Whipsnakes take No. 1 spot in ESPN’s PLL power rankings
Maryland climbed to the top of Paul Carcaterra’s Week 10 list after Rob Pannell’s record night and a 20-7 win over California.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Maryland is the new team at the top of ESPN’s Premier Lacrosse League power rankings after a week built around Rob Pannell’s record chase and a lopsided Whipsnakes win.
ESPN analyst Paul Carcaterra ranked the Whipsnakes No. 1 entering Week 10, moving them up from third after they beat the California Redwoods 20-7 in Fairfield. Maryland is 5-3, the only team in the league listed with five wins as Week 10 heads to Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium in Denver.
Carcaterra reported that Pannell broke Paul Rabil’s career points record Friday night, with his 658th point coming in front of a large group of family and friends. Pannell, TJ Malone and Joey Spallina combined for 18 points in the win, according to the ESPN ranking.
The Whipsnakes have outscored opponents 37-17 across their past two games, Carcaterra wrote. He also highlighted second-year goalie Emmet Carroll, who saved 72% against California.
Denver stays second, but questions remain
The Denver Outlaws held the No. 2 slot in Carcaterra’s list with a 4-3 record. Denver beat the Carolina Chaos 10-8 in what the ESPN analyst described as a fourth-quarter grind.
Pat Kavanagh finished with four points and sealed the game with an individual play, according to Carcaterra. Logan Wisnauskas scored three goals, while goalie Logan McNaney posted a 63% save rate.
Carcaterra wrote that Denver has the league’s deepest talent pool but has not yet reached its ceiling. The Outlaws face a packed Week 10, with games against the Utah Archers on Friday at 8 p.m. and the Philadelphia Waterdogs on Saturday at 9 p.m.
Redwoods rise despite a rough night
California landed at No. 3 in the rankings, moving up from sixth even after the 13-goal loss to Maryland. The Redwoods are 4-4 and have a bye in Week 10.
Carcaterra pointed to California’s 18% shooting and a combined 38% save rate from its goalies in the defeat. He also noted that Dylan Molloy was held without a point and has scored four goals over his past four games after putting up seven against Utah on June 19.
Utah stayed fourth at 4-4 after scoring 18 goals against Philadelphia. Tre Leclaire had a career-best nine points, eight of them after halftime, according to Carcaterra. Brendan Lavelle was credited with holding CJ Kirst to one goal after Kirst entered the game averaging five per game.
Waterdogs slide from the top
Philadelphia fell from No. 1 to No. 5 after its loss to Utah. Michael Sowers scored three goals, but Carcaterra wrote that the Waterdogs’ midfield produced only three goals and that the defense has given up 31 goals over its past two games.
Boston ranked sixth after winning three straight, with rookie Jack Regnery cited as an offensive boost and rookie Will Donovan credited for limiting 2025 league MVP Connor Shellenberger to no goals on one shot.
New York stayed seventh at 3-5 after two straight losses. Carolina remained eighth, also at 3-5, with Carcaterra noting that the Chaos have no player in the league’s top 20 in overall points.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.