Out to Pasture, PLL retirements

Since the 2022 PLL season began eleven players have decided to walk away from the game and hang up their cleats and sticks. The announcements have been rolling in since the turn of the year and haven't stopped since. These pros have ended their playing careers and it must be said they will be missed by their former coaches and teammates as well as lacrosse fans. This mass exodus means there will be some new faces on the PLL field this summer.

Scott Ratliff- LSM, Loyola MD: Scott Ratliff got the retirement ball rolling in the 2022 offseason, and it hasn't stopped rolling since. The former Archers, Atlanta Blaze, and Boston Cannons LSM was a menace all over the field. Rat, grew up near Atlanta, Georgia and is the son of former UMD defender Randy Ratliff. Scott was the first Loyola of Maryland lacrosse player from the state of Georgia and won a NCAA championship with the Greyhounds in 2012. If there was a play to be made in the middle of the field Scott Ratliff was the man to make it happen. Rat was often referred to as a ‘Long-stick Attackman’ because of his excellent offensive capabilities as a pole. Rat recorded 105 points in his ten-year career and is one of five longpoles to score a hat trick in a game. The Archers will miss his presence in the middle of the field, the other PLL teams will be happy he’s gone.

Steve DeNapoli- SSDM, Hofstra: DeNapoli went out on top, he was the captain of the Waterdogs in their first championship season. The defensive midfielder played for two teams in the PLL and three teams in the MLL. ‘DeNap’ as he was known by teammates was also part of the 2018 team USA Gold Medal winning team.

Ryan Brown- A, Johns Hopkins: ‘Brownie’ as he was affectionally known by those around the league has a strong case for the best shooter to ever step on a lacrosse field. Brown could give it to you anyway you wanted: overhand, underhand, sidearm, three quarters release, BTB, left hand, right hand, no hands, it didn’t matter, if you needed a shooter Ryan Brown was your man. After seven pro seasons Brown is leaving the game on top just like his Waterdogs’ teammate Steve DeNapoli. Brown finished his career with 180 points with 146 goals, a shooter’s shooter through and through.

Ryan Hallenbeck- SSDM, Notre Dame: Hallenbeck played one season of pro lacrosse for the Redwoods and saw action in four games.

Drew Simoneau- FO, Nazareth College: Simoneau has his doctorate degree in Physical Therapy and played nine seasons of pro lacrosse for six different teams, with his last stint on the Redwoods. The faceoff man finished his career with 54 percentage at the faceoff spot and 23 points.

Jake Froccaro- M, Villanova: Froccaro played six seasons on three different teams, most famously on the 2019 Chaos also known as the Bomb Squad. Froccaro finished with 88 points and 10 2pt-goals. The Long Island native finished his career as part of the Cannons.

John Crawley- M, Johns Hopkins: Crawley is the current Johns Hopkins offensive coordinator, and many people believe that is the reason why he stepped away from his playing career after only six seasons as a pro. In a few mic’d up clips Crawley can be seen drawing up plays in the Atlas huddle. As a pro Crawley recorded 65 points for the Atlas and Charlotte Hornets.

Dominique Alexander- SSDM: Ohio State: Over a decade long career Alexander played for the Ohio Machine and Archers. ‘Nique’ was a champion with the Machine in 2017 and won the first SSDM Hard Hat Award in 2019 in the PLL. Alexander is known for his physical defense and ability to switch on to any offensive player as well as his ability to chirp any player, coach, ref, or fan in the stadium. His energy and effort will be missed on the field this summer.

Patrick Harbeson- SSDM, Virginia: As a Maryland native Patrick Harbeson grew up in one of the hot beds for lacrosse and after graduating from Dematha Catholic, Harbeson went to University of Virginia. ‘Harbie’ played for a decade in pro lacrosse and was a teammate of Dominique Alexander in 2017 when the Ohio Machine of the MLL won a championship. What Harbeson lacked in height standing at 5’7, he made up for in skill and will. Harbeson only played for the Redwoods and Coach Nat in the PLL and was part of the 2019 team that made it to the first ever PLL championship. Harbie finished his career with 103 groundballs, 33 caused turnovers, and 27 points.

John Ranagan- M, Johns Hopkins: Another former Blue Jay stepped away from the PLL this offseason. Ranagan is a Yorktown, New York Native and played six seasons for the Rattlers franchise in the MLL and four seasons for the Chrome in the PLL. Standing at 6’3 and 215 pounds Ranagan was an imposing force on the field and made his presence felt to all defenders who faced him. Ranagan recorded 160 points over his career, with 103 goals.

Jay Carlson- A, Attack: Jay Carlson attended University of Maryland, and played seven years of pro lacrosse with the Whipsnakes, Bayhawks, and Blaze. ‘The Garbage Man’ as he was known around the league was a crease attackman who caught everything around the goal and finished almost everything in front of cage. Carlson was part of the two Whipsnakes teams the won the first two PLL championships and he had a crucial role playing between Matt Rambo and Zed Williams on their starting attack line. Carlson finished his career with 88 points, on 38 shooting percentage.