PLL Playoffs Get Underway
This past weekend, the Premier Lacrosse League got their first round of the playoffs underway in a Labor Day triple header of games. The Chaos and Redwoods got things going in a match up that looked close on paper, however the Redwoods came out with a six point victory to advance to the semifinals where they will face the top seeded Archers. In the second game, the Whipsnakes would take on the Waterdogs in a rematch of a semifinal game last season and it was the Waterdogs that came out on top once again in a 15-12 win. The Waterdogs would await the winner of the third game in which was played between the Atlas and the Cannons. And just like during the regular season, it was the Cannons that would win in a dominating nine goal win 20-11.
Next week’s semifinals matchups will consist of 13 total players that graduated from schools in Maryland. The University of Maryland leads the way with six of the 13 while Loyola, Johns Hopkins, and Towson all have players representing this weekend as well.
The players on the Archers are Connor DeSimone and Cam Wyers. DeSimone has only appeared on the Archers gameday roster twice this season recording one goal, and one ground ball in those games. Wyers on the other hand, has appeared in five games for the Archers this season recording four caused turnovers and five ground balls, as well as a goal. The Archers will be taking on the Redwoods who have three players from schools in Maryland. Isaiah Davis-Allen and Anthony DeMaio who are both from the University of Maryland and Romar Dennis who is from Loyola. Dennis was a late season acquisition for the Redwoods who arrived in a trade with the Atlas. Since arriving with the Redwoods, Dennis has recorded three goals, including one two point goal, and three assists so far. DeMaio has only appeared in four games so far for the Redwoods recording a goal and a ground ball. Isaiah Davis-Allen however has appeared in every game for the Redwoods and is a captain of the squad. Davis-Allen has two caused turnovers and 13 ground balls as a short-stick defensive midfielder.
In the other semifinal match up, there will be a total of eight players from Maryland schools. The Cannons have five of their own in Jonathan Donville and Bubba Fairman from the University of Maryland, Ryan Drenner and Zach Goodrich from Towson, and Matt Rees from Navy. Sadly in the last week of the regular season, Rees tore a ligament in his knee and is out for the rest of the season. Donville and Drenner are the two biggest threats from the offensive midfield for the Cannons. Drenner leads their midfield with 16 points and seven assists while Donville is second with 12 goals and 11 assists. Goodrich has appeared in all 11 of the Cannons games this season recording an assist and four caused turnovers, while Fairman is the top short stick defensive midfielder in the PLL in caused turnovers with 15. Fairman also has recorded five assists on the season as well. For the Waterdogs, they have Jake Higgins and Connor Kelly who are both from the University of Maryland, and they also have Alex Mazzone who is from Johns Hopkins. Kelly is one of the Waterdogs’ top offensive midfielders. He has 11 goals and one assist on the season including being one of the best two point shooters in the league. Higgins is a part of a stout Waterdogs short stick midfielder group. He has recorded two goals, an assist, and five caused turnovers on the season. Mazzone is third for the Waterdogs defense with 14 ground balls on the season while also recording two caused turnovers.
Both games will be on Sunday and are being played in Hampstead, NY at Shuart Stadium where Hofstra University plays. The Archers vs Redwoods will be on ABC and ESPN+ at 3 PM EST while the Waterdogs vs Cannons will only be on ESPN+ at 5:30 PM EST.
