📈 KEY RACE UPDATE: ROTY

We’re almost halfway through the 2024 regular season, and the PLL Rookie of the Year race is starting to get interesting. Week 5 in Boston has the potential to be an inflection point in that race, as the top two picks in “The Greatest Draft” are about to go head-to-head for the first time as pros.

On Friday night, Brennan O’Neill (No. 1 overall pick) of the Denver Outlaws and Connor Shellenberger (No. 2 overall pick) of the New York Atlas will share the field at Harvard Stadium.

Heading into this matchup, Shellenberger has played one extra game and holds a significant statistical edge over O’Neill. Here’s a closer look at how both rookies stack up against each other…

Shellenberger has been instrumental to New York’s transformation in 2024. The Atlas have the best record (4-1) and point differential (+15) in the PLL, and that’s largely due to Shellenberger’s fit between Jeff Teat and Xander Dickson at attack. They are currently the top three scorers in the league.

Similarly, O’Neill has lifted the Outlaws (2-1) to the top of the Western Conference. He single-handedly took over the game against the Utah Archers in Week 2, when he dropped nine points and scored the game-winning goal in overtime. That’s a flashbulb moment Shelly doesn’t have in the ROTY race.

That could change on Friday night, though. This is the only time O’Neill and Shellenberger are slated to meet in the regular season, so people will remember who performed better when they played head-to-head.

In college, O’Neill and Shellenberger met five times from 2021-2024. O’Neill and the Duke Blue Devils won all five of those matchups vs. Shellenberger’s Virginia Cavaliers. Will that stretch of dominance continue when Denver faces New York on Friday night?

Here’s the full weekend slate for PLL Week 5 in Boston…

Fri., July 5 — California vs. Boston (ESPN+)
Fri., July 5 — Denver vs. New York (ESPN+)
Sat., July 6 — Utah vs. Maryland (ESPN+)
Sat., July 6 — Philadelphia vs. Boston (ESPN2)

Reply to this email with your game picks for this weekend, and don’t forget to set your fantasy lineup by clicking the button below!

🇺🇸 PLL Announces Stars & Stripes Classic

On the 4th of July, the Premier Lacrosse League introduced the Stars & Stripes Classic. This event will be a special exhibition game between Green Berets and Navy SEAL veterans, played before the PLL Quarterfinals at Gillette Stadium.

“This game is more than just a competition; it’s a celebration of the courage and sacrifice of our military heroes,” PLL co-founder and CEO Mike Rabil said in a press release from the league.

The PLL is billing this event as the “first ever lacrosse game between two elite U.S. Military Special Operation Forces,” and attendance will be free for all veterans and active duty military.

The Stars & Stripes Classic will be streamed live on ESPN+ on Monday, Sep. 2. For tickets, click the button below.

🚨 Pat Kavanagh Placed on IR

As O’Neill and Shellenberger take center stage this weekend, another rookie will be noticeably missing from the Boston Cannons’ Homecoming Weekend. That’s because star attackman Pat Kavanagh (groin/toe) has been placed on Injured Reserve.

Kavanagh, who is known for his toughness and ability to play through injuries, made his PLL debut less than a week after winning the National Championship at Notre Dame. In his first three pro appearances, the 2024 Tewaaraton Award winner notched five points (3 goals, 2 assists).

Kavanagh was listed on the injury report and did not play last weekend in Minnesota. The fact that the Cannons are shutting him down for a bit may be a sign that the wear and tear of a marathon spring/summer have finally caught up to him. He will be eligible to return to the active roster this season, although a timeline for his return is currently unknown.

🍿 Watch MPLS Episode 8

Earlier this week, we dropped Episode 8 of The Mitchell Pehlke Lacrosse Show on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. In this episode, Mitch and the rest of the crew break down the latest in the PLL heading into Week 5.

One of the biggest debate points centered around New York’s goalie situation, as veteran Tim Troutner was benched last weekend and many are eager to see Liam Entenmann take over as the starter moving forward.

Make sure you’re subscribed to TLN YouTube and never miss an episode!