The Rochester Rattlers are one of the more unlikely clubs to make it to an MLL championship game in the past few seasons. After not even making a playoff appearence since their championship in 2008, Rochester has emerged as one of, if not the, best teams in the league.
The Rattlers played to a number one seed this season, even knocking off the perenial powerhouse Denver Outlaws who slumped in the second half to the second seed. Now those two teams who have competed all season long will have a battle on their hands in the final.
How exactly did the Rattlers emerge as this team? Their roster is very young and full of inexperieince, but in lacrosse more often than not, youth can bring a winner to a team. The speed and skill of the Rattlers, along with their hungry and physical defense, have been what has led them to this point.
In this year’s draft back in January, the Ratz drafted Jordan Wolf second overall who had the second most points for a rookie this season behind Florida’s Kiern McArdle. From there they added Miles and Ty Thompson and John Locascio all of which have been contributors this season, especially Miles, who broke out in the last week of the season with six goals.
But it’s not just the 2014 draft that shaped this young roster. The 2013 draft the year before also added difference makers such as John Ranagan who has become one of their better defenders. 2012 saw the addition of Mike Manley who has become an elite MLL defender.
Rochester is a young team with a lot of upside, and they can thank the draft for a lot of their success. The question becomes, how do the young players handle their first championship game?
