WLL Preview: Top Offenses Meet in San Diego

It’s a Barbie world for the WLL this week, as the pink-laden California Palms take on the undefeated New York Charging this Saturday at 11 p.m. Eastern at Torero Stadium.

The Palms had a bye week last weekend, while the Charging competed against the Maryland Charm and took the game 12-10 behind a strong outing from Madison Doucette.

For this week’s game, here’s what to look for from San Diego.

GOLDEN STATE OF MIND

California isn't a traditional lacrosse hotbed, but there’s a growing surge of top-shelf players coming from the West Coast. Two players from California get to enjoy a homecoming of sorts this weekend as professional athletes.

Charging midfielders Emerson Bohlig and Sam Smith are travelling to their home state of California. Bohlig is from Orinda, Calif., and Smith is from Mill Valley, Calif.

Ironically, nobody on the Palms hails from California.

O-YEAH

The Palms and Charging have generated the most goals of any offenses in the WLL. The Palms have scored 34 and the Charging have scored 29.

Emma LoPinto and Ellie Masera have seven goals each for the Palms, and Izzy Scane has seven for the Charging.

In order to score the ball, you need to share the ball. The Palms lead the league in total assists with 20, and the Charging are right behind them with 17. High-scoring games are a norm in this league, and with those numbers, California versus New York could yield the same result.

REHABBIN’ GAB

Palms attacker Gabby Rosenzweig tore her left ACL and meniscus in a practice the night before the team’s first game. While she won’t be on the field, you can stay updated with her recovery journey on Instagram (@rehabbingab).

SPORTSCENTER

Darcy Felter has only played in one WLL game, and she’s already been featured on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” Top 10 players. Felter’s first goal earned her the No. 8 spot on Monday. She caught a feed in an awkward low position, gathered it and went BTB for the score.

Felter recorded three goals against the Charm. Teammate Kori Edmondson scored two goals in her rookie debut for New York, too.

ANOTHER BOX TO CHECK

The Charging enter as the only unbeaten team in the league. They conquered the Charm last weekend and beat the Boston Guard 17-12 in the first WLL game of the season. If New York can top California, then it will have managed to beat every other team in the league.

If the Championship Series results were any indication of New York’s current skills, the top dog in the WLL might be here to stay.

The Palms have something to prove Saturday, too. In the first overtime battle this league has seen, California dropped the game to the Charm 18-17. The Palms went on to beat the Guard the following week 17-15, but the Guard have yet to win one of their own. Boston is 0-2.

If California can knock down New York, it would send a message throughout the league.