From dead last in the standings to one win away from the U.S. Bank Championship game, the Philadelphia Waterdogs’ second-year leap under head coach and general manager Bill Tierney was a whirlwind.
Just two months ago, the Waterdogs sat atop the Eastern Conference and were considered one of the top dogs in the league.
That hype unraveled after the All-Star break. Philly lost its final four regular-season games, narrowly securing Tierney’s first postseason berth with a 20-19 loss to the New York Atlas in the finale.
A few weeks later, it was the experience of the Atlas that ended the Waterdogs’ season in the semifinals.
Here’s a closer look at what went right for Philly this season and which areas Tierney will look to improve heading into 2026:
Overwhelming firepower
From top to bottom, the Waterdogs’ offense was stacked with league-leading talent in the form of Michael Sowers, Kieran McArdle and Jack Hannah. Rookie Jake Taylor made waves in the first half of the season before No. 1 overall pick CJ Kirst returned from injury and picked up right where he left off in college.
With Sowers quarterbacking, the midfield unit firing on all cylinders and a strong emphasis on “we ball, not me ball,” the Waterdogs’ offense was flying high.
Philadelphia was 4-2 when scoring 14 or more goals, compared to a 1-5 record when scoring 13 or fewer.
The offense relied on overwhelming firepower to exploit mismatches, often forcing defenses to cover top talent with short sticks. Even when defenses adjusted well, the Waterdogs created and capitalized on solo matchups.
Offensive coordinator Dylan Sheridan’s unit thrived on isolations to open up additional looks across the field. Despite ranking second-to-last in total passes, the Waterdogs were second in goals scored and third in assists.
The offense was at its best when MVP finalist Sowers played quarterback or worked the pick game to create scoring chances.
Youth on the defensive end
Since the defensive-minded Tierney took the reins in Philly, he’s spent more than half of his draft picks on defensive talent.
In his first draft, he selected Kenny Brower and Marcus Hudgins in the middle rounds. A year later, he grabbed Dylan Hess, Ben Wayer and Jimmy Freehill.
All five players earned starting roles at some point during the season and were key contributors to the defense’s success. The Waterdogs caused 72 turnovers during the regular season and 16 more in their two playoff games.
The only drawback of a young defense is the lack of experience, which led to some defensive struggles.
Question mark in net
One of the biggest storylines coming out of the Waterdogs’ playoff run is the goalie situation.
Throughout the season, Matt DeLuca and Dillon Ward split time depending on the matchup. Though both had positive moments, Philly struggled to find consistency in net.
By season’s end, the Waterdogs’ goalie room ranked sixth in scores against average (12.7), tied for seventh in save percentage (50%) and last in total saves (112).
While the duo worked well together on and off the field, a rotating goalie system can disrupt rhythm and consistency. Heading into 2026, one of the biggest questions is whether the Waterdogs will name a full-time starter or stick with a platoon system.
What’s next
The contracts of seven Waterdogs players are set to expire this offseason, including two starters (short-stick defensive midfielder Matt Whitcher and faceoff specialist Alec Stathakis). Key depth pieces like Thomas McConvey and Christian Scarpello are also out of contract.
After a two-win campaign in 2024, the Waterdogs bounced back in a major way. With this year’s team coming one step away from its third championship appearance, motivation is already brewing for Tierney to bring the core back.
And if history is any indication, Tierney won’t shy away from bold offseason moves.
Just last year, the Waterdogs traded Matt Brandau for former MVP Zed Williams. Though Williams suffered a season-ending injury before he could take the field, the move showed Tierney isn’t afraid to make a splash.
With an impressive arsenal of offensive talent, could the Waterdogs pursue a veteran presence on defense? Or will Tierney stack up more picks and build another solid draft class?
Either way, the Waterdogs are holding a strong hand heading into the offseason and could take another leap in 2026.
