Bootleggers Drop PBLA Opener, Win over New Fans
by Fran Stuchbury
January 9, 2023 - Professional Box Lacrosse Association (PBLA)
Charlotte Bootleggers
Charlotte Bootleggers (white) vs. the Jim Thorpe All-Americans
(Charlotte Bootleggers, Credit: Fran Stuchbury)
The Charlotte Bootleggers lost their first ever Professional Box Lacrosse Association game at home Saturday night at Bojangles Coliseum, 15-10, to the Jim Thorpe All-Americans who are now 2-0. The PBLA is a brand new indoor lacrosse league with nine teams playing in its inaugural season.
Bojangles Coliseum previously hosted indoor lacrosse with the Charlotte Cobras, who finished 0-10, of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League in 1996. The Charlotte Copperheads of the Professional Lacrosse League also called it home in 2012.
The league has similar rules to the National Lacrosse League with a couple of differences. Players will find a smaller goalie net, substitution rules force players to play both ends of the field, and teams have the option of a penalty shot instead of a two-minute man advantage.
"I couldn't be happier honestly," said Brian Mankameyer Chief Operating Officer of the Professional Box Lacrosse Association. "The score wasn't what Charlotte had hoped for. They showed a lot of heart and desire out there. they played fast; they played physically.
"They probably played, at 2-0 with the Jim Thorpe All Americans, probably the best team in the league right now. With the limited time the Bootleggers had to play together, they bring youth, athleticism and speed. I think once they work on their chemistry a little bit, this will be a team at the top of the standings by the end of the year. I was extremely impressed with the crowd showing they had tonight. It was electric and the game was fantastic."
Forward Matt Pratt scored the first goal scored in Charlotte Bootleggers history, a first quarter tally that tied the game at 1-1.
"I am just proud of the way the guys just played today," said Pratt. "I think we played hard; a tight physical game. It was kind of a cherry on top to get the first one."
Pratt ended up having three shots on goal for the entire game. He played two seasons at Syracuse in 2012 and 2013 after transferring from Onondaga Community College.
At the end of the first first quarter the Jim Thorpe All-Americans held a 6-3 lead.
One of the PBLA's unique rules took effect in the second quarter when the Jim Thorpe All-Americans committed a penalty. The Bootleggers decided to take the penalty shot, and forward Ben French scored to cut the deficit to 8-5.
"I think it's something the coaches are learning as a great strategy of the game," said Carmen Kesner, Chief Executive Officer of the PBLA. "I think it gives PBLA coaches a great opportunity to either choose what they want on the game scenarios and it really has an impact on the game overall."
At halftime the Jim Thorpe All-Americans were ahead 10-7.
"I think we're starting to work together and jell together and work out our kinks," said All-Americans forward Marty Hill. "Our ships are starting to sail."
Hill scored the first goal in PBLA history last week in the a 15-12 victory over the Syracuse Spark.
"I didn't really expect it, but after they said they were taking a penalty shot, I said I will take it," Hill explained about the inaugural goal. "I tried to get the ball after it. It was a really good feeling to get the first goal in league history. I hope I get that ball back."
The All-Americans are a barnstorming team playing all its games on the road.
"We had a lot of fun; not the outcome we expected, but it was a lot of guys' first time playing box lacrosse today," said Charlotte's Tyler Shoults who scored in the game. "A lot of improvement to do, but we will be back here. There's a lot of games left to be played. We are excited for it."
Shoults played lacrosse at Richmond and ranks third all-time in program history with 54 assists in a career and ranks eighth all-time in program history with 101 points, 47 of them being goals.
The game has plenty of non-stop action and excitement with very little down time thanks to quick resets when teams lost possession of the ball. The fluid play resulted in some fast break opportunities for both teams.
A group of lacrosse players from Queens University of Charlotte attended the game to cheer on the Bootleggers.
Also in attendance was Skip Lochte of Charlotte who submitted the name for the team that ended up winning the fan vote.
"It was so much fun and action packed, hard hitting with speed," said Lochte. "Like watching the fastest game on two feet with the turbo button hit the entire time; a lot excitement."
"I saw the contest online, and I was thinking of something that was unique to the city of Charlotte, their history here, as well as representing the wildness of box lacrosse" he explained about the name. "There's nothing like the prettiness of outdoor lacrosse. Thinking that NASCAR and the place in this city's history that evolved from Bootleggers, it just kind of came to me."
Carolyn Dickinson, a fan who lives five minutes away from Bojangles Coliseum said, "I thought it was awesome. I thought the other team was incredibly good and strong. It's a whole new world to me. I am use to watching field lacrosse. So box lacrosse is very fast and physical. I thought the fans were wonderful. It's great for Charlotte; I loved it."
The Bootleggers next home game at Bojangles Coliseum is Sunday, January 29th at 2 pm against the Hampton Hammerheads.
"So for Charlotte fans who have never seen lacrosse before, we're talking about a game that is fast-paced, hard-hitting," added Mankameyer. "(There are) elements of basketball, elements of football with how hard players out there hit. The speed is just astonishing.
"The fans that I spoke to tonight that have never seen a lacrosse game, the first thing they said was they're coming back next time. So I would love for all the Charlotte fans to come out and see what they have in their city. I think they will be surprised with how much fun they will have the next time they come out."
Images from this story
 Lacrosse players from Queens University watch the Charlotte Bootleggers (Fran Stuchbury) |
 Bojangles Coliseum, home of the Charlotte Bootleggers (Fran Stuchbury) |
 Faceoff between the Charlotte Bootleggers and Jim Thorpe All-Americans (Fran Stuchbury) |
 Charlotte Bootleggers vs. the Jim Thorpe All-Americans (Fran Stuchbury) |
 Charlotte Bootleggers (white) vs. the Jim Thorpe All-Americans (Fran Stuchbury) |
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Professional Box Lacrosse Association Stories from January 9, 2023
- Bootleggers Drop PBLA Opener, Win over New Fans - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Bootleggers Drop PBLA Opener, Win over New Fans - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- Bootleggers Drop PBLA Opener, Win over New Fans - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
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