From the podcast: Will Manny on his quest to win a PLL title

Former UMass attackman Will Manny is on a quest for his first PLL title with the Archers. (PLL photos)

On this week’s episode of New England Lacrosse Journal’s “Chasing The Goal” podcast, hosts Kyle Devitte and Jack Piatelli were joined by Archers attackman Will Manny.

Manny shot to stardom as a ball-dominant attackman at UMass and for the Boston Cannons in Major League Lacrosse. But in the Premier Lacrosse League, he has adjusted his style of play to become more of an off-ball shooter and playmaker.

He’s also coached collegiately at the Division 1 level with Wagner and Utah, and now runs the largest club lacrosse organization in the state of Utah.

On the podcast, he talks about life as a pro, the adjustments he’s made to his game, and how he wants to win a PLL title with the Archers.

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Jack Piatelli: You grew up in Long Island. Obviously, lacrosse is a big part of the Long Island high school community. How did you end up at UMass? Can you talk a little bit about your recruiting process? 

Will Manny: I ended up at UMass from a performance at Top 205. I always called it “Top 410” because there was there was over 400 kids there, not 200 kids. I think I played well there. I remember back to the letter (UMass) coach (Greg) Cannella wrote me after that, but I honestly think he saw me ride the ball back one time and get an assist. I high-fived my teammates for helping me to get that goal. I just never got a response from my coach the way that I got a response from Coach Cannella.

I wasn’t highly recruited, you know. I didn’t get any ACC looks or Big Ten looks or anything like that. So when I went on my visit (to UMass), I saw how fast-paced the tempo of practice was. The coaches really cared for me and my family and that was exactly how I played. Coach Cannella is a smart guy. I think he knows how to get guys into his system. And he’s a Long Island guy as well. So, he has a great connection there. That was what allowed me to then look into when I was going to be a freshman. I wanted to play for four years. That was one of my goals.

Kyle Devitte: So you’re heading into the playoffs (on Saturday at Gillette Stadium) with the Archers. In my opinion, there are only four teams that can win the title … and it’s you guys, the Whips, Chrome and Atlas. I wouldn’t even give anyone the edge at this point. I think there’s just still a little too much lacrosse to be played. But do you feel like there is a little pressure on you guys because you’ve been so close and you have such these great offensive stats? I love watching the Archers play because of the way that you guys play and you can score and get timely stops, but maybe not all the stops that you need to win. What are your thoughts on that? 

WM: That’s a great point. And I don’t know if I want to say that I feel pressure to win the championship. We’re not the defending champs. We’re not the No. 1 seed. We’re right where we should be, honestly, and I think for us, we still have yet to find our best full game of lacrosse. Winning face-offs, putting up goals and getting those stops, and clearing the ball at a high percentage.

I think for us, and me personally, I don’t feel pressure at all because I think we haven’t even gotten to a championship game. I think it’s more of a “do your job and get where you should be” situation. I think we’ve failed the past couple of years. But I don’t see it as pressure. I think our locker room knows what we are capable of.

Do I think we have the right crew to do it this year? For sure. But we’re going to put our heads down (and) go to work. You know, the Redwoods are going to be hungry. And we’ve got to beat them first and to beat those other two teams as we move forward. I know that’s kind of bland, but that’s just that’s where we’re at.

And I agree with you. I remember a couple of weeks ago, after we lost and we didn’t play well. It’s just like, “Who’s going to stop the best offense?” And it’s like I said, practice. … It’s playoffs — teams are going to adapt, they’re going to throw junk at us and we haven’t adapted well in the past. We just played right into what teams have done. We’re not going to do that this year. And that’s why I’m excited for Gillette, because we’re going to be ready for anything, that’s for sure.”

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