When it comes to grading, expectation is taken into affect. Look at some years in the NFL; the Cleveland Browns might be 8-8 and that fanbase would consider it a great season, but if the New York Giants finish at that, there could be outrage. Same goes with lacrosse.Going into 2013, Chesapeake and New York were considered favorites where teams like Ohio and Hamilton were not given much head. But without further ado, here are the MLL report cards halfway through the season.
Denver Outlaws- A
It’s very hard to deny a 7-0 start. Not to mention that the Outlaws have 32 more goals than the second place team in the scoring department. Denver was in the championship game last season and they too were expected to be an elite team in 2013. Brendan Mundorf is having another elite year and Denver has beaten the iron of the league at every turn.
Hamilton Nationals- A
The Nats are two games back of Denver with a 5-2 record, and no one expected them to be as a big of a factor as they have been in MLL 2013. They struggled at times last year and they lost players going into this season, including goaltender Scott Rodgers. Kevin Crowley is playing like an MVP while Kevin Cunningham has emerged as a potential star.
Chesapeake Bayhawks- B-
The Bayhawks are 4-3 but they started the season 3-0, so the recent stretch has been disappointing for fans of the defending champs. The Hawks have John Grant Jr, Casey Powell, have added Tim Gottelman and Kip Turner is playing lights out. Hopefully for them this recent stretch is just a little bump in the road.
Rochester Rattlers- B-
Rochester is 3-4 on the season but of late they haven’t played horrible. They are a team who missed the playoffs last season and were coming into 2013 without many changes for the positive, with questions surrounding the team at every turn. Ned Crotty has led them into a playoff race where they have hope to return to the post season.
Charlotte Hounds- C
Charlotte was a sleeper pick last season but they missed the playoffs in their first year as a pro lacrosse team. This year they got off to a slow start again but now are 3-4 and are one of the teams tied for that final playoff slot.
New York Lizards- C-
The Lizards have to be considered a major disappointment thus far. They are 3-4, another one of those teams tied, but they were projected as a top team. They added Mark Matthews, have Rob Pannell, and Stephen Berger returned to the team. So why are they struggling so much?
Boston Cannons- D
The Cannons are the only team who is a bigger disappointment than the Lizards. They are 2-5 and have already fired their coach, and they’re a team who hasn’t lost any players in the off season of major impact. Can the Cannons turn it around?
Ohio Machine- D-
Ohio is 1-6, and no one is terribly surprised. They don’t have Peter Baum and that has weighed on them now and they have a worse goalie controversy than they imagined. Right now the Machine just need to focus on their chemistry and try to build a foundation for the next few years.
