It is one of the highest honors you can receive as an athlete in any sport, the right to represent your country on a national stage. Last night at 8 p.m. on The Lacrosse Network, the 30 men who would represent Team USA this summer at the FIL Championship in Denver was announced as part of the final episode of the Road to the Rockies series.
There were some surprises (one faceoff guy and three goalies) and some no-brainers (Paul Rabil and Lee Zink). Below is a position-by-position breakdown of the team and what to expect from them come July.
Attack
This group is probably the youngest on the team. Three players (Rob Pannell, Garrett Thul and Marcus Holman) were all rookies last season in the MLL and Steele Stanwick is only a couple of years removed from the college scene. Meanwhile, Mundorf, Crotty and Leveille provide the experience.
I think there is a nice mix of guys who can quarterback the offense and guys who can just bring the heat from the outside. Crotty, Pannell and Stanwick are the “quarterbacks” of this group with Crotty being the best of the bunch. He might not be as quick as Pannell is, but he can operate the offense just as efficiently and will likely start on attack because of previous experience.
As for the “young guns,’ Holman and Thul can absolutely bring it from the outside while veterans Kevin Leveille and Brendan Munforf will cause nightmares for opponents who lose either of them off ball for even the slightest second.
Last note, no Matt Danowski?! He had 49 points this last season! You can’t tell me Steele Stanwick is a better quarterback-type than him. Even Pannell is a push.
Midfield
Personally, I was shocked by David Lawson and Kevin Buchanan making the team. I thought Jeremy Sieverts and Matt Striebel would make it over them but hey, that’s why I’m just an analyst.
Based on the choices of everyone here, a lot of these guys are versatile, which is what head coach Richie Meade and his staff wanted, especially with only a 23 man roster. Rabil and Seibald both have the ability to break down a defense as well as bring the heat from the outside. Drew Snider is more of a “spot up” shooter, to borrow a basketball term, and can really stretch the defense.
As for JoJo Marasco and Matt Mackrides, I think both will be effective in playing both offense and defense if they get caught in transition. Marasco was really impressive during the Champion Challenge and has a good sense of the game.
David Lawson is an interesting choice. He provides a real aggression on his dodges and should be interesting to watch from up top. Meanwhile, Kevin Buchanan will cause havoc off-ball and should be lethal on the inside.
Defensive Midfield
Matt Abbott was a lock. Everyone who has watched lacrosse knew it. He is great on defense, great in transition and very capable on offense if opponents decide not to stop the ball as he comes down the field. Dan Burns is a feisty guy who should provide some grit to the unit. Joining them is teammate Jeff Reynolds. All three play for the Chesapeake Bayhawks and maybe the continuity of knowing how each plays is something that Coach Meade likes. He probably didn’t want to have three separate guys chosen and then have them have to learn how to play with each other.
The most interesting choice is putting Kyle Harrison on the defensive midfield unit. I don’t know if Coach Meade wanted him on offense and chose to put him here because he had the roster spot or if he really thinks Harrison is a defensive midfielder. No one has really had the luxury of seeing him against other MLL players because he plays in the LXM Pro Tour, which means he plays every once in a while. So it will be interesting how his body holds up over the course of the week.
Faceoff
Probably the biggest shocker. Only one guy?! Chris Eck from the Boston Cannons is the lucky man. If Greg Gurenlian wasn’t hurt they would’ve taken two I’m guessing, or maybe they would’ve picked Gurenlian. But it does beg the question, what happens if he gets hurt or is getting dominated by other faceoff guys? Maybe that’s why Kyle Harrison is on the team? I don’t know I’m scratching my head still.
Defense
The most notable selection was Joe Fletcher. Based on the interview my co-host Brendan Staudt and I had with assistant coach Kevin Cassese on MLL Roundtable and the Road to the Rockies video, it doesn’t come as a shock. Everyone was raving about him and how he did all the little things well. It is still interesting to see him make it, especially since HE IS STILL IN COLLEGE!
Anyway, Jesse Bernhardt and Brian Karalunas were not shocks to me. Both guys have incredible versatility in playing down low or up top. Karalunas is better up top and could split time with Bernhardt or Kyle Hartzell for the LSM duties.
Meanwhile, Lee Zink was a no-brainer and Tucker Durkin and Michael Evans will be feasting on defender’s hands down low. The shock to me was Mitch Belisle or even Hartzell making it over guys like Brett Schmidt or Brian Farrell. Schmidt is better in my opinion down low and Farrell is more versatile up top than Hartzell and better in transition.
Goalie
Honestly, another head scratcher. Three goalies?! You need that many instead of an extra faceoff guy? What are they afraid is going to happen? Drew Adams and John Galloway were locks to make the roster. They were clearly the best goalies in the Champion Challenge.
But Andrew, Jesse Schwartzman was the best goalie last season! My response, yea I know. However, he didn’t play well in the Challenge and the knock on him is him not showing up in big spots, you know, like this year’s MLL Championship Weekend.
Conclusion
To be clear, no one on this roster is a bad player at all. Charlotte Hounds head coach Mike Cerino echoed that sentiment on MLL Roundtable earlier this week. A lot of it has to do with scheme and the style of play that Coach Meade wants to play in. Nonetheless, the roster is set for Denver and hopes are high for Team USA as they go for the repeat at the FIL Championships.
Last note, for those scoring at home, I was 21/30 on predictions. 70 percent is ok, right? At least I have four years to hone my prediction skills.
