Quad Quips: Week One
Submissions undergo light copy editing for clarity.
MLQ athletes have a lot to say and now we’re giving them space to broadcast those opinions weekly. “Quad Quips” is a series consisting of player thoughts and feelings from around MLQ. Each week a randomly-selected batch of athletes are sent a number of questions and prompts for which to respond. The majority are open-ended though multiple choice surveys are sometimes included.
Week One Survey Results
Chicago Prowl hosts the Detroit Innovators in the MLQ 2024 season opener and Series of the Week. Who do you think will score the first goal of the season?
Leo Fried (DET): 23 percent of votes
Ryley Andrews (CHI), Byron Ng (CHI), and The Field: 15.4 percent of votes each
Ally Manzella (CHI), Amanda Margolis (DET), Darian “DME” Murcek-Ellis (CHI), and Julien Theuerkauf (DET) also received votes.
Who is the player to watch this weekend and why?
While Josh Johnson was a favorite response, we regret to inform you he is not on roster this weekend.
“With the loss of Julia Baer, Rachel Heald, and Tyler Trudeau, Washington is going to rely on Bryan Mulcahy to be a defensive force, and he will be crucial to a scoring offense.” - Brenna Duncan, Kansas City Stampede
“Ally Manzella–Take your eyes off her on defense for too long, and you've lost the game.” - Rachel Williams, Washington Admirals
“I think we're all wondering whether Ryder Fried will be a standout rookie. We love a David and Goliath scenario to find out.” - Christian Barnes, New York Titans
“Ashton Glenn. He has great wraps, a solid game sense and will put in the work. It’s his first year playing MLQ, and I guarantee by the end of the summer he will be a household name.” - Rei Brodeur, Detroit Innovators
“With Jay Stewart joining his new team in Austin, he's bringing a whole new level of electrifying talent to the Outlaws! Can't wait to see how they unleash his scoring prowess and dynamic athleticism in their first thrilling showdown against the League City Legends.” - Ad Ojo, Boston Forge
“Ashton Glenn will become a household name by the end of the summer, so people should hop on the train early and start by watching him against Chicago this weekend 👀”- Riley Hodder, Detroit Innovators
“For me, it's absolutely Tad Walters. He might just break the all-time record for lowest +/- in a season opener.” - Ryan Hsu, Detroit Innovators
Which player matchup deserves all eyes this weekend? Why?
“Hayden Boyes (LC) vs. Jay Stewart (SA). This matchup has been a year in the making. Both finished the 2023 season with 40 goals and both scored 11 goals in their series (SAvsLC) against each other. It’s time to finally see who can come out on top.” - Rei Brodeur, Detroit Innovators
“Ryan Hsu (DET) vs. Chicago Prowl beaters. If Detroit has any chance of winning, Hsu will have to dominate most of the time. Even if he just plays even with Prowl’s lines, Detroit will lose out of range.” - Tad Walters, Chicago Prowl
“I can't wait for the beater showdown between Ryan Hsu and Tad Walters (CHI)! These two aren't just top-tier beaters; they've been stirring up excitement with a ton of epic trash talk leading up to this series. Eager to see who comes out on top. 👀” - Ad Ojo, Boston Forge
“Jay Stewart vs. Hayden Boyes. I believe Jay is one of the most electric players I have ever seen and I want to see how he navigates around Hayden Boyes to the hoops.” - Ryan Marsh, Washington Admirals
“Rei and Ryan vs Prowl's nonexistent beaters.” - Annika Kim, New York Titans
“Ryan Hsu vs. Tad Walters. The internet beef and their playing styles is setting us up for something entertaining, no doubt.” - Riley Hodder, Detroit Innovators
“Emma Vasquez (CHI) vs. Gwen Pratt (DET). Both are elite point defenders that know when to range beyond the keeper zone to apply pressure on the offense.” - Ryan Hsu, Detroit Innovators
“Seekers Leo Fried (DET) vs. Nojus Ausra (CHI). 2 of the best seekers in the league and FROP seems like it might be the difference bw these teams - Liz Stone, Washington Admirals
“DME (CHI) vs. Leo but DME is HIM–bro’s just like that; can't wait to see him run over Detroit. Kyzer Polzin and Jay together is a cracked duo EZ dub for AUS. They both got that dawg in 'em.” - Zan Siddiqui, Washington Admirals
Our first #MLQ2024 Series of the Week is Chicago Prowl hosting the Detroit Innovators. Give us your thoughts.
“Expect the upset 😈” - Rei Brodeur, Detroit Innovators
“Detroit surprises Chicago and takes game two.” - Brenna Duncan, Kansas City Stampede
“Chicago will be missing key pieces. But if Fried, Theuerkauf, Hsu, Brodeur don't completely take over the game when they're each in, Detroit has no chance. Their role players won't contribute enough to be able to beat Prowl.” - Tad Walters, Chicago Prowl
“Everyone's excited for Detroit's strongest line up in a while, but I don't think they'll be able to reform their chemistry so easily. Chicago has the strength of primarily coming from one team. Even collegiate teams represented in the roster are coached by similar club team members. Chicago drew the best schedule facing Detroit first–a small appetizer to the main match of Minneapolis later on.” - Christian Barnes, New York Titans
“Can't wait to witness the showdown between the newly upgraded Detroit Innovators and last season's MLQ Championship runner-ups, the Chicago Prowl! Eager to see how the Innovators' years of developments along with new (and returning) talent elevate their game in this series, giving us a thrilling preview of their season and their potential run to the MLQ Champs.” - Ad Ojo, Boston Forge
“They don't deserve it. The real series of the week is NYCvWAS.” - Annika Kim, New York Titans
“Detroit vs. Everybody (except Nik Jablonski)” - Ryan Hsu, Detroit Innovators
Whip out the magic 8 ball and give us your Week One predictions that you have not already provided.
“The teams that will do well are the ones that have been prepping for three max for years and are ready to engage their whole team on the offense.” - Rachel Williams, Washington Admirals
“NYC 3 - WAS 0 / AUS 3- LC 0 / CHI 3 - DET 0. It'll be a week of sweeps, I think, but won't be full on blowouts anywhere. Every team that'll lose all their games, I think, will work hard to keep fighting for any small victories.” - Christian Barnes, New York Titans
“Leo hard carries DET. WAS puts up no more than five goals against NYC per game.” - Annika Kim, New York Titans
“Innovators will go 1-2 against the Prowl.” - Ryan Marsh, Washington Admirals
Taunting is Legal
Tad lasted longer on Hell’s Kitchen than he will against me and Ryan - Rei Brodeur, Detroit Innovators
“‘Another one, thank you’” - Christian Barnes, New York Titans
“Detroit? Barbecue chicken 🍗🍗” - Tad Walters, Chicago Prowl
“@Andrew Bowman hope your nose doesn't break again 🤡” - Annika Kim, New York Titans
“Welcome to the MLQ stats team, Grant Himmelmann! Have fun spending your Sunday recording all of Chicago's turnovers.” - Ryan Hsu, Detroit Innovators
“Ryan Hsu is a bot. Literally.” - Nivash Jayaram, Chicago Prowl
Grab Bag
“Excited to see the Jay Stewart vs. Matt Blackwood matchup, that'll be tuff. Hopefully someone will get RKO'd in a funny way this season–that'd be fire.” - Zan Siddiqui, Washington Admirals
“East division better watch out for the Admirals Rookies.” - Liz Stone, Washington Admirals
“This season is all about blending the old with the new. Teams figuring out how to incorporate young talent with old traditions. That means we're going to get new stars, new techniques, new strategies, and new teams. And I'm so excited for it.” - Riley Hodder, Detroit Innovators
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