The number of memorable moments for Chrome this summer far outweighed their record (2-10). The offense rounded into one of the PLL’s most potent units and recorded the two highest scoring performances of the regular season. Those two wins were against the league’s toughest competition. From Gutty’s goals to Galloways’ stops to the Milkman a.k.a Thor’s emergence at the faceoff X, we catalogued Chrome’s top highlights of 2019.

10. Galloway’s Return 

Down 7-1 at the end of the first quarter during their Week 5 matchup against Chaos in Atlanta, Chrome Head Coach Dom Starsia made a rational choice. He benched starting goalie John Galloway in favor of Brett Queener. The decision was probably a little easier for Starsia considering he wasn’t aware Galloway had never been benched before at any point in his career. Not when he played at West Genesee where he compiled a 63-6 record along with three Section III titles. Not during his four years at Syracuse where he became the NCAA all-time wins leader (59), a two-time recipient of the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Jr. Award as the nation’s best goalkeeper, and the only goalie to claim national championships in his freshman and sophomore years.

When faced with adversity this summer, Galloway didn’t back away. “I called John early last week to inform him that we would start Brett in the Chaos rematch and that our 0-5 team really needed his leadership going forward,” Starsia wrote in US Lacrosse Magazine. “He apologized for not having played better, thought going to Brett was the right decision and emphasized that he was “all in.”

Galloway, who played on the 2018 US National Team that won Gold in Netanya, Israel, stepped back in the crease in Washington, D.C. when Queener went down with an injury during the second quarter. Galloway stopped seven shots against the high octane Chaos offense and helped Chrome secure their first victory of the season.

9. Guterding’s Freestyle Moves

While Justin Guterding put up highlight worthy performances all season, Gutty stole the show at Banc of California Stadium during the All-Star festivities. The 2018 Duke grad who set the NCAA record for goals (212) took home top honors in the Freestyle Competition against the likes of Ryan Drenner, Scott Ratliff, and Ryder Garnsey.

Guterding, who averaged 3.5 points a game in the regular season, leaped over his stick, ala Mikey Powell, to advance through the first round. In the final he jumped off All-Star team Captain and Guttyyyy hype man, Trevor Baptiste, to earn the highest score.

8. OT Anyone?

If you watched an overtime game before the All-Star break, there’s a good chance Chrome were in it. Three of their first five games required extra time. That’s a third of all the overtime games for the regular season and playoffs combined.

Unfortunately, Chrome were on the losing side of all those contests. The narrow loses showed how slim the margin was between the clubs at the top and bottom of the league. They also hinted at Chrome’s potential to break through.

7.  Jordan Wolf Is Too Fast 

The All-Star attackman won’t beat you with his size, but he’ll dust you with his speed. Despite a shooting slump early in the season, Wolf rounded into form and helped quarterback Chrome’s league leading offense that averaged 12 goals per game. Wolf ended the regular season with 16 goals and 16 assists.

His agility was evident in the first quarter against the Archers in the second round of the first overall draft pick bracket. Wolf received a pass behind the goal then sprinted by Matt McMahon and the rest of the Archers defense. No dodge was required. Wolf didn’t even have to absorb a single check on his way to the cage.

“He’s got probably the best wheels in the PLL,” Paul Rabil said on the sideline after Wolf scored. It was Wolf’s second goal of the game. He finished with four.

6. Jordan MacIntosh's Homecoming

The only player on Chrome’s Week 9 active roster from Canada, MacIntosh had the Atlas on their heels early. The RIT grad from Oakville, Ontario, scored four goals in the first half. The Week 9 outing was even more memorable because MacIntosh got to play in front of around 50 family and friends he set aside tickets for at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.

Though a broken thumb sustained in the second half ended his afternoon and cut short his season, MacIntosh still tallied 20 goals and two assists while shooting 43.4%. He proved he’s one of the league’s elite scorers out of the midfield.

5. MacIntosh’s Banner Day

MacIntosh’s four goal first half in Hamilton probably didn’t surprise many of his teammates. They had already witnessed him take over a game. MacIntosh’s gaudy stat line happened during Week 6 in Washington D.C., when he scored five of Chrome’s 19 goals. He scored on a diving backhand attempt, a time-and-room shot, a cut to the crease, a power play, and a BTB. He also dished out two assists.

You can watch every one of his points here.

4. The Milkman Riseth

If you asked before June 1 about who might be some of the breakout stars in the inaugural PLL season, odds are Connor Farrell was way down that list.  If we’re being honest, he wasn’t on it all.

The fourth round draft pick from LIU Post was hard to miss this summer with his flowing blonde locks that earned him the nickname, Thor. The Avenger comparison works because Farrell is a former linebacker and is listed at 6’2” and 240 pounds. He’s also known as the Milkman after he revealed he drinks a gallon of milk a day.

Farrell made his presence known for his play on the field during Week 1 at Gillette Stadium. He won 11-17 draws (64.7%) and collected nine ground balls against the Archers. After splitting draws for the first half of the season, he took over all the faceoff duties after the All-Star break and finished second in the league with a 54.5% mark.

A Rookie of the Year finalist, Farrell won the Dave Huntley Sportsmanship award at the PLL awards ceremony in Philadelphia. He also showed he can hold his own against the best in the world.

3. Inflicting Havoc on the Chaos

Chrome’s two wins came against the top two playoff seeds. It was that kind of summer. After five weeks of coming up short, they dispatched Chaos 19-11 at Audi Field in Washington D.C. As noted earlier, the game marked Galloway’s return to action. Galloway and the Chrome defense held the Bomb Squad at bay. Chaos didn’t even attempt a two-point shot.

The other highlight was Chrome’s explosive offense. Their 19 goals were the most by any club at that point. The game featured outstanding performances from Jordan Wolf (4,2), Guterding (2,2), and MacIntosh, who finished with five goals and two assists. While those three stat lines would have tied Chaos on their own, a 19 goal total is a testament to the offense’s success as a whole. The entire Chrome offense received the player(s) of the week distinction.

2. Uncle Ned Goes Off

Sometimes it seems like you can’t miss. Ned Crotty probably felt the goal looked like a soccer net against the Whipsnakes on August 10 in San Jose. Crotty scored Chrome’s second goal when he ran by SSDM Jake Bernhardt and finished around the left pipe. The Whipsnakes guarded him with a long pole the next possession. It didn’t matter. Crotty split dodged and scored on the run. He sealed Chrome’s second win with two unassisted goals in the fourth quarter.

Crotty totaled seven points (5G, 1A, 1T).

The prolific afternoon resulted in a mock Karate Kid poster (Crotty’s Twitter handle is @Crottykid22) and a Gladiator comparison that seemed directed at Chrome doubters.

 Are you not entertained?

1. Shipnakes Who? 

While Chrome’s first win against the Chaos kept them alive in the playoff hunt heading into the All-Star break, their second proved it wasn’t a fluke.

Chrome defeated the Whipsnakes--the eventual PLL Champion-- 20-16 in San Jose. Chrome edged their own record for the most goals in a game that they set during their first win. Although a week earlier in Denver they only managed seven goals against the Archers, they looked liked a different club at Avaya Stadium. The Chrome dropped 10 goals in the first quarter alone.

Besides Crotty’s seven points, Matt Danowski and Guterding both dropped hat-tricks, Wolf was 2 and 2, John Ranagan had two goals including a two-bomb.

Despite a 2-6 record, Chrome had the league’s best score differential after Week 8. Their playoff prospects were stifled the next weekend in Hamilton, when they fell 17-14 to the Atlas, who pulled ahead with less than a minute left after a Paul Rabil on-the-run goal.

If Chrome can string together performances like their outings against the Whipsnakes and Chaos, they’ll be a club no one wants to face next summer.