Utah Archers 2026 Season Preview
Home Sweet Home
Editor’s Note: I’d like to welcome Austin Whiting to the ULR. Whiting is a founding member of the Utah Arrowhead and was gracious enough to write a preview of the Archers’ season. Whiting also contributes to our weekly staff picks!
In just two days, the PLL is officially back, and this time, it’s different.
This time, it’s here. It’s home to start.
Not only are we getting more games and more action, but we get to see twice as much in our great home state of Utah. As much as it’s been fun to let other states get the opening weekend, it’s finally coming to the best fans in the league. We’re slated to have the biggest and loudest weekend the PLL has ever seen and the message from the Utah Arrowhead (your official supporter group for the Utah Archers) is to get in early and join the best fans in the league.
Utah lacrosse has only been rising astronomically over the past decade and we’re here to make sure that we don’t slow down. This weekend is more than just two home games.
We’re going to set the tone for the rest of the season. Let’s get into it.
New to Lacrosse? Here’s Why You’ll Love It
Even if you’ve never picked up a stick, the game is easy to get hooked on.
We’ve got:
Non-stop action with a shorter shot clock (52 seconds compared to the 80 seconds in college)
A two-point arc that can flip the game on its head (also not in the college game)
The best shooters in the world are painting corners
Big hits & even bigger personalities
Think basketball pace, hockey physicality, and soccer finesse rolled into one. The smaller rules and details will get picked up naturally, just cheer loudly for the Orange and Blue and the rest will come with time.
The Utah Archers - Bows Up!
The Archers have built their reputation a little bit differently from the rest of the teams in the league. Coach Bates has built a unique culture of discipline and patience. Unlike most other teams in the PLL, the Archers have a leadership style led by Captain America himself, Tom Schreiber, that’s steady and stoic instead of chaotic and explosive. Just like a shot from a true archer, it’s straight-edged, calculated, and calm.
At the Arrowhead, we’ve had the opportunity to sit down with many of these guys on our podcast and they all tell the same story: the locker room is just built different. It’s the most well-oiled machine in the league and a big testament to how elite the Archers coaching staff is.
If you missed out on last season, to be frank, you didn’t miss much. The team was plagued with injuries and even despite star players dropping throughout the year we just barely missed the playoffs after a tough homecoming late last summer. The good news out of this is that we got the No. 1 Draft Pick in this year’s draft.
Breaking Down the Team
Here is your in-depth review of each part of the Archers team and some key players to watch.
Attack
We’ve had a pretty stellar attack line the last few years and nothing is changing this year. Despite rumors that he might not play, #5 Connor Fields (Fieldsy) is back and the magician is ready to put on a show once again. He’s a walking highlight reel and if you’ve watched a SportsCenter Top 10 in the past two years, you’ve likely already seen him. Fields is joined by #7 Mac O’Keefe, the lefty legend. Arguably the best sniper in the league. Defenses have to work overtime to make sure he doesn’t get his hands free.
The third attackman spot is a bit of a question mark. Last year, this spot was held by Matt Moore before his hot streak ended in injury. With Moore still out, and with other potential fill-ins injured this will be an interesting spot to watch. #9 Sam King (the rookie phenom), seems likely to fill this role but could we see the new kid out of the University of Utah fill this spot? #6 Ryan Stines (the 2nd round draft pick) is every bit as advertised and could make a big splash this weekend.
TL/DR: We’re looking really solid at attack.
Offensive Midfield
With Schreiber (injury), Tre Leclaire (box lacrosse playoffs), and Grant Ament (injury) out this weekend, there are some big shoes to fill and this is likely the biggest question mark on the team. We’re led by every player’s favorite player #13 Ryan Ambler - the captain. Other than ‘Rambler’ we’ve got the opportunity to watch who steps up in the midfield. I’ve got a feeling that we’ll see some potential stars emerge from this Archers offensive midfield, potentially the D-III star #2 CK Giancola? We’ll have to wait and see. Perhaps Stines comes out of the box to help the O-mids.
TL/DR: Big question mark here. We’ll need to rely on some guys to step up big.
Faceoff
#99 Mike Sisselberger sustained a hand injury early in the season last year and could never quite get healthy. Siss is back this year and is ready to show everyone once again why he was a first-round pick back in 2023. It may take some time to get back into the flow but expect Siss to be back this year.
TL/DR: Expect a big bounce-back in our faceoff wins this year.
Defensive Midfield
What do you do when you already have the best defensive midfield in the league? If you’re Coach Bates you decide to then draft the best Defensive midfielder prospect ever in Aidan Maguire out of Duke. This is clearly going to be the biggest strength of this Archers team, between #54 Piper Bond, #31 Connor Maher, and the Park-City native #89 Beau Pederson, this D-middie room is stacked and is going to be electric. Bates clearly has some cards up his sleeve that he is looking to use with these D-mids. We’ll be missing Maguire for a few weeks as he is playing for Duke in the NCAA tournament but we can expect him to make an instant impact starting around June.
TL/DR: The greatest D-middie room to exist. Get excited.
Defense
We took a big hit in losing Graeme Hossack (our star long-pole) and are going to need to find a replacement fast. Additionally, we’re going to be missing Warren Jeffrey (our other star long-pole) for at least a week or two. We have stud poles in #77 Mason Woodward and #46 Brendan Lavelle that will fill in these gaps but we’re going to need to see some newer players step in and make an instant impact. Keep an eye on #17 Mitchell Dunham (6-5, 220 linebacker build) to be one of those guys.
TL/DR: Big losses here, but great players to step up. I’m confident this defense will be legit.
Goalie
Our back-to-back Championship MVP goalie in Brett Dobson (Dobber) is out for the NLL (box lacrosse) playoffs for at least this weekend and so we will likely be relying on #18 Nick Washuta (Tubs). Don’t sleep on Washuta, he’s been with the Archers for awhile and has stepped up in big moments when Dobson is out. Washuta has starting goalie level talent in this league and will turn some heads. Dobber will be back to lead the defense once he’s back in a few weeks.
TL/DR: Washuta will fill in for Dobson; Washuta’s legit.
Homecoming Week
Two more days! Whether you show up in the stand or are watching from home, cheer loud for the boys in blue and orange. We’re building something big out here in Utah and everyone ought to be proud of the energy and loyalty that we bring to this league. And it’s only getting started.
Be there. Be loud. Be part of it.
Above all else, win.
2026 Opening Weekend Schedule
Friday, May 8
6:00pm - Redwoods v. Archers - ESPN+
8:30pm - New York v. Chaos - ESPN+
Saturday, May 9
2:30pm - Waterdogs v. Whipsnakes - ESPN+
5:00pm - Outlaws v. Archers - ESPN2
All games will be at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. The Utah Arrowhead will be tailgating before the Saturday games so feel free to join!
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