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Lamberti’s Power Rankings: Defense driving Utah’s surge
Lamberti’s Power Rankings: Defense driving Utah’s surge
There’s no room for error anymore.
Every team is still alive for the playoffs, but some are in a better position than others.
The Maryland Whipsnakes sit back atop the power rankings after dismantling the California Redwoods, but the Utah Archers are this week’s biggest risers after another defensive masterclass.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Boston Cannons and Denver Outlaws continue to win, while the Carolina Chaos, New York Atlas and Redwoods continue to lose.
Power rankings heading into Denver Weekend:
1. Maryland Whipsnakes (last week: 2)
Like an opera, every phase of the Whipsnakes squad was ringing perfectly to produce a sweet melody in a 20-7 win over the Redwoods last Friday in Fairfield.
Offensively, the Whips’ 20 scores were the most in the league this season. It was a balanced diet of assisted goals, unassisted goals and goals in transition, all while shooting 42% as a team. Rob Pannell made history as the league’s all-time leading point producer as he, Joey Spallina and TJ Malone had six points each.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDefensively, Maryland allowed just seven scores, headlined by Matt Dunn, who held Dylan Molloy without a point for the first time since 2023, and Emmet Carroll, who made 18 saves for a 72% save percentage.
Even if only a couple of those things were working for Maryland on a given day, it would still produce a beautiful song. But when everything is clicking for the Whips, it’s a symphony worthy of a standing ovation.
It’s why Maryland has a 99% chance to make the playoffs and a 69% chance to finish atop the Eastern Conference and earn a bye into the semifinals.
The only question is whether they can continue to hit all the notes when it matters most.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNext game: Saturday, July 25 vs. Utah Archers (6:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
2. Denver Outlaws (LW: 3)
It’s no secret that Denver isn’t playing up to its potential, which was evident in a 10-8 win over the Chaos on Saturday. But the Outlaws keep finding ways to win — a sign of a good team.
But to truly cement themselves as a top contender moving into the playoffs, Denver’s offense must come to life.
After averaging 13.1 scores per game last season, the Outlaws are allowing just 11.4 scores per game so far this year. But like a sleeping lion in the tall grass, Denver can strike at any moment.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDealing with injuries and grinding out wins this season has made Denver resilient. So when (not if, when) this offense puts it all together like last season, it’ll be battle-tested and ready to face any challenge.
Next game: Friday, July 24 vs. Utah Archers (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
3. Utah Archers (LW: 6)
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine the saying “defense wins championships” applying in the high-scoring PLL, but Utah has made that a reality this season.
Allowing just 8.9 scores per game, the Archers defense is on pace to become the best statistical defense since the 2020 Whipsnakes (8.5).
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTheir 18-8 win over Philadelphia on Saturday was the result of a defensive unit growing stronger with each passing week. Brendan Lavelle held MVP hopeful CJ Kirst, who had been averaging 5.5 points per game, to just one point. Goalie Brett Dobson is saving the ball at a 59.5% clip, the highest in the PLL.
The four-SSDM rotation is becoming an X-factor, limiting the amount of favorable matchups for an offense, and is a big reason why teams are only shooting 22.0% against the Archers. It’s a tactic that was widely criticized (including by me) but is paying off for head coach Chris Bates right now.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd while a tough doubleheader lies ahead with Denver and Maryland this upcoming weekend, it’s just another opportunity for this defense to intensify, like a storm finding water.
Next game: Friday, July 24 vs. Denver Outlaws (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
4. Boston Cannons (LW: 4)
No change in the power rankings for the Cannons after their 15-13 win over the Atlas on Sunday.
Boston continues to boast one of the hottest offenses in the league, tallying 15 scores in each of its last three games. Even more importantly, its playoff probability has vaulted to 91% after it was outside the picture just a few weeks ago.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSo what’s been behind the turnaround? Jack Regnery.
The rookie from Tufts has nine points (7G, 2A) during Boston’s three-game winning streak, and his play from the midfield has elevated the rest of the offense. In the second half against New York, he drew the pole matchup, which allowed others like Mikey Weisshaar to beat short-stick matchups for scores. But even with a pole, Regnery was still leaving his defender in the dust.
The Atlas moved the pole to Jack Regnery and it still couldn't stop him from scoring.The rookie from @TuftsLacrosse has 9 points (7G, 2A) during the @PLLCannons three-game winning streak. pic.twitter.com/LFpPKCBVXN
— Adam Lamberti (@atlamberti) July 21, 2026
Of course there are other factors to the Cannons’ resurrection, such as the play of fellow rookies Weisshaar, Andrew McMeekin and Will Donovan, but Regnery has been the lightning that has electrified Boston’s offense.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNext game: Saturday, July 25 vs. Carolina Chaos (2 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
5. Philadelphia Waterdogs (LW: 1)
A lot of my thoughts around the Waterdogs this season have been focused on the offense. But this week, I’m flipping the script to talk about the defense after an 18-8 defeat to the Archers on Saturday.
A few grim defensive stats for Waterdogs fans:
Philly is allowing 13.4 scores per game (second-most in PLL)
Teams are shooting 30.96% against Philly (last in PLL)
Inexperience could be a cause for Philadelphia’s dismal defense. At close, Kenny Brower and Jimmy Freehill are still proving themselves as second-year starters, while rookie long-stick midfielder Brendan Staub is finding his footing matching up against some of the top players in the league.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut perhaps more significant is the season-ending knee injury SSDM Dylan Hess suffered in May, which has had a ripple effect across the whole defense.
A finalist for the George Boiardi Hard Hat Award as a rookie last season, Hess routinely won his matchups with little to no support. While Matt Whitcher, Charlie Hayes and Zach Currier are capable short-stick defenders, they simply aren’t as good as Hess on-ball. They require more slide support from close defenders, which ignites ball movement from the offense and leaves the rest of Philly’s defense scrambling.
The Waterdogs also will start rookie Sean Byrne in net this week after placing veteran goalie Matt DeLuca on injured reserve.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNext game: Friday, July 24 vs. New York Atlas (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
6. California Redwoods (LW: 6)
An off-week could not come at a better time for the Redwoods.
They lost three of their last four games after leading the Western Conference for a time this season, the latest loss being a proper mashing by the Whipsnakes in which California posted season lows in scores (seven), shots (37) and shooting percentage (18.9%).
The good news is that California was in every single game up until this matchup, and even then only trailed Maryland 8-5 at halftime before the wheels came off.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSo what’s the fix for the Redwoods? From a tactical standpoint, I don’t think there’s much to change. Defensively, Dillon Ward has been steady in the cage despite posting his worst save percentage this season against the Whipsnakes (38.1%). At the other end, they are averaging the most shots per game in the league (43.1) and have the pieces to put together an electric offense, as we’ve seen numerous times this season.
It’s why a week off from playing to rest and regroup is the best thing for the Redwoods right now. They have flashes of a playoff-caliber team but need to regain that level before it’s too late.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNext game: Friday, July 31 vs. Carolina Chaos (6 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
7. Carolina Chaos (LW: 7)
After a promising start to the year, Carolina has lost its last three games and is on the wrong side of the playoff picture.
While it’s not too late for the Chaos to turn the ship around, it’s hard not to look to the bright future of next season given the bleak present.
Although the Chaos are averaging the fewest scores per game in the league this season (10.8), they are also featuring the league’s youngest offense: 87% of their points this season have come from players 25 or younger.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOwen Hiltz should be an MVP candidate entering next season as he continued his strong play with another four-point performance. Shane Knobloch and Ross Scott are key components of the future after signing extensions. Rookies Chad Palumbo and Eric Spanos look like they could be mainstays in this league.
Even if Carolina ends up watching the playoffs from home, the last stretch of games is important for building as much chemistry as it can offensively to bring positive energy into next season.
Next game: Saturday, July 25 vs. Boston Cannons (2 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
8. New York Atlas (LW: 8)
The Atlas collapse continues.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe eight-second stretch to end the first half against Boston was a microcosm of New York’s season: a lot of things going wrong.
The injury to Jeff Teat and offseason departure of Gavin Adler, but many still expected New York to be competitive thanks to its other star power. But the stars haven’t had the seasons of last year.
Goalie Liam Entenmann is saving the ball at 49.5% this season, down from 57.1% in 2025. Connor Shellenberger averaged 4.6 points per game last season but is averaging just 3.0 per game this season.
Of course there are other players on the team, but Entenmann and Shellenberger were put under more of a spotlight and simply haven’t played to their standard.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNext game: Friday, July 24 vs. Philadelphia Waterdogs (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+)