Atlas-Cannons Preview

Head Coach Ben Rubeor and his 4-2 Atlas lacrosse club square off mountainside against Sean Quirk’s 2-5 Cannons this Sunday in a rematch that is bound to have a handful of chippy plays between the lines. After losing to Whipsnakes in Baltimore during their first Week 3 match-up, Atlas bounced back two days later to edge Cannons 18-17 in an absolute shootout.

Covering Lyle Thompson

Atlas close defenseman Michael Rexrode held Cannons captain and attackman Lyle Thompson to just 2 assists and no goals on three shots during Cannons’ bout against Atlas on June 27. Thompson was having trouble getting his hands free and fending off Rexrode’s general physicality whenever Thompson was looking to lower the shoulder and muster a way to get a clean shot off.

Hailed as one of the greatest players to date, the all-time NCAA DI point leader is also Cannons’ point leader with 16 goals and 7 assists. His creativity, lacrosse IQ and most of all, his grittiness when the ball is in his stick, are what can help carry Cannons’ offense against a hard-hitting Atlas defense on Sunday. If Thompson gets above GLE with the ball in his stick and he has a step on Rexrode, captain Tucker Durkin, and Cade van Raaphorst at any point, the Cannons’ attackman will get an accurate take at the goal--even if that means firing off a clean one-handed shot.

If ever there were a lacrosse game with jaw-dropping action, this one that includes all-time great, Lyle Thompson, has the bones to be a high-octane, high-scoring affair.

Let Teat Eat

Rookie attackman and point leader for Atlas, Jeff Teat, stepped onto the PLL scene making an immediate statement for Coach Rubeor’s new-look offense this season. The former Cornell stud comes into Sunday’s showdown with Cannons with 26 points (14G, 12A) with a 47% shooting percentage. Teat completely hijacked the show during these teams’ last go-around with one another on June 27. In Atlas’ close win, he produced 7 goals and 2 assists that were dished out and put away in a whirlwind that Cannons’ veteran close defenseman Brodie Merrill, Jake Pulver and Reece Eddy didn’t seem to have a viable answer for. 

On Sunday, fellow rookie attackman Jake Carraway (13G, 2T, 2A), will need to get his hands free and sting shots past veteran Cannons’ keeper Nick Marrocco if Teat can draw attention to him instead and push the ball to Carraway. Additionally, Bryan Costabile, an energetic and athletic threat at the midfield for Atlas, will be a key component for Teat’s selfless ball movement as he leads Atlas’ midfield with 21 points so far (11G, 2T, 6A).

Tune in on Sunday at 4:45 PM ET to watch one of the more exciting lacrosse rematches this summer when Atlas and Cannons take center stage. While Atlas clinched a playoff spot on Friday night, the Cannons only have a 46.9% chance of making the playoffs; this is close to a must-win game for Sean Quirk's club.