Week 1 Review: Premier Lacrosse League
With some dawning its first “complete” prepared season, Week one of the Premier Lacrosse League, provided early fireworks and questions for the remainder of the 2022 season.
With training camp the week prior, the season turned tense with the narrowing of 30 man rosters to 25. Some of the most notable players to be placed back in the player pool were the following:
Archers: Ryan McNamara, M
Atlas: Mark Cockerton, M
Cannons: Reece Eddy, D
Chrome: Randy Staats, A
Redwoods: Pat Harbeson, SSDM
Whipsnakes: Will Perry, M; Matt Abbott, SSDM
Of these players cut, the most notable was Harbeson and Abbot. Both played essential roles for the respected teams in their playoff pushes the past few years. If picked up, both can provide a key role in leadership and especially transition, which is essential for the PLL.
Pat Harbeson carries up the field in transition. Credit: PLL
Matt Abbott holds his stick in the lane to deflect the pass from the Chaos offense. Credit: PLL
Another conflict that faces some teams is the National Lacrosse League’s season championship conclusion. The Chaos are suffering the most from this, as they’re missing players Josh Byrne and Dhane Smith, their leading attackman and midfielder from last year, respectively. Both are in the NLL Championship for the Buffalo Bandits, who are competing against the Colorado Mammoth. Both combined for a total of 49 points last year, and their production could have been valuable this weekend, as the Chaos fell 9-8 to the Whipsnakes.
Smith and Byrne take a laugh on the sideline during 2020 training camp in Utah. Credit: PLL
Results and Stars of the Game:
Whipsnakes 9, Chaos 8
Star of the Game: Mike Chanechuk, M, Whipsnakes
Three goal game, with the game winner, a pretty good day for the Maryland midfielder, especially going against Blaze Riordan, the reigning top net minder.
Atlas 17, Redwoods 11
Stars of the Game: Atlas Attack and Trevor Baptiste, FO, Atlas
Jeff Teat, Eric Law, and Chris Gray made the traditional stingy Redwoods defense look silly, as they combined for 17 points. Teat and Law each had 7 points, and Gray had 3. It also helped as Trevor Baptiste went 17-27 in FO, 63%, against his contemporary rival, TD Ierlan.
Cannons 16, Waterdogs 10
Star of the Game: Lyle Thompson, A, Canons
In his return, Thompson put up six points, four goals, and two assists. With the absence of Paul Rabil, look for Thompson to take a more veteran, initiative role with the offense, while guiding rookie Asher Nolting and co-partners Ryan Drenner and Shayne Jackson (Also helps when starting Dillon Ward is absent as well.) In the words of Lyle, “It is a good day to be indigenous.”
Chrome 11, Archers 10
Stars of the Game: Dylan Molloy, A, and Connor Farrell, FO, Chrome
In a quiet day for the number one overall, Logan Wisnauskas, Molloy stepped up and proved why he earned the Tewaaraton back at Brown. Posting a healthy four points, two goals and two assists, Molloy facilitated as the rest of the Chrome offense contributed in a balanced manner as well. As for Farrell, he went 14-23 at the faceoff dot, with 11 ground balls, giving the extra possession Chrome needed to seal the win.
Week 2 is in Charlotte, at American Legion Memorial Stadium, starting Friday night, June 10 at 6 PM EST with Chrome taking on Redwoods. Below is the Week 2 schedule.
Fri. June 10: Chrome v. Redwoods, 6 PM EST
Fri. June 10: Chaos v. Archers, 8:45 PM EST
Sat. June 11: Atlas v. Cannons, 6 PM EST
Sat. June 11: Whipsnakes v. Waterdogs, 8:45 PM EST