🐐 GOODBYE, BRODIE

A true titan of the game called it a career this week, as veteran long pole Brodie Merrill announced his retirement after 19 seasons in the MLL and PLL.

Merrill, 41, released the following statement on Twitter:

“Lacrosse is an amazing game and I’m forever indebted,” the 10-time All-Star wrote in his farewell.

Merrill is from Orangeville, Ontario and played at Georgetown from 2002-05. The Baltimore Bayhawks selected him with the third-overall pick in the 2005 MLL Draft, and he went on to win Rookie of the Year that season.

Merrill also played for the Rochester Rattlers (2006-08), Toronto/Hamilton Nationals (2009-13) and Boston Cannons (2014-18) in the MLL. In the PLL, he spent one season each with the Chaos (2019) and Waterdogs (2020), before returning to the Cannons for his final three seasons (2021-23).

Merrill was named Defensive Player of the Year six years in a row (2006-11) and holds the record for most games played in pro field lacrosse history (200). He won three championships (2005, ‘08-09), is tied for the most ground balls of all time (1,120), and the PLL’s Long-Stick Midfielder of the Year Award is named after him.

One of the greatest moments in Merrill’s pro career was this full-field goal to send a game into overtime in 2016:

On top of Merrill’s decorated pro field lacrosse career, he was also a standout in box and international play. He was a nine-time All-Pro in the NLL and played in five World Lacrosse Championships, winning two gold medals and three silver medals for Team Canada. He was also named to the All-World Team three times and was twice named Best Defender (2006, 2010).

Some of Merrill’s records may never be broken. After a battle with Father Time rivaled only by Tom Brady, the Pro Lacrosse Hall of Fame awaits his induction.

🔜 PLL High School Combine

This December, the PLL will host 50 of the best young players in the country at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for the first ever PLL Combine High School Invitational presented by STX.

“Investing in the next generation is core to our mission,” Paul Rabil said in a statement. “Lacrosse players across the country are bigger, faster, stronger and more skilled than ever, yet our game doesn’t have a standardized means of evaluating talent. With our partners at STX, we have created the PLL Combine, where we will support these talented, young athletes on their journey to the next level.”

The PLL Combine is free to attend, if you earn an invite. Think you’ve got what it takes to compete against the best high school athletes in the country? Click the button below for more information and an opportunity to apply.

🏆 ‘Dogs-Archers, Part III

Last weekend on Long Island, the 2023 PLL Championship matchup was set. The Archers stomped out the Redwoods 14-6 in one semifinal matchup, and the Waterdogs thrashed the Cannons 17-6 in the other.

The Championship Game in Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 24 will mark the third meeting between the Archers and Waterdogs this season. The first two were epic, so let’s take a quick look back at those games…

GAME 1: Archers 19, Waterdogs 18

The first meeting in Dallas on July 30 was one of the most explosive games of the season in terms of pure offensive production. Archers midfielder and 2023 MVP Tom Schreiber tied his season high with six points (2 goals, 1 two-pointer, 2 assists) in that game. The Waterdogs led 13-11 at halftime, but Schreiber’s tally with 8:01 left in the fourth quarter ultimately put the game out of reach.

GAME 2: Waterdogs 14, Archers 13 (OT)

The second meeting in Salt Lake City on Aug. 25 had a crazy ending. The Archers scored to go up 13-11 with 50 seconds left in the game, but the ‘Dogs responded with a Jack Hannah two-pointer to send the game into overtime. In extra time, Waterdogs attackman Kieran McArdle capitalized on a mishandled rebound by Archers goalie Nick Washuta and netted the game-winning goal.

GAME 3: ???

Goalie play may be the difference in the Championship rubber match. The Waterdogs did not have starter Dillon Ward available for the first matchup, and he has not lost a game since his return. In the rematch, the Archers sat starter Brett Dobson in the second half (they were already locked into the No. 1 seed), allowing the ‘Dogs to mount a comeback. This will be the first matchup where both starting goalies are expected to play the full game.

Who do you think wins the 2023 PLL Championship? Let us know by voting in the poll below.

⚔️ Chrome’s Matt Kerwick Resigns

Changes are coming for Chrome Lacrosse Club. This week, the team announced that offensive coordinator Matt Kerwick has resigned.

The Chrome finished 1-9 and missed the playoffs due in large part to offensive impotence. They scored just 81 total points on the season, ranking last in the league by a whopping 30 points.

Heading into the 2024 PLL Draft, the Chrome are armed with the No. 1 overall pick. Many expect Duke’s Brennan O’Neill to be the selection, but other options include Notre Dame’s Pat Kavanagh and Virginia’s Connor Shellenberger.

Let us know who you’d like to see the Chrome draft No. 1 overall by voting in the poll below.

👀 Denver Teases New Turf

This is an interesting one. Denver lacrosse home games will have a flashy new look next season, as the turf at Peter Barton Stadium has been replaced to feature the city skyline and the Rocky Mountains.

Take a look for yourself:

The reviews on this new look are mixed; some fans love the unique design, while others think it’s over the top and could impact play on the field.