Welcome to #BestOfLax. Help us celebrate the past year of lacrosse by voting in 15 polls spread over the course of December. All voting will be conducted on Twitter (@usalacrossemag), and fans will have 24 hours to let their voices be heard.
For more information — including upcoming categories, rules and more — check out our introductory post to #BestOfLax.
When it comes to crunch time, some players can just get it done.
When push comes to shove, you want the ball in their sticks. Or you want them facing down the opposing attack with a chance to lock down a win with a save. Either way, these players were the top of charts in 2021 when it came to securing victories in exciting fashion.
Here are the nominees for Best in Clutch.
— USA Lacrosse Magazine (@USALacrosseMag) December 2, 2021
For those players who just naturally have the clutch gene . VOTE NOW in our #BestOfLax poll to determine the ultimate clutch player from 2021.
NOMINEES: https://t.co/PcKE4E2Y1c
BEST IN CLUTCH
For those players who just naturally have the clutch gene.
JOE ROBERTSON, DUKE
The King of Clutch for the Blue Devils, Robertson scored five game-winning goals in 2021 — including three in overtime. In his three-year career, the attackman has scored 10 game-winners. Talk about cool under pressure.
ALI BAIOCCO, STANFORD
Baiocco went on a torrid stretch in April and was a star in 2021, scoring four game-winning goals on the season. On April 16 against an upstart Arizona State team, she had four goals and three assists in a wild 22-21 win. She scored eight goals — including the tying and winning goals in the final 2:07 — to keep Stanford’s record perfect with a thrilling 16-15 win over USC two days later.
RACHEL HALL, BOSTON COLLEGE
The Boston College goalie saved two of her best performance for Championship Weekend, making 10 saves apiece against North Carolina and Syracuse to help lead the Eagles to their first national championship in program history. Hall had 11 games with double-digit saves in 2021.
QUINN COMMANDANT, RIT
Commandant’s best game of the season came in the national championship game, a contest in which he notched seven points and scored the tying goal with 12 seconds left in regulation. His previous season high in points was five (which he accomplished twice).