Completed Event: Men's Lacrosse versus Georgetown on May 10, 2025 , Loss , 12, to, 16
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Men's Lacrosse
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Photo by: Premier Lacrosse League
Blue Devils Begin PLL Playoff Push; Six Named Awards Finalists
8/22/2025 8:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
DURHAM, N.C. – After an action-packed regular season, a host of former Blue Devils head to postseason action with the Premier Lacrosse League playoffs set to get underway Saturday, Aug. 23 with a pair of quarterfinal matches.
Five former Blue Devils will be in action in the quarterfinal round that pits the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds from both the Eastern and Western Conference against each other. The Denver Outlaws clinched the top seed in the west and bye to the semifinal round, while the New York Atlas took the top spot in the east.
Additionally, the league announced the finalists for its End of Season Awards ceremony. Six Blue Devils were selected as finalists across six awards with Brennan O'Neill and Michael Sowers both picked as top candidates for the Jim Brown Most Valuable Player and Eamon McAnaney Attackman of the Year awards.
2025 PLL Playoffs Preview
Eastern
No. 2 Maryland Whipsnakes vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Waterdogs | Aug. 23 | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Blue Devils: Kenny Brower (Philadelphia), Michael Sowers (Philadelphia), Brad Smith (Maryland)
Brower and Sowers helped Philadelphia snag the final spot in the playoffs with a 4-6 record.
Breaking Down Brower
Western
No. 2 California Redwoods vs. No. 3 Carolian Chaos | August 23 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Blue Devils: Aidan Danenza (California), Andrew McAdorey (California), Josh Zawada (Carolina)
Aidan Danenza a Steady Presence for Redwoods
#GoDuke
Five former Blue Devils will be in action in the quarterfinal round that pits the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds from both the Eastern and Western Conference against each other. The Denver Outlaws clinched the top seed in the west and bye to the semifinal round, while the New York Atlas took the top spot in the east.
Additionally, the league announced the finalists for its End of Season Awards ceremony. Six Blue Devils were selected as finalists across six awards with Brennan O'Neill and Michael Sowers both picked as top candidates for the Jim Brown Most Valuable Player and Eamon McAnaney Attackman of the Year awards.
| Blue Devil Finalists of PLL End of Season Awards |
| Eamon McEneaney Attackman of the Year |
| Michael Sowers, Philadelphia Waterdogs |
| Brennan O'Neill, Denver Outlaws |
| Gait Brothers Midfielder of the Year |
| Andrew McAdorey, California Redwoods |
| Dave Pietramala Defensive Player of the Year |
| JT Giles-Harris, Denver Outlaws |
| Comeback Player of the Year |
| Brad Smith, Midfielder, Maryland Whipsnakes |
| Jim Brown Most Valuable Player |
| Brennan O'Neill, Attackman, Denver Outlaws |
| Michael Sowers, Attackman, Philadelphia Waterdogs |
| Brendan Looney Leadership Award |
| Mike Manley, Defenseman, Denver Outlaws |
2025 PLL Playoffs Preview
Eastern
No. 2 Maryland Whipsnakes vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Waterdogs | Aug. 23 | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Blue Devils: Kenny Brower (Philadelphia), Michael Sowers (Philadelphia), Brad Smith (Maryland)
Brower and Sowers helped Philadelphia snag the final spot in the playoffs with a 4-6 record.
Breaking Down Brower
- In his rookie season, played in eight games, recording 13 ground balls and nine caused turnovers for the Waterdogs.
- Had a caused turnover and three ground balls in regular season finale against New York.
- A finalist for attackman and player of the year, Sowers has been stellar once again with 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points.
- Ranks second in the league in points and assists and has scored at least four points in six of the 10 outings.
- After nearly two years away from the game due to injury, Brad Smith is a finalist for the comeback player of the year award for a reason as he helps lead the Maryland midfield with 15 points.
- Owns 10 goals overall with four of those coming behind the two-point line.
Western
No. 2 California Redwoods vs. No. 3 Carolian Chaos | August 23 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Blue Devils: Aidan Danenza (California), Andrew McAdorey (California), Josh Zawada (Carolina)
Aidan Danenza a Steady Presence for Redwoods
- In his first season in the league, Aidan Danenza has played in six games for California, contributing nine goals.
- Scored four goals to earn Team of the Week honors in the regular season finale.
- Had six goals in his final two games heading into the playoffs.
- Andrew McAdorey picked up right where he left off after completing his collegiate career in Durham.
- A finalist for midfielder of the year, he has 24 points from 14 goals (1 2pt) and nine assists. His nine assists are the most among midfielders, while the 24 points are third and 14 goals rank seventh.
- Has at least four points in four of 10 games, including registering a hat trick versus the Outlaws June 27.
- In eight games with the Chaos, Josh Zawada has 14 points from nine goals and five assists.
- He capped the regular season with his best performance of the year, notching a hat trick. His nine goals are three more than he had in 10 games last season.
- Duke's O'Neill, Giles-Harris, Manley and Jack Gray helped lead the Outlaws to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a 7-3 record and a plus-18 goal differential.
- O'Neill headlines the league's second highest scoring offense with 34 points from 23 goals (3 2pt) and eight assists. He ranks fourth in the PLL in goals and seventh in points. The second-year player has at least one goal in nine of 10 games and registered six points in two games.
- Giles-Harris and Manley anchor the close defense that has given up the third fewest goals in the league. Giles-Harris has 13 ground balls and seven caused turnovers while longtime pro Manley has 19 ground balls and seven caused turnovers. Manley also has three goals (1 2pt) and an assist.
- Gray made his professional debut July 19 in style, scoring a goal, dishing an assist and picking up a ground ball. Helping lead the rope unit, Gray has played in four games following his career as a Blue Devil.
- Tyler Carpenter, in his second year in the league, continues to shine for the Atlas. The LSM has 28 ground balls, a two-point goal and an assist in his 10 games. He picked up an incredible seven ground balls against the Outlaws in August.
#GoDuke
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