Though no date has been set for the beginning of the 2020 Major League Lacrosse season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several coaches expressed to US Lacrosse Magazine prior to the collegiate draft that a July 4 start could be feasible.

Through the end of this week, US Lacrosse Magazine will release previews for each of the six teams, going alphabetically by city. Check back each day to learn about another team.

These previews appeared in the May/June edition of US Lacrosse Magazine. Don't get the mag? Subscribe today.

MLL Team Previews

Boston Cannons
Chesapeake Bayhawks
Connecticut Hammerheads
Denver Outlaws
New York Lizards
Philadelphia Barrage

New York Lizards

2019 regular season record: 5-11
Last seen: Missing the playoffs in B.J. O’Hara’s first season as coach

MVP Watch
Dylan Molloy

Playing for his hometown team, Molloy was a force in his first season with the Lizards. He finished second on the team with 42 points (28 goals, 14 assists). He was the MVP of the 2019 MLL All-Star Game and even made SportsCenter for a play that resulted in a goal against the Boston Cannons.

He showed an impressive amount of physicality with multiple bull dodges that left opponents on the ground. Molloy is the top returning scorer on New York, and he will be counted on to produce like he has since entering the league in 2017. In his career, he is averaging 2.6 goals and 3.7 points per game.

Under the Radar
Brendan Kearns

New York will need to put the ball in the back of the net more in 2020 after finishing last in the league in goals scored last summer.

Often, the team was trying to find which pieces fit into the larger puzzle. Kearns made a strong late push to earn a roster spot and be a bigger contributor in 2020. In his debut on August 10, Kearns scored two goals and added two assists against the Rattlers. In five total games, Kearns scored 13 goals and added four assists.

Losses

Scott Corcoran (D), Rob Pannell (A), Greg Puskuldjian (FO)

Additions

Griffin Barnathan (SSDM), Benny Borgognone (LSM), Colin Burke (M), Bobby Duvjnak (D), Michael Mayer (D), Connor O’Hara (A), Joey Panariello (A), Andrew Pettit (M), Connor Waldron (M), Tommy Wright (D)

Burning question
Who initiates the offense?

For the past seven years, Rob Pannell has led the Lizards in points, a balanced threat to either score or dish an assist. With Pannell’s move to the PLL, who will step up to lead the Lizards offense in 2021?

The team moved players around last year trying to find roles that fit, and the second-leading scorer Dylan Molloy (28 goals, 14 assists) did find himself as the X attackman on occasion, but he’ll need more help on attack.