Blue Devils Gear Up for PLL Playoffs

DURHAM – It's playoff time in the Premier Lacrosse League and a host of former Blue Devils begin their quest to take home the championship trophy. The opening round of the playoffs are set for Sept. 4 starting at 11:45 a.m., in Boston.

Leading off the day are No. 4 Redwoods and No. 5 Chaos at 11:45 on ESPN+. Nakeie Montgomery is having a solid sophomore season for Redwoods, playing in all 10 games as a two-way midfielder. He has nine points from three goals, including a two-pointer, and five assists.

Looking for a second PLL title, CJ Costabile and Pat Resch head into the playoffs as veterans in the professional game. Costabile, a winner at every level he has played, has played in nine games this season and has five points, three caused turnovers and 13 ground balls. He has played 133 games in his post-Duke career and won titles both in the MLL and PLL.

Resch, with 80 games under his belt in the professional game, is a mainstay in the defensive midfield for Chaos, picking up 10 ground balls and forcing two turnovers. He also has seven points on the year.

Michael Sowers and the reigning champ Waterdogs are the No. 3 seed and go up against Brad Smith and Garrett Leadmon of the Whipsnakes at 2:20 p.m., on ESPN+. Sowers has played in all 10 games and ranks 12th in the league with 30 points from 15 goals and 15 assists.

Smith, after missing the first half of the season due to injury, has five goals, including one two-pointer and five assists for 11 points. Leadmon has played in five games in his rookie season, posting three points. He last played Jully 14 against the Waterdogs.

The premier matchup of the day will be the No. 2 seed Cannons versus No. 7 Atlas at 5 p.m., on ESPN2.

Picked up three games into the season, Cade Van Raaphorst helped the Cannons land the No. 2 seed. In seven games, the former Blue Devil close defenseman has four two-point goals, seven caused turnovers and 23 ground balls. Since Van Raaphorst joined the team, the Cannons have gone 6-1 to finish the year with a 7-3 record.

Van Raaphorst will face a familiar face in Myles Jones on seven-seeded Atlas. Jones, traded to the squad midway through the season, has played three games with Atlas. He has seven points from three goals and four assists for his new team. He had three points in five games with the Redwoods. Additionally, Justin Guterding has played in five games for Atlas this season and has one goal and one assist.

Premier Lacrosse League Playoffs
Round	Team	Team	Date	Time	TV	Location
Quarterfinal 1	No. 4 Redwoods	No. 5 Chaos	Sept. 4	11:45 a.m.	ESPN+	Boston, Mass.
Quarterfinal 2	No. 3 Waterdogs	No. 6 Whipsnakes	Sept. 4	2:20 p.m.	ESPN+	Boston, Mass.
Quarterfinal 3	No. 2 Cannons	No. 7 Atlas	Sept. 4	5 p.m.	ESPN2	Boston, Mass.
Semfinal 1	No. 1 Archers	Winner QF1	Sept. 10	3 p.m.	ABC	Long Island, N.Y.
Semifinal 2	Winner QF2	Winner QF3	Sept. 10	5:30 p.m.	ESPN+	Long Island, N.Y.
Championship	Winner SF1	Winner SF2	Sept. 24	3 p.m.	ABC	Philadelphia, Pa.