2022 offensive group that accounted for 160 goals and 116 assists. For the first time in a few seasons, Maryland might not have the best offense in the conference and other teams might have a fighting chance because of that.

Rutgers

Rutgers might have the best shot to unseat Maryland as Big Ten Lacrosse Champions. The Scarlet Knights return Ross Scott and Shane Knobloch on offense, and they also have David Sprock returning who missed all of 2022 due to injury. Ethan Rall returns on the defensive side after leading the team in caused turnovers along with transfer LaJohn Jones Jr. coming over from Bryant.

Obviously there is a huge void in goal with Colin Kirst graduating, but Rutgers snagged Kyle Mullin (who was an Ivy League honorable mention at Harvard) to fill the void in net. Rutgers has used the transfer portal over the last few years to build talented rosters, and its possible that with a chink in Maryland’s armor, this might be Rutgers best chance to knock the Terps from their Big Ten reign. 

Ohio State

Ohio State is the other team that has a real chance to win the Big Ten. The Buckeyes return Jack Myers at attack and have Hobart transfer Jason Knox looking to make an impact. “I was so excited to get a chance to play at the top level of lacrosse in the Big 10 and I can’t wait for everything ahead.”

On defense, Jacob Snyder and Bobby Van Buren lead a group that is looking to improve from last season. The Buckeyes allowed 11.62 goals per game, and they focused on that in the transfer portal, grabbing Marcus Hudgins from Army. Hudgins was the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and will hopefully help improve an already solid Buckeye group. The Buckeyes spent the off-season building a state of the art lacrosse facility to show that they are ready to take the next step as a program. Beating out Maryland in the Big Ten would show the rest of the country they are a top-tier program.

Recap

Maryland may be the kings of the Big Ten right now, but Rutgers and Ohio State look like they are closing that gap. While there is still a long season ahead of them, both programs look to challenge Maryland and break through with hopes of winning the Big Ten in 2023.

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The Cornell Men’s Lacrosse program surprised a lot of people last season by ending up in the NCAA National Championship game against Maryland. With the stacked tournament field last season, including six Ivy League teams, Cornell ended up being the last Ivy League team standing. But with all this success last season, anything less than a national championship appearance will be considered a down year. With such high standards and expectations, could Cornell take a step back this season?

Connor Buczek had a helluva first season at his alma mater in 2022, leading the Big Red to a 10-4 record during the regular season. After losing to Yale in the opening round of the Ivy League Tournament, the Big Red came into the NCAA tournament as a No.7 seed. Cornell defeated Ohio State, Delaware, and Rutgers before losing to Maryland in the championship game.

The Big Red definitely exceeded expectations in Buzcek’s first year, but expectations are high in 2023 for the Cornell Men’s Lacrosse program returning a lot of key players while fighting in a tough Ivy League. CJ Kirst, Michael Long, and Billy Coyle are the key returners on offense. While Gavin Adler (one of the best defenders in the nation), Angelo Petrakis (had a .613 faceoff percentage in 2020 and .494 in 2022), and Chayse Ierlan (.526 save percentage) all return as well.

The Ivy League was well represented in the NCAA tournament last season and will still be a really competitive league in 2023. Currently there are six teams ranked in the preseason Top 20, with Cornell sitting the highest at No.4. Last season. Cornell came into the 2022 season ranked No.15 in the preseason polls and while they did start the year 6-0, they did lose to Army and lost to Brown, Princeton and Yale within the Ivy League. If the Ivy League is anything like last season, it will be a slugfest all spring.

Regardless of the rankings during the season, Cornell is still the national runner-up and the rest of the Ivy League will be giving the Big Red their best effort during conference play. It will be interesting to see how Cornell responds during the season while having a target on their back.

When you take a quick glance at the rest of the Top 20 teams, there will be some steep competition looking to overtake Cornell’s repertoire from last season. You have Virginia and Maryland who are obvious choices to win it all in 2023, but you also have teams like Georgetown and Notre Dame who are on a mission to get the disappointment of 2022 out of their minds. It will definitely be interesting to see how the season shakes out and where we stand when the NCAA tournament starts, but I do feel there will be even more competition at the top compared to last season. This competition will definitely make it difficult for Cornell to make it back to Championship Weekend.

Cornell comes back with a loaded team and key returners at every level. It’s no question the Big Red should be one of the top teams in the country all season long. Barring a catastrophe season, they should be in the NCAA tournament again in 2023. Most schools would consider back-to-back tournament appearances a success, but when you make it to a national championship, expectations rise going into next season. Cornell understands the expectations on their shoulders, but anything less than a championship appearance will be considered a step back from last season.

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If you haven’t already heard, there is a new box lacrosse league here in the States. The Professional Box Lacrosse Association started its inaugural season on December 29th and the goal of the league is to make lacrosse more accessible to fans, as well as give players an opportunity to pursue their professional lacrosse dreams. With the season only being a few weeks old, here’s why the league is already off to a solid start.

When you are a new start-up sports business, one of the first things you have to do is create buzz around your product. The first thing the league did to generate interest was by allowing fans to submit team names and vote for their favorite one.

“We wanted to make sure the fans could be a part of the naming of their local teams,” said PBLA Commissioner Steve Donner. “It was crucial to us that the PBLA be dedicated, first and foremost, to the fans of this incredible sport. I believe I speak for the entire organization when I say that we are beyond thrilled to be bringing professional box lacrosse to each of these communities.”

Once the teams were named, the league did a good job of signing recognizable players to teams that they have local connections to. Former Tarheel and PLL star, Marcus Holman, signed with Charlotte and Tommy Palasek signed with Syracuse to name a few local signees. If you want fans to come out to games, you need names that fans recognize and the league has done a solid job of having familiar faces for fans to come watch.

The PBLA also signed a partnership with Lacrosse TV to broadcast a game each week. That partnership is great because it gives the league the ability to showcase its product to viewers outside of their local markets. The more eyes, the better. “We are very excited to partner with Lacrosse TV as we launch our first season,” said PBLA CEO Carmen Kesner. “Lacrosse TV is a leader in the sport of lacrosse and a natural partner to help us present the PBLA and the best athletes in the world playing America’s oldest and fastest-growing sport.” The only two critiques at this moment would be to make more games accessible on streaming platforms, even if they were game replays, and have more accessible stat pages for fans to go look at after games.

Lastly, you need a quality product on the field to keep fans entertained and engaged. Through the first few weeks, basically every game has been entertaining. It’s been fast paced and high scoring every week, through the first two weeks, only one game wasn’t within 5 goals and in the largest blowout, the Trenton Terror scored 20 goals. While sure, it may not be on the same talent level as the NLL, it’s still high scoring and quality play on the field. 

While it’s still early in the PBLA’s existence, they are starting things off on the right foot by creating buzz and getting fan engagement. If they can continue to create more accessibility to their on field product and continue to get more talent on teams, it will definitely bode well for their long term success. If the PBLA is able to do these things, they just might help the game grow for players and fans alike.

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After having a strong regular season, and being ranked as high as No.2 in the media poll last season, Georgetown’s lacrosse season ended abruptly to Delaware in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. It was a disappointing end to the season for the Hoya’s and they have brought in some reinforcements in hopes their 2023 season doesn’t end like it did last year. But with all the changes this offseason, can Georgetown bounce back and be better than they were in 2022?

Georgetown has been the class of the Big East, winning the last four conference titles, but they haven’t found success in the NCAA tournament during their run. Georgetown has been known for its stout defense, their offense has quietly been one of the top scoring units in the country. That unit only gets stronger in 2023.

While the Hoyas did lose Dylan Watson (45G, 25A) and Alex Trippi (25G, 27A), they still have Graham Bundy Jr. and they added some punch with Tucker Dordevic (47G, 12A) who was one of the top transfer targets in the NCAA. The Georgetown lacrosse program also added some much needed depth on the attack line with Nick Solomon (20G,17A) and Jacob Kelly (20G,15A) coming over from North Carolina and Brian Minicus from Colgate (36G, 23A). With these additions, plus their in-house options, the Hoyas are hoping to have a little bit more depth on the offensive side and avoid the offensive lulls that they had against Princeton and Delaware.

On defense they return one of the top defenders in the country in Will Bowen and they still have key guys like Wallace Halpert who had 15 caused turnovers and Will Tominivich who had 10 caused turnovers. Bowen is the man who will lead the defense and have the responsibility of guarding opponents top scorers. The Hoyas should still be very solid on defense and they still return their top faceoff man in James Reilly, who had a .605 faceoff percentage and 143 ground balls. Goaltending is somewhat of a question, with Owen McElroy moving on, the Hoyas had Danny Hincks transfer in from Dartmouth who will battle with Michael Scharfenberger for time in cage.

Georgetown should still be the class of the Big East, but the questions surrounding this team arise due to their performance in the NCAA tournament the last two seasons. While the Hoyas did beat Syracuse in the opening round in 2021, in the last two NCAA tournament games they played they have scored a total of 12 goals (3 to Virginia in 2021 second round and 9 to Delaware in 2022). Georgetown has proven during the regular season they are one of the best lacrosse teams in the country, but it hasn’t translated in the postseason.

Will Georgetown silence the doubters and finally make a run to Championship Weekend for the first time since 1999? Or will they bow out early like the they have the past few years? After last seasons upset loss to Delaware, Coach Kevin Warne said, “It’s playoff lacrosse. Everybody has to respect winning because winning will be taken away from you in a second if you don’t respect it and how you’re able to get there.” If Georgetown lives by this phrase in 2023, they just might find themselves playing on Championship Weekend.

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Connor Fields has been known as one of the most talented lacrosse players in recent history, but even with all the talent, he hasn’t been able to showcase those skills in the NLL. Whether it’s been injuries or other talented players in front of him, there has always been something that has kept Fields from being one of the league’s best. Now that Fields has a fresh start in Rochester, his scoring prowess has been a big part in the Knighthawks surprising 4-0 start.

Fields was drafted 10th overall by the San Diego Seals in 2018 and was expected to be a huge part of the franchise. During his rookie season, he only played in two games due to a knee injury, scoring 4 total points. The 2019-20 season showed some promise, with Fields scoring 44 points in 12 games, but unfortunately COVID-19 ended the NLL season.

Fields was then traded to the Buffalo Bandits prior to the 2021-22 season. Adding Fields to a loaded Bandits offensive unit definitely helped him find his scoring touch. He finished 3rd on the team in scoring with 67 points and it looked like he had finally found a home in Buffalo. Even with the success in his one season in Buffalo, it was a surprise to some to see him left unprotected by the Bandits for the Vegas expansion draft.

“I think anyone who has been left unprotected would be lying to you if they said it didn’t affect them at all,” Fields said in an inside lacrosse interview. “This year, I’m definitely playing with even more of a chip on my shoulder. I’m not the one to say if Buffalo made the right or wrong decision — they made the decision which they felt was best for their team, and I respect that”

Vegas selected Connor Fields during the expansion draft and immediately traded him to Rochester. Now trading Fields seemed like it was a move to gather assets for Vegas, but it was shocking to see that they swapped the first and second pick in the draft and Vegas also received Charlie Bertrand. It seemed like Fields would have been a great fit in Vegas, but the Desert Dogs had other plans. Even if Rochester’s number one offseason priority was to get Fields, it just continued the underlying narrative that maybe Fields wasnt living up to his top 10 pick potential.

Rochester finished with the worst record in the league last year, and even with its offseason additions, including Fields, Rochester wasn’t a team that was projected to make the playoffs this year. But following a 3-0 start, including a win over Toronto, Fields has been proving the doubters wrong so far early in the season. Fields currently has 25 points on the season in only 3 games and is on pace to shatter his previous career high. While it’s highly unlikely he keeps scoring 8 points per game, he’s proven to everyone that he is an elite scorer in this league. Not only is he putting up numbers, but he is turning around a Rochester team that won only 6 games in its two seasons since rejoining the league as an expansion team in 2019. 

“Coming here, I just wanted to do anything I could to help the team win,” Fields said. “I believe you’re only as good as the opportunity you’re given. Being here in Rochester, they’re showing me that they have confidence in me. That helps me go out there and play lacrosse knowing I have their trust.”

Connor Fields has definitely earned the trust of the Knighthawks, and if he continues on his current pace, he could lead his team to the playoffs and be in the running for MVP.

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Building off a successful Week 1, Week 2 of the 2022-23 NLL season was full of action despite only having four games. Three of the four games were within two goals and the other game had big upset. Here is your NLL Week 2 recap.

Las Vegas 11 – Panther City 13

The Desert Dogs played their first game in franchise history against Panther City. Vegas proved to be a tough opponent for Panther City as they battled back and forth in the first half. Panther City used a huge third quarter to take control of the game and hold off Vegas for their first win of the season. Will Malcom had 4 goals and 3 assists in the win, while rookie Jack Hannah had 2 goals in the loss.

Saskatchewan 12 – San Diego 13 (OT)

Saskatchewan jumped out early in this one, but the Seals used a 9-0 scoring run in the second half to go from down 10-3 to up 12-10 in the fourth quarter. Despite blowing the lead, the Rush scored the final two goals of regulation to send it to overtime. Curtis Dickson played hero for San Diego and scored the game winner in OT. Chris Origlieri had 10 saves in relief of Frank Scigliano and made some huge saves to preserve the win.

Toronto 7 – Rochester 11

Toronto was smothered by the Knighthawk defense, being held to 2 goals in the second half. Rylan Hartley had a massive game, making 50 saves in the win. Connor Fields had another huge night for Rochester, scoring 7 points (4G/3A). Tom Schreiber had 14 shots on goal in the loss.

Vancouver 9 – Calgary 11

It was a a back-and-forth game in the Saddledome with Calgary outlasting Vancouver. The closely contested game never had more than a 3 goal lead and Calgary only trailed for a total of 8 seconds the entire game. Both Steve Fryer and Christian Del Bianco had 40 saves for their respective teams, while Keegan Ball and Jesse King each had 6 points to lead their teams in scoring.

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The NLL season is back and Week 1 did not disappoint! There were goals a plenty and some unexpected upsets in week one. Here is your NLL recap for Week 1.

Philadelphia 8 – Halifax 18

The Thunderbirds came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. Randy Staats looked good in his first game since 2020 leading the Thunderbirds offense with six assists. Blaze Riorden led the Wings with 5 goals.

Vancouver 8 – Toronto 19

Guaranteed win night was a success and Toronto showed off their championship caliber roster with a blowout win against the Warriors. Tom Schreiber had 8 points and Nick Rose had 53 saves in the win. Mitch Jones had a strong performance for the Warriors with 5 points and 11 loose balls.

San Diego 15 – New York 14

The Seals escaped from New York with a victory against the Riptide thanks to a disallowed goal in the final minute from Jeff Teat. Curtis Dickson seemed to integrate seamlessly into the Seals offense with 8 points in the win. Jeff Teat picked up right where he left off from his Rookie of the Year campaign with 11 points in the loss.

Albany 11 – Buffalo 10

In the first upset of Week 1, the Firewolves knocked off the defending East Conference Champions. Joe Nardella won 60% of the faceoffs, had 17 loose balls, and 2 caused turnovers in the win. Josh Byrne led the Bandits with 6 points and 13 shots on goal in the loss.

Rochester 16 – Georgia 11

The Connor Fields era has begun in Rochester. Rochester outscored Georgia 10-2 in the second half to comeback and defeat the Swarm. Fields finished with 11 points in the upset win over Georgia. Shayne Jackson finished with 5 points in the loss.

Colorado 6 – Saskatchewan 18

The Saskatchewan Rush came out strong and led 4-0 after the first quarter and used that momentum to dominate the defending champs. The Rush had 70 shots on goal which knocked Dillon Ward out of the game in the 3rd quarter. Mark Matthews had 12 points in the win. Eli McLaughlin was the lone bright spot for the anemic Mammoth offense, leading the way with 4 points in the loss.

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It may have felt like an eternity, but the NLL season is finally here! It’s time to make my playoff picks for the 2022-23 season. Below I list my projected standings and each team’s percentage chance of making the playoffs.

Projected West Standings

1. San Diego Seals 90%

The Seals are loaded, barring injuries or a change in the size of the goal, the Seals are almost a lock to make the playoffs.

2. Colorado Mammoth 80%

The Mammoth are still loaded and Dillon Ward is still the best goalie on the planet. There could be a championship hangover, but there is too much talent for the Mammoth to not make the playoffs.

3. Panther City 65%
Panther City is the sneaky pick in the west to make the playoffs. If they can improve from last year (which on paper they should), Panther City might not be such a surprise come the end of the year.

4. Las Vegas Desert Dogs 50%

Vegas has put together a very solid roster this offseason and will definitely be competitive. What gets Vegas over the top and into the playoffs is the unique home field advantage that they might have (aka the Vegas flu) this season.

5. Calgary Roughnecks 50%

Calgary has lost a lot the past two off-seasons, but they will still be a pesky team. I don’t see Calgary making the playoffs, but they proved many people wrong last year.

6. Vancouver Warriors 40%

The Warriors will have their moments of success. But with how competitive the West Conference will be, Vancouver will most likely find themselves on the outside looking in.

7. Saskatchewan Rush – 20%

Barring a miracle season, the Rush will be looking toward the 2023 draft and their plethora of picks.

Projected East Standings

1. Buffalo Bandits 90%

Just like the Seals, there is too much talent on this team to not make the playoffs (barring injuries).

2. Toronto Rock 90%
The Rock will be one of the league’s best teams and will easily be in the championship conversation once the playoffs start.

3. Halifax Thunderbirds 65%

After struggling with team chemistry last season, the Thunderbirds will hopefully figure it out and regain some of that 2020 form.

4. Georgia Swarm 65%

As stated before, if Lyle Thompson is healthy he will have a huge impact this season which should all but guarantee a playoff appearance. If Thompson continues to struggle with injuries, Georgia might miss the NLL playoffs once again.

5. Philadelphia Wings 65%

The Wings improved this offseason offensively and should in playoff contention. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the East Conference shakes out (outside of Buffalo and Toronto).

6. New York Riptide 50%

Year two of Jeff Teat will be entertaining to watch. The Riptide will definitely be in contention. The East playoff race will be very close the the Riptide ride the line of that bubble.

7. Rochester Knighthawks 40%

The Knighthawks will show improvement compared to last season and could be a pesky team playing in a lot of close games, but Rochester will probably be watching the NLL playoffs from home this season.

8. Albany Firewolves 30%
Albany definitely has focused on getting younger this offseason, and will probably go through several growing pains. They will be competing with Saskatchewan for the No.1 pick this season.

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We are days away from the NLL season which means it is time that we make predictions. The 2021-22 was a phenomenal return to action given the cancelled COVID-19 seasons. This season has all of the potential to be one of the best seasons in NLL history.

Wes Berg Will Lead the Seals in Points

Now this might not be a “bold” prediction considering he led the team in points last season, but San Diego added 171 points between Curtis Dickson and Kevin Crowley this off-season. While the two new additions will get plenty of scoring chances, it will be Berg who reaps the benefits of a loaded Seals offense.

Lyle Thompson (If Healthy) Will Win MVP

Lyle Thompson has been dealing with nagging injuries since the 2021 PLL season. Even with the injuries he still finished 5th in scoring and had the Swarm a win away from the playoffs. If Lyle is healthy, he will lead the Swarm back to the playoffs and potentially win MVP.

Zed Williams Has His Breakout Season

With Ryan Lee still out to start the season and Colorado defending their NLL title, the Mammoth will need to keep up with the rest of the loaded offenses in the West Conference. After finishing with 37 points in the playoffs last season, Zed Williams will answer the bell and finish with 80+ points this season.

Calgary Misses the Playoffs

Calgary fans might want to skip this one. With the loss of Curtis Dickson, it will be hard for the Roughnecks to withstand the blow of losing another franchise legend. Calgary will miss the playoffs for the 4th time since their inception in 2002.

Vegas Makes the Playoffs

With Calgary missing the playoffs, someone else in the West Conference has to take their place, right? Vegas will be coming out hot and make the playoffs in their first season.

Halifax Wins the East

The Thunderbirds lost in overtime to the Rock in the first round of the playoffs but still have the talent to battle with both Toronto and Buffalo. The addition of Ryan Benesch and the underrated trade for Randy Staats will help Halifax reach the championship this season.

Saskatchewan Finishes in Last Place

The Rush have had some great seasons and great memories recently. But with three franchise legends now gone this off-season and the rest of the West Conference improving, the Rush will find wins hard to come by this season and the rebuild will officially begin when they finish with the number one draft pick in 2023.

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