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BUF at SD - Sat. 10pm ET on ESPNews Schedule

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
FINAL
San Diego
17
Panther City
9
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Toronto
11
Albany
9
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Halifax
14
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Georgia
13
New York
8
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Calgary
14
Saskatchewan
6
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL/OT
Buffalo
7
San Diego
6
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Colorado
12
Vancouver
14
Sat, Mar 25
FINAL
Rochester
7
Las Vegas
12
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
19:00:00
New York
Georgia
Fri, Mar 31
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Colorado
Fri, Mar 31
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sat, Apr 1
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Apr 1
20:00:00
Albany
Panther City
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
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Stories/Op-Ed

Don’t Sleep on Panther City Lacrosse Club, They’re Ready To Attack

In 1875, a story was written in the Dallas Daily Herald by a clearly bitter ex-Fort Worthian lawyer that suggested that Fort Worth, Texas was such a sleepy city that when a panther found its way to the downtown area, even it fell asleep.

Nearly 150 years after this unproven claim was published, Panther City Lacrosse Club (PCLC) is providing dozens of reasons for why Fort Worth is anything but sleepy. They are embodying the traits of the animal it’s named after: unrelenting, determined, strategic, and, most importantly, always prepared to defeat its opponent.

Since their franchise-opening game on December 4th, 2021, against the Philadelphia Wings, each of PCLC’s games have been decided in the late stages of the contest – except for their 14-8 loss to the Vancouver Warriors in Week 2. That includes the organizations first win a couple of weeks ago when they beat the New York Riptide 13-12 in overtime.

Before their first game, PCLC head coach Tracey Kelusky told his players that they need to have the mentality that they are not an expansion team that can be pushed around. He made it clear that the goal was to improve each week; following the team’s victory versus the Riptide, it’s clear they are improving.

But, winning one game shouldn’t be cause for too much celebration. Kelusky has stressed to his 1-4 team that they need to keep sticking to the long-term game plan and buying into the system, especially as a younger group that has not spent much time together as a full unit.

“From a tactical point of view, we have the systems in place and the more we trust in those things, the better off we are,” Kelusky said. “The non-negotiables of coming to work prepared – we have to do that; we have to do that more so than other groups. We have to study film, we have to come in on off-weeks because we don’t have the luxury of playing together for several years or have the superstars that other teams do.”

The organization’s first win is historic and well-earned, but it’s what PCLC does going forward that will define them.

And to think, they’re already developing an identity as a team that has a strong mental fortitude. It’s impressive to see how a team’s mentality can remain so positive and hungry for victory after coming out on the wrong end of each of their first four games, three of which were decided by three goals or less, including two one-goal losses.

PCLC defensemen Liam Byrnes spoke for his team about what it felt like to come so close to winning multiple times this year, only to go home with a loss.

“Having been so close in all these games has been mentally exhausting,” Byrnes said. “You know you’re putting all this effort in and you know you’re doing the right stuff, but you keep coming up short.”

This speaks to the resilience of this young team. Just because PCLC is a new team to the league, and just because they find themselves in a hole in the hyper-competitive West Division, doesn’t mean they are ever willing to give up. It’s much like a panther on the hunt.

Much like the players on PCLC, as an apex predator in its environment(s), a wild panther is always looking to assert its dominance by attacking and defending at all costs. To achieve those same goals, you must communicate and find different ways to be a threat.

As the last line of defense, goaltender Kevin Orleman spoke about the importance of communicating both on and off the floor.

“Our lines of communication have been very strong,” Orleman said. “We’re very active in our group chats when we’re away from the rink, and then we love spending time together when we’re at the rink. Having a strong veteran presence on the back end really helps with that. Communication is something players really pick up as they mature in this league and it’s something our younger guys have been able to pick up from them.”

Communicating also builds trust and confidence. These are two components you would want to successfully move the ball up the floor. The PCLC offense is as unselfish as it gets in the NLL. 22 different players have scored a point this season – no other team in the NLL has more different point-getters – including 10 of the 11 defensemen who have played at least one game and two of the three transition players who have stepped on the floor.

Byrnes pointed out that when defensemen like himself can make plays on offense, it makes them more eager to contribute to the scoreline.

“I think it helps keep us in these [close] games when you know as a defender you have the green light whenever you’re pushing the ball,” Byrnes said. “It gives you more confidence and you’re more likely to take chances.”

More and more chances will need to be taken throughout the season if PCLC wants to get out from the bottom of the West Division standings. And, looking forward, as this team continues to grow as a unit, they may be able to take advantage of the remaining teams on their schedule.

With 13 games left on their calendars, PCLC plays nine of those games against teams that have a record of .500 or below. Showing the spirit of a true panther, Orleman knows that those opportunities could pay dividends if PCLC can capitalize off their foe’s weaknesses.

“I know the West is a really strong division,” Orleman. “[But], there’s a couple of teams that maybe haven’t played as well as their potential, and maybe that’s an opportunity for us to take advantage of that.”

If there’s one way PCLC doesn’t embody its animalistic nature, it’s that they hunt as a team, not as individuals. Since their inaugural game, this increasingly cohesive unit has put the rest of the league on notice.

PCLC is hoping to make enough noise in the NLL for the remainder of this season that anyone who steps within the city limits will know this is a team you won’t want to sleep on.

NLL