I flew west early on Friday at 6:15am, a Southwest flight to San Diego from BWI. Boston coach Brian Holman a passenger along with California assistant coach John Grant Jr, Redwood SSDM Isaiah Davis-Allen and Cannon attackman Asher Nolting. It occurred to me that BWI is a large lacrosse related business. I’ve always felt that lacrosse specific exhibit would be an ideal display at BWI.
Friday night in San Diego means practices for the teams playing games on Saturday. I drive up to Torrey Pines HS to watch the Denver and Carolina practices. Torrey Pines went (19-1) this spring.
It’s amazing how similar practice plans are at all playing levels. An eighth-grade team would have a practice plan that looks like what I saw from the Outlaws. It’s the same content. But the pros practice with focus, elite intention, constant communication and competitive spirit in every phase. I got an up-close look at Graham Bundy Jr shooting the lacrosse ball. His mechanics are clean. Solid footwork, torque, hip rotation and a swooping motion. Notable is his left arm, straight like a golfer and hands are together for maximum length and power. He’s become a feared stretch shooter in the league as a rookie.
Here’s what I saw:
- Warm-up
- Skill development
- Stickwork full field – Passing / catching
- Offense and defense skeleton
- Defense ground balls
- 5 v 5 half field live
- 3 v 2 small field competition
- 4 v 4 half field
- Early face-off offense period – how to attack and defend :32 shot clock.
- 6 v 6 half field
- EMO EMD
And like the Smurfs and high school players even the pros end practice with a ball hunt, rummaging behind the goals for stray balls.
PLL Saturday
Denver vs Boston
Cannons (6-2) clinched a playoff spot with a 12-10 win over Denver. This game flipped on its axis when Denver defender Jesse Bernhardt was injured late in the second quarter and did not return. Bernhardt is the voice of that defense, the conductor of their slide packages and an assistant coach on the field. The Outlaws (3-3) didn’t react well to his departure which impacted both the tactical and emotional aspects of this game. Coverage and slides to Asher Nolting and Marcus Holman was not as tight without Jesse.
Boston was down 9-5 at halftime after going scoreless for 16:53, awoke in the third quarter, exploding for 6-0 run to take a two-goal lead into the final quarter. Asher Nolting and Marcus Holman were clicking, creating and hustling during the spurt.
Denver ended the game shooting 1/21. They are not a good ground ball team, make sloppy substitutions and didn’t shoot efficiently. They have a nice mix of veterans and rookies but suffer through moments of inconsistency. On their best day they are a title contender. On their worst day, a pretender.
It wasn’t pretty, but California prevailed over Carolina 10-8 in game #2 from sun splashed Torrero Stadium on Saturday afternoon. This was a rock fight. Carolina would finish shooting 16% and California hit at 24%. Neither team can pass. Carolina averages 4.5 assists per game. California came in averaging 5 assists per game. Multiple pass goals are like finding a pearl on the beach.
California (2-5) gradually built a lead of 3-1, 6-3 and up to 10-4 late in the third quarter. The Red Woods did not score in the fourth quarter yet held onto a 10-8 win. Goalie Jack Kelly was stout, and the home Woods crowd clad in green made their presence felt. The little saplings brought the juice for their heroes. Torrero Stadium is a perfect venue for the PLL and the Southern California fans brought the energy. Respect the Woods for their fight.
The sublime grass surface in San Diego was very much a shooters field compared to the plastic sport grass fields often used for lacrosse. High bouncers were in vogue. There is nothing worse than a fake pellet rich glossy field with football lines. Lacrosse was meant to be played on natural grass.
Suddenly the Chaos (3-4) are near the bottom of the pack and now finish the regular season with Utah, the Outlaws in Denver and Boston in Salt Lake City. Shane Knobloch was a bright spot for Carolina. The offense needs to be upgraded after scoring 7,6,10,8 goals in their last four games.
Remember the eastern and western champs get byes into the semifinals (Hofstra). And the last two teams don’t make the playoffs. There will be two quarterfinal games at Gillette Stadium on Labor Day September 2.
PLL Sunday
The NY Atlas (6-2) handed Philadelphia their fourth one-goal loss of the summer, a 12-11 squeaker. The Waterdogs are shockingly (1-6) two summers after winning a title and one summer removed from a title game loss.
NY (6-2) clinched a playoff spot with the win. The Atlas started Liam Entenmann in goal and he was sharp, the rookie finished with 17 saves. Face-off man Trevor Baptiste provided a notable possession advantage, and the Atlas offense continues to move and pass the ball with fluidity. This group has been a delight to watch.
With NY Up 4-1 the game changed gears. Philadelphia rallied to take a 9-6 lead at halftime. The Atlas shot 0/13 in the second quarter, a power outage for sure. But the Waterdogs would only manage one two-point goal in the entire second half. They finished the game shooting 1/20. Their 9-6 lead became a 12-9 deficit as Jeff Teat, Bryan Costabile, Jake Stevens and Logan McGovern heated up. The Atlas apply constant pressure – able to score in transition, early offense and in settled sets.
Game two on Sunday saw a critical 18-13 win for the Whipsnakes to improve to (3-4) pulling away from the Red Woods (2-5) in the late stages.
Ryder Garnsey and Rob Pannell were playmakers for the home team but too much Zed Williams in the fourth quarter was the difference for Maryland. Coach Jim Stagnitta has transformed this roster during the last five weeks and now heavily relies on rookies Adam Poitras, Levi Anderson and TJ Malone. Tucker Dordevic was the catalyst, hitting three shots from beyond the two-point arc in his second game after sitting out June and most of July with a foot injury. His shot execution was supreme.
Up next for the PLL is Double-header weekend for the Maryland Whips at Homewood Field on August 3 and 4. They play Philly on Saturday at 1pm on ABC. That game will be followed by Denver and California at 3:30 on E+. Sunday’s action begins with the Boston Cannons and Whipsnakes at 3pm on ABC and the finale has Carolina facing off with Utah (4-2) at 5:30pm on E+. Drew Carter, Ryan Boyle, Paul Carcaterra and I will be at Johns Hopkins with the television coverage.
