
Archers re-sign All-Star attackman Matt Moore through 2026
By Zach Carey | Jan 27, 2025
The next domino in the Utah Archers’ threepeat campaign has fallen. Two-time All-Star attackman Matt Moore has re-signed with the club through 2026 as Utah has ensured that he doesn’t hit free agency in March. As a result, the Archers have locked up their offensive core for at least another season.
“Matt gives us a dynamic presence below goal line,” Archers head coach Chris Bates said. “He’s demonstrated he can get to the front of the cage and put the ball in the back of the net. He’s a really good feeder and makes his teammates better. He’s one of us. We drafted him. He’s one of our core guys. We’re just excited to keep him in the orange and blue.”
Since Utah took Moore fourth overall in the 2022 College Draft, he’s been a key contributor to both of the club’s Cash App Championship runs. Moore is a proven winner – he won two NCAA championships at Virginia and now has a pair of PLL titles – and consistently produces in the biggest moments.
In 2024, he overcame early-season struggles and an injury in Baltimore to play some of his best lacrosse in the postseason. After scoring 10 points across seven appearances in the regular season, he scored five in two games in the Cash App Playoffs. His three points in the title game were tied for the most on the team, and his seven total in the Archers’ two championship appearances are tied for the most on the team with Mac O’Keefe.
Getting back to the pinnacle of the sport for a third time in three years was one of the most appealing aspects of re-signing for Moore.
“I’ve never won three in a row. I’ve won two,” he said with a laugh, referencing his back-to-back titles at Virginia and setting the stage for Utah’s 2025 goal.
Adding to that, Moore explained that signing elsewhere was never an option he truly considered. The community of the Utah locker room has been too valuable for him personally and professionally.
“It’s just a great group of people. I’ve become friends with all of them,” Moore said. “I love the guys on our team. Ryan Ambler is a guy who will be invited to my wedding. We just met three years ago and he’s ... a mentor. I’ve found a bunch of mentors on that team. I’d say that’s the biggest reason [for re-signing].”
Bringing Moore back means the Archers’ top seven offensive pieces will be back for 2025. Moore, O’Keefe and Connor Fields project to start at attack for the third straight season. Then Ambler, Tom Schreiber, Grant Ament and Tre Leclaire will continue to be one of the league’s most imposing group of midfielders.
The eighth spot on the Utah offense is worth watching when free agency kicks off on March 3. Ryan Aughavin, Challen Rogers, Jack VanOverbeke and Dyson Williams rotated through the gameday roster for the Archers in 2024. Right now, all of those players except Williams are set to hit free agency in March. So will Cole Williams (who missed 2024 due to a right knee injury) and Jackson Morrill (whom Utah traded for at the deadline last summer).
The Archers could look to re-sign a few of those players to compete with Dyson Williams for that last place on the 19-man roster. Or they could look elsewhere in free agency with veterans such as Myles Jones, Jules Heningburg, Justin Anderson and Romar Dennis hitting the market.
The other name to watch for Utah ahead of free agency is long-stick midfielder Jon Robbins. He’s the only Archers starter who’s yet to sign a new deal. The club could try to bring the 2022 fourth-round pick back or entertain the options in free agency, which include the New York Atlas’ Koby Smith. Utah does have underrated depth at pole, though, with Mason Woodward having close/LSM versatility. But re-signing Robbins is the most likely route as the coaching staff prioritizes continuity while coming off back-to-back Cash App Championships.
No matter how those moves shake out, the Archers are in an enviable position ahead of the Open Discussion Period (which kicks off on February 18) and free agency (which opens on March 3). The two-time defending champs are the league standard, and they have nearly everyone coming back in their quest to become the first team to win three straight titles.