The Philadelphia Waterdogs played its first Homecoming Weekend as Philly’s new men’s professional field lacrosse team over the weekend. Despite a pair of overtime losses, the crowd at Villanova Stadium got a thrilling showcase of the sport.
Dresher native and Waterdogs star Michael Sowers looked visibly dejected after the team’s two losses, but said he still drew pride from getting to represent his city for the first time in the Premier Lacrosse League.
“To be able to play in front of family and friends at 26 years old and just seeing that all come together and in the city as a whole, it’s obviously super special,” Sowers said. “Obviously wish we could have given them two wins, but I know we’re gonna be back.”
On Saturday, Philly faced the Boston Cannons, a team that has emerged as a regular rival for the Dogs. Sowers set up Ryan Conrad to score and tie up the game 11-11 with just 0.8 seconds left in regular time.
The overtime was abrupt and anticlimactic for Philly and its fans though, with former Waterdog Zac Tucci winning the first face-off, sprinting unimpeded and scoring the winning goal within six seconds.
In Sunday’s game against the Maryland Whipsnakes, the Waterdogs went ahead in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t hold off a tying goal from Colin Heacock.
The overtime hero this time was a Philly-area native, but not on the Waterdogs. Glenside’s Matt Rambo, who plays on Philly’s indoor box lacrosse team the Wings, ran in from behind the goal and slinged the ball past Dillon Ward to give Maryland a 15-14 win.
Everett and Julianna Johnson showed up to the game in Wings apparel. They said it was great seeing an outdoor team back in Philly since the Barrage folded in 2020, when Major League Lacrosse merged with the PLL that year.
“It’s really cool to see a bunch of other Wings players, because a lot of them play in the PLL in general. There’s quite a few that play on the Waterdogs as well, so that’s really cool to see as well,” Julianna said.
The atmosphere over the weekend was exciting throughout. For those new to the sport, it can be hard to look away from the action as possession changes, big hits and goals happen so quickly.
The PLL, a traveling league that play one weekend in each of its team’s cities during the regular season, celebrated Philly and its culture with videos of players trying to pronounce Conshohocken and Schuylkill, a DOG statue paying homage to the LOVE sculpture and a “Dog Wooder” hazy pale ale on sale from Dock Street Brewery.
Many of the staple Philly traditions from other sports were brought during the games, like spelling out D-O-G-S like E-A-G-L-E-S and yelling “sucks” after each opponent’s name is listed out on the PA system.
“What they do to make this feel as home as a home game as they can is phenomenal,” said Waterdogs head coach Bill Tierney. He was also glad to be on the home side at Villanova for the first time, having led Big East Conference rivals Denver there for fourteen seasons.
In February, the Canine Crew formed as a supporters group for the Waterdogs, after the team was assigned to Philly in November. President AJ Kerrigan says that the group currently has over hundred members. It held tailgates over the weekend and hosts watch parties for the away games.
“The lacrosse ID in Philly is kind of the same thing as Philly sports in general: It’s a lot of passion,” Kerrigan said. “All the Philly sports fans here are passionate, whether it’s the Eagles, Sixers, Flyers, Phillies — no matter what — passionate. And now we get to add the Waterdogs.”
He compared the energy in the stands when Conrad scored the game tying goal in the Cannons game to whenever Harper hits a home run at Citizens Park.
Kerrigan was a Waterdogs fan before the Philly assignment, mainly because of Sowers, who’s name was on the back of most of the purple jerseys in the stands. He said that now that Philadelphia is on the jersey he’s been able to get his Philly sports fan friends who didn’t previously follow lacrosse invested in the team. He sees that interest only growing among the city’s sports fanbase.
“Now that we have that ‘Philly’ across our chest, it just brings in that other bigger group of people that are ready to cheer on the Waterdogs,” Kerrigan said.
The PLL will be back in the Philly-area for the championship final, this time at Chester’s Subaru Park on Sept. 15.
At 0-3 in a 10-game season, the Waterdogs don’t have much room left for error in terms of making the postseason. But it’s a record many on the team have overcome before. Sowers recalled the team was in the same position in the 2022 season and went on to win the championship that year.
“I know we got the right guys in that locker room and I know we got the right man at the helm,” he said. “We’re going to turn this thing around. There’s no doubt about it.”
Results aside, the weekend also offered inspiration for the area’s young lacrosse players, that they one day could be the next Michael Sowers or Matt Rambo. Both players were proud to be back in their hometown.
“It’s super cool, especially because I was a kid sitting in those stands at one point, I remember going to [Major League Lacrosse] games,” Sowers said. “I think it’s super cool to be able to bring that highest level of sports to the city.”
Waterdogs midfielder Connor Kelly takes a shot against the Boston Cannons. (Courtesy of Premier League Lacrosse) 
A close up of the Waterdogs jersey, this season with Philly on it. (Courtesy of Premier League Lacrosse) 
A variety of merchandise was on offer to at the Philadelphia Waterdogs’ PLL Homecoming Weekend. (Nick Kariuki/Billy Penn) 
Ryan Conner, 22, was there to support the Waterdogs, who his brother Jeff is signed for. (Nick Kariuki/Billy Penn) 
Members of the Philadelphia Waterdogs celebrate during a game against the Boston Cannons. (Courtesy of Premier League Lacrosse)
