Archers LC has signed a pair of undrafted rookies from the player pool to fill out its 30-man training camp roster. UMass close defender Chris Campbell and Jacksonville offensive midfielder Brandon Galloway join Chris Bates’ team and will be fighting for a roster spot when training camp begins on May 27th. 

Chris Campbell, Defense, UMass

Campbell bounced around college lacrosse throughout his five year career. Starting at Hartford, he spent three seasons with the Hawks before transferring to Long Island University for the 2022 season. Campbell then transferred in-conference to UMass for his last year of college in 2023. 

For his career, Campbell averaged 1.2 caused turnovers and 2.1 ground balls per game. The 6’1” 215-pound righty is a physical defender who can lay the lumber, particularly as a help defender. He’s a smart player who was elected as a captain at LIU after just one season with the program. 

Campbell is definitely on the outside looking in at the club’s finalized 25-man roster, but the team does need youth at close defense. Matt McMahon and Graeme Hossack are both 30 years old and, with no right handed true close defenders beyond Campbell on the roster, he still has a shot at making it through roster cuts on May 30th should he impress in camp. 

Brandon Galloway, Midfield, Jacksonville

Like Campbell, Galloway is a player who spent time at multiple schools during his college career. He played four years with UMBC before spending his last year of eligibility down in Florida with Jacksonville and Head Coach John Galloway’s (no relation) new program. 

In his time at UMBC, Galloway had respectable production. But his stock soared when he joined the Dolphins, more than doubling his career points total with a team-high 45 points (30 goals, 15 assists) in 2023. Galloway is a downhill dodger from the midfield who changes direction quickly and can fire a shot on the run. His 38% shooting in 2023 is impressive particularly considering that he’s typically a perimeter player dodging to score for himself. 

Galloway also provides value as a potential emergency face-off option. As a freshman at UMBC, he took 211 draws and won 43.6%. Obviously, that’s not why Bates added him to the roster. But having a player who can take draws in a pinch should an injury occur in-game is valuable. 

The club does have its foundational offensive pieces in place with talents including Grant Ament, Tom Schreiber, Matt Moore, Mac O’Keefe, and Connor Fields. But there is a collection of players beyond that core which Galloway could infiltrate if he plays well enough in camp and flashes the potential that his breakout fifth year indicates. 

Both of these players are fun additions to the Archers roster who could make the staff’s decisions on May 30th difficult. Each hails from a smaller Division I school and, consequently, neither are household names. But taking a chance on guys like that who’ve shown flashes never hurts and that’s exactly what the club has done with these two signings.