The Season Thus Far:
Wins: 7 Losses: 5 Games Back: 3 HOME: 4-2 AWAY: 3-3
The Rochester Rattlers proved just how tough they are this past week with a big win over Chesapeake at home. A very strong faceoff game with various scorers in Lawson, Staats, Matthews, and Rice helped lead Rochester to a win over them and the team that swept them in 2014 in the Ohio Machine the week prior. The decision to alternate between rookie Kevin Rice and Jordan Wolf from behind the cage and up-top with strong midfield play gave the Chesapeake defense fits while trying to do its best to shut down the team’s leading scorer in Jordan Wolf.
The Offense
Wolf himself has cooled down production-wise as of late. Scoring a grand total of six goals in the last four games, where he had five in the Boston win before the All-Star break, the former League leader in scoring has had a combination of defenses figuring him out and the emergence of other players limiting his touches. One of those players is rookie Kevin Rice. The Syracuse standout has had a brilliant MLL debut. With each game, Kevin Rice is becoming more and more comfortable with his position on the field, and Coach Soudan has noticed, putting him at his natural, quarterback position in the last game against Chesapeake. Rice responded well while he alternated with Jordan Wolf, scoring a hat trick in that game, including the game winner. Mark Matthews has also been fantastic for the Rattlers. Coming off a championship season with the Edmonton Rush in the NLL, the extremely skilled and highly touted Canadian out of the University of Denver has been a matchup problem for most defenders that he’s been facing. The new John Grant Jr., Matthews has had multiple goal games in every contest since being inserted into the lineup for the Rattlers.
Meanwhile, the midfield has been fantastic for the Rattlers. Dave Lawson and Jordan MacIntosh have moved up the ranks in scoring within the team, both behind only Jordan Wolf in overall points. Lawson himself has been a revelation, leading the team in scoring with five in the last game against Chesapeake. Working like the Jordan Wolf of the midfield, Lawson’s ability to initiate from up top gives the Rattlers so many options in the six-on-six. Instead of being pure dodgers and scorers, the midfield has been better at creating for the Rattlers, setting picks and finding off-ball cutters in order for Rochester to score better, higher percentage shots.
A Look Inside:
WPCT: .583 GF: 157 2ptGF: 6 GA: 158 2ptGA: 6
The Defense
In the MLL Coaches Call this week, I asked Coach Soudan about the inconsistences in net with John Galloway. His answer revealed to me that his inconsistencies in net were mirroring the inconsistencies on the team. From roster changes to new close defense and defensive midfield personnel, Galloway’s ability to perform rests heavily on the team, and that how the team goes impacts his play as well. However, in Coach Soudan’s own words on how John fares in the coming weeks, “He’s getting more comfortable,” so the best news is that his 17-save performance against Chesapeake this past week is just the start for the 2014 Warrior Goalie of the Year heading into the post, on his quest for a championship ring.
Speaking of Rochester’s defensive personnel, with Mike Manley out of the lineup for the season, Joe LoCascio and Joel White have really stepped up in order to push the defense forward. No really. Outside of just traditional defensive work—mostly covered by Lade—White and LoCascio have been more involved with the offense, particularly in transition, with LoCascio himself having four goals and a two-pointer. The versatility of Joel White is becoming more and more evident with each game. The runaway favorite to succeed the legend in Brodie Merrill, White’s ability on the wings and in transition, even winning a faceoff himself, along with his amazing stick skills and groundball work, has been a big part in Rochester’s hard-fought wins.
Joel White: 2 goals, 3 assists, 53 groundballs, 1-2 FO
John LoCascio: 4 goals, 1 2ptG, 48 groundballs
The special teams for Rochester have not been great on the season. In the last time out, they shot 1-4, which is astounding considering the heavy box lacrosse concentrated players on the squad. Meanwhile, probably the biggest defensive help for the Rattlers might come nowhere near the defense, but at the FO spot. Mike Poppleton has been the answer for Rochester runs at times this season. Going 19-31 in the last game while also scoring a goal, if Poppleton can continue to win faceoffs, while also get great help from Joel White on the wings, Rochester can keep the opposing team’s offense out of sync for long stretches of time, allowing Galloway and the rest of the defense to either rest or pick apart enemy possessions.
Defensively, with Galloway starting to settle in, the Rattlers should be able to go up against top opposing offenses with better confidence. The games against Charlotte and Florida are not only great tests for them, but can put them in a potential 9-5 season ending spot, just a game shy of their 10-4 record last season.
