Lacrosse. Host of Sticks In podcast. Current: @USALacrosseMag @NELaxJournal @Prep_Lacrosse. DMs open. Same name on all socials. SticksInPodcast@gmail.com He/Him
Articles by Daniel Arestia
What's Next 2025: California Redwoods
2025 Season Result: 5-5, lost in Semifinals Draft Selections: 1.6, 2.6, 4.6 Pending Free Agents: Charlie Bertrand, M Connor Cmiel, SSDM Chris Conlin, D Chris Fake, D BJ Farrare, LSM/SSDM Ryder Garnsey, A Sam Handley, M Chayse Ierlan, G Cole Kirst, M Matt Knote, G Chris Merle, SSDM (Injured Reserve) Dylan Molloy, A Brendan Nichtern, A Carter Parlette, SSDM Ryland Rees, LSM Brian Tevlin, Everything Zach Vigue, G Marquez White, SSDM (PUP List) SEASON RECAP: Like Carolina, the Redwoods had a very...
What's Next 2025: Philadelphia Waterdogs
2025 Season Result: 4-6, lost in Semifinals Draft Selections: 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 Pending Free Agents: Liam Byrnes, D Eli Gobrecht, D Thomas McConvey, M Christian Scarpello, SSDM Mikie Schlosser, M Alec Stathakis, F/O SEASON RECAP: The Waterdogs had a bit of an up and down adventure in 2025. They won their opener against the Whips, split their home weekend against Boston and Denver, but then had a hideous loss against New York in Baltimore.
What's Next: 2025 Carolina Chaos
2025 Season Result: 5-5, 3rd in Western Conference, lost in Quarterfinals Draft Selections: 1.4, 2.4 Pending Free Agents: Chris Aslanian, M Cross Ferrera, A/M Mark Glicini, SSDM Justin Inacio, FO Austin Kaut, G Greg Langermeier, SSDM Jarrod Neumann, D Sergio Perkovic, M Jack Posey, D Troy Reh, LSM Nick Rowlett, FO JJ Sillstrop, A/M Cole Williams, A/M SEASON RECAP: The Chaos had the league’s most tumultuous offseason and 2025.
PLL to open 2026 on May 9th with expanded summer schedule, player compensation set to increase
PLL players were informed last week of a change to the PLL calendar, sources confirmed to Sticks In Lacrosse. In the upcoming PLL season, the first game of the year is expected to be played on Saturday May 9th. That is a full two weeks prior to Memorial Day Weekend, overlapping with the start of the NCAA tournament. The season will also tack on time at the end, wrapping up in late September. The target for championship weekend is September 20th. The league will also have a pair of bye weeks in June.
PLL Fan's Guide to picking an NLL Team, 2025-26 edition
The indoor season is nearly here. While a contentious negotiation for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement looked like it might result in some cancelled games, reports now indicate that camp will be underway in November and the season is expected to start on time. I still consider myself a newbie to the indoor game. I have progressively watched more and more over the last few years, and I’ve grown to really enjoy box lacrosse.
PLL Championship Series Roster Primer
The Premier Lacrosse League winter player movement window officially opens today. Contracts can’t be signed yet, that’s not until next week, but the “flirting” period starts today. The key communication and signings, at this point, will be related to the upcoming Championship Series. The PLL’s signature Sixes event returns to The St. James in northern Virginia this spring.
My 2025 PLL Awards Ballot
The PLL Awards were given at a ceremony in New York City on September 12. Finalists for each award are decided by the players. Winners are picked by PLL Coaches/General Managers, Award Namesakes, the PLL Front Office, selected PLL Alumni, and members of the media. As a media member, I’ve been honored with the opportunity to vote. I believe in transparency and accountability.
2026 Premier Lacrosse League Draft Big Board
ball is in full swing. With scrimmage reports dropping after every weekend, teams are starting to take shape, develop their identity, and lay the foundation for their season. Teams have to work in grad transfers and young players, returners may be adjusting to expanded roles, there’s a balance of “this doesn’t mean anything” and “it’s actually really important that we learn a lot right now” to fall ball. For me, it’s a signal that it’s time to start thinking about the next PLL draft class.
What's Next 2025: Denver Outlaws
2025 Season Result: 7-3, lost in Championship Draft Selections: 1.7, 3.6, 3.7, 4.4, 4.7 Pending Free Agents: Jesse Bernhardt, D Jonathan Donville, M Eric Law, A Mike Manley, D Owen McElroy, G Jack VanOverbeke, A/M Dalton Young, A/M SEASON RECAP: Acquiring Pat Kavanagh in the offseason led to high expectations for this offense. Landing arguably the most pursued and highest profile free agent in PLL history, Jared Bernhardt, gave this team four Tewaaraton winners and title or bust goals.
What's Next: 2025 Boston Cannons
2025 Record and Result: 4-6, Missed playoffs Draft Selections: 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 3.4, plus the Outlaws 2nd round pick.
What's Next: 2025 Maryland Whipsnakes
Updated: Oct 14 2025 Season Result: 4-6, 2nd in East, Lost in Quarterfinals Draft Selections: 1.3, 2.3, 3.3, 4.3 Pending Free Agents: Ryan Aughavin, M Jake Bernhardt, SSDM Colin Heacock, M Jack Koras, M Brendan Krebs, G SEASON RECAP: The Whips made some serious moves in the offseason before 2025. The headline of it all was they traded away Zed Williams and acquired Matt Brandau, and they signed Rob Pannell.
PLL's Stars & Stripes Classic Focused on Respect, Reverance
CHESTER, Pa. — Regular attendees at Premier Lacrosse League weekends are familiar with the usual sights and sounds of the Premier Zone. For the uninitiated, the Premier Zone is a fan fest with games, vendors, activations and all sorts of fun to be had just outside the stadium. At the PLL semifinals at Subaru Park on Sept. 1, the Premier Zone was a little bit bigger than usual. This wasn’t a typical PLL weekend.
What's Next: The 2025 Utah Archers
2025 Record and Result: 4-6, Missed Playoffs Draft Selections: 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 Pending Free Agents Ryan Ambler, M Graeme Hossack, D Warren Jeffrey, D Jake Naso, FO Pat Resch, SSDM Nick Washuta, G Cam Wyers, D/LSM SEASON RECAP The Archers entered 2025 as the two time defending PLL champion. To call their season shocking would be an understatement. While Head Coach Chris Bates and Archers players made no excuses, the injury woes can’t be dismissed for this team.
Atlas Secure First-Ever Trip to PLL Championship Game
PHILADELPHIA — When we last saw the Philadelphia Waterdogs and the New York Atlas, they battled to a 20-19 shootout in Boston in the final weekend of the Premier Lacrosse League regular season. New York also beat Philadelphia 17-9 in Baltimore earlier this year. Beating a team three times in the same season is notoriously difficult.
A Month Off Doesn't Stop Denver in Gritty Semifinal Win
PHILADELPHIA — The second Premier Lacrosse League semifinal of Labor Day featured the No. 1 seed Denver Outlaws and the California Redwoods. In the regular season, the Woods and Outlaws split their matchups. California won in week one, and Denver avenged the loss in Fairfield. The rubber game? It was the biggest one yet. California knocked off Carolina in the quarters..The Outlaws are back on the field after a month off.
CIAC: How St. Joseph, Guilford, New Fairfield closed out titles
Guilford goalie Michael Lawton celebrates after his team beat Daniel Hand in the CIAC Class M final. (Dave Stewart/Hearst Media)
How Staples fought back to top Darien in a Class LL classic
After feeling each other out in the first half, Darien kicked the tempo up on Staples with a four-goal run in just over two minutes to start the second half of Saturday's Class LL championship game at Fairfield University. But the end of that run was also the end of the Darien's scoring for the game. Staples goalie Josh Marcus and the Wreckers' close defense slammed the door shut, while Adam Udell and Tristan Schaefer each had tricks to deliver a 7-6 state title win to Staples.
CIAC championship preview, Part 2: Breaking down L and M
The long and winding road toward the Connecticut state championship games is finally reaching its end. On Saturday, all four state title games will be held in Rafferty Stadium at Fairfield University – Class L gets things started at 10 a.m., followed by Class LL at 12:30, Class S at 3 and Class M at 5:30. Our preview will run in two parts, and examine both how the finalists got here and what to watch head-to-head. This preview will focus on the title games in Class L and Class M.
CIAC championship preview, Part 1: Breaking down LL and S
The long and winding road toward the Connecticut state championship games is finally reaching its end. On Saturday, all four state title games will be held in Rafferty Stadium at Fairfield University – Class L gets things started at 10 a.m., followed by Class LL at 12:30, Class S at 3 and Class M at 5:30. Our preview will run in two parts, and examine both how the finalists got here and what to watch on Saturday. This preview will focus on the title games in Class LL and Class S.
Semis, tough: New Canaan vs. Darien, Ridgefield vs. Staples top CIAC slate
The state tournaments in Connecticut have more chalk than Bart Simpson in detention. All four boys lacrosse classes will play their semifinal rounds on Wednesday. Every class saw its top four seeds make the semifinals except for Class M, where the No. 5 seed, Brookfield, is the spoiler. The only defending champion to lose in the quarterfinal round was Fairfield Prep, which was ousted in Class LL by in-form Darien. Repeats are on the table everywhere else.
Inside Jared Bernhardt's Free Agency, a Possible Look into the PLL's Future
Ever since the Premier Lacrosse League, it has been focused on elevating the outdoor game and putting it on par with the big four sports — NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL — in the United States. One thing that the PLL had not yet experienced, until last week, is a true free-agent frenzy. Fans wait with bated breath for updates on social media, teams in the mix for a star player, rumors about who could offer what to attract elite talent, but that experience had eluded the PLL.
CIAC: The heavyweights, contenders and dark horses
Wednesday is the day the CIAC state tournaments kick into high gear. Though a handful of the top seeds across the four divisions earned byes into Saturday's quarterfinal round, most of the state's top teams in Class LL, Class L, Class M and Class S will be in action. Every class has its tiers of state championship hopefuls -- the heavyweights, the contenders and the dark horses. Here is a closer look at each of those teams, by class and category.
Frantic Ending Leaves Adelphi at No. 1 in Final Division II Men's Top 20
We've reached the end of the long and winding road of the Division II season, having followed a yellow (and black) brick road all the way to an Adelphi title. The Panthers played Tampa in Gillette Stadium in an instant classic, punctuated by a Kyle Lewis overtime winner. It’s back-to-back titles for the Panthers, the first team to go back to back since Merrimack in 2018 and 2019. Naturally, they finish No. 1 in the USA Lacrosse Division II Men's Top 20.
Record-Setting Tufts Proves No. 1 Standing in Final D-III Men's Top 20
Tufts put a Jum-bow on an undefeated season with a record-setting win in the NCAA Division III men’s title game. It set new marks for the most goals in an NCAA championship game across all divisions, and the widest margin of victory ever in a D-III title game with a 25-8 win over Dickinson. After the game, head coach Casey D’Annolfo said the coaches never asked their players to be perfect, just to be tough. In the end, he got both.
Tufts Ends Improbable Dickinson Run, Wins Division III Title
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — On Sunday night, under the lights of Gillette Stadium, Cinderella took the dance floor hoping to keep its magic alive for a little longer. Backed by a massive section of traveling fans, Dickinson was tasked with adding another upset to its journey through the postseason. After knocking off Salisbury, RPI and RIT, the impossible seemed possible. But Tufts entered as the heavy favorite, sporting a 22-0 record and a blisteringly fast and high-powered offense.
CIAC takeaways: Darien, Cheshire rising, and Ridgefield on the cusp
The regular-season proceedings are coming to a close in Connecticut. Conference tournaments start this week, with the state tournaments coming right on their heels. It won’t be long until CT crowns some champions. It’s a time of year for teams at the top of the table to refocus and prepare to get everyone’s best shot in a playoff atmosphere. For teams further down the rankings, it’s time to make every possession count and secure those wins that can keep the season alive, if just for a few more days.
Prep Nationals: Looking back at the storylines and the standouts
One of the most exciting high school lacrosse events of the year took place over the weekend, the Prep Nationals. Hosted by Brunswick School, it brought together four of the top private schools in the region -- Salisbury, Deerfield, Lawrenceville and the hosts. In past years, the team that emerged as the Prep Nationals champion had a claim to the crown of the top prep team in America. This year might be the same. Last year’s winner was Lawrenceville, but the 2025 edition felt wide open.
Cinderella vs. the Defending NCAA Champion in Division III Men's Title Game
Nobody would have faulted Dickinson for falling to RIT in the semifinals. After all, in the regular season, RIT won this matchup 24-7. They led 20-4 after three quarters. Dickinson was on house money status, already a great showing for the year — something for every alum to be proud of. The thing is, nobody told Dickinson it should just be happy to be there. The Red Devils exploded out of the gate, taking a 5-1 lead in the second quarter.
D-II Men's Rewind: Stage Set for Repeat vs. Perfect Season
We are off to the NCAA championship game in Division II men's lacrosse. A semifinal recap for you before we turn to title time. Adelphi def. Saint Anselm 13-11 This was the rubber match to end all rubber matches in Division II. In the regular season, Saint Anselm was victorious, handing Adelphi its first, and so far only, loss this year. They met again in the NE-10 tournament with a title on the line, and Adelphi prevailed 13-12 in an overtime thriller. There were no secrets coming into this meeting.
USA Lacrosse Names 2025 Division II Men’s All-Americans
USA Lacrosse named its NCAA Division II men’s All-Americans on Friday, recognizing the top players in the country in 2025. Thirty-five schools are represented in this year’s list, though it’s Limestone that leads the pack with nine All-Americans in its final season as a program. Three of those All-Americans — Cayden Onagi, Austin Lamoreaux and Mike McGarry — were named to the first team.
Watch list: The top five Player of the Year candidates in the CIAC
As an annual award, CT Player of the Year is always going to be hotly contested. There will be top-level Division 1 signees and All-Americans who don’t win it. Tim Shannehan was a senior at Class LL champion Fairfield Prep last year who went on to be the Rookie of the Year in the Patriot League playing for Boston University. He didn’t win CT Player of the Year. Neither did Matt Jeffery of Cheshire, the top recruit in the nation who won ACC Freshman of the Year at Notre Dame this spring.
USA Lacrosse Names 2025 Division III Men’s All-Americans
SECOND TEAM A — Patrick Fitzgerald, Bowdoin A — Connor Herraiz, Salisbury A — Kevin Miller, Christopher Newport M — Garrett Kelly, Tufts M — Jake Rust, Lynchburg M — Riley Strub, Salisbury D — Michael Ayers, Tufts D — Evan Karetsos, Dickinson D — Lawson Laverty, Amherst LSM — Jeremiah Stafford, Salisbury SSDM — Gavin Cousineau, RPI SSDM — Matt Sheinberg, Amherst FO — Tyler Spano, Washington and Lee G — Michael Marinello, St. Lawrence THIRD TEAM A — Hillis Burns, Washington and Lee A — Nate...
Midseason report: Examining the four title races in the CIAC
About a month remains in the Connecticut high school season. Once the calendar reaches mid-May, it’s time for contenders to elevate their game, find another gear or get bumped out of the title race. At roughly the season midpoint, there’s enough results and data to take the temperature of where the four titles races stand. In the first part of our two-part CIAC midseason report, we examine the title races in all four divisions.
The Wild World of the NCAA D-III Men's Tournament on Display Last Weekend
And then there were eight. The Division III men's field has whittled all the way down in fairly chalky fashion. The D-III ranks also had the result of the weekend in college lacrosse, as Salisbury was sent home early by Dickinson. The Sea Gulls fell in overtime in an instant classic that will send shockwaves through the bracket. Another story to this point is the NESCAC. The conference put seven teams into the tournament. Now down to the quarterfinals, only two remain.
Top Performances, Upsets from Division III Men's Quarterfinals
The NCAA men’s Division II tournament is in full swing, and after this week’s quarterfinals, we are on to the semis. The end of a legacy, the beginning of another. Two NE-10 teams emerging victorious and a spicy Spartan soiree are all on tap for this week’s postseason roundup. On a somber note, the weekend featured the final game ever for Division II power Limestone. An OT thriller was won by Maryville, ending the season for the Saints.
CIAC takeaways: Barlow rising; New Canaan, Staples face tests
Another wild week in Connecticut high school lacrosse. The Wilton downward spiral continued, as it dropped a game to Fairfield Ludlowe in OT and then lost at Yorktown (N.Y.) to extend its losing streak to six. Staples went to prep power Brunswick and nearly pulled off the upset, overcoming a massive face-off deficit in the process. A great look at goal in the closing seconds that would have forced OT went wide, but Staples put some excellent play on tape.
Top Games, Biggest Upsets of D-II Men's Conference Championship Weekend
The Division III men's lacrosse bracket is set. But how did we get here? Dan Arestia and Kyle Devitte break down everything that happened in D-III Land over the weekend right here. TOP GAMES Washington and Lee def. Lynchburg 13-12 (OT) The Generals might not have been able to put an end to the debate of whether or not 100 men could best a single gorilla, but they did hoist the ODAC title in overtime thanks to a goal from Eliot Cohen.
OT Slugfests, Standout Performances Highlight D-II Men's Conference Championships
The Division II men's lacrosse bracket is set. But how did we get here? Dan Arestia and Kyle Devitte break down everything that happened in Division II over the weekend. TOP GAMES Wingate def. Anderson 17-11 The most unlikely final of the entire weekend? If you asked the entire SAC if they thought it would happen, only the Anderson and Wingate head coaches would say yes. Totally wild that they played for an AQ in this league after all the upsets and craziness of this season.
Power rankings: Staples, Glastonbury among CIAC teams on the rise
The high school season in Connecticut is approaching the halfway point and we’ve already seen a number of teams distinguish themselves. There are no unbeaten teams in our latest power rankings, a testament to the depth of quality teams in the state and the out-of-state challenges many teams seek out. We’ve still got a month to go before state tournaments arrive, but the overall picture is taking shape. Here are the teams that make our latest Connecticut Top 10.
Glastonbury rising, Darien's stiff challenge
The pecking order in Connecticut continues to be anyone’s guess. There’s a group of teams that includes Fairfield Prep, New Canaan, Darien, Staples, Ridgefield and a few from outside the FCIAC (more on this in a bit) that all look like they have what it takes to wear the crown this year. The headline game of the week was the annual public vs. private battle of Darien vs. Brunswick, which has delivered excitement and electric results in recent years.
NESCAC Quarters Provide Clarity in D-III Men's Top 20
The postseason picture continues to get clearer in Division III men’s lacrosse, as there were plenty of chalky midweek results. Plus, the NESCAC tournament began and continued to provide clarity. The first quarterfinal tilt in the NESCAC did not disappoint. Hamilton shot out to an early lead on Bowdoin thanks to a four-goal first-half performance from Carson Kraus, but the Ursus Maritimus would not stay landlocked for long, as they scored three straight goals to open the third period.
CityLax's Passion to Push Lacrosse Forward
Lacrosse has its share of iconic venues. Buffalo has Banditland. Syracuse has the JMA Wireless Dome. Johns Hopkins has Homewood Field. The list goes on. While considering your own list, you likely won’t examine “the fields under the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City.” But that could be changing. Randall’s Island, particularly March 27 at fields 73-75, was the site of some CityLax games that might open your eyes. The passion and push to move lacrosse forward was as strong as you’d see anywhere.
Fairfield Prep tops the CIAC pack, but it's close
We’ve got about three weeks of results to comb through in the Nutmeg State, which is enough of a sample size for some early power rankings. For now, defending Class LL champion Fairfield Prep holds onto the top spot. A pair of losses over the last week to out-of-state powers pulls the Jesuits a bit back to the pack, where undefeated New Canaan is right on their heels. In fact, the reigning champion in each of the four classes lost this week, evidence that races across the state are still wide open.
CIAC takeaways: Early upsets, standouts and key matchups
The high school season in Connecticut is well underway, as many of the state’s top teams have several games under their belt. It hasn’t been all chalk so far. Teams like Greenwich, Glastonbury and Joel Barlow are just three of the teams that have earned eye-opening wins to this point, with more surely to come. Late April is when teams start to reveal themselves as contenders or pretenders, and many of the state title races still look to be up for grabs.
High Stakes for D-II Men's Top 20 Teams in Regular Season's Final Week
With conference play coming to a close and some conferences even beginning their conference playoffs, last week had the potential to come off the rails. But almost every favored team won its matchup, except for just a handful of results. As some teams prepare for their long, slow walk through the playoff graveyard, other squads are rising in the USA Lacrosse Division II Men's Top 20 and clawing for that final win or tiebreaker that gets them even the slightest of advantages.
W&L a Rising Force in Division III Men's Top 20
Last week was one of those weeks in which upsets were hard to come by. So, if you were a ranked team to get taken down, you’re getting a lot of e-ink today. With the end of the season approaching and momentum at an all-time premium, this might be the worst weekend to have a bad day. Swarthmore has had a strong spring. A midweek win against Washington College set the Garnet up for a showdown with Franklin & Marshall on Saturday with a chance to get a crucial tiebreaker in the Centennial standings.
Buckeye For Life Myles Baliotti an Unsung Ohio State X-Factor
The Ohio State Buckeyes just won their first-ever Big Ten regular-season championship. They’ve ascended the polls and power rankings. A look up and down their sideline reveals a line of players in scarlet and gray who have bought into individual roles as part of a team collective on both sides of the ball. The coaching staff, led by Nick Myers, has built a style and identity in that matches well with everyone.
John DeFazio in Rarified Air at Salisbury
At a program with a history of success like Salisbury, standing out in the record book can be hard to do. The Sea Gulls have amassed 13 NCAA championships from 41 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and 28 final fours. In program history, they have nearly 300 All Americans, and 11 different players have been named the USILA National Player of the Year. Only one of those won the award twice: Jason Coffman. This spring, Coffman could get some company.
Midweek Upset Pushes St. Lawrence Up D-III Mens Top 20
The excitement in Division III couldn’t wait for the weekend. St. Lawrence played the role of the hunter on Tuesday, and a pair of overtime thrillers on Wednesday had implications up and down the Top 20. The beauty of the mid-April trap game has blossomed throughout all of Division III. St. Lawrence held Middlebury to a single second-half goal in a 7-6 upset win on Tuesday. The Saints got 10 saves from Michael Marinello, and Daniel Mahoney scored four goals.
NE-10's Top Teams Keep Rolling in D-II Men's Top 20
It was an unpredictably predictable week in Division II. There was an upset Wednesday when Rollins rose up and downed Saint Leo 15-9, but that win didn’t really set a consistent tune for other underdogs to dance to last week. Saint Leo fell again Saturday, this time to Sunshine State foe Palm Beach Atlantic, 10-8. Those two straight losses drop Saint Leo from the Top 20 for now. Molloy returns to the Top 20 after its fourth straight win, a 10-7 takedown of Roberts Wesleyan.
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