Ok, in terms of full disclosure, for last week’s rankings I put much more thought into teams’ Mallrats equivalents than the actual order of the teams. Looking back, however, I’m comfortable with where everyone was slotted. The obvious caveat to that last statement is that comfort is a relative term with the teams in this league.
As one of the play-by-play guys said this weekend (I can’t remember which) the typical MLL breakdown is one or two teams at the top, a cluster of 4-5 teams in the middle, and a few stragglers. This pattern is holding true again this year.
New York and Rochester were both idle this week.
1. New York Lizards (6-0)
Idle yes? Still undefeated? Yes. The Lizards remain kings until proven otherwise. Easy enough.
2. Denver Outlaws (4-2)
Team Canada South was in full effect on Sunday night. John Grant Jr. hasn’t missed a beat shifting from NLL to MLL, and posted seven points. Cam Holding had a hat trick, Jeremy Noble scored a goal, and Dillon Ward relieved Jesse Schwartzman in the fourth quarter, stopping three of four shots. So yeah, the band is back together and they’re playing like virtuosos.
3. Rochester Rattlers (3-3)
Yes, the Rattlers lost to Boston last time they were out on the field, but this remains one of the most lethal teams in the league. I’m not sleeping on them and you shouldn’t either.
4. Boston Cannons (3-3)
Lacrosse shafts are hollow, but I have to wonder if the Cannons pack theirs with gunpowder after their throttling of Charlotte. Scott Ratliff is a force of nature that carries six feet of metal to work every week. Guess how many saves Jordan Burke made. Go ahead, guess. Do you have your number in mind? Was it 29? Because that’s the magic number. You read that correctly. No more words are necessary at this point.
5. Chesapeake Bayhawks (3-3)
Every season has peaks and valleys. The Bayhawks spent most of the first few weeks on an upward trajectory, but the past two have been more of a sharp decline. Joe Walters should be back next week, providing some much needed midfield scoring. The attack and defense give the Bayhawks enough to be in every game, but the midfield is a dumpster fire in transition.
6. Ohio Machine (3-3)
No Peter Baum? No Steele Stanwick? Facing the reunited Thompson brothers? Sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? Apparently no one gave the Machine that cookbook. Kyle Harrison and Jim Dailey almost single-handedly beat the Launch. Brian Phipps, who I’m often critical of, played stellar. A bit more consistency from him and the Machine can make it back to the playoffs.
7. Florida Launch (1-5)
The Thompson brothers are must-see lacrosse. Miles (2 G, 1 A) and Lyle (1 G, 3 A) put up decent numbers in their MLL debuts this year. Unfortunately, the Launch are suffering from the same problem as Chesapeake in that their midfield depth is almost non-existent. Steven Brooks is a beast, but after him who’s stepping up? David Earl pulled up with a busted wheel in the game, which didn’t help the team depth much. When the attack did get the ball they had some good looks and pretty goals. Kieran McArdle (4 G) will work nicely with the Thompsons. If only they could get more possessions the Launch can move up the table.
8. Charlotte Hounds (1-5)
The Hounds are still terrible, but there were a few flickers of life in them this week. Justin Ward, who has struggled mightily this year, didn’t dress. Rookie Joey Sankey did and has his hand in over half of the Hounds’ goals (5 G, 3 A). A pretty epic debut if you ask, well, anyone. Kevin Cunningham, who came over in a trade with Florida added three points as well (2 G, 1 A). Brendan Fowler continued his solid faceoff play, but those players aside there isn’t a whole lot going right in Charlotte. While the Launch are arguably better than their 1-5 record, the Hounds are lucky to have that lone victory (which came in OT).
