The Major League Lacrosse season is now in full swing and the full focus of the lacrosse world now that the NLL and NCAA seasons have ended. With that, most of the top rookies are starting to make their impacts for their respective teams. Who are the players who are making the seamless transition from the college game to the pros though? Here is your complete rookies report from Week 6.
Denver Outlaws
Colin Dunster, A—Dunster made his debut this past weekend and scored a goal in the team’s 14-7 loss to the Charlotte Hounds. Dunster may have a hard time finding a lot of playing time but should be a good rotation player at attack and can absolutely bring it from the outside. Just what the Outlaws need is more offense on top of their ridiculous offense already.
Jeremy Noble, M—Noble will be a great addition for the Outlaws as he is the quintessential two-way midfielder. He had two assists in the team’s 13-9 win over the Outlaws at the end of May before missing last week’s game. Make no mistake, Noble will make his contributions on both offense and defense for this team moving forward.
Rochester Rattlers
Miles Thompson, A—Thompson has been a welcomed addition to the team at attack as he has three points in two games for the Rattlers. Coincidentally, both games have been wins for the Rattlers. Thompson scored a goal and added an assist in their 8-7 win over the Chesapeake Bayhawks this past weekend.
John LoCascio, D—LoCascio has appeared in three games so far this season and he showed off his offensive game this past weekend in helping the Rattlers to a 8-7 win over the Chesapeake Bayhawks. LoCascio was a ground ball machine as he scooped up eight of them and he also recorded an assist in the win.
Florida Launch
Kieran McArdle, A—Probably the leader in the clubhouse at this point in terms of the rookie of the year race. McArdle has been on fire for the Launch and helped them continue their success this season. He had five points (4 G and 1 A) in the Launch’s 11-8 win over the New York Lizards. On the season he has 15 points in four games played and has paired nicely with Casey Powell.
Chris LaPierre, M—LaPierre scored his second goal of the season in the team’s 11-8 win over the Lizards this past weekend and has two points on the season so far in three games. His value, however, is not on the offensive side of the ball, but rather in between the lines. He blends great size with a great deal of athleticism and will be able to turn a ground ball in the defensive end into an easy transition opportunity.
Ryan Creighton, M—Creighton is not a midfielder who will light up the scoring sheet. What he provides the Launch is a dose of fresh legs and some a lot of grit. He will help this team in the defensive midfield and occassionally add to the faceoff game if needed.
Matt Harris, D—Harris debuted this past weekend against the Lizards and helped keep a strong offense to eight goals on the day. He added two ground balls as well.
Boston Cannons
Scott McWilliams, D—McWilliams came back after a one game hiatus to help the Cannons to a 17-15 shootout victory over the Ohio Machine this past weekend. He had one ground ball this past weekend.
Rob Emery, M—Emery has played in two games thus far for the Cannons but has yet to find the back of the net. He has taken four shots so far as he tries to familiarize himself with the pace of play at the MLL level.
New York Lizards
Joe Fletcher, D—The best defenseman in Division 1 has played in three games thus far for the Lizards and helped the Lizards hold opponents to nine, 10 and 11 goals. Two of those games were victories and so far he has recorded four ground balls while playing great team defense.
Charlotte Hounds
Justin Ward, A—Ward is another player who has transitioned seamlessly to the professional level. One of the best passers at the colleg level has had no problem finding his teammates in the MLL. In two games he has six assists already! Ward was named Cascade Rookie of the Week for his one goal and three assist performance in the Hounds 17-14 win over the Outlaws this past weekend. He has eight points on the season and should continue to hook his teammates up with some easy shots.
Brendan Fowler, FO/M—Fowler got his first dose of faceoffs at the professional level as he went 3-for-11 on May 30 against the Denver Outlaws. Fowler missed the last two games but should get some more time as Geoff Snider gets ready for the FIL Championships for Team Canada.
Michael Ehrhardt, D—Ehrhardt made his MLL debut this past weekend in the team’s big win over the Outlaws and he recorded a ground ball in the victory. He should provide a physical and versatile presence for the Hounds as he can play down low as well as on faceoffs at LSM to get ground balls off the wings.
Pat Laconi, M—Laconi teams up with fellow Loyola Greyhound Josh Hawkins to remake the defensive midfield unit which brought a National Championship to Loyola in 2012. Laconi made his MLL debut on May 30 and did not record a significant statistic but he will make his presence known in the transition game. He had close to 30 caused turnovers in college this year and should be able to take a turnover and spark transition.
Henry Lobb, D—Lobb is a physical defender that is not afraid to get after the ball carrier. Lobb had one ground ball in his debut on May 30 and has not played in a game since. He will, however, be able to play both down low for the Hounds as well as at LSM if they so choose.
Ohio Machine
Tom Schreiber, M—Schreiber doesn’t seem to be having trouble putting up points for the Machine after starring at Princeton. In four games this season, he has seven goals and two assists for a total of nine points thus far. His combination of size and athletiscism has helped him succeed at the next level and he has teamed up nicely with Peter Baum and Kyle Harrison to help the Machine present one of the more potent offenses in the league.
