Lizards Reinforce Roster Ahead Of Matchup With Outlaws At Shuart Stadium

Heading into its fifth game of the season tonight, the New York Lizards have fattened up the roster.

After a hot start to the season, New York (3-1) will play host to the Denver Outlaws (2-3) this evening in Hempstead, with some fresh faces joining the fold.

Attacker Cody Jamieson, former 2014 National Lacrosse League MVP, joins the Lizards roster after spending the last year recovering from a torn achilles tendon suffered in NLL East Final in 2015. Jamieson, 27, was a stalwart in the league that serves as the MLL’s indoor competitor, scoring a career-high 36 goals and leading the Rochester Nighthawks with 92 points in 2015.

Jamieson will be joined by midfielder Jake Tripuka, who returns from a stretch on injured reserve to contribute to a Lizards attack that already includes defending MLL MVP and Week 5 Offensive Player of the Week, Rob Pannell.

The additions of Jamieson and Tripuka will boost a potent Lizards offense that boasts three players in the top 10 in the league in goals scored, with Pannell posting 14 tallies and Tommy Palasek and Matt Gibson tied for ninth with 12 goals apiece.

Tripuka, a standout in his collegiate career at Duke and son of former NBA veteran Kelly Tripuka, was acquired by New York in a trade with the Charlotte Hounds Nov. 23 in exchange for a first-rounder in the 2016 MLL Supplemental Draft.

The former Blue Devil has been sidelined since May 7, when he scored a goal and added an assist on the road in the Lizards 20-14 win over the Florida Launch.

Goals will likely come in bunches for New York, considering Outlaws goaltender Ryan LaPlante is allowing an MLL worst, 17.12 goals per game.

But the Lizards aren’t the only team with offensive firepower.

The Outlaws bring attacker Drew Snider east to the Hofstra Campus, fresh off  a heroic performance in his last time out on the field against the Boston Cannons where he registered five points, including three goals and two assists. Snider is currently ranked fourth in the league in goals scored, just ahead of Pannell with 15 total tallies.

Between Pannell’s hot stick and the additions of Jamieson and Tripuka, expect New York to score a minimum of 20 goals. The only question is: how many will Snider sneak past the Lizards defense?

If New York can hold Denver’s top target to under three points, it should be a walkover, especially considering LaPlante’s ineptitude in the cage through five games in 2016.

Prediction: Lizards slide by Outlaws,  New York 22 Denver 16

PHOTO: KENNESAW, GA – AUGUST 08: Drew Adams #14 of the New York Lizards against the Rochester Rattlers during the 2015 Major League Lacrosse Championship Game at Fifth Third Bank Stadium on August 8, 2015 in Kennesaw, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Article by Kevin Xavier