Dallas Rattlers

Last updated

Dallas Rattlers
Dallas Rattlers.jpg
SportLacrosse
Founded 2001
League Major League Lacrosse
Based in Frisco, Texas
Stadium Ford Center at The Star
ColorsDark blue, orange, silver
   
Owner Jim Davis
PresidentBill Goren
Head coachBill Warder
League titles(1) 2008
Division titles 2004, 2008
Website dallasrattlers.com

The Dallas Rattlers were a professional men's field lacrosse team as a member of Major League Lacrosse (MLL) based in Frisco, Texas starting in 2018. The franchise was a charter member of the MLL, operating as the Rochester Rattlers in Rochester, New York, from 2001 to 2008 and 2011 to 2017.

Contents

After the 2008 season, the team was dissolved. The Rattlers' staff and roster was transferred to the new Toronto Nationals franchise, but the history, colors, and name of the Rattlers franchise remained in Rochester so that they could be used for a future MLL team. After a two-year absence, the Chicago Machine moved to Rochester to play the 2011 season under the Rattlers name.

On November 16, 2017, the franchise announced that it was relocating to Frisco, a northern suburb of Dallas, and would be known as the Dallas Rattlers. [1] The team is owned by Jim Davis, founder and chairman of New Balance. [2]

The league suspended the Rattlers for the 2020 season while retaining the rights to the team branding to possibly return at a later date. [3] Most of the players and team staff were transferred to the expansion Connecticut Hammerheads. [4]

Franchise history

Rochester Rattlers

In 2001 and 2002 the team played home games at Frontier Field. They played at Bishop Kearney Field from 2003 to 2005, and moved into the new PAETEC Park in 2006. In April 2015, negotiations between the Rattlers and Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester fell through, resulting in the team moving its home field to Eunice Kennedy Shriver Stadium on the campus of SUNY Brockport. [5] They returned to the city of Rochester for the 2016 season, using Wegmans Stadium at the Aquinas Institute as their home field. In 2017, they announced a return to the city's professional soccer stadium, now under new ownership and known as Marina Auto Stadium.

The Rochester Rattlers (orange) vs. the Long Island Lizards (white) at PAETEC Park in 2008. Lacrosse match - Rochester vs Long Island.jpg
The Rochester Rattlers (orange) vs. the Long Island Lizards (white) at PAETEC Park in 2008.

The Rattlers made the playoffs in 2001 and 2005 as a wildcard. They were the National Division champions in 2004. On June 16, 2007, the Rochester Rattlers won a 27–26 (in overtime) game over the Denver Outlaws in the highest scoring game in MLL history at INVESCO Field at Mile High.

In 2008, the Rattlers won their first and only MLL championship by defeating the Philadelphia Barrage 16–15 in overtime in the semifinals and the Denver Outlaws 16–6 in the championship game.

After the 2008 season, the team was dissolved and the rights to the team were sold to a Toronto, Ontario-based group on February 19, 2009. [6] The Rattlers' staff and roster was transferred to the new Toronto franchise, named the Toronto Nationals; [7] however, the Rattlers' history, team colors, and name remained in Rochester, thus allowing the Chicago Machine to be re-branded as the Rochester Rattlers in time for the 2011 season. [8]

Dallas Rattlers

On November 16, 2017 the league announced that the Rattlers would be relocating to the Dallas market for the 2018 season and become the Dallas Rattlers. It was announced that head coach Tim Soudan would not be joining the team in Texas and instead Bill Warder, a long-time assistant coach for the Rattlers, would be the head coach. [1] Warder and the rest of the Rattlers would play and win their first game as the new Dallas Rattlers on April 21 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in a 15–9 defeat of the Chesapeake Bayhawks. [9]

The Rattlers would finish first place in the league at 11–3, becoming the first team since the 2015 New York Lizards to win a double-digit number of games. They also finished a league-best 6–1 at their new home in Frisco, where they finished second place in the league in attendance. Five of the seven home games in the regular season were decided by one goal.

On August 11, the Rattlers hosted their former in-state rival Lizards in Frisco. The Lizards were the only team to defeat the Rattlers at home in the regular season, just two weeks prior. However, the Rattlers used a balanced attack and a crowd of over 6,000 people to fuel them to a 15–12 victory. [10] The win lifted them to a championship game appearance in their first season in Dallas, and fourth appearance in franchise history.

The championship game was held on August 18 in Charleston, South Carolina at MUSC Health Stadium. The Rattlers would face the third-seeded Denver Outlaws, who defeated the team in the 2014 championship game. After grabbing a 9–6 lead midway through the second quarter, Dallas would suffer a 15-minute scoreless drought while the Outlaws went on a 7–0 run. The Rattlers would never recover and ended up dropping the contest, 16–12. [11] The night before, Bill Warder was named Coach of the Year, [12] John Galloway was named Co-Goalie of the Year, [13] and Matt Dunn was named Defensive Player of the Year. [14]

2019: New blood

Like many other teams in the league, when the Premier Lacrosse League was formed, the Rattlers found themselves having to replace a number of star players, including many that had played with each other for several years in Rochester. Key returners that would take upon bigger roles on and off the field in 2019 would include Ryan McNamara, Zack Greer, Donny Moss, Mike Lazore, Jack Curran, and Cody Radziewicz. The Rattlers would also pick up Dallas native Bryce Wasserman in the offseason. [15] Dallas product Christian Carson-Banister would also start the season in goal for the team in his first Major League Lacrosse appearances.

Dallas stumbled out of the gates, starting a league-worst 0-7. However, midseason acquisitions of rookies Sean Sconone (goalie) and Bradley Voigt (attack), as well as veterans Kyle Buchanan and Adam Osika proved wonders. The Rattlers picked up their first win of the season, 11-8 at Broncos Stadium at Mile High against the Denver Outlaws in the last week before the All Star Break. Sconone make his name known with 20 saves. [16] This would start a streak of six straight victories that would result in the Rattlers on the doorstep of a playoff berth. During the streak, the Rattlers would beat every team in the league, win four on the road, and defeat three first-place teams (all on the road).

Despite owning their playoff destiny heading into the last homestand of the season, the Rattlers would lose two one-goal games to New York and Atlanta officially eliminating them from postseason contention. Dallas would finish 7-9 and miss out on the playoffs for just the second time in six years.

Season-by-season

YearWL %Regular season finishPlayoffs
Rochester Rattlers
2001 86.5712nd in National DivisionLost semifinal, 13–12, to Lizards
2002 68.4293rd in National Division—
2003 57.4173rd in National Division—
2004 75.5831st in National DivisionLost semifinal, 18–17, (OT) to Barrage
2005 66.5002nd in National DivisionLost semifinal, 20–13, to Bayhawks
2006 57.4175th in Eastern Conference—
2007 93.7502nd in Eastern ConferenceLost semifinal, 15–14, to Riptide
2008 93.7501st in Eastern ConferenceWon semifinal, 16–15, (OT) over Barrage
Won championship, 16–6, over Outlaws
2009 Did Not Play
2010 Did Not Play
2011 210.1676th in league—
2012 77.5005th in league—
2013 68.4295th in league—
2014 104.7141st in leagueWon semifinal, 15–11, over Machine
Lost championship, 11–12 to Outlaws
2015 86.5713rd in LeagueWon semifinal, 12–8, over Machine
Lost championship, 12–15 to Lizards
2016 86.5715th in League—
2017 86.5714th in LeagueLost semifinal, 8–15 to Denver Outlaws
Dallas Rattlers
2018 113.7861st in LeagueWon semifinal, 15–12 over New York Lizards
Lost championship, 12–16 to Denver Outlaws
2019 79.4385th in League-
Totals122104.540Total Playoff Record 5–8
Playoff Win % = .385

Roster

2018 Dallas Rattlers
NumberPlayer's NameNationalityPositionHeightWeightCollege
2 Jack Near Flag of the United States.svg M6 ft 3 in175 lb Notre Dame
3Christian Carson-Banister Flag of the United States.svg G6 ft 1 in220 lb Boston University
4 John LoCascio Flag of the United States.svg D5 ft 10 in190 lb Villanova
5 Mike Manley Flag of the United States.svg D6 ft 1 in204 lb Duke
9John Moderski Flag of the United States.svg D5 ft 9 in160 lb Villanova
10Blaze Riorden Flag of the United States.svg G6 ft 0 in215 lb Albany
11Joel White Flag of the United States.svg D6 ft 1 in186 lb Syracuse
12Conor Gately Flag of the United States.svg A6 ft 1 in190 lb Marquette
14Jack Curran Flag of the United States.svg M6 ft 0 in185 lb Villanova
15John Galloway Flag of the United States.svg G6 ft 0 in188 lb Syracuse
17Drew Simoneau Flag of the United States.svg FO5 ft 7 in185 lb Nazareth
18Chris Bocklet Flag of the United States.svg A6 ft 0 in182 lb Virginia
22 Ned Crotty Flag of the United States.svg A6 ft 2 in185 lb Duke
23Cody Radziewicz Flag of the United States.svg M6 ft 0 in180 lb Johns Hopkins
24Mike Lazore Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg M6 ft 2 in185 lb Hobart
25Ben Reeves Flag of the United States.svg M6 ft 2 in205 lb Yale
29Jordan MacIntosh Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg M6 ft 2 in195 lb RIT
31John Ranagan Flag of the United States.svg M6 ft 3 in218 lb Johns Hopkins
32Jordan Wolf Flag of the United States.svg A5 ft 9 in170 lb Duke
33Matt Dunn Flag of the United States.svg D6 ft 3 in215 lb Maryland
35Jordan Stevens Flag of the United States.svg D6 ft 1 in195 lb Cornell
37Mike O'Neil Flag of the United States.svg M6 ft 0 in170 lb Cornell
40John Lade Flag of the United States.svg D5 ft 10 in195 lb Syracuse
44Brian Kormondy Flag of the United States.svg M5 ft 11 in175 lb Delaware
45Randy Staats Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg A6 ft 2 in200 lb Syracuse
46 John Sexton Flag of the United States.svg LSM5 ft 11 in210 lb Notre Dame
80Donny Moss Flag of the United States.svg D6 ft 2 in200 lb Adelphi
81Ryan McNamara Flag of the United States.svg A5 ft 8 in185 lb Marquette
88 Zack Greer Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg A6 ft 2 in190 lb Duke
91Ty Thompson Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy.svg A6 ft 0 in185 lb Albany

MLL Award Winners

Most Valuable Player

Rookie of the Year

Coach of the Year

Defensive Player of the Year

Offensive Player of the Year

Goalie of the Year

Most Improved Player

Coaches and others

#NameTermRegular SeasonPlayoffs
GCWLW%GCWLW%
Rochester Rattlers
1Guy Van Arsdale 2001–2003 401921.475101.000
2B.J. O'Hara 2004–2008, 2011 663630.545523.400
3Tim Soudan 2011– 2017 904941.544523.400
Dallas Rattlers
4Bill Warder 2018–301812.600211.500

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References

  1. 1 2 "Rattlers to Relocate to Frisco, TX for 2018 Season" (Press release). Major League Lacrosse. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  2. ↑ Wagner, Bill (July 19, 2017). "Bayhawks owner likes team, future of MLL". Capital Gazette. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Major League Lacrosse Announces It Will Cease Operations of the Dallas Rattlers". OurSports Central. February 10, 2020.
  4. ↑ MLL announces new Connecticut Hammerheads franchise to play at Fairfield University
  5. ↑ Nicholas Newcomb, Nicholas (April 7, 2015). "Rochester Rattlers find new home in B-port". The Stylus. Archived from the original on April 10, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ Robin De Wind (February 19, 2009). "Rochester Rattlers rights sold to Toronto, Curt Styres to be part owner". News 10 NBC . Archived from the original on December 14, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
  7. ↑ David Naylor (February 10, 2009). "Investors finishing deal to move pro field lacrosse team to Toronto". The Globe and Mail . Retrieved March 9, 2009.
  8. ↑ Sal Maiorana (February 20, 2009). "Rochester Rattlers players find new MLL home in Toronto". Democrat and Chronicle . Retrieved March 9, 2009.
  9. ↑ New Rattlers win first game 15–9 at Chesapeake
  10. ↑ Rattlers advance to MLL Championship game
  11. ↑ "Denver defeats Dallas for third Steinfeld Cup". Archived from the original on August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  12. ↑ Warder named coach of the year
  13. ↑ John Galloway ties for Goalie of the year
  14. ↑ Matt Dunn takes home first Defensive Player of the Year award
  15. ↑ What impact will Bryce Wasserman have on the Rattlers
  16. ↑ Rattlers end skid with surprising win at Denver
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