Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Location: Torero Stadium, San Diego, California
Justin’s Picks finally found a little momentum last weekend, finishing with a 2-2 record and proving that maybe—just maybe—the ship is starting to turn. The season record still has plenty of room for improvement, but there have been some encouraging trends. The Redwoods continue to reward my faith as one of the hottest teams in the PLL, the Atlas surprised everyone by sweeping their Long Island weekend, and Brennan O’Neill has emerged as one of the league’s most unstoppable players. Now the action shifts to San Diego, where the Redwoods face another challenging doubleheader, Boston begins a new chapter after the surprising (kind of?) release of Asher Nolting, and several teams look to separate themselves as we approach the halfway point of the season. Let’s see if Week 6 can finally be the week Justin’s Picks climbs above .500… at least for one weekend.
Season Stats
PLL – 8-11
WLL – 0-4
Worst Prediction from Week 1:
The Whipsnakes over the Atlas. On paper, it made perfect sense—Maryland was rested, New York was playing its second game in two days, and the Atlas are still adjusting to a year without Jeff Teat. Instead, New York showed a ton of resilience and swept the weekend.
Best Prediction from Week 1:
Redwoods over Archers. California continues to be my hottest pick.
Saturday, June 27
Maryland Whipsnakes vs. Denver Outlaws – 4:00 PM EDT
Winner: Denver Outlaws
I’m taking the Outlaws in what I think is the marquee matchup of the weekend. Denver has quietly rounded into form after a slow start, and it all starts with Brennan O’Neill, who continues to look like one of the most dominant offensive players in the PLL. With Logan Wisnauskas, Jared Bernhardt, and a deep supporting cast around him, the Outlaws have the firepower to challenge any defense in the league. Maryland remains one of the PLL’s toughest teams, and the addition of Joey Spallina has only made the Whipsnakes more dangerous. His confidence continues to grow each week, giving Maryland another dynamic playmaker alongside veterans Rob Pannell and TJ Malone. Still, Denver feels like the hotter team entering this weekend. Brennan O’Neill has been nearly unstoppable, and the Outlaws’ offense is beginning to click at the right time. If Denver can continue to push the pace and capitalize on its scoring opportunities, I think the Outlaws have just enough firepower to hand Maryland a tough loss.
Boston Cannons vs. California Redwoods – 8:30 PM EDT
Winner: California Redwoods
I’m sticking with the Redwoods because they’ve been one of the most consistent teams in the PLL all season, while Boston is suddenly facing more questions than answers. The Cannons made the surprising decision to release two-time All-Pro attackman Asher Nolting, signaling a major shift for an offense that has struggled to find its identity all year. While Boston still has proven scorers like Marcus Holman and Matt Campbell, losing a player of Nolting’s caliber puts even more pressure on the rest of the lineup to produce. California, meanwhile, continues to play balanced lacrosse on both ends of the field. The Redwoods have won by controlling possessions, playing disciplined defense, and getting contributions from across the roster rather than relying on one superstar. They’ve rewarded my confidence all season, and until someone proves they can consistently slow them down, I’m staying on the California bandwagon. I expect Boston to compete, but I think the Redwoods continue their impressive run with another statement win.
New York Charging vs. California Palms – 11:00 PM EDT
Winner: New York Charging
I’m taking the Charging in this one, but I’ll admit the WLL has been much tougher to predict in its inaugural season than I expected. With every team still establishing its identity, there are surprises almost every weekend. That said, New York has shown the ability to make adjustments and find ways to win, and I like the balance they’ve displayed early in the season. The Palms certainly have the talent to pull off the upset, but I’m giving a slight edge to the Charging in what should be another entertaining WLL matchup.
Sunday, June 28
Philadelphia Waterdogs vs. Utah Archers – 4:00 PM EDT
Winner: Utah Archers
I’m taking the Archers in what I expect to be the grittiest and fastest-paced game of the weekend. Both teams like to push the tempo and create offense in transition, so don’t be surprised if this one turns into a back-and-forth battle from the opening faceoff. The Waterdogs have plenty of firepower and continue to get stronger with a healthy roster, but Utah’s championship experience gives them the edge in a game that could come down to a handful of possessions. The Archers have been tested all season, and I think that resilience shows up here. Expect big runs from both teams, plenty of highlight-reel goals, and a game that’s entertaining from start to finish—but I’m giving the nod to Utah in a close one.
Carolina Chaos vs. California Redwoods – 9:00 PM EDT
Winner: California Redwoods
I’m taking the Redwoods to complete the weekend sweep because they’ve been one of the steadiest teams in the PLL from opening weekend to now. Even with the challenge of playing twice in San Diego, California has shown it can win with disciplined defense, strong faceoff play, and a balanced offense that doesn’t rely on one player having a career day. Carolina’s physical style will make this a battle, and the Chaos are always capable of slowing the pace and frustrating opponents. But if the Redwoods can carry momentum from Saturday’s matchup with Boston, I like them to wear Carolina down over four quarters. It won’t be pretty, and it certainly won’t be easy, but California has earned my trust this season—and I think they leave San Diego with two more wins.