Panther City Begins Playoff Chase in San Diego Against Seals

The Panther City Lacrosse Club (9-9) has advanced to the playoffs for the second consecutive season and for the second time in their three years of existence. Finishing with a 9-9 record, the team from Fort Worth, TX has now secured a .500 or better record for the second straight year. Since joining the NLL at the start of the 2021-22 season, PCLC has won 26 games in three years, averaging nearly nine wins per season. 

Of the 14 teams that have been in the league since Panther City’s inaugural season (2021-22), which excludes Las Vegas as they joined the league in 2022-23, Panther City’s 26 wins in three seasons are the seventh most in that time span, despite being the second-newest team in the league.  In their three years of existence, Panther City has also seen their head coach, Tracey Kelusky win the Les Bartley NLL Head Coach of the Year Award (21-22), Jonathan Donville take home the 2022-23 NLL Rookie of the Year Award, General Manager Bob Hamley draft six rookies who took home the NLL Rookie of the Week Award for a total of 13 times, including two consecutive seasons with an All-Rookie team member and for the first time this season, PCLC had a member of their team finish top-10 in scoring in the league (Will Malcom – T-7th with 105 points). 

Panther City was led this year offensively, by the aforementioned Malcom, who set career highs in points (105), goals (37), assists (68), power play goals (6), power play assists (18) and caused turnovers (8). Malcom’s points and assists are new franchise records for single-season marks. 18-year veteran, Callum Crawford also had a stand-out year as he finished with a franchise record 42 goals, including 14 power play goals, which also set a new franchise high. For the season he finished with 94 points (42G/52A). 

Defensively, captain Matt Hossack once again led the way out of the back door, as he finished with team highs in loose balls (103) and caused turnovers (25). It was the third consecutive season Hossack registered at least 100 loose balls and 25 caused turnovers. 

Goalie Nick Damude had his best year in the NLL, finishing with an 80% save percentage and stopping a career high 709 shots, of which included the 2023-24 single game save high in the NLL with 59 saves against San Diego (3/1). Damude has had a save percentage of 80% or higher in seven of his previous 10 games. 

The game on Saturday, April 27, can be found on ESPN+ / TSN+ with the eclectic crew of Cooper Perkins (PxP), Nick Ossello (Analyst) and Raine Michaels (Floor Reporter) on the call from Pechanga Arena in San Diego with coverage beginning at 9 p.m. CT.