With the attention of the lacrosse world on the World Lacrosse Championships in Denver (rightfully so), it’s easy to forget that Major League Lacrosse returns to action this weekend. Rochester travels to Chesapeake on Thursday night for the first MLL game in 12 days. Two games are set for Saturday while Florida travels to Denver on Sunday.
Many wonder why games are scheduled during the world championships. I don’t know the answer, but I will praise the league for not having games during the first week of these championships and defend them for having games now.
Ideally, there would be no games at all, but it’s easier said than done. Many times, a schedule is determined in advance. I try and look at the positives of the situation. Because some players are still with their countries at the world championships, that will give opportunities to many looking to make their mark in the MLL – practice squad players who wouldn’t necessarily dress on game day. Keep in mind, this league features only eight teams and for as many quality players on the game day roster, there are that many more who are clamoring for an opportunity. This setup will give several of those players the opportunity they’re looking for. You never know, they may even turn this chance into a successful MLL career.
Each team is affected, so one team won’t be at an advantage over another. Take Rochester at Chesapeake as one example. Most notably, the Rattlers will be missing Jordan MacIntosh, Kevin Leveille, Dave Lawson, Miles Thompson and Mark Matthews. The Bayhawks will be missing Brendan Mundorf, Matt Abbott, Jesse Bernhardt and Dan Burns, among others. These are definitely some outstanding players, but both teams’ leading scorers will be available – Justin Turri of Rochester and Joe Walters of Chesapeake. So there won’t be a lack of talent on display Thursday night.
Again, it’s not an ideal setup because you’d like the teams to be at full strength with each game meaning so much for playoff positioning, but these rosters are so talented, that (a) it gives some players that opportunity they’ve been clamoring for and (b) each team is affected, so no one should be at a significant competitive disadvantage.
Taking the entire world championships off and playing more midweek games sounds like an easy answer, but the fact that MLL players have full-time jobs makes it difficult to schedule midweek games. The league needs to schedule 14 regular season games each summer. Scheduling is likely the crux of the issue.
Ten games into the season and with four games remaining, the standings are as tight as can be. Only three games separate first and seventh place with even eight-place Chesapeake still hopeful for a playoff berth. The Bayhawks are just two games behind Boston for fourth place and by winning out, they would give themselves a legitimate chance to defend their championship.
Rochester is the surprise story of the season, standing tied for first (with Denver) at 7-3 while New York is 6-4 and Boston 5-5. Ohio, Charlotte and Florida are all 4-6 and still very much alive. There will be so many storylines over these final few weeks. Who earns the top seed? It will also be interesting to see who earns the #2 seed, which is ever-important now with the top seeds hosting semifinal games. Who clinches the last two playoff spots?
Every team still has a chance to finish anywhere from first through eighth place, pretty incredible considering the season is 71 percent complete. Parity is certainly alive in Major League Lacrosse. This should be a wild last few weeks and even better playoffs in August.
