Powellfan
Renowned lacrosse analyst
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I started this post before the Petro news broke, and was almost finished, so I understand people are still processing that news. But I wanted to try and look ahead to 2022. Obviously a lot will change this offseason with transfers in and out, and it's not totally clear which seniors will use their extra year of eligibility, so this list will probably change quite a bit before next spring. Also complicating matters is one of the top conferences in lacrosse did not play last year, so it is hard to predict how good they will be next year. I am probably wrong about some of the players below either returning or not, so please correct me. Anyways, please post your own top 10 and feel free to disagree with mine! I've already changed my mind about a number of teams in the process of putting this together, and I'm sure I am missing someone obvious!
1. Virginia - A pretty clear cut number one team and one that returns a boatload of talent. Shellenberger might be the Tewaarton favorite and he'll have competition from two of his teammates in Cormier and Moore. That trio is probably the best in lacrosse right now. They lose some scoring in Aitkin, Bertrand and Laviano, but I think they can be replaced by players like Garno, Connor and Dixon. The biggest loss is on the defensive end in Connors but UVA had a deep stable of defenders last year and probably get their goalie Rode back. LaSalla was very good at the face-off X. Frankly its hard to find many issues with this team.
2. Duke - People might disagree with putting the Devils up this high given the way the lost in the Final Four, but they still return a ton of talent even though they lose Sowers, JT Giles Harris and Adler. Robertson, Montgomery, O'Neil, Caputo, Williams, Nasso at the X, Stephenson and Brower on defense. Plus they add the top two recruits in the nation in McAdory and Boyer. Things did not look right for Duke last year, they almost had too much to work with. Will (a little) less be more in 2022?
3. Maryland - The Terps lose the best player in the country last year in Bernhardt, there's no denying that. They also return a lot, and more than anything it always seems like the Terps are in the Final Four at the end of the season. A lot rides on their fifth years coming back but if Wisnauskus and Fairman come back thats a pretty good twosome and they have good young talent with Long, Maltz and Malever, not to mention a bunch of UA AAs just sitting on the bench. Also they have perhaps the best defenseman in the country in Makar. The Terps always seem to be in the middle of transfer season so they could jump up in this list if they land a Khan or Lulley. I've seen rumors that Donville from Cornell is transferring in, but also that Anthony DeMaio is not coming back so that kind of balances things I think. I also don't think the Big 10 will be very good next year, OSU and PSU didn't play well last year and lose a ton - Michigan and Hopkins might be the teams right behind the Terps.
4. Georgetown - Maybe a bit surprising but the Hoyas return everyone outside of their leading scorer in Carraway and a second line middie in Petkivich. Carraway is a huge loss as he scored 14 more points than the second leading scorer on the team, but I'm thinking that since Haley and Hess were just freshmen last year, they might play even better as sophomores. Despite getting blown out by UVA in the second round of the tourney, this was a very solid team at every position last year. They do need to work on getting more scoring depth. Also the Big East will be way down with Denver losing a ton of impact players.
5. Notre Dame - The Irish lose a ton, all over the field - a starting attackman, their top two very good FOGOs and their top two defensemen. That is a lot. But Corrigan has already been hitting the transfer portal, and they return one of the best attackmen in the country in Pat Kavanaugh. He's joined by his brother Chris Kavanaugh, a top five recruit. They also return Eric Dobson who is gigantic and showed a ton of promise as a freshman. They have a bunch of very solid midfielders. The big question is face-offs, outside of last year they do not have a good track record at the dot, and if the defense is down, they could stumble down the rankings.
6. Loyola - The least flashy team I can think of, but they get back a ton of talent in '21 with Olmstead and Lindly once again leading the offense. James emerged as a solid third option on attack. They have a very solid defense and a methodical offense and are just very solid in all aspects of the game. Midfield was a bit underwhelming last year and FOGO Savio was just a little above 50% last year.
7. UNC - This might seem low for the Tar Heels but I have a hard time seeing them back in the Final Four after losing their entire first midfield and their best defender. They have a very good goalie Krieg and one of the best players in the country in Chris Gray, but midfield is such an important position. They also seem to be losing some players to the transfer portal with Trippi, Cameron and Alexander all entering. They have what looks to be the number one recruiting class coming in, but frankly it seems like they do every year. Overall it just feels like 2021 was the year for the Tar Heels.
8. Yale - It was hard to chose between the Bulldogs and the Big Red, but I think Yale has fewer questions and Shay puts them over the edge. Obviously they lost a lot in 2020 (Morrill, Gaudet, Cotler, Irelan) but they get back Brandau and Bragg for the offense, and Fake and Starr for the defense and Neumann was the number one FOGO recruit before Irelan transferred in. This positioning has more to do with Yale always being in contention more than what they have returning. Will be fascinating to watch these Ivy League teams get up to speed. They lose a lot, but also will be integrating two freshmen classes that haven't played college lacrosse before.
9. Cornell - The Big Red lose the PLL number one pick in Jeff Teat and have a years long layoff, but this offense was electric two years ago. They also return a very good goalie in Irelan and a good FOGO in Petrakis. Long and Piatelli should lead this group. But there are a lot of questions, the layoff, plus the fact they are breaking in a new head coach in Buczek. Also sounds like Donville is transferring to Maryland and I am unsure about the status of other contributors like Fletcher, Telesco and Salvatore.
10. Syracuse - I've written a lot about this team already, so I'll try and keep it short. The Orange did not have the season they wanted to last year, and they lose a lot, from all over the field - starting goalie, best SSDM, starting middie and best attackman. That said I think they have a ton of talent coming back and may be getting overlooked by some for how last year went - Hiltz, Dordevic and Curry are a very good trio most teams would love to build around. I'm also high on Seebold and Quinn. Defense obviously has questions. Also they will be a fascinating team to watch with a new coach in Gary Gait - what will his impact be? This team will have a lot of attention on them. Side note: Syracuse could have a much better season than most think - there is a lot of questions surrounding some of the teams ahead of them.
Other teams receiving "votes" (in alphabetical order)
Army - not counting them out as long as they have Nichtern and Schlupper.
Johns Hopkins - pains me to say but the Blue Jays look pretty good going into next year, went toe to toe with Maryland twice last year and really only lose Williams.
Lehigh - Returns almost everyone I beleive including the best FOGO in the country, played a soft schedule last year and seems they were exposed by Rutgers in the tournament.
Penn - Losses Lulley to the portal and I am unsure who else they bring back, but they have Handley who might be one of the most physically dominant players in the country. Plays fast and uptempo, a team to watch for sure.
1. Virginia - A pretty clear cut number one team and one that returns a boatload of talent. Shellenberger might be the Tewaarton favorite and he'll have competition from two of his teammates in Cormier and Moore. That trio is probably the best in lacrosse right now. They lose some scoring in Aitkin, Bertrand and Laviano, but I think they can be replaced by players like Garno, Connor and Dixon. The biggest loss is on the defensive end in Connors but UVA had a deep stable of defenders last year and probably get their goalie Rode back. LaSalla was very good at the face-off X. Frankly its hard to find many issues with this team.
2. Duke - People might disagree with putting the Devils up this high given the way the lost in the Final Four, but they still return a ton of talent even though they lose Sowers, JT Giles Harris and Adler. Robertson, Montgomery, O'Neil, Caputo, Williams, Nasso at the X, Stephenson and Brower on defense. Plus they add the top two recruits in the nation in McAdory and Boyer. Things did not look right for Duke last year, they almost had too much to work with. Will (a little) less be more in 2022?
3. Maryland - The Terps lose the best player in the country last year in Bernhardt, there's no denying that. They also return a lot, and more than anything it always seems like the Terps are in the Final Four at the end of the season. A lot rides on their fifth years coming back but if Wisnauskus and Fairman come back thats a pretty good twosome and they have good young talent with Long, Maltz and Malever, not to mention a bunch of UA AAs just sitting on the bench. Also they have perhaps the best defenseman in the country in Makar. The Terps always seem to be in the middle of transfer season so they could jump up in this list if they land a Khan or Lulley. I've seen rumors that Donville from Cornell is transferring in, but also that Anthony DeMaio is not coming back so that kind of balances things I think. I also don't think the Big 10 will be very good next year, OSU and PSU didn't play well last year and lose a ton - Michigan and Hopkins might be the teams right behind the Terps.
4. Georgetown - Maybe a bit surprising but the Hoyas return everyone outside of their leading scorer in Carraway and a second line middie in Petkivich. Carraway is a huge loss as he scored 14 more points than the second leading scorer on the team, but I'm thinking that since Haley and Hess were just freshmen last year, they might play even better as sophomores. Despite getting blown out by UVA in the second round of the tourney, this was a very solid team at every position last year. They do need to work on getting more scoring depth. Also the Big East will be way down with Denver losing a ton of impact players.
5. Notre Dame - The Irish lose a ton, all over the field - a starting attackman, their top two very good FOGOs and their top two defensemen. That is a lot. But Corrigan has already been hitting the transfer portal, and they return one of the best attackmen in the country in Pat Kavanaugh. He's joined by his brother Chris Kavanaugh, a top five recruit. They also return Eric Dobson who is gigantic and showed a ton of promise as a freshman. They have a bunch of very solid midfielders. The big question is face-offs, outside of last year they do not have a good track record at the dot, and if the defense is down, they could stumble down the rankings.
6. Loyola - The least flashy team I can think of, but they get back a ton of talent in '21 with Olmstead and Lindly once again leading the offense. James emerged as a solid third option on attack. They have a very solid defense and a methodical offense and are just very solid in all aspects of the game. Midfield was a bit underwhelming last year and FOGO Savio was just a little above 50% last year.
7. UNC - This might seem low for the Tar Heels but I have a hard time seeing them back in the Final Four after losing their entire first midfield and their best defender. They have a very good goalie Krieg and one of the best players in the country in Chris Gray, but midfield is such an important position. They also seem to be losing some players to the transfer portal with Trippi, Cameron and Alexander all entering. They have what looks to be the number one recruiting class coming in, but frankly it seems like they do every year. Overall it just feels like 2021 was the year for the Tar Heels.
8. Yale - It was hard to chose between the Bulldogs and the Big Red, but I think Yale has fewer questions and Shay puts them over the edge. Obviously they lost a lot in 2020 (Morrill, Gaudet, Cotler, Irelan) but they get back Brandau and Bragg for the offense, and Fake and Starr for the defense and Neumann was the number one FOGO recruit before Irelan transferred in. This positioning has more to do with Yale always being in contention more than what they have returning. Will be fascinating to watch these Ivy League teams get up to speed. They lose a lot, but also will be integrating two freshmen classes that haven't played college lacrosse before.
9. Cornell - The Big Red lose the PLL number one pick in Jeff Teat and have a years long layoff, but this offense was electric two years ago. They also return a very good goalie in Irelan and a good FOGO in Petrakis. Long and Piatelli should lead this group. But there are a lot of questions, the layoff, plus the fact they are breaking in a new head coach in Buczek. Also sounds like Donville is transferring to Maryland and I am unsure about the status of other contributors like Fletcher, Telesco and Salvatore.
10. Syracuse - I've written a lot about this team already, so I'll try and keep it short. The Orange did not have the season they wanted to last year, and they lose a lot, from all over the field - starting goalie, best SSDM, starting middie and best attackman. That said I think they have a ton of talent coming back and may be getting overlooked by some for how last year went - Hiltz, Dordevic and Curry are a very good trio most teams would love to build around. I'm also high on Seebold and Quinn. Defense obviously has questions. Also they will be a fascinating team to watch with a new coach in Gary Gait - what will his impact be? This team will have a lot of attention on them. Side note: Syracuse could have a much better season than most think - there is a lot of questions surrounding some of the teams ahead of them.
Other teams receiving "votes" (in alphabetical order)
Army - not counting them out as long as they have Nichtern and Schlupper.
Johns Hopkins - pains me to say but the Blue Jays look pretty good going into next year, went toe to toe with Maryland twice last year and really only lose Williams.
Lehigh - Returns almost everyone I beleive including the best FOGO in the country, played a soft schedule last year and seems they were exposed by Rutgers in the tournament.
Penn - Losses Lulley to the portal and I am unsure who else they bring back, but they have Handley who might be one of the most physically dominant players in the country. Plays fast and uptempo, a team to watch for sure.
