Molloy Reinvigorated After Strong Season with Redwoods

Dylan Molloy had something to prove.

So did the California Redwoods.

It worked out for both parties.

Given a chance by new general manager Joe Spallina and first-year head coach Anthony Kelly, the veteran Molloy was the top goal scorer and posted a career-high 32 points in the regular season for the young, rebuilt Redwoods.

They advanced to the Premier Lacrosse League semifinals one year after missing the playoffs but fell to the Denver Outlaws.

“Just coming in with Spallina and this new coaching staff, these guys have instilled so much confidence in the people that they have sought out, like myself, and obviously you gotta prove yourself at every point in this season,” Molloy said.

Molloy enjoyed the latest uptick in a pro career that has put him through a wave of emotions. After guiding Brown to the NCAA final four with legendary toughness on a broken foot as a junior to seal the 2016 Tewaaraton Award, Molloy was the first pick in the 2017 Major League Lacrosse Draft by the Florida Launch.

He played two years there before Spallina brought him to the New York Lizards. When the MLL and PLL merged, Molloy wasn’t on a roster until late in the 2021 season when he played three games for the Chrome.

He thrived in a full 2022 season with the Chrome, posting a career-best 25 points. What followed was two frustrating years. After playing in just two games early in 2023, the Chrome granted him his release so he could seek a chance at more playing time. He played two games for the Atlas later that season but then played only two games for the Atlas in 2024.

It all added up to a total of 10 points in six games over the last two years.

“It’s obviously very frustrating but at this point, at least in my career, I’ve seen this before,” Molloy said. “I know how it goes. As long as you stay ready, you’ve got another opportunity. Nothing’s guaranteed. You see a ton of really good talents kind of just wither away in the player pool.”

Molloy wasn’t ready to hang it up. His return to prominence began with conversations with Spallina about joining the Woods.

“We both were very transparent and spoke through the potential challenges and kind of fears, I guess, because he knew I’d been scarred for the last two years and I didn’t want to waste time prepping and coming to a team if you’re going to draft someone to put someone else in there,” Molloy said. “I’ve been there before, and I know how it goes, so I didn’t want to really waste a good year on that again.”

Spallina understood Molloy’s background and had seen his dedication first-hand. He often ran into Molloy shooting or playing wall ball at Stony Brook, where Spallina is head coach of the women’s lacrosse program. He wanted Molloy to join California’s rebuild, and he wanted him to get the first chance to start on attack.

“I felt like he had something to prove,” Spallina said. “And I think he proved in the Championship Series the type of plays that he’s capable of. But I also think all these guys are saying they gotta know that the person calling the shots has got their back and then it’s OK to make a mistake. I told Dylan when I signed him, ‘If anyone is going to give you a fair shot, it’s going to be me. We believe in you. I got your back, and I know that there’s a player in there that’s a big-time player in this league.’”

Molloy took the opportunity and put together his first PLL All-Star season after two MLL All-Star nods. The strong righty has used an assortment of moves to create scoring chances for him and teammates.

“The thing I love about Dylan is he doesn’t have to be point productive to be effective,” Spallina said. “He doesn’t let it affect his mental. After our [quarterfinal] game, I complimented him for doing such a good job of letting the game come to him.”

Molloy scored three goals for California as it got out to a good start before settling for a 6-6 halftime tie against the Denver Outlaws in the PLL semifinals. The Outlaws slid more coverage to him and he finished with a hat trick and an assist to lead the Redwoods in points in their season-ending 12-7 loss.

“He really sets a calming presence on our offense,” Kelly said after the game. “The days he’s been able to go off and score some goals, everyone seems to follow him. He was the guy today, but we didn’t get a lot of production from the rest of the group, but I’m really proud of him for what he’s meant to this group and this organization.”

Molloy won his 1-v-1 battles when called upon all season, though he was critical of not burying more of his chances. He blended well on attack with rookie Chris Kavanagh (23G, 12A) and Ryder Garnsey (14G, 8A), and each of them showed versatility to be able to make plays.

“It’s so freaking fun, especially playing the young guys, having fun on and off the field, going against really talented players on the opposing teams and just being able to run at them and being involved in this offense,” Molloy said. “I think our coaches spend a lot of time prepping week to week to then put things in on Friday practice, and they’re doing the right thing to put us in the right spots.”

Kavanagh was a brilliant second-round pick by the Redwoods. They also hit the bullseye with fellow rookie Andrew McAdorey, whom they chose with the second pick in the draft. They then drafted Sam English with the third pick after Spallina traded Owen Grant to move up.

Another rookie midfielder, Josh Balacarcel, was integral to the turnaround, as was short-stick defensive midfielder Carter Rice, another rookie. They were part of a youthful infusion and new attitude about the team with players looking to help each other succeed.

“These are team plays and people are being good pick guys or assist guys or whatever it may be for some individuals to get a spotlight,” Molloy said. “Our whole coaching staff and team has been really strong and that’s kind of put me, Kavanaugh, Garnsey, everyone, in great positions to score and make things happen.”

Molloy had never been surrounded by such youth. Ten players on the California roster were first- or second-year pros. Molloy stood out as the lone married player on the Woods and one of only two players on the roster who was even 30.

“He’s a presence,” Spallina said. “He’s a veteran. And when you put a veteran with so many younger guys, and this is a veteran that had something to prove, he could rally those guys around him. I think because of his past, guys listen more. He was the perfect fit at the perfect time for this team.”

Putting his faith in Molloy is one of the shrewd moves that worked out for Spallina. His mid-year pickup of another veteran, long stick midfielder Ryland Rees, and the rapid growth of the youngsters helped to spark California to the playoffs with three straight wins after a 1-5 start.

The Redwoods ranked second in caused turnovers, and TD Ierlan was second on faceoffs, and that helped give the offense more chances as well.

“This was not a fun team to watch last year,” Spallina said. “And it’s must-see TV every week now. I think when you got those guys and how dynamic they are, you can relate it to the PLL how Boston transformed themselves a few seasons ago. This is a young, athletic, really close-knit roster.”

The season has reinvigorated Molloy, who works outside of lacrosse in the insurance business, about his future on the field. He’s made the most of his increased opportunity to shine and lift a young, fun team.

“Given this season, it definitely motivates me to continue working my butt off in the offseason and playing sixes and come back next season trying to outdo this,” Molloy said. “That definitely is in my mind.”