Heading into week 12 of the MLL 2013 season, there’s both clear-cut and formidable picks for the power rankings.
At number one, there’s no doubt with this choice as Denver sits at 11-0, tying their amount of wins from last season. Their most recent win came against the Rochester Rattlers, who held Coach Stagnita’s team to their lowest goal deficit of the season with the final score ending in a 12-9 decision. Getting to Championship Weekend is no easy task, but the Outlaws seem to have figured it out. The one thing that they haven’t unraveled is how to win the big show. Is this the year for the Outlaws? We will see as they take on the defending champion Chesapeake Bayhawks in a Saturdaynight shootout.
Number two is a little tougher to pick, but Hamilton has my vote. After an odious 2012 season, the Nationals made some impressive moves with trades and drafting, along with a change at the helm. Sitting in second place at 8-3, it’ll be interesting to see how the Nat’s finish out the year after a one goal win over Ohio and with their next game against Boston.
Chesapeake takes the third spot. They’ve inherited a mastermind at attack in Casey Powell, who at 37 years old can still run and gun with anyone. With the addition of Powell, it gives Coach Cottle a lot to toy with. It’s been a decent season for the defending champs as they hold on to third place at 7-4 going up against undefeated Denver. They will have to bring their A game going into the home stretch, as wins and losses are costly at this time in the season.
Here’s where the choices get tricky. Two teams sit at 5-6, both fighting for that final playoff spot and hoping the other one slips just a little. Those two teams are the number four Boston Cannons and fifth ranked Charlotte Hounds. In their two games, Boston has taken home the victories in a 15-13 decision and in an overtime thriller, thanks to newly acquired Stephen Berger. If the regular season were to end right now, the Cannons would take the fourth spot due to their two wins over the Hounds. Both teams take on Ohio and Hamilton in their next two games, with Boston ending their season at home versus Rochester and Charlotte on the road visiting Chesapeake.
The 4-7 Rochester Rattlers take home sixth spot as they have been toying with wins and losses this season. They have beaten good teams this season and proved that they could play, but also lost to teams that they could have beaten. Left on their schedule are the Lizards, Bayhawks and Cannons. If Rochester can’t make the playoffs, they could play spoiler for either Chesapeake or Boston.
Going into this season, there was high speculation for New York with the addition of Mark Matthews and Rob Pannell. What’s missing from this squad is chemistry. With a record of 3-8, the Lizards have a lot to work on to reclaim heading into the end of the season.
It was really hard to place Ohio at the last spot of the rankings with how much the team has grown in the last few games. Especially after they lost to the number two and three teams by only a goal in back to back games. The Machine have shown perseverance and toughness since Bear Davis took over, giving new life to the young squad. Unfortunately, a one-win season will only get you so high in the rankings. Left on their radar are Charlotte, Boston and New York. Like Rochester, Ohio can devastate teams’ playoff hopes when they go up against the Hounds and Cannons.
