Who Will Win the Battle for Whipsnakes LC’s Offensive Depth?
By Adam Lamberti
May 24, 2023
The 30-man roster for the Whipsnakes will report to training camp this Saturday in Albany. After three days of practice and scrimmages, the roster will be trimmed down to 25 players on Wednesday, May 31. Whipsnakes LC Head Coach and General Manager Jim Stagnitta will have to make some difficult personnel decisions, especially at the offensive/defensive midfield and goalie positions.
Adding offensive depth and talent was priority one for Coach Stagnitta in the offseason, but now he faces the tall task of evaluating and deciding who to keep. We all know who the offensive locks are; players like Matt Rambo, Will Manny, Zed Williams, Brad Smith, Mike Chanenchuk, and first-round pick Tucker Dordevic. Of the remaining offensive players on the 30-man roster, I expect two or three of them to make the 25-man roster and the rest to get cut.
Option 1 - Keegan Khan
Khan probably has one of the best chances to make the 25-man roster out of any other offensive player. Tallying nine points last year for the Whipsnakes, Khan is an offensive chameleon that can play multiple roles in a motion offense.
Option 2 - Jackson Reid
Another player who saw time for the Whipsnakes last year, Reid is a slick left-handed dodger and finisher that scored in some huge moments last year. Will Manny is likely to slot in at the left-handed attack position, but Reid is still a very capable midfielder as he proved with Ohio State in 2022. With a year under his belt, Reid should have some confidence going into training camp that he is good enough to beat out newer additions.
Option 3 - Wheaton Jackoboice
Put simply, Jackoboice needs to play more consistently to make the 25-man roster. A fast downhill dodger, he’s shown glimpses of potential at the highest level, but only shot 9% in 2022.
Option 4 - Max Waldbaum
I saw someone call Waldbaum a ‘right-handed Matt Rambo’ on Twitter and it makes sense. Waldbaum is a big-bodied righty who loves contact and plays with a ton of confidence. His size should translate nicely to the professional game and will be welcomed to the lineup if Zed Williams misses time, but he needs to show he can work within the offense to make the roster.
Option 5 - Luke Frankeny
To me, Frankeny is the most intriguing player at Whipsnakes training camp. If you turn on the tape, Frankeny stands out with his hard step down shot that can extend a defense, but he also moves well off the ball and is a more than capable dodger. Perhaps an underappreciated player in his days at Mount St. Mary’s and Richmond, I’m excited to see what Frankeny does with the opportunity.
Option 6 - Sean Lulley
A very talented attacker at UPenn and Duke, Lulley has a smooth game that features a lot of turning the corner and inside roll goals. He reminds me a bit of Keegan Khan, and being able to play midfield and attack will only help him at camp.
