Photo by: Premier Lacrosse League
Pro Orange: Week Eight PLL Update
7/21/2025 4:19:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – It was an Orange takeover at Rafferty Stadium this weekend as the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) invaded Fairfield University.
The weekend opener featured the New York Atlas and the California Redwoods, boasting seven former Syracuse University men's lacrosse players: Will Mark (Atlas), Jake Stevens (Atlas), Michael Grace (Atlas), Steven Brooks (Atlas AC), Cole Kirst (Redwoods), Carter Rice (Redwoods) and Sam English (Redwoods). Additionally, Owen Hiltz continued his electric start to his pro career for the Carolina Chaos.
Week nine sends the League west to Salt Lake City at Zions Bank Stadium. The Redwoods take on host Utah Archers Friday night at 8 p.m. ET followed by the Atlas against the Maryland Whipsnakes at 10:30 p.m. ET. The Chaos take on the Philadelphia Waterdogs Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. ET followed by the weekend finale pitting the Denver Outlaws against the Utah Archers. The Cannons are on a bye week for week nine.
Below is a capsule of all former Syracuse players in Connecticut this weekend.
Players
Sam English (Redwoods)
Sam English did not play this weekend in Connecticut with a high left ankle sprain, per PremierLacrosseLeague.com.
Michael Grace (Atlas)
Michael Grace added another point in his rookie season, picking up at last one point in four of his five games and four straight games. He assisted a Xander Dickson goal early in the second quarter while also snapping up two ground balls and causing a turnover in the 16-12 win.
Owen Hiltz
Owen Hiltz led all point getters in the Chaos vs. Archers game. Carolina dropped a 12-11 decision as a furious rally in the fourth quarter fell short. The rookie put away five goals with two assists for a game-high seven points, shooting 55.6 percent on the night with two ground balls. Hiltz had a hand in three of the five Chaos goals in the fourth-quarter comeback bid. Hiltz has 17 points on the season (12g, 5a), ranking 16th in the PLL despite playing three games fewer than the other 19 players in the top 20.
Cole Kirst (Redwoods)
Cole Kirst made his season debut for the Redwoods, taking two shots, including one on goal. He had eight touches in season debut game with five total passes.
Will Mark (Atlas)
Will Mark was available for the Atlas on the dress roster this weekend in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Carter Rice (Redwoods)
Carter Rice continued to be a threat in the defensive midfield, grabbing two ground balls and earning four touches.
Jake Stevens (Atlas)
Jake Stevens tallied two goals in a 16-12 win for the Atlas over the Redwoods. Stevens scored a go-ahead go midway through the second quarter, capping a five-goal run for the Atlas. Stevens later scored another goal to put the Atlas up for good at 12-11, scoring with 55 seconds to play in the third. He added three ground balls with 12 touches and seven passes.
Tucker Dordevic (Maryland Whipsnakes)
Tucker Dordevic is listed on the injured reserve list for the Whipsnakes per PremiereLacrosseLeague.com.
Staff
Steven Brooks (Atlas Assistant Coach)
Guiding the offense to another productive weekend with 16 goals, the second-most goals for the Atlas this season, aiding in a four-game winning streak for the New York team.
Roy Colsey (Chaos Head Coach)
The Chaos, starting to gel as a team, dropped a game for the first time since June 22 in Baltimore. Roy Colsey has the Chaos in third in the Western division with a 3-4 record this season with three games left in the regular season.
John Odierna (Cannons Assistant Coach)
The Cannons dropped a one-goal heart breaker on Saturday against the Denver Outlaws. John Odierna and the Cannons are 3-4 overall this season with the fifth-best score differential in the PLL.
Matt Palumb (Head of Officiating)
PLL Head of Officiating Matt Palumb served as the head official for all four games at Rafferty Stadium this weekend.
Paul Carcaterra (ESPN Broadcast)
Paul Carcaterra served as an analyst for all four games this weekend on ESPN+ with the weekend finale between the Denver Outlaws and Utah Archers airing on ESPN2.
The weekend opener featured the New York Atlas and the California Redwoods, boasting seven former Syracuse University men's lacrosse players: Will Mark (Atlas), Jake Stevens (Atlas), Michael Grace (Atlas), Steven Brooks (Atlas AC), Cole Kirst (Redwoods), Carter Rice (Redwoods) and Sam English (Redwoods). Additionally, Owen Hiltz continued his electric start to his pro career for the Carolina Chaos.
Week nine sends the League west to Salt Lake City at Zions Bank Stadium. The Redwoods take on host Utah Archers Friday night at 8 p.m. ET followed by the Atlas against the Maryland Whipsnakes at 10:30 p.m. ET. The Chaos take on the Philadelphia Waterdogs Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. ET followed by the weekend finale pitting the Denver Outlaws against the Utah Archers. The Cannons are on a bye week for week nine.
Below is a capsule of all former Syracuse players in Connecticut this weekend.
Players
Sam English (Redwoods)
Sam English did not play this weekend in Connecticut with a high left ankle sprain, per PremierLacrosseLeague.com.
Michael Grace (Atlas)
Michael Grace added another point in his rookie season, picking up at last one point in four of his five games and four straight games. He assisted a Xander Dickson goal early in the second quarter while also snapping up two ground balls and causing a turnover in the 16-12 win.
Owen Hiltz
Owen Hiltz led all point getters in the Chaos vs. Archers game. Carolina dropped a 12-11 decision as a furious rally in the fourth quarter fell short. The rookie put away five goals with two assists for a game-high seven points, shooting 55.6 percent on the night with two ground balls. Hiltz had a hand in three of the five Chaos goals in the fourth-quarter comeback bid. Hiltz has 17 points on the season (12g, 5a), ranking 16th in the PLL despite playing three games fewer than the other 19 players in the top 20.
Cole Kirst (Redwoods)
Cole Kirst made his season debut for the Redwoods, taking two shots, including one on goal. He had eight touches in season debut game with five total passes.
Will Mark (Atlas)
Will Mark was available for the Atlas on the dress roster this weekend in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Carter Rice (Redwoods)
Carter Rice continued to be a threat in the defensive midfield, grabbing two ground balls and earning four touches.
Jake Stevens (Atlas)
Jake Stevens tallied two goals in a 16-12 win for the Atlas over the Redwoods. Stevens scored a go-ahead go midway through the second quarter, capping a five-goal run for the Atlas. Stevens later scored another goal to put the Atlas up for good at 12-11, scoring with 55 seconds to play in the third. He added three ground balls with 12 touches and seven passes.
Tucker Dordevic (Maryland Whipsnakes)
Tucker Dordevic is listed on the injured reserve list for the Whipsnakes per PremiereLacrosseLeague.com.
Staff
Steven Brooks (Atlas Assistant Coach)
Guiding the offense to another productive weekend with 16 goals, the second-most goals for the Atlas this season, aiding in a four-game winning streak for the New York team.
Roy Colsey (Chaos Head Coach)
The Chaos, starting to gel as a team, dropped a game for the first time since June 22 in Baltimore. Roy Colsey has the Chaos in third in the Western division with a 3-4 record this season with three games left in the regular season.
John Odierna (Cannons Assistant Coach)
The Cannons dropped a one-goal heart breaker on Saturday against the Denver Outlaws. John Odierna and the Cannons are 3-4 overall this season with the fifth-best score differential in the PLL.
Matt Palumb (Head of Officiating)
PLL Head of Officiating Matt Palumb served as the head official for all four games at Rafferty Stadium this weekend.
Paul Carcaterra (ESPN Broadcast)
Paul Carcaterra served as an analyst for all four games this weekend on ESPN+ with the weekend finale between the Denver Outlaws and Utah Archers airing on ESPN2.
Players Mentioned
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