With attackman Matt Moore out of the lineup for the Utah Archers this weekend due to a right AC joint sprain, the offense will have to adapt to playing without one of its starting attackmen. 

Fortunately for Utah, this is when it pays off to have built an offense of versatile players who can play in a variety of spots.

When Moore left last Sunday’s game, Tre Leclaire filled in for him at attack and the Archers offense hardly missed a beat. But with Moore missing Saturday’s game in Denver and uncertain for next week’s pair of games in Salt Lake City, the Utah staff has options to choose from with 2021 Attackman of the Year Grant Ament providing another choice.

“It really does depend on the severity of Matt’s situation and how long he might be out,” head coach Chris Bates said. “If it’s two weeks, it’s one thing. If it’s three, it might be another.” 

For Utah, keeping Ament coming out of the box is a priority. Ament has thrived up top this season and has been abusing short-stick matchups since Opening Weekend. His 11 unassisted goals through seven games are the third-most in the league, and his 12 total scores have already surpassed his goal total across 10 games in 2023.

With the offense at its best when Ament joins the party from up top, Leclaire is the logical substitute for Moore down low. He doesn’t provide the same dodging presence from below goal line extended. But he’s a stretch shooter who can occupy a pole. If opponents short him, then he’s a perfect complement as a picker in big-little games because of his size, ability to stretch the defense as a shooter and understanding of the details of setting effective picks.

“If you short him, we’re going to pull him up to the wing and run two-man with Grant or with Tom [Schreiber],” Bates added. “We like Tre in the pick game anywhere really.”

If Moore is out longer term, Ament could be the one to bump down to attack and reclaim his spot there. But while Moore’s status for the coming weeks is still up in the air, Leclaire is most likely set to start alongside Connor Fields and Mac O’Keefe.

“This weekend you would more than likely see Tre at attack, Grant up top and [Ryan Aughavin] play,” Bates explained. “So that’s the short-term thinking. If Matt’s out for an extended time, we might rethink that. We’re really going day by day and then week by week.”

If Utah does rethink its decision, moving Ament back to attack would reshape the offense. He’s been back to his best in 2024 now that he’s fully healthy and is no stranger to dodging poles. In transition, his passing ability would be beneficial to have on the field at all times, and his willingness to attack in early offense would, as well. 

Leclaire and Ament are very different players who bring different things to the table at attack. Leclaire occupying a pole or picking when he gets a short stick provides opportunities for others, while Ament puts more direct pressure on opposing defenses as a dodger and playmaker in unsettled situations. 

In making these decisions, the Archers are comforted by how they handled a string of injuries during their run to the 2023 Cash App Championship. Moore and Ament were out of the lineup throughout the season, Fields missed the title game and most of their semifinal due to injury, Jon Robbins went down for the last two-thirds of the season and Cam Wyers got hurt during the title game. The club has overcome situations like this before. 

“Having gone through that last year, you don’t lose your mind as much,” Bates said. “It is what it is and you just have to have that next man up mentality.”

Of course, with Moore out, the Archers have to fill another offensive roster spot. Against the New York Atlas on Saturday, that will be Aughavin. He, rookie Dyson Williams and Challen Rogers have been rotating through as Utah’s eighth offensive player on the 19-man roster this season. With Rogers on IR and Moore out this week, Williams and Aughavin will be the club’s offensive depth. 

Although they’ve got the talent to do more, both have been fairly quiet in their appearances this season. Aughavin has tallied two points (2A) in four games and has shot 0-for-8. Williams has played in just two games and scored one goal on three shots. Of course, neither Aughavin nor Williams is a high-volume threat, and they haven’t played in every game. But they’ve each left some meat on the bone when they’ve been out there.

That begs the question: If Moore is out past this weekend, will the Archers look to trade for a strong righty to add to the mix before Tuesday’s trade deadline? Utah has five picks in the 2025 College Draft, including the California Redwoods’ third-rounder. So, would they consider making a move? 

“Not yet,” Bates answered. “The pick thing is interesting because we don’t need five dudes [next year]. I start looking at the value of next year’s draft, it’s certainly nowhere near this year’s.” 

Nevertheless, Bates expressed his confidence in who the Archers have on their roster with Aughavin, Williams and player pool pickup Jack VanOverbeke. Plus, both Rogers and Cole Williams are currently on IR but could be options if they return to full strength before the postseason.

“It would depend on who might be available,” Bates added regarding a trade. “But no, we're not there yet.” 

“Yet” is the operative word here. If the Archers struggle on Saturday either due to issues with the Leclaire/Ament dynamic at attack or due to a lack of production from their depth, they could probably find a willing trade partner before the deadline.

Tuesday’s trade between the Philadelphia Waterdogs and Maryland Whipsnakes – which sent Ryan Conrad to the Whips for their 2025 second-rounder – provides a good example for what the Archers could try to do. 

Maryland lost Tucker Dordevic to injury in Baltimore and swiftly went about acquiring a piece to fill his spot, while the Waterdogs nabbed a valuable pick for a player who’d been less productive in 2024. 

Playing into the hypothetical, there are a few guys who could fit what Utah would look for as a strong righty threat. Of course, no team that makes the Cash App Playoffs would be quick to send a quality contributor away for a future pick. But the Waterdogs and perhaps the Redwoods could be willing to deal after this weekend. 

To make the postseason, the Woods need to win out, have at least one of the Chaos, Archers or Outlaws lose out, and overcome a major scoring differential deficit to those clubs in the process. If they lose or those three teams each pick up a win this weekend, head coach and general manager Nat St. Laurent will be looking ahead to building for 2025. 

Philadelphia’s Connor Kelly and California’s Romar Dennis are the two players who stick out most as potential targets for the Archers. Both are veterans on expiring contracts who haven’t had their greatest seasons in 2024 and would fit the Utah offense as right-handed midfielders who can pose a scoring threat on a low volume of touches. 

After Philly got Maryland’s second-rounder for Conrad (who subsequently signed a contract extension through 2026), would a third-rounder be worth augmenting Utah’s offensive depth for the club’s run at going back-to-back?

For now, it’s hard to say. The Archers have a range of options for filling out their offense with Moore out of the lineup.

Saturday’s test against the best team in the league will put all these decisions into context. If the Archers can topple the mighty Atlas on ABC, then they’ll unquestionably be in a good position at the top of the West heading into their Homecoming weekend. If not, Moore’s status for the final stretch of the season becomes more relevant.