With the second half of the season kicking off Friday in Chicago, it’s time to look at my revenge list. Five guys who I believe when the season is all said and done we’ll look back and wonder how they weren’t All-Stars. These players will be critical to their teams playoff pushes, and are stepping back on the field with something to prove this weekend.
Kieran McArdle – Attack, Waterdogs
Kieran McArdle continues to be one of the most consistent and impactful players in professional lacrosse. He has formed one of the league’s best duos alongside Michael Sowers and was a driving force behind the Waterdogs 2022 Championship run.
Through five games in 2025, McArdle has posted 15 points (11G, 4A) while shooting 42%. He’s currently tied for fourth in the league in goals.
McArdle doesn’t care about individual accolades and All-Star Games. He gave away the Golden Stick Award after losing the 2024 Championship Series. He cares about one thing: Winning. With Sowers emerging as the MVP front-runner at the halfway mark of the season, defenses will start shifting more attention his way, setting McArdle up for a massive second half.
If the Waterdogs want to be playing late into September, McArdle is going to be the key piece that gets them there.
Bryan Costabile – Midfield, Atlas
Bryan Costabile is off to the best start of his PLL career. He currently ranks in the top four among midfielders in points with 12 through five games. He made a major statement in a high stakes early season Eastern Conference battle against rival Philadelphia, posting six points on an impressive 80% shooting.
He’s been the top offensive weapon out of the midfield for the first-place New York Atlas, who lead the Eastern Conference. Despite his production, Costabile has flown under the radar, overshadowed by rookie teammate Matt Traynor, who’s quickly become one of the league’s breakout stars and earned an All-Star selection.
Costabile didn’t get the same recognition, but you can bet he’ll use that as fuel. The Atlas will be leaning on Costabile to carry momentum into the second half of the season. In a game that is always chippy between two teams who don’t like each other, expect Costabile to come out aggressive Friday night in a huge revenge game vs top rival the Boston Cannons.
Arden Cohen – Defense, Redwoods
Arden Cohen has made a strong case as the best defender in the PLL. He’s been an absolute force for the Redwoods, leading the league in caused turnovers with 11 and topping all defensemen in ground balls with 14. Cohen has anchored a much improved Redwoods defense after the unit finished dead last in defensive rankings in 2024.
While much of the spotlight this season has been on the Redwoods revamped offense thanks to key signings like Dylan Molloy and the additions of rookies Chris Kavanagh and Andrew McAdorey, Cohen has quietly remained the heart of the team’s identity on the back end. Since the league’s inception in 2019, defense has been the Redwoods calling card, and Cohen is carrying that torch so far in 2025.
After starting 2-0, California has dropped three straight heading into the second half of the season. If the Redwoods are going to rebound and make a playoff push in the Western Conference, it’ll hinge on Cohen’s ability to dominate the ground game and generate turnovers against top-tier opponents, helping relieve pressure on first-year starting goalie Chayse Ierlan. His All-Star snub only adds fuel to the fire, and don’t be surprised if he uses it as motivation to finish the season as a Defensive Player of the Year finalist.
Colin Squires – LSM, Whipsnakes
Colin Squires was the best cover LSM in the league last season, plain and simple. He locked down top matchups week after week and played a huge role in the Whipsnakes’ run to the 2024 Championship game. His overtime performance in the semifinal win on Long Island against the Atlas was a defining moment.
After stepping into the starting role following the retirement of five-time LSM of the Year and future Hall of Famer Michael Ehrhardt, Squires hasn’t missed a beat. He’s proven he belongs in any conversation about the best long-stick midfielders in the world. Whipsnakes head coach Jim Stagnitta even called him “so underrated and so underappreciated.”
Through five games in 2025, Squires ranks second in the PLL in ground balls among non-faceoff specialists with 18. He’s continued to be a major presence for Maryland, helping shut down some of the league’s top dodgers and turning defense into offense with smooth transition play.
Jared Bernhardt – Midfield, Outlaws
Jared Bernhardt has taken the PLL by storm since announcing his return to lacrosse in early June. The former Tewaaraton Award winner and national champion at Maryland (lacrosse) and Ferris State (football) sent shockwaves through the league the moment he made his comeback official after spending the last few years chasing his football dreams, including making the Atlanta Falcons 53-man roster and playing in the CFL. Bernhardt made it clear he was ready to pick up his stick again. Every team wanted him, but it was the Denver Outlaws who won the sweepstakes.
Since joining the lineup, Bernhardt has transformed the Outlaws offense. Paired with rookie goalie Logan McNaney, another Maryland product, the Outlaws have gone 3-1 with Bernhardt in the lineup and currently sit atop the league standings at the halfway point of the season. In just four games, he’s racked up 9 points (7 goals, 2 assists), including a breakout 5-point performance against the two-time defending champion Utah Archers.
Bernhardt brings a unique blend of speed, IQ, and clutch play ability that few can match, and now that he’s settling back into the game of lacrosse in the PLL, he’s looking more dangerous by the week. As Denver eyes a championship push, Bernhardt’s unique skill set creates matchup problems for any opponent, especially when paired with one of the league’s biggest breakout stars this season, All-Star teammate Pat Kavanagh. If he continues this trajectory, the Outlaws may not just be the surprise of the season; they could be the team to beat.
