NLL Insider

Every week this season at NLLinsider.com we’re going to be putting our heads together to argue and exchange threats over email bring you the All-NLLinsider Team of the Week. Quite simply, the All-NLLinsider Team will consist of the six best players to step foot on the floor in any given game every weekend. 3 F, 1 T, 1 D, 1 G, all awesome. With every team in action in week thirteen the selection process got as underhanded and out of control as a certain on-floor assault of Geoff Snider Saturday night.

Forward: Lewis Ratcliff

Full disclosure: it could be argued that Lewis Ratcliff belonged here last week when he scored five goals in the win over Rochester. I thought that Ratcliff having another excellent weekend and getting a spot on the team this week would make me feel better about having left him off. He did his part, for sure. Five goals and one assist vs. Calgary on Friday, and one goal and four helpers against Edmonton on Saturday. It really just made me feel worse though. I feel like maybe Lewis Ratcliff is pretty good, and that I might have made a mistake. 16 points in two weekends including two five goal games. Whew. I can hardly see through all these shades of grey over here.

Forward: Andy Secore

I got on the Andy Secore bandwagon last year. I did. And while the rough start to this season for both the Rush and Secore had me a little nervous, I was ultimately too lazy to hop off. And boy, did that decision pay off this weekend! Just as we’re getting ready to write the Rush off once again, there’s Secore. Five goals, three assists, a 16-12 win over the Toronto Rock, and endless opportunities for ‘he shoots, he secores’ puns! What can’t this guy do? And don’t say “catch snapping turtles.” Don’t you dare.

Forward: Athan Iannucci

Athan Iannucci is a defender’s nightmare. Some sort of cephalopod lacrosse player who can hatch a shot from any angle with either hand around any number of moving barriers and a sprawling goaltender. Four goals and three assists in a 17-13 win over Colorado on Saturday and all of a sudden everyone’s looking at Philly like aw, crap. Early on in the season that feeling was reserved for when Snider had someone lined up, but now it’s coming when the offense is on the floor. What a turnaround we may be witnessing!

Transition: Brodie Merrill

A game like Brodie Merrill’s on Saturday doesn’t come around very often, but when it does, I pounce. I’ve got that little picture all cropped and ready to go before the dust has even settled on any of the other scores. Three goals, six assists, and 12 looseballs in a 14-12 win over the Stealth that kept his team second in the West. With an effort like that there’s just no turning back, not even if Tutka wants to bring up Ian Hawksbee and his fabulous game because la la la, I can’t hear him.

Defense: Mac Allen

There is almost nothing better than watching a defender go trucking over players wearing a bright pink jersey. The only thing that might have it beat is watching that same defender in a bright pink jersey go ripping down the floor for an unassisted power play goal in the first and a shorthanded marker in the fourth over the course of a one-goal game that his team wins 11-10. A big donation to charity and fourth place all to themselves, it’s good to be a Knighthawks fan right now.

Goalie: Matt Vinc

When playing the Buffalo Bandits I think a good idea would be to try to hide your own net. Like just leave it in the tunnel and see if anyone notices. If the refs make you put it on the floor then maybe turn it around so the mesh is facing outward. If Plan A and Plan B somehow do not work, Matt Vinc is a good third option. Put him out there and have him windmill 50 shots away while allowing just nine goals. Great coaching decision by Ed Comeau and the gang. I really applaud it. In the event that Matt Vinc is not available to your team, go ahead and shoot me an email for details on how to make a lacrosse ball out of a paper towel.

Rate This Story:

(+71 rating, 18 votes)

 Loading ...