PLL Week 4: Marcus Holman Joins Exclusive Group

MINNEAPOLIS — The Premier Lacrosse League returned from its two-week hiatus because of the World Lacrosse Men’s Championship in style, putting on a show in what has become a Midwestern mainstay for the league each season.

Minnesota came out in full force and was rewarded with a bit of history, some dazzling plays and unique storylines at the faceoff stripe.

“This is a great atmosphere, great venue,” Chaos defenseman Jarrod Neumann said. “The crowd always shows up, it’s always electric. It’s a beautiful day seemingly every time we play here. … In terms of all-around venue, from hotel, to stadium, to crowd, to food, everything else, I think this probably ranks on top of a lot of guys’ on our team’s list.”

HOLMAN REACHES 300

The Cannons continued to prove they aren’t the same team as last season, while one of the major reasons why the group has taken a leap hit a historic milestone.

Marcus Holman reached 300 career goals, and the Cannons got three or more points from seven players in a 19-11 win against the Atlas.

Holman joins elite company. Only three other players have surpassed 300 goals: John Grant Jr., Paul Rabil and Brendan Mundorf.

For Cannons coach Brian Holman, who has already helped the franchise surpass its 2022 wins total, it was special to be part of his son’s moment.

“I got to be able to share this with him,” Brian Holman said. “This is his coach talking and not his dad; I don’t think Marcus gets anywhere near the credit he deserves. He scored 300 goals as a professional, and you never hear his name mentioned like that. But he doesn’t want it that way. He’s a grinder.”

Matt Kavanagh is already a point away from matching his total from last year after a seven-point performance, while Jonathan Donville continued to carve out a role with three goals and an assist.

Asher Nolting had the goal of the night, contorting his body to beat the Atlas’ Drake Porter.

PANNELL MOVING UP CHARTS AGAIN

Holman wasn’t the only player to hit a major milestone. Rob Pannell, fresh off becoming the U.S. men’s national team’s all-time leading scorer, moved into third all time in pro lacrosse assists in the Redwoods’ 13-8 win over the Chaos.

“There were a lot of great goal scorers on the end of those passes,” Pannell said. “The first thing my dad told me when I picked up a lacrosse stick was that an assist counts just as much as a goal. I take that to heart. I always love to pass the ball. I’m going to continue to do it as long as I play.”

Pannell finished with seven points, while Ryder Garnsey retained his league lead for goals and points with a four-goal, one-assist performance. Charlie Bertrand had his best performance this year with two goals and two assists, while four others also found the back of the net.

“We’re probably at a B, B+,” Nat St. Laurent said of the offense, now being run by Grant Jr. “We’ve got some work to do, but today, we showed flashes.”

WATERDOGS GO NO FOGO

Waterdogs head coach Andy Copelan became the first PLL head man this season to employ an intriguing strategy — forgoing a faceoff specialist in favor of an extra SSDM. Helping spur the decision was the squad’s struggle at the stripe this season, as well as the league’s rule adjustment that cut the shot clock to 32 after a draw.

The defending champions executed the plan well, with strong play from the wings and defense resulting in 14 caused turnovers in the first half of a 10-7 win against the Chrome.

The Waterdogs got out to a quick 5-0 lead, then they survived a surge from the Chrome in the third quarter for their third victory. The Chrome’s Connor Farrell won 18 of 19 faceoffs, but it wasn’t enough to give his team the edge.

“I think we will keep this as an option,” Copelan said. “I don't think it's fair to say that it's just a one-time thing, but I'm also not convinced that we're not going to dress the faceoff guy moving forward. I think it's going to be week to week. We have to see what our opponent looks like, as more teams maybe do this, probably get a little bit more film study and you get to see how various teams are going to go ahead and counter it. But it definitely is a strategy that we will keep in the back pocket.”

Offensively, Kieran McArdle and Jake Carraway each had four points, with the latter playing midfield instead of his natural attack.

“It's been super impressive,” McArdle said of Carraway. “Not only is he on a new team, but he started out as an attackman and now he's excelling as a middie. Making that transition is extremely hard, and then him being selfless and taking the mini run and then making that transition so seamlessly and then producing on top of it, it's pretty special.”

SISSELBERGER STRIKES AGAIN

Mike Sisselberger continued his campaign to become the first faceoff specialist to win the PLL’s Rookie of the Year honor, winning a career-best 85 percent at the stripe in the Archers’ 15-12 win against the Whipsnakes.

Sisselberger sits second in the league in win percentage (70.5) — trailing only Trevor Baptiste — for an Archers squad that holds the top position in the standings. The Whipsnakes, who utilized a young offensive unit featuring Tucker Dordevic, Garrett Leadmon and Jack Myers, are in unfamiliar position at 1-3.

“Siss, he’s a bowling ball,” Archers head coach Chris Bates said. “If he gets the ball, he can handle pressure. He handled the Whipsnakes poles and did a great job of getting rid of it.”

Matt Moore recorded four points filling in on attack, while Connor Fields led the squad with a hat trick and two assists. Mac O’Keefe hit a two-pointer as part of a four-point day.

How in the WORLD did @connorfields05 thread that through?!

Backhand shovel wizardry pic.twitter.com/3zve3hDmyN

— Premier Lacrosse League (@PremierLacrosse) July 9, 2023

NOTEWORTHY

The PLL celebrated Indigenous Heritage Weekend with special uniforms designed by Ojibwe artist Patrick Hunter. The PLL will be donating a portion of proceeds for each jersey sale to benefit the Anishinaabe Baagaadoewin. Jeremy Thompson joined the broadcast Sunday to discuss the sport’s Indigenous roots. … A handful of players sat out this week due to injury following the World Championship, while others like Pannell suited up. “A little different pace of play than the World games,” Pannell said with a laugh. Zed Williams, who spent time as a defenseman at Worlds, pulled off a tremendous behind-the-back goal. … The Chrome’s Brendan Nichtern, who missed the first three weeks due to military commitments, made his season debut. He scored once. … The Waterdogs’ Thomas McConvey scored his first career goal. … Chaos goalie Austin Kaut got his first start since his days in Major League Lacrosse. … The Chrome’s Connor Farrell recorded his 500th career faceoff win. … For no one was the Cannons’ victory against the Atlas sweeter than Cade van Raaphorst, who was released by the Atlas earlier this season before finding his new squad. On the other side of things was the Whipsnakes’ Will Manny, who fell to his former squad. … The Chrome were without two of their top defenders in JT Giles-Harris and Jesse Bernhardt. Tim Soudan was happy with how the remaining group of Mike Manley, Nick Grill, Greg Weyl, Eli Salama and Troy Hettinger performed.

UP NEXT
IN FAIRFIELD, CONN.

All times Eastern

Friday

Waterdogs vs. Whipsnakes, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Archers vs. Redwoods, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

Saturday

Chrome vs. Cannons, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
Atlas vs. Chaos, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN+)