Since Sandy Brown took over as Major League Lacrosse commissioner, the discussion has been about a new beginning for the league, an “MLL 2.0” as league officials have dubbed it.
The 2019 season is the dawn of that new era, and there are plenty of changes in store.
Not only does the league have a new literal face, rebranding with a new logo — red and blue with a white silhouette of a player in movement, similar in color to that of the NBA, NFL, and MLB — there are also new metaphorical faces.
With the advent of the Premier Lacrosse League, many perennial MLL All-Stars — such as Paul Rabil, Kyle Harrison, Tom Schreiber and Will Manny — will no longer play in Major League Lacrosse. Those fan favorites left huge holes in their respective former teams’ rosters, but the old sports cliché is “next man up.”
Moreover, three MLL teams have ceased operations. Where there are openings, MLL league and team officials are confident new players will rise to the occasion.
“We have diamonds in the rough that haven’t had that opportunity,” Atlanta Blaze coach Liam Banks said. “Lacrosse has grown so much. There are so many good players. The opportunities are out there for superstars.”
For our season preview, we’ve identified a face of the franchise, MVP frontunner and under-the-radar player from each of the remaining six teams. The MLL season opens May 31, when the New York Lizards host the Denver Outlaws.
New York Lizards
2018 record: 8-6 (lost in semifinals)
Head coach: B.J. O’Hara (1st year)
Face of the Franchise
Mark Matthews, A
The former first-round pick is a big target that makes an impact whenever he steps on the field. In 40 career games, he’s scored 86 goals and totaled 120 points, averaging three points a game. There is still more Matthews has to offer, as well, since he has never played more than nine games in a season due to the NLL and MLL overlap. He’s expecting a big year in his first season back in New York since 2013.
“I am definitely excited to be back playing in New York,” Matthews said on New York’s website. “Getting to play with the reigning MVP and a hell of a player in Rob Pannell will be fun. I’m excited. He likes to throw the ball inside and has great vision. I’m excited to score a lot of goals.”
Draft List
Jack Tigh, M, Yale
John Daniggelis, M, Yale
Connor Farrell, FO, LIU Post
Danny Dolan, G, Maryland
Decker Curran, M, Michigan
Brendan Kearns, A, Providence *
Mark Elliss, SSDM, Hofstra
Quintin Germain, D, Boston University *
Joey Sessa, M, Yale
Nick Spillane, M, Penn State
* signed contracts
MVP Watch
Rob Pannell, A
Many of the top MLL players are now playing in the PLL, and the Lizards roster was hit hard, but they still have the 2018 MLL MVP playing for them. Last season, he broke his own scoring record, scoring 78 points (even after missing one game for the world championship with Team USA). He led the league in goals, assists and points. He should take advantage of some inexperienced defenses in 2019.
Under the Radar
Justin Reh, A
The Lizards are lucky to have two strong attackmen returning, and they will receive a lot of attention. That should help Reh, a seventh-round pick in the 2018 draft. He played in only three games as a rookie in 2018, but at Albany, he graduated ninth in career assists. Reh is used to being the third man on an attack unit and going unnoticed. He played alongside Connor Fields and Tehoka Nanticoke last year.