Photo Credit: NLL / https://www.nll.com/news/top-photos-week-8-2/
Daniel May is a Toronto native and current lacrosse player at Jacksonville University. May’s Grinders is a weekly series which highlights the contributions of players around the league, particularly those that don’t appear on the box score. Check back here every Wednesday for another edition of May’s Grinders!
Dhane Smith, Buffalo Bandits
The reigning NLL Champions have started the year slower than expected. With a .500 record that has put them at the middle of the table, they’re looking to catch a spark. Dhane Smith has started the year off strong leading the league in both points (40) and assists (35). Although his goal total of five in six games is unlike his contribution in past years, he found an unlikely way to put the ball in the back of the net this weekend in their 15-13 loss to the New York Riptide.
After the Riptide had just scored 7 straight goals to start the second quarter, the Bandits found themselves on the penalty kill. With Bandits having scored only 3 goals up until that point in that game, a spark was needed The Bandits coaching staff got creative by placing Smith up top on the penalty-kill. Their plan worked when Smith picked off a pass and ran coast-to-coast for a goal, burying a twister short side with Kyle Matisz on his back. That goal was just what the Bandits needed as they rattled off 10 of the game’s next 12 goals. Great players can score in many ways and Smith’s unselfishness to play outside of his role added another tool to his already deep bag of tricks.
Phil Mazzuca, Toronto Rock
The Toronto Rock were able to find a way to close out a 12-9 win against the Georgia Swarm where the offence struggled to get going early. It was a “dirty game” according to Toronto Rock Head Coach Matt Sawyer who told reporters that the Rock would need to focus on making small, yet tough plays to shift the game in their favour.
Someone who was able to pick up the slack early for a stagnant Rock offense was Phill Mazzuca, the third-year pro out of Oakville. At the start of the second quarter the Rock found themselves on the penalty kill. After the Swarm offense had a shot clock violation, Mazzuca caught them off guard by quickly picking up the loose ball and running it down for a breakaway goal while the Swarm nonchalantly jogged back to the bench.
It was one of those simple plays that Coach Matt Sawyer referenced earlier, which proved to be the Rock’s only goal of the quarter until the final five minutes of play. Mazzuca was ready to capitalize on a crucial mistake at a time of the game where the momentum was starting to shift into the Swarm’s favour.
Outside of his goal, Mazzuca used his speed throughout the night and created another odd-man advantage during a penalty kill later in the game. He picked up some tough ground balls off the faceoff that helped that unit manufacture possessions while TD Irelan, who has won 84% of his draws this season, was out for the game. He finished the night with 1 goal, 5 loose balls, 1 blocked shot, and 1 CTO.
Mike Manley, Georgia Swarm
Mike Manley was a one-man clear in their loss to the Rock Saturday night. On numerous occasions, he was able to will his way with the ball up the floor through relentless pressure on both ends of the floor. On the penalty kill and five on five, Manley provided a reliable clear that gave the Swarm the opportunity to give their defense a break.
Manley stood out, even more, for his strong defensive efforts throughout the game by forcing 3 turnovers and blocking 3 shots. While on the penalty kill, Manley found himself playing on top of the crease. He used his large frame and laid his body on the line, blocking two shots in a single possession, which wreaked havoc on the Rock’s shooters. His efforts to put pressure on the Rock’s offence by getting his stick in the lanes and playing lockdown defence was pivotal in limiting the Rock offence’s impact early on.
Jordan Gilles, Colorado Mammoth
Jordan Gilles had an all-time grinder’s performance this weekend putting his stamp on the game in every facet imaginable. His third quarter penalty kill goal where Dillon Ward threw him a dime for a breakaway was another example of taking advantage of a power-play’s lack of urgency to prevent transition after a miss.
His impact in transition wasn’t finished there, as he had an assist on Brett Craig’s goal later in the quarter.
He picked up numerous ground balls on the ball team and in the defensive end that gave the Mammoth possession. He locked down his matchup forcing three turnovers and getting his body in front of multiple shots. Over the course of sixty minutes, Gillies made his presence felt.
Zed Williams and Tyson Gibson, Colorado Mammoth
Connor Kelly rebounded from his poor shooting performance in their week 7 loss to the San Diego Seals where he shot 1-for-11. This past Saturday where the Mammoth were able to put up 13 goals and come away with a win against the hard-nosed Calgary Roughnecks defence, he filled the net with 4 goals. That was largely in part due to the work by his teammates Zed Williams and Tyson Gibson working away inside.
Williams used his big frame to seal his defender and set picks all night that were able to free Kelly’s hands for his second and third goals of the game. On Kelly’s second goal of the game, Williams sealed the defender which allowed Kelly to get over top for a jump shot. Kelly’s third goal of the game was slightly different. Williams didn’t get a large piece of Kelly’s defender on the two-man game but found his back and pushed the defender off-balance. It prevented the defender from getting leverage on his approach and Kelly used a chicken wing move to get around and finish between the pipes.
Kelly’s last goal of the game, which put the Mammoth up three with 3:08 left to go, was due to Tyson Gibson’s relentless work in the pick game. Operating on the high right wing, the Roughneck defenders spaced the pick heavily, leaving Gibson and Kelly with plenty of room to operate. Gibson stayed on the matchup, forcing an initial switch, then set another two picks which allowed Kelly to walk over top and get the shot off before the help defender could contest it. Gibson’s willingness to stay on the pick instead of slipping out was the final dagger that solidified the game in the Mammoth’s favour.