MLL Week Three: Inside the Numbers

Published on June 21, 2019 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release

We take a closer look at the numbers after Week 3 of the 2019 MLL Season. 

Team Stats Trends for Week 3

Teams with more Shots on Goal were 0-1 this week

Teams with more Ground Balls were 0-1 this week

Teams with more Face Off Wins were 0-1 this week

Teams with less Turnovers were 0-1 this week

Teams winning at Half were 0-0-1 this week

Teams winning going into the 4th Quarter were 0-1 this week

(Note: the 0-0-1 for teams winning at Half is because the teams were tied at halftime)

There was only one game in week 3 and interestingly enough the team that lost the game won in every major statistical category. General knowledge of sports would make you believe that if a team has more shots on goal and less turnovers those would be keys to winning the game, but that was not the case in the game between the Lizards and Bayhawks. It seems that the Lizards did everything well on Saturday, but they just couldn't find the back of the net.

Team Stats Trends for the Whole Season

Teams with more Shots on Goal are 1-5-2

Teams with more Ground Balls are 4-3

Teams with more Face Off Wins are 2-5

Teams with less Turnovers are 0-4-3

Teams winning at Half are 3-3-1

Teams winning going into the 4th Quarter 6-1

(Note: 1-5-2 or 0-4-3 means that there were games that had ties in these statistical categories, the 3-3-1 for teams winning at Half means that one game was tied at halftime)

One of the most interesting stats in MLL this year has been the importance of the 3rd quarter. A lead at halftime has led to a win in about 50% of the games this year, but a lead going into the 4th quarter is an almost guaranteed victory. Only 1 team that started the 4th quarter on the losing side has been able to make a comeback and win the game this year.

          

This season the team stat that seems to translate the most to winning is Ground Balls, since every other category has a losing record. Something that jumps out of the page is the fact that no team has won a game this season while having less turnovers than their opponent, this is a very interesting trend that one could assume will not last much longer since limiting turnovers is a big part of a team's success. This week we also saw the first 4th quarter comeback of the year. Up until the game between the Lizards and Bayhawks last Saturday, every team that had a lead going into the 4th quarter was able to hold onto that lead and win the game. The Bayhawks entered the 4th down by 1 goal and were able to outscore the Lizards 5-2 in the final quarter of play to win the game by two goals.

Zach Wright's Teammate of the Week Award

Steele Stanwick was a crucial part of the Bayhawks nail bitter win over the Lizards this past weekend. Stanwick had 3 assists in the game, 2 of which came at clutch moments in the 4th quarter. He assisted Brendan Bomberry to tie the game about half way through the 4th when the Lizards were threatening to pull ahead. Then a few minutes later he was able to find Nick Mariano in a scoring position to give the Bayhawks a decisive lead late in the 4th quarter. Congratulations to Steele Stanwick for winning Zach Wright's Teammate of the Week Award for week 3. Stanwick was the first ever winner of the Zach Wright's Teammate of the Week Award and is now the first ever two-time recipient of the Award. If he keeps posting such high assist numbers we might have to consider changing the name of the award to the Steele Stanwick Teammate of the Week Award.

Home Struggles Continue

One of the under the radar stories of the MLL in 2019 has been the lack of success for teams playing at home. In week 3 the Chesapeake Bayhawks traveled to New York to play the Lizards. The Bayhawks were able to score a narrow 16-14 win over the Lizards who now fall to 0-3 on the season, and 0-2 at home. Home teams this season are now a very surprising 2-5. It is likely, due to the trends of previous years, that this will turn around as the season progresses but if the home teams continue to struggle it will be harder and harder for them to make a comeback. We will see this weekend if the Blaze and Cannons can take advantage of their home field, or if the Rattlers or Lizards will continue the dominance of the road teams in 2019.

2019 Season: Home & Away Record is 2-5

Every Teams Home & Away Records so far this season

Atlanta Blaze

Home Record: 1-1

Away Record: NA

Boston Cannons

Home Record: 1-0

Away Record: 1-0

Chesapeake Bayhawks

Home Record: NA

Away Record: 2-0

Dallas Rattlers

Home Record: 0-2

Away Record: NA

Denver Outlaws

Home Record: NA

Away Record: 2-1

New York Lizards

Home Record: 0-2

Away Record: 0-1

Bayhawks Shots on Goal Efficiency

The Bayhawks faced off against the Lizards this past weekend. In the first quarter the Lizards were dominating getting shot after shot on net and scoring 5 goals on their 10 shots on net. Niko Amato was in net for the Bayhawks and his efforts to keep as many shots on net out of the goal was key to keeping the Lizards from getting out to a huge early lead. Another thing that helped the Bayhawks stay in the game was their incredible shooting efficiency by scoring on all 4 of their shots on net and escaping the quarter only down by one goal.

Best Week 3 Performances

Lyle Thompson - Chesapeake Bayhawks - 7 points (5 Goals, 2 Assists, & 6 Ground Balls)

Rob Pannell - New York Lizards - 5 points (3 Goals, 2 Assists, & 2 Ground Balls)

Steele Stanwick - Chesapeake Bayhawks - 4 points (1 Goals, 3 Assists, & 1 Ground Ball)

Week 3 Team Shots on Net Efficiency (SOGE) Rankings

Chesapeake Bayhawks - 59% SOGE (16 Goals & 27 SOG)

New York Lizards - 48% SOGE (14 Goals & 29 SOG)

Team SOGE Season Rankings

Boston Cannons - 59% SOGE (29 Goals & 49 SOG)

Atlanta Blaze - 57% SOGE (30 Goals & 53 SOG)

Chesapeake Bayhawks - 56% SONE (30 Goals & 54 SOG)

Denver Outlaws - 53% SOGE (41 Goals & 77 SOG)

Dallas Rattlers - 47% SOGE (21 Goals & 45 SOG)

New York Lizards - 41% SOGE (35 Goals & 85 SOG)

Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 21, 2019

• Rattlers Comeback Bid Falls Short in Atlanta - Dallas Rattlers
• MLL Week Four Preview - MLL
• MLL Week Three: Inside the Numbers - MLL

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