15. Connor Buczek’s 9-goal performance in Ohio
Atlas LC narrowly missed the playoffs and was relegated to the draft bracket where they played Chrome LC. Yet playing in a game with lower stakes didn’t stop Connor Buczek from delivering arguably the best individual performance of the season. Buczek recorded nine goals off of six shots (three goals and three two-pointers). Fans didn’t know if they should throw their hats, socks or shirts for that matter. The best part of the story was that Buczek, a native of Cincinnati, did it all in his home state of Ohio.
Another honorable mention in Buczek’s season is his two-point goal in week two that came just minutes after getting his dislocated shoulder popped back into place.
14. Trevor Baptiste’s mic’d up goal
In the final game of the regular season, Trevor Baptiste delivered one the best mic’d up moments of the year in not just lacrosse, but all of sports. Trevor Baptiste went to take a faceoff while in the middle of an interview with NBC analyst Ryan Boyle. Baptiste told Boyle “I gotta go” but the broadcast kept his mic hot as he won the faceoff and went down and scored. Following what was a perfectly captured moment, Baptiste looked towards the camera and delivered his now memorable line “That’s speed boy.”
The PLL’s use of in-game interviews had never been more effective than this moment and this level of access and interaction is something that will continue to draw new fans to lacrosse.
13. Redwoods clinch a playoff berth with dominant win over Chrome
When the Redwoods entered Week 10, their playoff hopes appeared dismal. They suffered a brutal 17-4 loss to the Whipsnakes in Week 9 that drastically hurt their goal differential, a key tiebreaker in determining who would make the playoffs. After the Atlas defeated the Chaos on Friday night, the Redwoods only hope was to win. They could secure a playoff berth regardless of the outcome of the Archers game if they beat the Chrome by seven or more goals, a tall task for a team that had only scored four goals the week prior.
The Redwoods were dealt a heavy blow immediately when Jules Heningburg was knocked out fo the game with a concussion. Yet the Redwoods’ resolve never waivered and thanks to Matt Kavanagh and Ryder Garnsey’s play, they cruised to an 18-7 victory, clinched a playoff berth and started what was a magical run for Nat St. Laurent’s squad.
12. Jessica Berman is named NLL Deputy Commissioner and EVP of Business Affairs
Prior to the 2019-20 season, the NLL hired Jessica Berman as the league’s Deputy Commissioner. Berman had spent 13 years with the National Hockey League as Vice President of Community Development, Culture & Growth. The hire was made to assist the NLL’s continued growth and aid in their mission to grow the game of lacrosse in new areas.
What was even more monumental about the hire was it made Jessica Berman the highest-ranking woman in men’s professional sports and Berman let everyone know she had big plans for the NLL.
“Lacrosse is constantly mentioned as ‘fast growing,’” Berman said. “I am looking forward to helping accelerate that pace, especially given all the work that has gone into helping the NLL expand and increase market share under Nick [Sakiewicz]’s tenure.”
We are all looking forward to watching the league continue to grow under Berman’s guidance in 2020.
