July 17, 2008

by Corey McLaughlin, Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online

It's doubtful that tonight's Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game will extend past 1:30 a.m. local time in Denver like Major League Baseball's 15-inning midsummer showcase did late Tuesday at Yankee Stadium in New York.

But on the East Coast, it might get close. The MLL's seventh all-star event begins at 8 p.m. Mountain time (10 p.m. Eastern) at Invesco Field at Mile High and will be broadcast live on ESPN2. Two-and-a-half hours are allotted on the television schedule for the game, which means a possible ending around 12:30 a.m. for Easterners.

So for those in the traditional lacrosse hotbeds, prepare for less shut-eye tonight if you plan on sticking out the entire game, which for the second straight year pits the Eastern Conference against the Western Conference. (But also take note of the growing popularity of the game, and the roughly 12,000 fans expected to attend tonight's game.)

In whichever time zone you watch, here are 10 things to keep your eyes on (if they're open) when the world's best gather:

1. The Rookies: Paul Rabil, Steven Brooks and Matt Danowski

The transition from college to the pro game is a tricky one, even for the most talented players, but these three have seen their NCAA successes translate immediately to the MLL. Rabil, the No. 1 overall pick, and Brooks, No. 6, haven't disappointed at all in the midfield with 19 and 26 points, respectively.

Danowski, the No. 2 overall selection by the Pride, appears to be getting more comfortable with the MLL game after a slow start, and was named to the Eastern Conference team this week when John Grant Jr. and Mikey Powell dropped out with injuries. Three rookies are the most ever to play in an MLL all-star event.

2. First-Timers in the West

Half of the Western Conference's 18 players are making their first appearance, including both goalies, Denver's Jesse Schwartzman and Chicago's Mike Gabel. Joining them as all-star newbies are five members of the Riptide: faceoff specialist Anthony Kelly, midfielders Chazz Woodson and Greg Downing, and defensemen Brett Hughes and D.J. Driscoll.

Rounding out the first-timers are Matt Hanna (Denver) and Jake Byrne (San Francisco).

The East has just one first-time all-star, New Jersey attackman Merrick Thomson. The second-year attackman is tied for the league-high in goals (27) with Grant.

3. Wiser in the East?

Safe to say the Eastern Conference defense has seen its fair share of superb offenses over the years. Brodie Merrill, Chris Passavia and Nicky Polanco each makes his fourth straight all-star appearance tonight. That's a pretty solid and experienced trio. Midfielder Matt Striebel also makes his fourth consecutive appearance.

4. How many assists will Spencer Ford get?

There are certainly plenty of finishers on the field tonight to go with Ford, one of the best at directing offense from behind the net. Every Eastern Conference all-star has the ability to create his own shot opportunity, but Ford should still find time to make some passes. The record for assists in an all-star game is four. He could break that.

5. Peter Vlahakis vs. Anthony Kelly

With possessions at an ultimate premium, this important faceoff battle should be fun to watch. No one has been more successful at winning draws this season than Vlahakis (64.3 percent). But when Long Island and Los Angeles tangled this season, Kelly got the better of him, winning 23-of-40 faceoffs.

6. Freestyle competition

Two-time defending champ Mikey Powell won't participate because of an injury, but word has it that Long Island middie Stephen Berger has practiced some tricks with hopes of winning this year's freestyle skills competition, which takes place at halftime. Berger will compete against Danowski, Woodson and Rochester's Joe Walters.

7. Bombs away!

Also at halftime, the two-point shot contest -- the MLL's equivalent of the NBA's three-point shootout - debuts this year. Byrne, Tom Zummo, Kyle Sweeney and Benson Erwin are the scheduled participants. They will each shoot a total of 15 balls from beyond the two-point arc at a target in the net. The balls will be grouped in threes at five different locations, with the first two balls and each group counting for one point and the last "money ball" counting for double. Who will be the MLL's Jason Kapono?

8. How many goals will the Denver offense score?

Seriously. Every key member of the Outlaws offense is pretty much on the Western Conference roster, including Brendan Mundorf, Brian Langtry, Ryan Powell and Hanna. Would be interesting to see Western Conference coach and Denver GM/coach Brian Reese stick those guys together for a while and see what happens. They will have a tough Eastern Conference defense before them, though, the aforementioned Merrill, Passavia and Polanco.

9. Hopkins, everywhere

The Blue Jays don't discriminate, either - five on the Western Conference and three on the Eastern Conference this year, the most from any one school. Is it really any surprise, though? Rabil (2008) and Schwartzman (2007) are the most recent Hopkins grads to be named all-stars. The others are Byrne, Hanna, Erwin, Kyle Harrison, Rob Scherr and Shawn Nadelen.

10. The match-ups

The collection of talent should make for some unique offense/defense match-ups. Below are the final rosters, as released by the MLL. There are a few changes from when the teams were announced two weeks ago:

Eastern Conference

A Spencer Ford, Long Island
A Merrick Thomson, New Jersey
A Matt Danowski, New Jersey*

M Joe Walters, Rochester
M Matt Striebel, Barrage
M Stephen Berger, Long Island
M Chris Fiore, Long Island
M Paul Rabil, Boston
M Matt Poskay, Boston
M Tom Zummo, Boston*

D Chris Passavia, Boston
D Kyle Sweeney, Barrage
D Brodie Merrill, Rochester
D Nicky Polanco, Long Island
D Shawn Nadelen, Washington

FO Peter Vlahakis, Long Island

G Rob Scherr, New Jersey
G Chris Garrity, Washington

*injury replacements

Western Conference

A Brendan Mundorf, Denver
A Ryan Powell, Denver
A Jake Byrne, San Francisco
A Kevin Leveille, Chicago

M Chazz Woodson, Los Angeles
M Greg Downing, Los Angeles
M Kyle Harrison, Los Angeles
M Brian Langtry, Denver
M Matt Hanna, Denver
M Steven Brooks, Chicago
M Benson Erwin, Denver

D Eric Martin, San Francisco
D Brett Hughes, Los Angeles
D D.J. Driscoll, Los Angeles
D Lee Zink, Denver

FO Anthony Kelly, Los Angeles

G Jesse Schwartzman, Denver
G Mike Gabel, Chicago

Corey McLaughlin covers Major League Lacrosse for Lacrosse Magazine Online. Check back to LMO each Thursday and over the weekends for more MLL coverage, or send feedback to Corey at corey.mclaughlin@gmail.com.