Lauren Merola

Author

New York Atlas

How unbeaten Atlas went from 2-8 team to championship contender

By | Some teams have played two games. Some three. Others four. Yet the New York Atlas are the only undefeated team left in the league heading into Week 4, with four wins under their horns. Last season, the Atlas only reached half that number of victories and were fighting for the final playoff spot…
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The way-too-early case for Rookie of the Year: Shellenberger vs. O’Neill

By Lauren Merola and Topher Adams | Brennan O’Neill and Connor Shellenberger – the first and second pick of the 2024 College Draft, respectively – seemingly closed the cases for their high draft standings early into their first professional seasons. O’Neill set the sport ablaze with his seven-goal performance in Week 2 to dig the…
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Trevor Baptiste leaves Atlas’ win over Redwoods with injury

By | New York Atlas faceoff specialist Trevor Baptiste was ruled out toward the end of Sunday’s 20-15 victory over the California Redwoods. Head coach and general manager Mike Pressler had no update on Baptiste postgame, saying he let the medical team attend to Baptiste during the game and that he would talk to his…
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Film study: How Dox Aitken is helping fix one of Atlas’ biggest problems

Film study: How Dox Aitken is helping fix one of Atlas’ biggest problems By | These Bulls might not have wings, but they’ve sure been owning them. The most noticeable difference from the 2023 New York Atlas squad to the one this season is its productivity after faceoff wins. New York struggled last season to…
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New York Atlas attackman Connor Shellenberger

Atlas’ Connor Shellenberger ties record for most points by rookie in pro debut

By | In this summer’s running of the Bulls, Connor Shellenberger looks poised to lead the charge. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 College Draft exploded with eight points (3G, 5A) in his first professional showing, a 19-12 victory over the Boston Cannons on Saturday. Shellenberger’s point total tied Chris Cloutier (2018) and…
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New York Atlas midfielder Xander Dickson

The unknown ‘superhero’ who led Xander Dickson to the PLL

The unknown ‘superhero’ who led Xander Dickson to the PLL By | He was an impressionable kid. After watching the Harry Potter series as a child, Xander Dickson wanted to be a wizard. He would grab the broom from a closet in his home in Greenwich, Conn., go outside and jump off any ledge he…
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New York Atlas midfielder Xander Dickson

Xander Dickson ‘so freaking pumped’ to reunite with Connor Shellenberger on Atlas

Xander Dickson ‘so freaking pumped’ to reunite with Connor Shellenberger on Atlas By | Connor Shellenberger and the Virginia Cavaliers fell to the Maryland Terrapins 12-6 in the NCAA semifinal on Saturday. Following the loss, Shellenberger will report to PLL training camp in Albany, N.Y., which began Saturday.  There, he’ll be greeted by a familiar…
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Mike Pressler

How Mike Pressler’s ‘hunch’ led Atlas to draft Liam Entenmann  

By | Before March 7, the New York Atlas had two goalies on their roster, and Tim Troutner looked like a safe bet to start in net this season. Then came draft day. The strategy was clear: Liam Entenmann, no matter what. New York coach and general manager Mike Pressler snagged the Notre Dame goalie…
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The new-look Atlas defense: Who gets the nod in net?

By | New York’s rebuild is underway: The Atlas signed former California Redwoods goalie Tim Troutner, traded away Chris Gray for this year’s No. 5 pick – giving them three top-10 selections – and re-signed offensive cornerstone Jeff Teat, midfielder Bryan Costabile and goalie Drake Porter, among others. With the retirements of Jack Concannon and…
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Atlas to open up season vs. Cannons: Is the latest New York-Boston rivalry brewing?

By | There’s the Yankees-Red Sox. The Knicks-Celtics. Patriots-Jets. And now, Atlas-Cannons. New York and Boston. The teams and fans that love to hate each other. The perfect oxymoron.  It’s a rivalry with great potential to pervade the PLL now that the Atlas and Cannons have found their home cities both in a region notorious…
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