The game that women’s lacrosse fans have been waiting for is finally here.
The Maryland Charm and California Palms will battle this Saturday in Philadelphia for the first-ever WLL Championship.
These teams matched up in the second week of the regular season, with the Charm coming out victorious in an overtime thriller. Since then, both have grown and improved. What needs to happen for each team to win?
Mirrors of each other
These teams match up very similarly. Their game back in May was the closest the WLL saw this season — 18-17, with three goals in the final minute and another in OT — and as the summer progressed, the Charm and the Palms have proven to be mirrors of one another.
The Charm’s top five scorers have totaled 52 goals. The Palms’ top five scorers also have 52 goals. The Charm averaged just over 16 goals per game, whereas the Palms averaged just under 18.
Offensively, the biggest distinction is depth. The Charm boast big-time scorers. In their 21-17 win over the Boston Guard, Brigid Duffy put up a 10-point game, Sydni Black and Ashley Humphrey both had seven points, and Sam Apuzzo and Ally Kennedy each notched six. Beyond those big performances from star players, there was no other offensive output.
Comparatively, in the Palms’ 21-9 win over the Guard, California had nine different goal-scorers and 11 offensive contributors. Neither way is better than the other, as both teams ended up with 21 goals, but each requires a different plan to defend.
Where the Palms need to be hyper-focused on a select few players, the Charm need to be smart in their slides and 1-v-1 defense, knowing everyone is a threat.
For the Charm to walk away with the trophy, they need more diverse offensive production. Cassidy Spilis scored the overtime winner against the Palms. If she, Erica Evans and Olivia Dirks can each bury two goals while Humphrey, Duffy, Kennedy, Apuzzo and Black all have their usual five-point games, the Charm would be in a very good spot.
When the Charm and Palms last played, Humphrey had nine points. The Palms have not let anyone put up numbers like that since. All Charm players must be ready to produce.
For the Palms to get a win on Saturday, they need a few players to increase their production. In their last game, Anna Brandt had five goals and Marie McCool notched six points (2G, 4A). This is the output the Palms need, especially going against the Charm defense. Abby Bosco leads the league in caused turnovers with 12, and right behind her is fellow Charm defender Grace Griffin with nine.
Key factors: Draws and goalies
Who can win the draw and do something with it?
Unlike the college game, in the WLL, winning the draw does not equal winning the game. The Charm won 35% of draws against the Guard and won. The Palms won 50% against the Guard and beat them 21-9. In this league, draws are not necessarily indicative of the final score.
After a team wins a draw, it has 32 seconds to get a shot off. That is significantly shorter than the usual 52-second shot clock a team has when possession changes after the draw. However, when two teams are this evenly matched, every possession matters. California and Maryland must get a few goals out of the 32-second shot clock if they want to win this game.
This matchup will hinge on possessions, and the biggest opportunity to gain more is through draw controls and saves.
There is no question that Caylee Waters, Jenika Cuocco and Taylor Moreno are all capable goaltenders. It will come down to who is hot – the shooters or the goalies?
This game will come down to inches. Who fights for the ball back after they lose it? Who is patient on offense? Who is relentless on defense?
The Charm and Palms have never won a WLL trophy, with the first two WLL Championship Series titles going to the Guard and New York Charging. This is their opportunity to win not the first WLL Championship, but also the first hardware in club history.