Today we forge ahead with the rest of the team rosters for the Turf Wars Cup. In case you missed it, the TWC is a fictional tournament we created based on the idea of a regional tournament that pitted the best college players from every corner of the country against each other.
In case you missed it, check out part 1 here.
Today we take a step up in teams and look at the next four teams in the bracket. These teams have legitimate title shots, and many all-americans will find their names in the rosters below.
Lets get right into it.
Team Philly
Head Coach: John Torterella
Assistant Coach: Michael Sowers
Play Style
This Philly team has graduated a lot in the last couple years. At one point, the attack would have featured Michael Sowers and Grant Ament with Dox Aitken and Matt Moore at the midfield.
Malone is the headliner here, he’s been outstanding this season. Expect this team to rely on some continuity between the three Nittany Lions in the top six, and use big / little picks effectively to get Malone onto shorties with regularity.
This team will play hard, Torterella is old school and will not accept passengers. Expect bag runs in training camp for the Philly boys, but they will be tough to beat in the first round.
How will they win?
Wierman and Jameison will give this group a chance to compete, especially given Luke’s ability to contribute offensively off faceoff wins.
The key will be Cunniffe and Roth. Neither probably have big name recognition with casual fans, but Cunniffe is second among all Pennsylvanians in points this year. Likewise, Roth has helped NJIT to a remarkable start this season, and is still scoring at a good clip.
Eric Spanos has unlimited potential and is shooting a crazy 52% this year for the Terps. A high school attackmen, he’s been mostly a midfielder this year. If he can find chemistry with former high school rival Malone, his spacing could really help this group.
Defensively, Smith is the headliner here. He’s been a vacuum for the Blue Jays and takes many of the top matchups in Baltimore. Bard is massive and has created a turnover in almost every game this season. He also went to the same high school as Kobe. Cool right?
How will they lose?
They are about middle of the pack in this tournament, and have the potential to be outscored by some of the elite teams.
Torteralla has made his career on upsets, and Philly loves an underdog. This team will need to adopt that mindset.
Post-Game Beverage Choice
Yuengling
Ok, not a great option here, I get it. But full disclosure, I started writing the alcohol section yesterday, and today I am realizing that outside the midwest, there aren’t that many options (damn you, big alcohol!).
But Yuengling is brewed in Pennsylvania, so that’s what the Philly boys are drinking here. Refrigeration will be key. Warm Amber Lager on a hot-day is a punishment… don’t get any ideas Torts!
Team West
Head Coach: Steve Kerr
Assistant Coach: Sam Handley
Play Style
They boast the best faceoff man this season and the best defender in the country.
And they have a bunch of other good players as well.
A year ago, when their midfield would have included guys named Handley and Dordevic, they would have been a title contender.
Kerr is unafraid to embrace new ideas, and this team will lean on some west-coast innovation to surprise the top teams.
The offence has a few converted attackmen in the midfield and will rely on quickness over size. Demaio, Sillstrop, and Walsh are all lefties, so they will need to use a pairs type offence. But they’re all skilled and can all really shoot it.
How will they win?
If not the best, this is one of the two or three best defences in the tournament. Zappitello wears number 1 at Maryland and has routinely had success against the toughest matchups in the country. He will take the Apex dodgers.
There may not be a better number two than Cole Kastner, who is laughably long (6’7) and can ruin your day on offence.
Ben Ramsay is a dog. He plays hard and will be the tip of the spear for this group.
Kohn and Mark will do the same thing for the west coasters as they do for Syracuse: flip the math in favor of their team.
Lastly, Cathal Roberts is an interesting story. He lists his hometown as Dublin, Ireland, but moved to California when he was eight. After he graduated from Princeton, he’s been solid for the Wolverines this year.
How will they lose?
They’re undeniably undersized on offence, and may struggle to draw slides against the biggest baddest defences. Scott is the key here. He’s been carrying the load for Rutgers for years, and scored 50 goals during their final four run in 2022.
If he can create for the rest of offence, they will be ok. Their D will keep them in games.
Post-Game Beverage of Choice
Napa Valley wine
I know… another tough one. Luckily these boys will be pretty good at lacrosse, so the wine will be limited. But it is a funny visual to imagine the boys celebrating a big win by passing around a wine bag. Everybody gets one slap then gotta pass it on.
Team Conny
Head Coach: John Mayer
Assistant Coach: Andy Towers
Play Style
Who cares… did you know John Mayer was from Connecticut? Apparently he was from Bridgeport, pretty cool eh? By all accounts, Mayer would be a terrible lacrosse coach. But he will have an electric partnership with Towers, himself a CT legend. Imagine stumbling into a karaoke bar with those two?
How will they win?
Up front, they are led by lefties Coulter Mackesy and Logan McGovern. Mackesy has a relatively modest 33 points so far this season, but is high on the Sicko Mode ranking. Basically that’s a ranking of guys who can go absolutely bonkers in a given game.
For offensive players, off the top of my head:
- Brennan O’Neil
- CJ Kirst
- Kavanaughs
- Mackesy?
Last year he scored 8 goals in a game… twice. He will need to score for this club.
In the midfield, Schutz is a first-team player-is-better-than-his-stats guy. He’s asked to start the party in Charlottesville and he does it as well as anyone nationally. He could have 10 more points on a different team.
Defensively, this is one of the deepest units in the country in terms of guys who didn’t make the list. To think how much better they could have been last tear with Yorktown beauties Brett Makar and Jose Boyer.
Lavelle made headlines a few weeks back for shutting down Brennan O’Neill, and will need similar efforts during the TWC. Peters has one of the deeper stat lines you will see, with 12 points and 24 ground balls. He brings some military toughness to this team.
How will they lose?
They are solid across the board, but lack the superstar talent outside of Mackesy that some of the other groups have. If he or McGovern has an off-day, then it could be difficult.
Wietfeldt and Carroll will give them a chance. This team should win the first round and then look to play underdog in round two.
Postgame Beverage of Choice
Two Roads Beer
This is a tough one, as there is pretty much nothing alcohol related that is the signature of Connecticut. Two Roads is a craft brewery that I’ve been told is good. Craft brews are a little granola for a post game party, but it’s the best option available.
New Jersey
Head Coach: Danny Hurley
Assistant Coaches: The three oldest Kirst brothers
Play Style
Hurley is known for having one of the deepest playbooks in college basketball, and also from famously growing up in Jersey City. Both of those experiences are important here.
Between Kirst and the hypothetically healthy Lyons, the Jersey Boys (lol) will have more than 120 goals of production from last year. Kirst and Lyons are two of the best lefty slingers in the nation.
How will they win?
Aside from the dual flamethrowers on the left side, they also have one of the deeper midfields. Knobloch will likely be a first-teamer this season, and has a wow factor.
Mikey Long is steady as they come and has the built in chemistry with Long, and McLane is a grown man still playing in college. This offence will be efficient.
Defensively, there were a number of options again. Conlin is a Holy Cross transfer who helped Notre Dame win a national title. Lyght has quiet numbers, but is a massive presence on the defence and beside Conlin forms one of the best backlines in the country.
How will they lose?
Kroeger and Della Rocco are small school guys who will need to show they can play on the biggest stage. We are talking about the best of the best here, so it’s hard company to keep.
Other than that, this team is probably the first legitimate contender to win the whole thing… or at least to play Long Island in the finals.
Post-Game Beverage of Choice
The Spring Laker
This drink combines Vodka, red bull, and pineapple juice, and as far as I know is only served at one venue: The Parker House. I’ve only been once, but it was a great experience.
The jersey crew will play efficiently and drink that way as well, skipping the beers and hitting the good stuff soon after the game.
Check back tomorrow for the top four teams: Long Island, South, Baltimore, and Washington.