With the MLL All-Star break coming up, now is a time to look back at the Rochester Rattlers’ opening half of the 2015 MLL season. Last year’s runner up in the 2014 MLL Championship game against the Denver Outlaws in Kennesaw, Georgia, the Rattlers (5 – 3) are currently tied for second overall in the league with the Ohio Machine (5 – 3). Six Rattlers will be representing the team during the festivities, while Coach Tim Soudan was named the Coach of the All-Star Games:
No. 3, Jeremy Boltus, Attack, Army
No. 5, Mike Manley, Defense, Duke University
No. 11, Joel White, LSM, Syracuse University
No. 15, John Galloway, Goalie, Syracuse University
No. 29, Jordan MacIntosh, Midfield, RIT
No. 32, Jordan Wolf, Attack, Duke University
A mixture of hard-fought wins and tough losses for a team that held have been the major highlight for a team that posted the most dominant record in 2014, and is looking to be a contender this year. Because of the heavy Canadian concentrated players finishing up in the NLL, Rochester early on in the season struggled mightily but found success, opening the season with an OT victory over the Charlotte Hounds on the road, then defeating the Launch at home three weeks later. However, a season sweep by the undefeated New York Lizards (8 – 0) in Weeks 2 and 3 showed just how weak they were, especially at the FO position after NY absolutely dominated them in Week 2 to the tune of 19-9 at home. This led to a big-time trade in Week 4 that saw Miles Thompson (Attack, Albany) heading to Florida for FO guy Mike Poppleton and the 2015 Tewaaraton finalist and ACC Attackmen of the Year Kevin Rice.
The Rattlers quickly came back however. After defeating the defending national champions at home in a rematch of last year’s championship game, Rochester was finally showing signs of the previous year’s success. This couldn’t be embodied more in anyone but Jordan Wolf. With 42 points, both Wolf and Rob Pannell of the Lizards lead the MLL in points, with Wolf himself leading the MLL in goals. The former Duke Blue Devil has had multiple points in nearly every game played so far this season, with defenses seemingly unable to keep him from going to the rack at will, most recently in a six-goal onslaught at Chesapeake. Rice, who was chosen in the 4th Round, 23rd overall in the 2015 MLL Draft, has been a nice addition to the Rochester attack line, picking up a goal in their win over Chesapeake, and two goals in their win over Boston at home.
He isn’t alone either. Major contributions on this Rattlers team has been had from all sides. Jeremy Boltus, who didn’t play last year due to active duty, has been a major bright spot for the Rattlers as well. The second leading scorer with sixteen goals and three assists, the West Point grad has had a fantastic first half of the season as well, as defenses look to contain Jordan Wolf, leaving him free to put up major numbers. While the midfield has yet to show the true greatness it had last year, it certainly has produced, with Jordan MacIntosh being amongst the top five goal scorers on the team, with 11 goals and 5 assists in. He was the key difference maker in the big rebound win in Week 4 against the Launch. Returning from the indoor games, MacIntosh put up five goals and a helper to end that afternoon with six points.
Defensively, while not as dominant as the top-ranked scoring defense a season ago, the Rattlers have finally gotten the personnel working. Joel White and Mike Manley, back from NLL assignments, are now full-time Rattlers defensive stalwarts, and have been impressive thus far, ultimately leading to a most recent dominant 13-6 revenge win over the Boston Cannons at home, who Rochester lost to in the closing moments of their first meeting of the season. John Galloway, who’s about 0.559 % on the year, was an absolute wall in the game, making 21 saves on 27 shots.
With the full-team finally coming together, Coach Soudan has all the parts needed to make a run at the MLL Championship tournament this year as well. The big rematch against Denver, and games against Ohio, who sweeped the team last season, will be the biggest question marks on this Rochester team whose biggest concern moving forward is out-performing last season’s team.
