Tim Yilmaz, Beat Writer New York Lizards
Lacrosse is Awesome
Hey Lax nation the MLL regular season has come to a close and the battle for MLL supremacy is down to four. Ohio vs. Charlotte; and New York vs. Denver have made it to the final four, so here’s my Lizards—Outlaws playoff preview for the second semi-final game which will be played Saturday August 13th in Fairfield, CT.
The Lizards limp into the semi-finals having lost two straight and five of their last seven games. The Outlaws have been hot winning six straight games to make the dance. A little over a month ago the Lizards were in the driver’s seat sitting pretty with a 6-1 record and the Outlaws were all but out of the playoff picture sitting at 2-6. Fast forward to today with both sitting at 8-6 with the teams splitting their two regular season meetings.
The Lizards boast the league’s most potent offense. Rob Pannell; Paul Rabil; and Dave Lawson lead this dangerous unit. The Lizards have scored a league high 218 goals through 14 games. Rob Pannell set a new record for points in a season with 74; and Paul Rabil is right behind him with 72. Once this train gets rolling it’s hard to stop. However, the Lizards have given up a league high 226 goals through 14 games. Drew Adams and company have struggled all season long. The defensive unit had shown signs of life prior to the Ohio Machine game, playing well in wins over Rochester and Chesapeake and even in the OT loss to Boston the defense played well. In the regular season finale against Ohio the problems defending off ball and defending the two-man game resurfaced. Greg “The Beast” Gurenlian, who won MLL MVP honors last season for winning 70% of his face-offs, has battled injuries most of the year and has only gone 263-457 at the face-off dot this season.
As for Denver the season turned around with the arrival of some young guns in Bailey Tills; Jack Kelly; and Matt Kavanagh. Jack Kelly has picked up right where he left off at Brown, making big time saves. The All-American has started seven games Denver has gone 6-1 in his starts. Matt Kavanagh and Bailey Tills have jump started the Outlaw offense by playing fast and furious. Wes Berg entered the fold once his NLL season came to a close and things have been clicking since then.
There’s an old saying that the regular season stats get thrown out once the play-offs begin. Well the Lizards are in the dance and have a fresh start. However, if they slip up there is no next week. The Lizards have the edge over the Outlaws with their experience and star studded roster. However, the New York offense can only do so much. Defense wins championships and the Lizards defense of Joe Fletcher; Kyle Hartzell; Kyle Sweeney; Steven Holmes; Brian Spallina; and Drew Adams must step up their play in order to reach the finals.
My prediction: Lizards 15—Outlaws 13
Tim Yilmaz, Beat Writer New York Lizards
Lacrosse is Awesome.