Whipsnakes rely on late-season signing Nathan Kapp to break playoff drought

Maryland Whipsnakes head coach Jim Stagnitta has identified faceoff specialist Nathan Kapp as the key to breaking the team’s playoff losing streak. Kapp, who joined the Whipsnakes late in the regular season, is set to face Boston Cannons rookie Andrew McMeekin in a Professional Lacrosse League quarterfinal. The Whipsnakes have not won a playoff game since 2024, making this matchup a critical test for the franchise’s postseason prospects.

Kapp’s arrival was prompted by a three-game losing streak and the injury to previous specialist Petey LaSalla. Although the Whipsnakes had already clinched a playoff spot, Stagnitta contacted Kapp via text message, leading to a phone call where the coach offered him a position in Philadelphia. Kapp, a graduate of Jacksonville University, responded by contacting local faceoff specialists in the Ontario area, including Becker Lippert, Koichi Nakamura, and Max Nieman, to prepare for his debut.

In his first appearance for the Whipsnakes, Kapp went 13-for-23 against Alec Stathakis in an 11-9 defeat. Stagnitta described Kapp as a “scraper” who mixes up his style, contrasting him with the previous specialist. The coach emphasised that the team needs Kapp to create ground ball opportunities, noting that Kapp is not necessarily a “clamper” but relies on countering opponents to win possession.

The upcoming challenge is significantly harder, as Kapp must limit the effectiveness of Andrew McMeekin. McMeekin, a rookie for the Boston Cannons, previously went 20-for-28 against Maryland a few weeks prior, spearheading a comeback victory. Stagnitta acknowledged that keeping McMeekin in check would be difficult but deemed it crucial for the Whipsnakes’ success in the quarterfinals.

Kapp’s professional experience prior to joining the Whipsnakes was limited to seven appearances for the Rochester Knighthawks in the National Lacrosse League, where he won 58% of his faceoffs. He was also invited to the Utah Archers’ training camp in May but was not signed because veteran Mike Sisselberger was ahead of him on the roster. Since then, Kapp has maintained his form through conditioning workouts and weekly faceoff sessions with local players.

As an unranked recruit from Middleton, Wisconsin, Kapp spent his early college years developing counters to compensate for a lack of fast hands. He described having to “swallow his pride” when realising he could not win every clamp, a mindset that now informs his approach to the high-stakes playoff environment.