Photo by: Ron Chenoy/Pretty Instant
Professional Lacrosse Midseason Update
Jul 24 | Men's Lacrosse
Pro Knights: MLL and PLL Midseason Update
A record 11 Rutgers alumni began the season on rosters across the two leagues professional leagues. As both Major League Lacrosse and the Premier Lacrosse League have reached the midpoint of their seasons, let's check in on the performances of the Scarlet Knight alumns.
Premier Lacrosse League
Jules Heningburg – Redwoods
Heningburg started the season with the Whipsnakes before being traded to the Redwoods, where he quickly made an impact with five goals and three assists in his debut game with the club. He was named a PLL All-Star, playing in the game last weekend in Los Angeles. Through six games, he has scored 12 goals with seven assists, which places him in a tie for fourth in the league in goals and ninth in points, while pacing the Redwoods in goals and assists.
While at Rutgers: Two-time All-American, Two-time First Team All-Big Ten, 2nd all-time in points
Joe Nardella – Whipsnakes
Nardella has excelled at the faceoff 'X' in his inaugural PLL season, with a 57.1 winning percentage that is second in the league to Trevor Baptiste. He is also second in the league with 44 ground balls, averaging 7.3 per game. He has helped the Whipsnakes to a 5-1 record, which leads the league. He has also scored two goals and added two assists.
While at Rutgers: All-American, First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Specialist of the Year, Two-time All-BIG EAST
Chris Mattes - Atlas
Mattes has not yet seen game action, serving as the backup faceoff specialist behind Baptiste.
While at Rutgers: All-American, First Team All-BIG EAST
The PLL will return to the area for the playoffs. The second round will be held on September 14 at Red Bull Arena, while the Championship Game and Consolation Game will take place on September 21 in Philadelphia.
Major League Lacrosse
Michael Rexrode – Denver Outlaws
Rexrode has excelled as a starting defenseman for the Outlaws. Through eight games, he has caused a team-high 10 turnovers and collected 18 ground balls to lead Denver to a league-best 6-2 record. He is fourth in the league in caused turnovers.
In the News: (Kyle Devitte, Inside Lacrosse)
Second-year pro Michael Rexrode is the type of defenseman that MLL GM's covet. Malleable, coachable and mean. Apologies to the pearl-clutchers but being mean on the field is a necessity in professional lacrosse. The difference between pro lacrosse and other pro sports is that 98% of the guys in lacrosse don't stay mean off the field. Rexrode's blue collar work ethic — steeled by his time in the trenches with an aggressive and underrated Rutgers defense — has seen his role expand in the Outlaws defense. He's not a match up player; he's a second defenseman that can cover like a first and slide like a third.
While at Rutgers: Two-time All-American, Two-time First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipient
Kyle Pless – Denver Outlaws
In his rookie season, Pless has played in three games, collecting five ground balls, and causing four turnovers. On his first shot as a professional, he scored a goal.
While at Rutgers: All-American, All-Big Ten
Christian Mazzone – Atlanta Blaze
Mazzone has excelled in the midfield for the Blaze. In nine games, he has made an impact all over the field. Mazzone has recorded 12 goals and six assists for 18 points, while scooping 18 ground balls.
In the News: (Kyle Devitte, Inside Lacrosse)
"There is no harder worker on this listicle than Mazzone. Sure, it's a standard platitude, but that doesn't mean that Mazzone is a standard kind of player. Most defensive or transition shortsticks ply their trade on the faceoff wing just long enough to get the ball to another player and run off for an advantage. The advantage that Mazzone supplies is that he gets the groundball and goes right at whoever is foolish enough to stand in his way. Every team dreams of getting a true two-way player, but most of those teams wake up from that dream screaming. The Blaze are no doubt happy with Mazzone's play, as evidenced by a marked increase in his touches in the last few games; last week he put up five goals and two assists in two games. Expect those numbers to ascend in the coming weeks as Mazzone is a key piece in Atlanta's battle for a playoff spot in the second half of the season.
While at Rutgers: All-American, All-Big Ten
Chad Toliver – Atlanta Blaze
Toliver has played in three games as a short-stick defensive midfielder for the Blaze, recording two ground balls and two caused turnovers.
While at Rutgers: 58 games with 28 goals, nine assists and 19 ground balls
Max Edelmann – Atlanta Blaze
Edelmann made his professional debut in a game where he saw 9:38 of action and made one save. He serves as the team's backup goalkeeper as the Blaze have the second most wins (five) in the MLL.
While at Rutgers: All-American, First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Co-Specialist of the Year
Kris Alleyne – Dallas Rattlers
Alleyne has seen action in three games as the team's backup goalkeeper.
While at Rutgers: First Team All-BIG EAST, BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, 5th all-time in saves
Garrett Michaeli – Chesapeake Bayhawks
Has not seen game action this season.
While at Rutgers: 52 games with four goals, five assists, 104 ground balls and 48 caused turnovers
Scott Bieda – NY Lizards
Has not seen game action this season.
While at Rutgers: All-American, Two-time First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, All-BIG EAST, 6th all-time in points and assists
About the Premier Lacrosse League
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) brings the sport of lacrosse to a national stage for the first time through a tour-based model, complete with the best players the sport has to offer. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar, philanthropist, and investor Paul Rabil and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the Premier Lacrosse League is backed by an investment group comprised of The Raine Group, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), The Chernin Group, and Blum Capital. The PLL season will begin in June 2019, with six teams, embarking on a 14-week season that concludes with a playoff and PLL championship game. The PLL season will be distributed through an exclusive media-rights agreement with NBC Sports Group. For more information, visit PremierLacrosseLeague.com, and follow on social media:
Instagram: @PLL
Twitter: @PremierLacrosse
Facebook: @PremierLacrosseLeague
YouTube: YouTube.com/PLL
About Major League Lacrosse:
Major League Lacrosse (MLL), based in Boston, is the premier professional field lacrosse league. MLL has led lacrosse's growth into the mainstream of competitive team sports since 2001. In the spring of 2018, MLL entered into new leadership for the first time in 14 years when it selected Alexander Brown as the Commissioner. Since that time MLL has been on an aggressive path towards sustainably developing and growing the league. The league currently features six teams: The Atlanta Blaze, Boston Cannons, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Dallas Rattlers, Denver Outlaws, and New York Lizards. Tickets for the 2019 season and the 2019 All-Star Game are available on majorleaguelacrosse.com
Instagram: instagram.com/majorleaguelax
Twitter: twitter.com/MLL_Lacrosse
A record 11 Rutgers alumni began the season on rosters across the two leagues professional leagues. As both Major League Lacrosse and the Premier Lacrosse League have reached the midpoint of their seasons, let's check in on the performances of the Scarlet Knight alumns.
Premier Lacrosse League
Jules Heningburg – Redwoods
Heningburg started the season with the Whipsnakes before being traded to the Redwoods, where he quickly made an impact with five goals and three assists in his debut game with the club. He was named a PLL All-Star, playing in the game last weekend in Los Angeles. Through six games, he has scored 12 goals with seven assists, which places him in a tie for fourth in the league in goals and ninth in points, while pacing the Redwoods in goals and assists.
While at Rutgers: Two-time All-American, Two-time First Team All-Big Ten, 2nd all-time in points
Joe Nardella – Whipsnakes
Nardella has excelled at the faceoff 'X' in his inaugural PLL season, with a 57.1 winning percentage that is second in the league to Trevor Baptiste. He is also second in the league with 44 ground balls, averaging 7.3 per game. He has helped the Whipsnakes to a 5-1 record, which leads the league. He has also scored two goals and added two assists.
While at Rutgers: All-American, First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Specialist of the Year, Two-time All-BIG EAST
Chris Mattes - Atlas
Mattes has not yet seen game action, serving as the backup faceoff specialist behind Baptiste.
While at Rutgers: All-American, First Team All-BIG EAST
The PLL will return to the area for the playoffs. The second round will be held on September 14 at Red Bull Arena, while the Championship Game and Consolation Game will take place on September 21 in Philadelphia.
Major League Lacrosse
Michael Rexrode – Denver Outlaws
Rexrode has excelled as a starting defenseman for the Outlaws. Through eight games, he has caused a team-high 10 turnovers and collected 18 ground balls to lead Denver to a league-best 6-2 record. He is fourth in the league in caused turnovers.
In the News: (Kyle Devitte, Inside Lacrosse)
Second-year pro Michael Rexrode is the type of defenseman that MLL GM's covet. Malleable, coachable and mean. Apologies to the pearl-clutchers but being mean on the field is a necessity in professional lacrosse. The difference between pro lacrosse and other pro sports is that 98% of the guys in lacrosse don't stay mean off the field. Rexrode's blue collar work ethic — steeled by his time in the trenches with an aggressive and underrated Rutgers defense — has seen his role expand in the Outlaws defense. He's not a match up player; he's a second defenseman that can cover like a first and slide like a third.
While at Rutgers: Two-time All-American, Two-time First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipient
Kyle Pless – Denver Outlaws
In his rookie season, Pless has played in three games, collecting five ground balls, and causing four turnovers. On his first shot as a professional, he scored a goal.
While at Rutgers: All-American, All-Big Ten
Christian Mazzone – Atlanta Blaze
Mazzone has excelled in the midfield for the Blaze. In nine games, he has made an impact all over the field. Mazzone has recorded 12 goals and six assists for 18 points, while scooping 18 ground balls.
In the News: (Kyle Devitte, Inside Lacrosse)
"There is no harder worker on this listicle than Mazzone. Sure, it's a standard platitude, but that doesn't mean that Mazzone is a standard kind of player. Most defensive or transition shortsticks ply their trade on the faceoff wing just long enough to get the ball to another player and run off for an advantage. The advantage that Mazzone supplies is that he gets the groundball and goes right at whoever is foolish enough to stand in his way. Every team dreams of getting a true two-way player, but most of those teams wake up from that dream screaming. The Blaze are no doubt happy with Mazzone's play, as evidenced by a marked increase in his touches in the last few games; last week he put up five goals and two assists in two games. Expect those numbers to ascend in the coming weeks as Mazzone is a key piece in Atlanta's battle for a playoff spot in the second half of the season.
While at Rutgers: All-American, All-Big Ten
Chad Toliver – Atlanta Blaze
Toliver has played in three games as a short-stick defensive midfielder for the Blaze, recording two ground balls and two caused turnovers.
While at Rutgers: 58 games with 28 goals, nine assists and 19 ground balls
Max Edelmann – Atlanta Blaze
Edelmann made his professional debut in a game where he saw 9:38 of action and made one save. He serves as the team's backup goalkeeper as the Blaze have the second most wins (five) in the MLL.
While at Rutgers: All-American, First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Co-Specialist of the Year
Kris Alleyne – Dallas Rattlers
Alleyne has seen action in three games as the team's backup goalkeeper.
While at Rutgers: First Team All-BIG EAST, BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, 5th all-time in saves
Garrett Michaeli – Chesapeake Bayhawks
Has not seen game action this season.
While at Rutgers: 52 games with four goals, five assists, 104 ground balls and 48 caused turnovers
Scott Bieda – NY Lizards
Has not seen game action this season.
While at Rutgers: All-American, Two-time First Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, All-BIG EAST, 6th all-time in points and assists
About the Premier Lacrosse League
The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) brings the sport of lacrosse to a national stage for the first time through a tour-based model, complete with the best players the sport has to offer. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar, philanthropist, and investor Paul Rabil and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the Premier Lacrosse League is backed by an investment group comprised of The Raine Group, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), The Chernin Group, and Blum Capital. The PLL season will begin in June 2019, with six teams, embarking on a 14-week season that concludes with a playoff and PLL championship game. The PLL season will be distributed through an exclusive media-rights agreement with NBC Sports Group. For more information, visit PremierLacrosseLeague.com, and follow on social media:
Instagram: @PLL
Twitter: @PremierLacrosse
Facebook: @PremierLacrosseLeague
YouTube: YouTube.com/PLL
About Major League Lacrosse:
Major League Lacrosse (MLL), based in Boston, is the premier professional field lacrosse league. MLL has led lacrosse's growth into the mainstream of competitive team sports since 2001. In the spring of 2018, MLL entered into new leadership for the first time in 14 years when it selected Alexander Brown as the Commissioner. Since that time MLL has been on an aggressive path towards sustainably developing and growing the league. The league currently features six teams: The Atlanta Blaze, Boston Cannons, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Dallas Rattlers, Denver Outlaws, and New York Lizards. Tickets for the 2019 season and the 2019 All-Star Game are available on majorleaguelacrosse.com
Instagram: instagram.com/majorleaguelax
Twitter: twitter.com/MLL_Lacrosse
Players Mentioned
Goalie
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Attack
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
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Defense
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Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Defense
/ Men's Lacrosse
Midfield
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