With two games left in the regular season, the New York Lizards have already clinched the league’s best record heading into the playoffs.
Regardless, head coach Joe Spallina said he won’t be resting fully healthy players.
“The focal point of our group from day one has been about the finish line,” Spallina said on Wednesday during the MLL coaches’ conference call. “And we realize there are things that need to be accomplished on our way to the finish line, but I think the championship is the only goal that we have.”
With that said, having the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs isn’t a bad perk either for the Lizards. But to discuss New York’s dominant 2015 campaign, it must start in the offseason. In the MLL’s biggest acquisition this past winter, the Lizards brought in Paul Rabil, arguably the best player in the league. And right off the bat, it paid dividends.
Pairing Rabil with an already explosive offense that includes attack Rob Pannell, the first overall pick in the 2012 draft, have pushed the Lizards to averaging a league-high 15.3 goals per game. Add in stellar performances from Drew Adams in net and Greg Gurenlian at the faceoff X and you have all the makings of the favorite to win the Steinfeld Cup at season’s end.
Even considering the high expectations entering the year, the Lizards’ 8-0 start to the season was still eye-catching. But it came with a catch. They’d have a target on their back. Every team New York would play would be looking to give the Lizards their first blemish of the season.
And exactly that happened — twice. In a row.
In late June, the Lizards fell to the Charlotte Hounds by one and to the Florida Launch by four. Though Spallina said he doesn’t think losing is good, the team learned a few lessons with four regular-season games left.
“We learned what makes us work and what doesn’t,” Spallina said. “I think we learned that Paul Rabil should be a strong consideration for MVP of Major League Lacrosse. I think that we learned that losing is a bad feeling in the locker room.”
Spallina added that he noticed a different edge to his team in the past couple weeks since losing to the Hounds and the Launch, something that could ultimately help the Lizards heading into the playoffs.
The Lizards responded to the back-to-back losses with back-to-back wins. The Lizards now sit at 10-2 in the league’s first place, where they will finish the season against Ohio and Denver before they set their sights solely on a championship while no longer dealing with the added stress of an undefeated record.
“I think we learned that we’re mortal,” Spallina said. “And I think that’s good.”
