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Atlas-Whipsnakes Preview

By Lauren Merola | Jun 25, 2021

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Atlas is back at seven… 7%, that is. In the Week 3 Pick 'Em, the Whipsnakes are favored 93% to Atlas’ 7%.

The Bulls were up against the same odds in Week 2 against the Redwoods. They overcame the odds, and now they’re out to dethrone the Whips.

For the first time, they’ve got Jeff Teat to help do it.

Teat Takes the Turf

Teat was added to the Premier Lacrosse League’s Unable to Travel list prior to the season. After two weeks of the season, Teat can finally suit up. The star attackman will make his rookie debut for Atlas Friday night in Baltimore.

In his 46 games played at Cornell, Teat ripped twine in all of them. He scored 104 goals, racked in 137 assists and grabbed 27 ground balls. His feeding ability, crafty dodges and composure under pressure should have the Redwoods sending help defenders left and right. 

Teat’s familiar with the number one. He was selected first overall in the PLL College Draft, first overall in the 2020 National Lacrosse League Entry Draft and was No. 1 on Inside Lacrosse’s 2016 freshman power rankings.

Despite being granted his extra year of NCAA eligibility, Teat and his Cornell teammates spent the 2021 season sidelined because of the Ivy League’s decision to cancel spring sports due to COVID-19. The last time Teat played competitive lacrosse was March of 2020. Still, he’s been on a grind preparing for his professional debut.

Expect him to come out firing on all cylinders.

Atlas Rookies Rise to the Occasion

Atlas’ rookies stepped up in the club’s 12-9 bounce-back win against the Redwoods. They’ll need to do that and more to give the Bulls a shot at defeating the Whips.

Jake Carraway had an explosive five-point outing against the Woods, scoring three one-point goals and a two bomb.

Including this:

Danny Logan found his groove, winning a faceoff against TD Ierlan and adding a goal, the first of his PLL career, an assist and a ground ball.

The Stripe

It’s hard not to mention Joe Nardella in every preview, but until someone can shut him down at the stripe, he’ll continue to flood your feed.

Trevor Baptiste has his work cut out, but he’s no novice at the stripe, either. In the 2020 PLL Championship Series, he won 54% of faceoffs. In 2019, he won 63% and was named the Paul Cantabene Faceoff Man of the Year.

And before that, I mean –

The Net

Jack Concannon walked into Week 2 a different goalie from Week 1. Against the Redwoods, he gave Atlas a defensive lift with 17 saves. A stark difference from his 2021 debut performance in which he had nine saves and gave up 15 scores. He’ll have to mimic his Week 2 performance to keep it competitive.

Kyle Bernlohr boasted 21 saves in the Whips’ slim 15-14 overtime victory against the Cannons. He’ll need to stay on his toes with the added threat of Teats on the field.

Ramifications

The last time these two teams met in 2020, the Whipsnakes dominated Atlas 15-6. 

For the Whipsnakes, it’s simple: Win and stay feared. If they lose for the first since 2019, the league and its fans will be buzzing.

Atlas has a chance to prove their off-season strategy of trading away big names and prioritizing draft picks and young talent works. What better way to do that than to take down the reigning champs.

The young Bulls fight to prove that strategy Friday night when they take on the Whipsnakes at 8pm on Peacock.

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