The Team USA roster is expected to be released tonight at 8 pm on The Lacrosse Network’s YouTube channel in their conclusion of the Road to the Rockies. As the timing gets closer, here is my list of who should be taken for the 30 guys to represent Team USA this summer at the 2014 FIL Championship in Denver, Colorado.
Attack (6)
Matt Danowski, Charlotte Hounds
Marcus Holman, Ohio Machine
Kevin Leveille, Rochester Rattlers
Steele Stanwick, Ohio Machine
Garrett Thul, Hamilton Nationals
Drew Westervelt, Chesapeake Bayhawks
Holman and Thul were unbelievable on Sunday. I thought heading in that they would be on the bubble and they both put themselves squarely onto the team. Holman has a great outside shot and Thul is a big guy who can provide some physicality and can also stretch the defense with his shot.
Stanwick and Danowski are both similar with their styles as they are more quarterback type players which is what will be needed to get the ball to so many offensive threats. Leveille gets the final spot for me as he will be valuable to work the inside of the defense on the crease and can finish anywhere. Note the crazy goal he had on Sunday when he somehow caught the ball and finished while draped by three defenders and falling down.
Midfield (8)
Ned Crotty, Rochester Rattlers
JoJo Marasco, New York Lizards
Matt Mackrides, Chesapeake Bayhawks
Paul Rabil, Boston Cannons
Max Seibald, New York Lizards
Jeremy Sieverts, Denver Outlaws
Drew Snider, Denver Outlaws
Matt Striebel, Rochester Rattlers
Marasco really surprised me by making it to the 52-man cutoff but he validated it with his performance on Sunday. He may not be on the active roster but he is definitely going as an alternate. Rabil, Sieverts, Snider and Striebel can all stretch the defense with their powerful shots. Crotty is good at both making his own shot as well as creating shots for others while Mackrides is shifty enough to break down a defense and force the slide.
Defense (6)
Jesse Bernhardt, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Maryland
Tucker Durkin, Hamilton Nationals, Johns Hopkins
Michael Evans, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Johns Hopkins
Joe Fletcher, Loyola
Brian Karalunas, New York Lizards, Villanova
Lee Zink, Denver Outlaws, Maryland
Bernhardt and Karalunas are easy choices for me because they can also play at LSM if need be, which the coaches love. Fletcher may not play a lot or at all because he is young and Coach Meade may have a higher preference to the more seasoned veterans but everyone was raving about how he does all the little things well. I expect him to be an alternate and on the practice roster of 30 out in Denver. As for Zink, Evans and Durkin, I think all will be the starters. Durkin was the only rookie to make the All-Pro team and Zink is the reigning defender of the year.
LSM (2)
Brian Farrell, Boston Cannons
Michael Simon, Denver Outlaws
I’m torn as to picking more than one guy here because the coaches have been preaching versatility throughout the selection process and there are some guys on defense who can play both up top and down low. Therefore, I will only pick two guys but only one will be active.
The starting nod goes to Brian Farrell. He is a great defender and is a threat in the transition game on offense, which is big for the international game. Meanwhile, Michael Simon comes as the alternate as a sound defender who can help out up top.
SSDM (4)
Matt Abbott, Chesapeake Bayhawks
Dan Burns, Chesapeake Bayhawks
Stephen Peyser, New York Lizards
Kevin Drew, Charlotte Hounds
Abbott is a lock for the team as he is the most complete midfielder in the game. He is a great lock down defender and has the speed and offensive capability to move the ball in transition and be a threat as well. Peyser is really versatile and could back up Poppleton and Eck as a faceoff guy if Team USA chooses to only bring one guy for some reason and the coaches have been really preaching versatility throughout this entire process. Burns and Drew get the final spots for me because I like they play in between the lines and both are gritty defenders.
Goalie (2)
Drew Adams, New York Lizards, Penn State
John Galloway, Rochester Rattlers, Syracuse
When Brendan Staudt and I talked to Kevin Cassese, the assistant coach for Team USA and previous player on the team, he said all four guys played well. I am not here to knock Cassese because he is one of the best in the business but I thought that Schwartzman did not play well and that Turner, Galloway and Adams played much better.
All in all, Adams and Galloway get the call here as they were simply outstanding for Team White on Sunday and I really like Galloway’s ability to clear the ball and spark transition for Team USA if chosen ahead of Adams to play.
Faceoff (2)
Chris Eck, Boston Cannons, Colgate
Mike Poppleton, Hamilton Nationals, Johns Hopkins
Greg Gurenlian is hurt and these are the two I am going with. I like the fact that both guys are different in their styles and I think that is going to be big in trying to contend with Canada and Geoff Snider. Eck was just as good as Gurenlian in the MLL last season and Poppleton is really impressing in camp, so give me both those guys to go to Denver this summer.
What do you think? Do you agree with the 30 players I think are heading to Denver? If not, sound off in the comments section below.
