First-seeded New York Lizards, well represented with five players named to 2015 ALL-MLL roster
BOSTON (August 7, 2015) – Major League Lacrosse, the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, has announced this year’s 2015 ALL-MLL Team Presented by New Balance. The roster is voted on by MLL Head Coaches and General Managers, and is comprised of some of the best talent in the League, all of whom stood out at their respective positions.
The 2015 New Balance ALL-MLL Team Presented by New Balance was determined by a submission process where MLL Head Coaches and General Managers selected 1 goalie, 1 faceoff specialist, 3 midfielders, 4 defensemen and 4 attack players. Those players selected the most per position, comprise the ALL-MLL Team.
ALL-MLL Roster By Position
Attack:
Jordan Wolf – Rochester Rattlers
Wolf had an impressive season that included a particular three-week span, which resulted in 15 goals and five assists. During that period, he reached a personal milestone in career goals after he netted six in a win against Chesapeake. Wolf finished his second regular season leading his team in scoring with 61 total points, 37 goals and 24 assists, which is 25 points ahead of anyone else on his team. Wolf is returning for the second time to the MLL Championship Game in as many years.
Rob Pannell – New York Lizards
Another ALL-MLL attackman preparing for this year’s MLL Championship game, is the NY Lizards’ Rob Pannell. The 2015 scoring leader, Rob Pannell, had a remarkable year for the New York Lizards. Finishing with 38 goals and 30 assists for a total of 68 points, Pannell helped lead his Lizards team to a 10-4 regular season record and the top MLL Playoff seed. The 2013 Cascade Rookie of the Year played in all 14 games this season, and has proven to be a dominant force in the League, year in and year out. Pannell was also awarded the Coca-Cola Player of the Game honor, four times this season.
Kieran McArdle – Florida Launch
Rounding out the ALL-MLL attackman, is the Florida Launch’s second-year player, Kieran McArdle. McArdle followed his 2014 Rookie of the Year season with an explosive 65 points (47 goals & 18 assists). McArdle’s highest scoring game was a win against the Ohio Machine where he had a seven point game, five goals and two assists, but that wasn’t enough to beat his career-high ten-point game from the previous season. No sign of a “sophomore slump” for McArdle. He has clearly found his way in the MLL.
Voting:
Jordan Wolf, Rochester: 16
Rob Pannell, New York: 14
Kieran McArdle, Florida: 14
Marcus Holman, Ohio: 2
Will Manny, Boston: 2
Faceoff Specialist:
Greg Gurenlian – New York Lizards
Arguably the most decorated and successful player of the 2015 season; Gurenlian can add being named to the 2015 New Balance ALL-MLL team to his list of awards for the season (MLL/US Lacrosse Sportsmanship Player of the Year, FOAthlete of the Year, and Coca-Cola MVP). Gurenlian dominated at the “X” in 2015, breaking his own Single Season Faceoff Win Percentage record with an astounding .732. Gurenlian also broke the record for most Single-Season Faceoff Wins with 280 as well as the Single Season Ground Balls at 175.
Voting:
Greg Gurenlian, New York: 15
Greg Puskuldjian, Ohio:1
Midfield:
Tom Schreiber – Ohio Machine
Schreiber’s ability to quarterback his team is evident in the 30 assists he dished out this season (tied for first with Rob Pannell and Steele Stanwick). The Ohio midfielder ended the regular season with 60 points putting him at fourth for overall points. Schreiber played in all 14 games for the Machine and had career-high eight points against Denver in Week 8 with one goal and seven assists.
Paul Rabil – New York Lizards
One of the newest additions to the already star-studded New York attack, Paul Rabil, had 26 goals, three two pointers, and 20 assists for a combined effort of 52 points in the 2015 season. The Lizards midfielder played a pivotal role this season as he and Rob Pannell split quarterback duties, Pannell from behind the cage and Rabil from the top of the arc. The eight-year veteran faced his former team, Boston, in the semifinals and led the Lizards to an overtime victory by setting up his teammate, Matt Gibson, for the open-net goal. Rabil was was also named to the 2015 MLL All-Star team but was injured and unable to play.
Drew Snider – Denver Outlaws
2014 MLL Champion and Denver Outlaw’s midfielder, Drew Snider, earned himself a spot on the 2015 ALL-MLL Team after quite the showing throughout the 2015 regular season. Snider netted four-plus goals on four separate occasions this season, including a five-goal game against the top-seeded New York Lizards. In 2013, Snider’s sophomore season, he was chosen as Most Improved Player of the Year. This year, Snider was able to match his career-high 46 points (31 goals & 14 assists) from that 2013 season, only this time he did it with one less game and 35 goals and 11 assists. Snider was named to the 2015 MLL All-Star Team and was also awarded the Coca-Cola Player of the Game honor for the last regular season game of the season.
Voting:
Tom Schreiber, Ohio: 16
Paul Rabil, New York: 14
Drew Snider, Denver: 6
Joe Walters, Chesapeake: 3
Jeremy Sieverts, Denver: 3
Peter Baum, Ohio: 2
JoJo Marasco, New York: 2
Dave Lawson, Rochester: 2
Defensemen:
Tucker Durkin – Florida Launch
In his second year being named to the ALL-MLL Team, Tucker Durkin of the Florida Launch continued his professional lacrosse career as one of the finest shutdown defensemen in the League. He was named the Warrior Defensive Player of the Week in the final week of the regular season. Durkin was recognized for his strong defensive play against Rochester in the matchup, where the Launch kept the to just Rattlers 11 points. Jordan Wolf, whom normally averages 2.7 goals per game for Rochester, was held to one goal at the hands of Durkin.
Joe Fletcher – New York Lizards
Another ALL-MLL selection bound for the MLL Championship Game, is Joe Fletcher of the New York Lizards. Fletcher is regarded as a top defender in his second season in the MLL and was awarded the 2015 Warrior Defensive Player of the Year for his skills. Fletcher was also named to the 2015 MLL All-Star team roster. He collected a career-high 60 groundballs this season, almost twice the number of groundballs from last season (35).
Scott Ratliff – Boston Cannons
Boston Cannon, Scott Ratliff, had a breakout season as he evolved into a full time long stick middie. Partly motivated by the early season absence of veteran Brodie Merrill, Ratliff did not miss a single game in 2015. Ratliff was named the Warrior Defense Player of the Week in Week 11 and was also named to the 2015 MLL All-Star Team. Ratliff racked up a career high 20 points (8 goals, 3 two-point goals & 9 assists), as well collected a career high 81 groundballs on the season. He finished just two groundballs behind the League leader, Mike Bocklet of the Denver Outlaws.
Joel White – Rochester Rattlers
Joel White is a five-year MLL veteran of the Rochester Rattlers. White appeared in 11 games for the Rattlers this season and racked up 67 groundballs, placing him third among the defenders for most groundballs in the 2015 season. White’s efforts on both ends of the field has him and his Rattlers team, returning for a second consecutive year to compete for the MLL Championship title.
Voting:
Tucker Durkin, Florida: 13
Joe Fletcher, New York: 13
Scott Ratliff, Boston: 13
Joel White, Rochester: 6
Dillon Roy, Denver: 5
Michael Evans, Chesapeake: 3
John Lade, Rochester: 2
Chad Wiedmaier, Boston: 2
Brian Karalunas, Ohio: 2
Brodie Merrill, Boston: 2
Kevin Drew, Charlotte : 1
Michael Ehrhardt, Charlotte: 1
Goalkeeper:
Drew Adams – New York Lizards
Drew Adams, New York Lizards goalkeeper, was voted to represent the goaltending position for the 2015 ALL-MLL Team presented by New Balance. Adams, a nine-year veteran of the League, started in all 14 games for New York, led the Lizards to the top-seeded Playoff position and a 10-4 regular season record for 2015. With nine first-place votes among MLL Coaches and General Managers, Adams was also awarded the title of 2015 Maverik Goalie of the Year. The 2015 season marked a career high for saves in a season (210) and save percentage for Adams (.568) and a roster position on the 2015 MLL All Star Team. He also led the league in Goals Against Average with 11.74.
Voting:
Drew Adams, New York: 7
Tyler Fiorito, Chesapeake: 6
Brian Phipps, Ohio: 3
Seven of these players will faceoff this weekend in the MLL Championship Game between the New York Lizards and the Rochester Rattlers. The game will be played at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, GA on Saturday, August 8th at 7p.m. EST. Tickets for the game are still available and can be purchased at HERE.
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About Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, was founded by Jake Steinfeld and is headquartered in Boston. Major League Lacrosse commenced play in June 2001 and has embarked on its fifteenth season. MLL has continued to lead the sport of lacrosse into the mainstream of competitive team sports. The league is made up of eight teams: The Boston Cannons, Charlotte Hounds, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Denver Outlaws, Florida Launch, New York Lizards, Ohio Machine and Rochester Rattlers.
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