Denver is the next PLL road stop as the pros caravan across the country. Peter Barton Stadium, a small venue, should be sold out and lively on Friday and Saturday night. The air is thin and dry at 5,280 feet. Players won’t sweat. They play through cotton mouth.
What’s at stake this weekend? It looks as if Philadelphia and California will be left out of the playoffs. The seedings and bracketing remain wide open.
Friday
Game 1 – MARYLAND vs DENVER – 8pm Est (ESPN+)
Zed Williams has been on a torrid goal scoring streak. TJ Malone, the rookie who’s now quarterback of the settled sets, has been passing and making decisions at an All-Pro level. He’s climbing into contention for Rookie of the Year behind Connor Shellenberger and Brennan O’Neil.
Snakes FOGO Joe Nardella sets the tone and often tilts the possession equation.
The Whipsnakes are on a three-game win streak and have flipped the script with an infusion of youth – specifically Adam Poitras, Levi Anderson, Jack Koras and Ajax Zappitello. Goalie Brendan Krebs is a compelling story, having been a career backup at Chaminade High School before his career took off at Manhattan for then head coach John Odierna.
This will be a tricky turnaround for Maryland – they played a pair of taxing games in sauna-like conditions in Charm City. So, their physical recovery, cross-country travel and opening the festivities on Friday night against the Outlaws may add up to a sub-par performance. I would not be shocked to see a regression. Trending Whips midfielder Tucker Dordevic suffered a broken jaw on Sunday and is done for season. Whipsnakes picked up Waterdog midfielder Ryan Conrad in a trade for draft picks earlier this week. Conrad has not been producing at career form with only (5,1) and 14% shooting after playing seven games. The change of scenery may wake him up.
Denver’s ageless attack-man Eric Law was born and raised in Colorado. He is the link to the MLL’s Denver Outlaw’s. That franchise was founded in 2006 and folded in 2020. They earned their way into ten championship games. Denver never had a losing season. The Outlaws regularly posted the highest attendance in the league, fortified by 30,000 fans plus on July 4 each summer for lacrosse and fireworks. The Outlaws won their first title in 2014, defeating the Rochester Rattlers 12-11 and won their second MLL Championship in 2016, defeating the Ohio Machine 19–18. In 2018, the Outlaws won their third championship by defeating the Dallas Rattlers, 16–12. Current PLL figures – Law, Jack Kelly, coach Jim Stagnitta, Michael Rexrode, Nick Washuta, Charlie Hayes, Mikey Schlosser, Pat Aslanian and Zack Currier have ties to the old franchise.
The 2024 Outlaws have been inconsistent – on their best day they look like a legit September team. During their down moments, they have sucked badly. Brennan O’Neil and a strong rookie class gives local fans hope.
Game 2 – Philadelphia vs California – 10:30 Est (ESPN+)
PHILLY (1-7)
Coach Bill Tierney returns to Denver, the seven-time NCAA champion grabbed D1 gold in 2015 with the upstart Pios. This summer has been a difficult transition for the veteran coach.
What’s gone wrong? Four one goal losses stick out. What’s gone well? Not much.
What lineup changes do we see from Philadelphia now that they are eliminated from the post season? They traded midfielder Ryan Conrad for a second-round draft pick. Who’s next?
Who can Tierney audition in Denver? His imprint on the roster with an eye on 2025 starts now.
One thing is certain, we get our first pro look at Michael Boehm the rookie from Michigan. He did it all for the maize and blue and can hopefully add a spark this weekend.
Tierney is not the first highly successful college coach to struggle in year one as a professional lacrosse coach. See Mike Pressler and Dom Starsia in their initial year for context. The coaching jobs in college and pro are dissimilar. Plus, the PLL head coaching job comes with a GM role, and this aspect is 70% of a coach’s impact. Roster formation and player personnel decisions and management are key.
CALIFORNIA
While not mathematically eliminated yet, California has no realistic path to playoffs. Veteran playmaker Rob Pannell has been terrific while surrounded by a dung heap. Midfield play has been awful. Coming off an embarrassing defeat in Baltimore, I would expect the Redwoods will come out swinging this week. Players are fighting for their futures. We will talk about the 2025 draft during this game.
ESPN’s Paul Carcaterra – 8 to keep an eye on 2025 Draft
- CJ Kirst-Attack/Cornell
- Emmet Carroll-Goalie/UPenn
- Levi Verch-LSM/St. Joes
- Brendan Lavelle-Defense/UPenn
- Jack Fracyon-Goalie/Penn State
- Chris Kavanagh-Attack/Notre Dame
- Coulter Mackesy-Attack/Princeton
- Andrew McAdorey-Midfield/Duke
I would add Ben Ramsey (ND), Griffin Schutz (UVA), Sam King (Harvard), Jack Stuzin (Yale), Colin Mulshine (Prin), AJ Pilate (Army), and note that the 2025 class is not remotely close to the excellence and depth of the 2024 group.
Saturday
Game 1 – NY Atlas vs Utah – 2:30pm Est on ABC
NY ATLAS
New York took a bye weekend and avoided a trip to humid Baltimore.
Jeff Teat is -20,000 to win PLL MVP. FOGO Trevor Baptiste is back at DU. Worth watching is the PLL Rookie of the Year Race between Connor Shellenberger, Brennan O’Neil and TJ Malone and an Atlas offense that continues to dazzle with highlight worthy moments. This game against the Archers promises to be one of the most skilled in pro lax history. This is a game you should watch.
UTAH
Tom Schreiber, Connor Fields and Grant Ament have been cooking this summer. This offense is a delight to watch in half field. Utah hosts a double-header next weekend in SLC. Attack-man Matt Moore hurt his shoulder in Baltimore and his injury status isn’t ideal for coach Chris Bates.
Game 2 – Carolina vs Denver – 7pm Est ESPN2
Carolina is coming off a season defining win in Baltimore against Utah. Lefty Josh Byrne is out this week. Goalie Blaze Riorden bagged another goalie goal in Baltimore, his first as a pro. Coach Andy Towers received much better depth of scoring as Ross Scott, Shane Knobloch and the rookie class finally clicked. If this offense can get in gear, the Chaos will be a factor in the postseason with a defense that ranks #1 in league.
Let’s see how Denver manages the double-header weekend. An energetic crowd can make a difference. I would expect the Outlaws to get off to a fast start before tiring in the final 15 minutes.
Salt Lake City is the final regular season weekend.
