There may be no figure in the sport of lacrosse that has contributed more to the growth of the game than University of Denver head coach Bill Tierney. Tierney’s surprise move west in 2009 was capped off last month when his Pioneers won the 2015 National Championship. The preseason #1 team in the nation, Denver had a couple roadblocks (losses to North Carolina and Ohio State), but ended the season…
NCAA Year In Review: End Of Season Awards
In the final part of my Year In Review series, it’s time to give out awards to honor the best of this college lacrosse season. So let’s get started. Best Team: Denver Pioneers Need I explain for the National Champions? Best Team Besides Denver: Notre Dame Fighting Irish If it weren’t for a Matt Kavanagh injury that made him probably slow down during the NCAA Tournament, they probably would have…
2015 Houston MLL All Star Game Rosters
This season’s “MLL Ultimate Fan” winners, Hayden MacArthur and Ethan Sorkin, participated in a playground style draft earlier today (Friday night), which determined both the team names and the opposing rosters for Saturday’s MLL All-Star Game. Just before the draft the Ultimate Fans revealed that they wanted to both name the teams after their hometown high school mascots of Coppell, TX (Cowboys) and Alpharetta, GA (Gladiators). Here are the results of the draft……
2015 MLL All Star Game: What to Watch For
When you take a moment to think about it, what can really be said to preview an All-Star game? Almost regardless of the sport under examination, All-Star games are an exhibition of offensive skill. Sure, defenders are invited to show up, but really this is their moment to shine on the other half of the field. I’ll admit to writing this on Friday afternoon before the teams have been picked…
MLL At the Break: Rochester Rattlers
With the MLL All-Star break coming up, now is a time to look back at the Rochester Rattlers’ opening half of the 2015 MLL season. Last year’s runner up in the 2014 MLL Championship game against the Denver Outlaws in Kennesaw, Georgia, the Rattlers (5 – 3) are currently tied for second overall in the league with the Ohio Machine (5 – 3). Six Rattlers will be representing the team…
MLL All-Stars: Breaking Down the Attack
The MLL All-Star game always comes at a strange time in the lacrosse calendar. Several NLL stars have yet to log significant minutes, and most rookies have done the same assuming they have even seen the field. But, the great thing about the MLL is there is so much talent on the field that it is hard to argue that the All-Star selections do not represent the best in the…
NCAA Year In Review: Top Ten Goaltenders
In part four of my year in review series, we take a look at the top goaltenders in the 2015 NCAA season. Goaltenders, in my opinion, are the most important player on a lacrosse team. They are the last line of defense, and a great one can decide if teams win close games or not. Tom Carey – Ohio State Ohio State was an up-and-down team for most of the…
NLL Trade Grades: Ethan O’Connor for Brock Sorensen
This NLL offseason, we will be examining some of the trades that shaped the 2015 season. The Toronto Rock and Minnesota Swarm had vastly different paths in 2015. Minnesota, despite several first round picks, missed the playoffs once again and then they moved to Georgia. Toronto fought through adversity and injury to become the top seeded team in the NLL playoffs and become the eastern representative in the finals. In…
MLL Rookie Report: Week Ten
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…
Revisiting the 2014 NLL Draft
With the Edmonton Rush claiming their first National Lacrosse League title last weekend, with a 11-10 win over the Toronto Rock, it put a stamp on the 2015 season. With that being said, it’s time to revisit 2014 NLL draft, and see just what impact the 2014 draft class had on the NLL this season. With so few active roster spots in the NLL these days, finding yourself in the…