Over/Under: South Division
By Jack McGovern
Media Coordinator
The MLQ season is days away, and MLQ Media Coordinator Jack McGovern is here with his breakdown of whether each team will over or under perform compared to their 2023 selves. Our last installment features a division that may see a shake up at the top for the first time in its existence: the South.
Austin Outlaws (12-0 in 2023, UNDER in 2023)
It might be crazy to pick any team that adds chaser Jay Stewart from their biggest rivals to decrease their win total–much less the three-time defending Benepe Cup champions–but the Austin Outlaws have a number of massive holes to fill. They enter 2024 tasked with a genuine rebuild, as their longtime star player (Augustine Monroe), top scorer (Miguel Esparza), MLQ Championship top scorer (Josh Johnson), best male beater (Daniel Williams), and best female utility (Kaci Erwin) have all retired or departed other franchises. They have no shortage of talent remaining on the roster, and in the best case scenario, Stewart and a number of returnees seamlessly slot into larger roles. Look for keepers Sammy Garza and Louis Sanchez, chaser Mel Kite, and beater Kyzer Polzin, in particular, to continue their dazzling upward trajectories. But in the worst case scenario, the Outlaws could face a bit of an identity crisis for the first time in their history upon experiencing adversity, especially with their division rivals getting significantly stronger at their expense.
San Antonio Soldados (8-4 in 2023, OVER in 2024)
Take the over all day on the San Antonio Soldados to exceed their 2023 win total. Though they lost Jay Stewart, their leader in scoring and assists last season, to their toughest competition in the South Division–the Outlaws–the Soldados regained keeper Miguel Esparza and beater Daniel Williams. They will reintegrate Esparza and Williams into a core that has made enormous strides over the past two years, including beater Kristopher de la Fuente, who has been one of the most dominant beaters in the league, rising star chaser Alyssa Villaba, versatile utility Milena Sousa, and young keepers David Avila and Matt Blackwood. To better their 2023 win total, the Soldados either need to take a game off the Outlaws, something they have proven that they can do when they are at their best, or sweep the Kansas City Stampede at home, away from the Cattledome. Neither will be easy, but both are possible, and even an elusive first series victory over Austin and a South Division title is within reach.
Kansas City Stampede (5-7 in 2023, OVER in 2024)
Another young team with a rising core in the middle ranks of the South Division, the Kansas City Stampede should not have too much trouble improving upon their 2023 record. Though they have to travel to San Antonio in week two and play a much stronger Soldados team than last year, if they take care of business against the League City Legends at home and the New Orleans Curse at the South SuperSeries, they will already stand at six wins. Easier said than done, and the Stampede have not always managed to pull out ugly victories when favored. However, Kansas City has the talent to have earned higher expectations. Almost a half-decade into the transformative influence of the Creighton University program on the franchise, chaser Riley Usami will likely once again carry the scoring load. But he will be joined by Creighton linemate, Ryan Mehio, and a deep supporting cast from the University of Missouri that is poised for the chance to break out on a larger stage. Beaters Chanun Ong and TJ O’Connor join an increasingly formidable corps including Vincent Reyes, Brian McClannahan, Keighlyn Johnson, Madi Namanny, and Lauren Curry.
New Orleans Curse (4-8 in 2023, UNDER in 2024)
The New Orleans Curse are the odd team out in a rapidly improving South Division. Last season, the Curse willed their way to a 4-8 finish behind a small but experienced core, playing a selfless and fundamentally sound brand of quadball and seemingly getting the maximum potential out of each of their athletes. It will be a hard act for New Orleans to replicate, as stealing a game off the San Antonio Soldados looks unlikely and the Kansas City Stampede, who the Curse dropped three close games against last season, are no easier of an opponent. The indefatigable beating corps led by Joshua Mansfield and Alex Pucciarelli can be counted on to hang with anybody. But, for New Orleans to defy expectations, chasers like Marcellus Lewis, Carson Running, and Veronica Spicer will have to take their own individual leaps.
League City Legends (1-11 in 2023, OVER in 2024)
A year removed from only managing to beat the Kansas City Stampede, the League City Legends will be looking for redemption in 2024, and they have all the pieces to achieve it. Chaser Swathi Mannem comes over from the 2022 Austin Outlaws program and 2023 Boston Forge practice squad. She offers speed, length, and athleticism on an exciting team that wants to get out and run the fast break. Leading the way for the offense will be keeper and head coach Hayden Boyes and chaser Great Usiaphre, the top scoring rookie of the year last regular season with 27 goals. The greatest uncertainty, as always, is at beater for League City, but the Legends get back Baldemar Nunez, who most recently registered a plus-minus of +23 for the San Antonio Soldados in 2022. They have much work to do, and they will need to play more composed in the clutch, but their chances to best their 2023 record are high.
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