The Philadelphia Waterdogs had already secured the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed, but Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Maryland Whipsnakes made one thing clear: This team wasn’t interested in coasting into its three-week playoff break.
“They didn’t have to win today. They didn’t have to play today. They didn’t have to care today,” head coach Bill Tierney said. “… And you all saw the game. It was ugly as it gets.”
In a physical, chippy 11-9 win, the Waterdogs showed they can survive when their offense isn’t at its best.
Philadelphia looked in control early, building an 8-3 lead behind another dominant Homecoming performance from Michael Sowers. The Philly native scored four goals and added an assist in the first half alone. He finished the regular season with 51 points, becoming just the second player in PLL history to reach 50 (Jeff Teat in 2024).
But then the offense disappeared.
The Waterdogs went nearly 20 minutes without scoring and were shut out in the third quarter for the third time this season (second time by the Whipsnakes).
With the offense searching for answers, the defense had to carry the weight, and rookie goalie Sean Byrne did exactly that. He entered the fourth quarter with 13 saves before finishing with 20, tying the franchise’s single-game record and giving him 39 saves across the weekend.
“This guy stepping up and saving our butt more times than I care to remember,” Tierney said. “Just a special day.”
Dox Aitken finally broke the Waterdogs’ scoring drought, scoring his first goal since Sept. 7, 2024, and Philadelphia eventually got production from players beyond its two superstar attack men (Sowers and CJ Kirst). Kyle Lewis and Matt Collison also scored as the Waterdogs answered Maryland’s comeback attempt with a three-goal run.
That response matters heading into the playoffs.
The biggest question entering the break isn’t whether Sowers and Kirst can carry the offense — they’ve proven they can. It’s whether the rest of the roster can continue providing enough without injured All-Star midfielder Jack Hannah.
Sowers believes there’s still another level.
“I think in this league, though, sometimes it’s nice to know that you can win sloppy, especially against a really good team,” Sowers said. “We have a really good group, a lot of talent across the field. I think the cool thing for us is that I still think our best lacrosse is very much ahead of us.”
Byrne’s emergence may be the biggest reason to believe him. The rookie finished the weekend with 39 saves, a 2-0 record and a 9.5 scores against average. He was a major reason why Philadelphia won both games despite stretches when its offense stalled.
“Guys are just having fun, and the quality time together is honestly just making us play better lacrosse on the field,” Byrne said. “I think our whole defense as a whole just likes to be pretty physical. … Everybody’s willing to lay a little bit of lumber if they have to, I’m super appreciative of it.”
Byrne entered the season as an undrafted rookie backing up a seasoned veteran (Matt DeLuca). He ends the regular season the starter of the PLL’s favorite to win the title.
Philadelphia finishes 9-3, winners of five straight and with a 5-1 record in one-goal games — a dramatic contrast to the 1-2 start that had Tierney’s team searching for its identity. Now the Waterdogs have the No. 1 seed, a bye and time to get healthy.
The next time they take the field, it’ll be win or go home on Sept. 7 in Salt Lake City against the winner of the quarterfinal between the Whipsnakes and Boston Cannons.