Rookies In The MLL: Week 10 Update

Week 10 of the Major League Lacrosse season just ended. Let’s check in with how some of the recent NCAA graduates have done in the five games played this week!

Ohio Machine @ Boston Cannons

The Machine edged the Cannons in overtime, 16-15, on Thursday.

Here are the rookies that played for the Cannons:

• Sergio Perkovic (Notre Dame Fighting Irish) - 1 goal, 4 shots on goal, 2 ground balls

Perkovic was the only rookie that played, and he scored in his second straight game.

We also saw New Player take the field for the Cannons and score a goal!

That’s actually former Virginia Cavaliers midfielder Greg Coholan. He was acquired off waivers midway through last week and played against the Denver Outlaws. He’s still not on the team’s roster page as of the publishing of this post.

He was also involved in this situation last week:

Back to the rookies. Here are the rookies that played for the Machine:

• Connor Cannizzaro (Denver Pioneers) - 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 shots on goal, 4 ground balls
• Nick Fields (Johns Hopkins Blue Jays) - 1 caused turnover, 1 penalty minute
• Kevin Reisman (Limestone Saints) - 11-of-35 on face-offs, 4 ground balls

Cannizzaro made his MLL debut with a hat-trick and two assists, and made a mark when the Machine played on Saturday. We’ll get to that later on.

New York Lizards @ Denver Outlaws

The Outlaws defeated the Lizards in come-from-behind fashion, 17-14.

Here are the the rookies that played for the Lizards:

• Austin Pifani (North Carolina Tar Heels) - 1 shot off cage, 1 penalty minute

Nothing really of note here.

Here are the rookies that played for the Outlaws:

• Zach Currier (Princeton Tigers) - 1 goal, 3 assists, 2 shots on goal, 1-of-3 on face-offs, 6 ground balls, 30 seconds penalty time, 4 turnovers
• Romar Dennis (Loyola-MD Greyhounds) - 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 shots on goal, 4 ground balls
• Gavin McBride (Princeton) - 3 goals, 1 assist, 6 shots on goal, 4 ground balls

Dennis and McBride each made their debuts, but all three rookies made a mark in the game. McBride, the nation’s leading goal scorer this season in college, had a hat-trick in his first career game on six shots, while Currier pretty much did it all, from scoring, to taking face-offs, and even getting ground balls.

Chesapeake Bayhawks @ Ohio Machine

The Machine won their second game of the week and have won five straight with a 15-13 win over the Bayhawks.

Here are the rookies that played for the Bayhawks:

• Josh Byrne (Hofstra Pride) - 3 goals, 5 shots on goal, 2 ground balls
• Isaiah Davis-Allen (Maryland Terrapins) - 5 ground balls
• Chris Fennell (Navy Midshipmen) - 1 shot on goal, 2 ground balls
• Jake Froccaro (Villanova Wildcats) - 3 goals, 3 shots on goal, 2 ground balls
• Colin Heacock (Maryland) - 1 assist, 1 shot on goal, 3 ground balls
• Ben Williams (Syracuse Orange) - 15-of-30 on face-offs, 4 ground balls

Six rookies dressed once again for the Bayhawks. This time, Byrne and Froccaro both had big days scoring with nearly half of the team’s goals. But it wasn’t enough to get past by the Machine.

Here are the rookies that played for the Machine:

• Connor Cannizzaro (Denver) - 4 goals, 1 assist, 5 shots on goal, 5 ground balls
• Nick Fields (Johns Hopkins) - No recorded stats
• Kevin Reisman (Limestone) - 15-of-31 on face-offs, 5 ground balls

Cannizzaro had another five-point game in his second career MLL game. He now has 10 points so far in his career. He’s average five points a game, which is basic math right there.

If you want, check out the highlights from the game. Except it’s just three goals over a Peter Baum interview. Yikes.

Charlotte Hounds 18, Florida Launch 14

Charlotte ended Florida’s four-game winning streak with an 18-14 win at home.

Here are the rookies that played for the Launch:

• Ryan Drenner (Towson Tigers) - 1 assist, 1 shot on goal, 1 ground ball, 2 turnovers
• Nick Mariano (Syracuse) - 1 assist, 2 shots on goal, 1 ground ball, 1 turnover
• Dylan Molloy (Brown Bears) - 3 goals, 1 assist, 4 shots on goal, 2 turnovers
• Jarrod Neumann (Providence Friars) - 1 shot off cage
• Benny Pugh (Richmond Spiders) - 1 save, 1 goal allowed in 10:01 of playing time
• Sergio Salcido (Syracuse) - 1 assist, 2 shots on goal, 2 ground balls, 2 turnovers
• Alec Tulett (Brown) - 1 ground ball

Florida had a league-high seven rookies play in this game. Four of the rookies committed seven of the team’s 13 total turnovers. Molloy continues to be a presence at attack, while Pugh made his MLL debut after relieving starter Austin Kaut in the fourth quarter.

Here are the rookies that played for the Hounds:

• John Crawley (Johns Hopkins) - 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 shots on goal
• Cal Dearth (Boston University Terriers) - No recorded stats
• Brendan Hynes (Richmond) - 4 ground balls, 1 caused turnover
• Matt Rambo (Maryland) - 1 goal, 3 shots on goal

The 2017 Tewaaraton winner didn’t have the better stats compared to the 2016 Tewaaraton winner, but his team did get the win. Hynes had his best game of his pro career with four ground balls and the caused turnover.

Atlanta Blaze @ Rochester Rattlers

The Blaze knocked off the Rattlers in overtime, 14-13.

Here are the rookies that played for the Rattlers:

• Jack Curran (Villanova) - 1 goal, 1 shot on goal
• Ryan McNamara (Marquette Golden Eagles) - 2 goals, 1 assist, 5 shots on goal
• Zed Williams (Virginia) - 3 goals, 1 assist, 4 shots on goal, 2 ground balls

Williams had his best game yet as a Rattler after back-to-back two-point performances. Williams might be getting some more time in the team’s offense going forward. McNamara bounced back after scoring just a goal last week.

Here are the rookies that played for the Blaze:

• Garrett Epple (Notre Dame) - 3 ground balls, 1 turnover
• Tate Jozokos (North Carolina) - 1 assist, 1 shot on goal, 2 ground balls
• Adam Osika (Albany Great Danes) - 1 shot on goal, 2 shots off cage
• Jake Withers (Ohio State Buckeyes) - 14-of-31 on face-offs, 3 ground balls

Withers was the player with the most impact on the team, winning just under half the face-offs in the game.