The 2021 regular season has come to an end, and the PLL is onto the 2021 playoffs in Salt Lake City. This past weekend in Albany was much different than the last week in many other professional sports, as every game had some impact on the playoff picture and the final standings.

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With only 9 games in the regular season this year, the top of the standings were stacked heading into the final week. Five teams had a shot at the #1 seed heading into Albany, and all five of those teams finished the regular season within one game of each other. The top of the standings were so tight it came down to a single goal—the Waterdogs topped the Atlas in scoring differential 13-12 after their one goal win over the Atlas propelled them to the top. Despite the Chaos at 4-5 and the Cannons at 3-6, the league is so deep I feel any playoff team could make a run and wind up champions this year. The depth of professional lacrosse is amazing. Week in and week out, the games are close and week in and week out, there are upsets in professional lacrosse. This year feels different than the past two years where the Whipsnakes dominated the professional lacrosse landscape. I think the PLL crowns a new champion in 2021.

POWER RANKINGS (Week 7)

  1. Waterdogs (3)
  2. Atlas (1)
  3. Archers (2)
  4. Whipsnakes (4)
  5. Redwoods (5)
  6. Chaos (6)
  7. Cannons (7)
  8. Chrome (8)

This past weekend began with a couple of games to set up more important games on Sunday. The Redwoods and Whipsnakes played each other on Friday evening in a game that was most likely not going to earn them the #1 seed…the odds were stacked heavily in their favor. But the game was one of the more evenly matched games all season. The Whipsnakes came away with the 14-12 win on Friday night despite struggling all over the field. TD Ierlan was injured in the game Friday night, and the Whipsnakes were able to capitalize at the faceoff x. The extend to Ierlan’s injury is unknown but it will be hard for the Redwoods to play iwthout the league’s best faceoff man.

After a lengthy weather delay, Chaos and Archers got their game rolling around 11:30 EST. The Archers needed two wins on the weekend to clinch the #1 seed, but with their 11-9 loss Friday night to the Chaos, they ended up looking to improve their seed on Sunday. After a fast Archers start, the Chaos came clawing back each quarter. The difference in the game was Ian MacKay’s two pointer late in the fourth. Blaze Riorden had his season low 9 saves but the Chaos won and were now playing Sunday for a better seed.

Most of the attention in the league turned to the Waterdogs and Atlas who now were playing for the #1 seed after the Archers loss Friday night. The Atlas led 8-6 but the tune of “Take on Me” and Mikie Schlosser played throughout the stadium as the Waterdogs finished the game on a 4-1 run while Mikie had three late goals. After a slow start, the Waterdogs finished the year looking dominant and will move straight to Philly as the #1 seed. They are one of the fastest and most dangerous offensive teams in the league, and just outplayed the Atlas. Dillon Ward plays a high high crease and is lights out in the cage. Waterdogs are on to Philly.

None of the prior games on the weekend had any impact on the Cannons and Chrome. This game was it for these two…win and your in, lose and you are headed home. The Chrome had just traded star attackman Justin Guterding to the Whipsnakes, and were without guys like Jordan Wolf all year. They had struggled but still had a shot to make the playoffs. With a young squad they were able to put up a fight, losing 13-10 to the most experienced team in the league. Nick Marrocco stood on his head once again, having 16 saves while Paul Rabil had a season high six points en route to Salt Lake City.

And now the story turns to seeding. The Chaos and Redwoods went at it to decide the middle of the standings. A win would move the Chaos to the #4 or #5 and push the Redwoods down, and vice versa. Without TD Ierlan, the Redwoods went 30% at the faceoff x and they shot 19% from the field. Two underwhelming stats but they ended up coming out with the win, mostly thanks to Tim Troutner’s 17 save performance. Myles Jones and Sergio Perkovic looked unguardable this weekend. But I am curious to see how TD Ierlan’s injury progresses this week because he has not ruled out playing in the playoffs. If he doesn’t play, they might be in trouble against the Whipsnakes.

The Archers and the Whipsnakes rounded out the regular season with an overtime game, won by former Albany legend Connor Fields.

The playoff implications to this one were this: winner takes #3 seed and plays #6 Chaos, loser takes #5 seed and plays #4 Redwoods. This game was plain and simply a game of two playoff teams. These two have a chance to meet in the finals and I would be less than surprised to see that happen. They have strengths on both ends of the field, and are battle tested. They are the most complete teams in the league despite not being ranked one and two in the standings. Grant Ament led the league in points in his second year as a pro. There might not be a better duo in the league as Zed Williams and Matt Rambo. I could see the #3 and #5 seeds taking a rematch at this game in DC.

The playoff bracket is set. The Waterdogs are your regular season champion and we will not see them until September 5th in Philly. The other six teams will head to Salt Lake City to play in the quarterfinals and take the first step to the PLL Championship in D.C on September 19th. Tune in on Friday when I preview each game this coming weekend and for the next few weeks on the road to D.C.

Sam Kuhn
Sam Kuhn

Lacrosse Analyst

Sam Kuhn currently is the graduate assistant for the men’s lacrosse program at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio and is working to complete his Masters of Business Administration in 2020. Sam graduated from the College of Wooster in 2018, where he received his Bachelors Degree in English and played lacrosse as well. In his four years, Sam was a two time All-NCAC selection, a first team All-Region selection in 2018, and surpassed 100 goals for his career, one of seven members in program history to do so. Sam has interned with Inside Lacrosse, and wrote for the sports section of The Wooster Voice.

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