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Wyatt Miller

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How the Waterdogs’ crowded midfield unit stacks up

By Wyatt Miller | July 26, 2023
By | The Waterdogs have champaign problems. Sitting at 4-1 and second place in the league, the ‘Dogs have eight starting-caliber midfielders when healthy, but can only dress five or six each week.  The midfield unit has accounted for 47 of the team’s 99 points halfway through the season, and two-way players like Zach Currier…
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Michael Sowers Footwork

The Secret Behind Michael Sowers’ Elite Footwork

By Wyatt Miller | July 20, 2023
By When Michael Sowers‘ lacrosse season ended each spring, his dad, David Sowers, would hide his stick in the attic. And every year, Sowers scoured the house looking for it, but never succeeded.  This might seem like an odd choice to some parents and coaches, especially as more and more kids are forced to specialize…
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Charlie Hayes Transition

Waterdogs SSDM Unit Shines in First Half of PLL Season

By Wyatt Miller | July 18, 2023
By The Waterdogs were down by six goals in the third quarter against Atlas when Charlie Hayes took off in transition, swim-moving a defender at midfield to get into the open.  As Hayes approached the two-point arc at half-speed, Atlas SSDM Jake Richard matched his pace at a poor angle. Hayes accelerated past Richard and…
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Film Study: Sowers and Carraway help Waterdogs find pick-and-roll identity

By Wyatt Miller | July 13, 2023
By | The Waterdogs offense has thrived on screens this season. Scoring 17 goals at 37% on two-man initiations, they have the most goals and third-highest shooting percentage in that context.  Yet, 45% of the Waterdogs’ initiations have been from X, and they have the PLL’s second-worst conversion rate from that spot. The ‘Dogs rank…
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Waterdogs Faceoff Chrome

How the Waterdogs’ New Faceoff Strategy Dominated Chrome

By Wyatt Miller | July 10, 2023
By Connor Farrell won 18-of-19 faceoffs (95%) on Saturday, but those wins produced very few points and a slew of turnovers. Between Eli Gobrecht‘s pestering presence and a belligerent ground ball unit, the Waterdogs dominated at the stripe… without a faceoff specialist. The ‘Dogs jumped out to a 7-1 halftime lead, but the Chrome came…
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Andy Copelan Waterdogs Faceoff

Waterdogs Elect to Not Dress a Faceoff Specialist Versus Chrome

By Wyatt Miller | July 7, 2023
By To combat the shorter shot clock, head coach Andy Copelan won’t dress a faceoff specialist against the Chrome, whose 58% faceoff clip ranks third in the league. No team has started a PLL game without a faceoff specialist in 2023, but the ‘Dogs will do so against Connor Farrell and company on Saturday.  This…
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Michael Sowers Team USA

Waterdogs Power Team USA to World Championships Gold

By Wyatt Miller | July 3, 2023
By Statistically, Waterdogs carried the Team USA offense to a gold medal in the World Lacrosse Championship, winning their second title in the last 10 months. Waterdogs accounted for 47% of Team USA’s total goals, which is an outrageous percentage for only four offensive players among the best talent in the world.  Every game, one…
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Liam Byrnes USA

Marquette’s Founding Duo: Joe Amplo and Liam Byrnes Reunite on Team USA

By Wyatt Miller | June 29, 2023
By On Liam Byrnes‘ recruiting visit to Marquette, he had a meeting with strength coach Todd Smith, who head coach Joe Amplo described as a “mean-looking, snot coming out of his nose, saliva everywhere, strength coach type guy.” Byrnes was one of Amplo’s first recruits on a team making the jump to Division I, and…
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Kieran McArdle Underdog

The Underdog: Kieran McArdle’s Journey From 3-Star Recruit to Legend

By Wyatt Miller | June 26, 2023
By In his senior season at Connetquot High, Kieran McArdle led the team to a playoff matchup versus current Waterdogs teammate Liam Byrnes and juggernaut West Islip.  Byrnes recalled McArdle scoring three goals using the same move in that game. He would drive with his dominant left hand, fake the shot and then roll inside…
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Connor Kelly wills Waterdogs to victory with 9-points and the game-winner

By Wyatt Miller | June 17, 2023
By In a game where the Waterdogs got drowned at the stripe, Connor Kelly was the team’s saving grace.  With just under 20 seconds left in the game, the Waterdogs advanced it to Charlie Hayes. Then, a simple transition mistake led Kelly into a sea of green. As Hayes passed the midfield line, the middle…
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