Changes to Points System, 2-Point Goals Coming to Athletes Unlimited

Season two of Athletes Unlimited didn’t exactly end after the final whistle. The race between goalie Taylor Moreno and attacker Sam Apuzzo was so close that AU needed to wait until the next day to formally declare the winner.

In the end, Moreno, the rookie goalie, came out on top. The photo finish capped a whirlwind eight months for women’s lacrosse, which saw the Division I national championship set ESPN viewership records for the sport and the U.S. national team win gold on home soil at the World Lacrosse Women’s Championship.

Season three of Athletes Unlimited begins July 20 at USA Lacrosse headquarters in Sparks, Md., and marks a milestone for the league. Its predecessor, the WPLL, ceased operations after two seasons. The United Women’s Lacrosse League shuttered after three. But Apuzzo, who played one year in the WPLL, only sees growth for AU.

“It’s so different in the best way possible,” Apuzzo said. “When I walk around when I recruit for college, they are excited about the games. It’s fun to see how people, even if they don’t know much about lacrosse, are into this kind of game. It’s fun to be a part of.”

Fans can watch on ESPN’s family of networks again as part of a multi-year deal between AU and the Worldwide Leader. One player we won’t see: Top college draft pick Meaghan Tyrrell, who is recovering from an injury. But fans can catch another Tewaaraton Award finalist in Jenn Medjid and tweaks to point adjustments and two-point goals.  

Moreno and Apuzzo are also back. Each shared why the third time will be the charm for the league and fans.

“We looked at last season and what scores created and where people took off offensively, defensively, goalie-wise,” said Apuzzo, who is on the player executive committee that agreed on the new points system. “The goal of every change is to make it as even of a playing field as possible for people to succeed and be at the top of the leaderboard.”

AU LACROSSE SCORING CHANGES

Goalies receive 5 points per save, down from 6
Goalies lose 2 points instead of 1 point for goals against
Players lose 10 points per turnover, up from 8
Players receive 14 points per caused turnover, up from 12

But that hasn’t necessarily been the case through the first two years with the league. Notably, three goalies finished in the top five each season (Moreno at No. 1, Britt Read at No. 4 and Caylee Waters at No. 5 in 2022; Waters at No. 2, Kady Glynn at No. 4 and Read at No. 5 in 2021). Only one defender, Lizzie Colson, finished in the top 10 in 2022.

An AU press release noted that 29 percent of the league’s roster is defenders, and the goal was to give them more opportunities to score.

“A goalie can gain a point every possession because most possessions end with a shot or a goal, so we just wanted to even out the ability to get points,” Apuzzo said. “Goalies are getting a lot more opportunities to get points.”

For her part, Moreno supports the change.

“A lot of times, those saves are a testament to their work,” Moreno said. “You want to diversify the league and give opportunities for everyone. There are bonuses at stake. It just means I have to make one or two saves per game more than I did last year to make up for those point differences.”

THE CHAMP RETURNS

The points changes aren’t of concern to Moreno. What is the biggest difference between this year and last? She hasn’t been playing for the last seven months. She runs clinics part-time but has a remote job in BioTech that allows her to train and doesn’t involve the rigors of Division I lacrosse.

“As the reigning champ, it’ll be hard not to think about that,” Moreno said. “At the same time, I understand that the more pressure I put on myself, the harder I’ll make it for myself.”

So, Moreno is paring down her playbook.

“Going in and doing what I do best and enjoying the people I am with is going to be my approach,” Moreno said.

TWO-POINT GOALS

Ready to watch players let it rip from downtown? The two-point line isn’t moving to the Tierney Field parking lot — it’s actually staying at the 8-meter fan. But there are changes coming. Unlike previous years, a goal can be scored from above or below GLE, rather than just above it. The inspiration came after a player left the ground before the GLE and shot before landing, a one-point goal. Since players can and want to shoot from above and below the GLE, two-point goals have expanded to include both areas.

Apuzzo is excited to see what the change brings.

“My peers like Kenzie Kent and Nicole Levy are going to crush those kinds of goals and make it fun and exciting, a different aspect of the game that isn’t emphasized will be put on the big screen,” Apuzzo said.

The new rule is one of a few already in place that differentiate AU from the college game — three seconds and shooting space aren’t fouls in the league.

“It puts a lot of the responsibility and play in the hands of the players,” Moreno said. “It’s super important. I think it will only help promote the sport if we are be able to make it a better experience and fun for our families, friends and fans."

FRESH FACES

Though Tyrrell is not participating because of an injury, the league announced that seven of the 11 draftees signed contracts in late June: Attackers Medjid (Boston College) and Hailey Rhatigan (Northwestern), who last squared off in the NCAA title game won by Northwestern. Defenders Abby Bosco (Maryland), Katie Detweiler (Loyola), Marge Donovan (Maryland) and Mairead Durkin (James Madison) and goalie Sarah Reznick (Florida) are also in.

“They are all fast, athletic and fun to watch,” Apuzzo said. “They are going to bring that energy and new blood into the league. It’s going to revamp us and get veterans like myself going and competing at a new level.”

Unsurprisingly, there’s one rookie Apuzzo is most excited to play alongside: Medjid, who she played one season with and then coached at BC.

“To get to play with her and see how great she is as a teammate and have that opportunity to be collaborative, have fun and play together, it’s going to be so fun,” Apuzzo said.

VETS TO WATCH

Veteran players — some who graduated before Apuzzo donned an Eagles uniform — also have a platform in the league. Cortney Fortunato, who finished 12th on the leaderboard in 2021, and Alex Aust Holman, who was 13th in 2022, are two returners Apuzzo has on her radar.

“Those players have done so much in their lives, played so much lacrosse and learned from so many different people,” Apuzzo said. “Learning and watching them helps me learn so much about lacrosse. It’s well-rounded on many different levels.”

The multi-generational aspect of the league is something Apuzzo loves and hopes fans do, too.

“To have everyone come together as the best of the best playing at their highest level is something like no other,” Apuzzo said. “It’s cool to see where that’s taken us.”