Rookies are continuing to make their mark in Major League Lacrosse. It’s hard enough to crack a gameday roster (as evident by the relatively few who have played), but those who are playing are continuing to contribute.
The Florida Launch continue to feature several rookies, led by Lyle Thompson who tallied one goal and three assists in last Friday’s 18-11 loss at undefeated New York. Thompson has recorded multiple points in each of his first three MLL games, posting four, two then three points. Meanwhile, Chad Tutton of North Carolina and Connor Buczek of Cornell each scored their first professional goals. Buczek’s was a two-point goal to pull the Launch within 14-11 with 6:12 still remaining. Casey Ikeda of Maryland also had a groundball while Pat Frazier of Loyola had three groundballs.
A pair of rookie North Carolina attackmen squared off in Friday’s Ohio at Charlotte game as Jimmy Bitter scored a goal to lead his Machine to a 14-12 win. Joey Sankey continued his strong play for the Hounds, scoring twice and adding two assists. He’s recorded eight, six then four points over his first three Major League Lacrosse games. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 collegiate draft, Will Haus of Duke, tallied two groundballs.
In Chesapeake’s big 15-12 win over Denver Saturday, Matt Donovan of Cornell scored with just one second remaining in the first quarter, making it 4-0 Bayhawks.
The weekend wrapped up with Rochester’s 13-6 win over Boston, led by rookie Kevin Rice of Syracuse. Rice finished with two goals and two assists, coming alive after a one-goal effort in his professional debut. Rice helped set the tone by assisting on the game’s first goal and scoring the second goal. First-round pick Jack Near of Notre Dame also scored his first-career goal for the Rattlers. On the other side, Tyler German of Virginia scooped three groundballs for the Cannons.
No rookies will be in action this weekend at the Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game, but they’ll look to contribute as their teams head down the stretch of the regular season.
