Pull and Reverse
Man-up situations in lacrosse are all about creating and exploiting defensive gaps through structured movement, precise passing, and timely off-ball actions. Let's take a closer look at this 2-2-2 man-up set that Johns Hopkins ran against Michigan, a play designed to shift the defense, create open lanes, and generate a high-quality shot opportunity.
The 2-2-2 Set: Understanding the Structure
Hopkins begins in a 2-2-2 formation, meaning:
Two players behind the goal (X & far-side attack)
Two in the middle (crease and high post)
Two up top (shooters)
This setup allows for balanced spacing, natural passing lanes, and multiple attack options. The goal of this play is to rotate the ball to the low right attackman, manipulate the defense, and free up a step-down shooter on the left side.
Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Play
1. Ball Rotation to Set Up the Initiator
The ball is moved around the perimeter, ultimately getting to the lower right attackman. His job is to pull his defender upfield, dragging the defense with him and creating space behind.
2. Off-Ball Movement to Shift the Defense
As the right-side attackman draws attention, the far-side attackman at X moves across the crease to receive the pass. To keep spacing intact, the low crease attackman shifts to fill the open spot left by the X player.
3. First Look – Cutter Through the Middle
Once the X attackman gets the ball, a midfielder makes a hard cut through the center. This serves two purposes:
It presents an early scoring opportunity.
It forces the defense to slide and rotate, opening space elsewhere.
4. Secondary Action – Finding the Step-Down Shooter
With the defense now drawn to the inside, Hopkins quickly swings the ball up top. The top-left shooter is now wide open due to the defensive shift.
5. The Seal for a Better Shot
As the shooter prepares to fire, the crease attackman stays low and sets a sealing pick on a recovering defender. This small but crucial detail prevents a close-out and gives the shooter extra time and space to step in for a clean shot.
6. Built-In Reset if the Shot Isn’t There
If the look up top doesn’t work, the ball can easily be swung to the far-side wing, where the original initiator is now in a perfect position for a skip pass or a second attack option. If nothing is there, Hopkins simply resets into their 2-2-2 shape and can attack again.
Why This Play Works So Well
This man-up offense is effective because it follows key offensive principles:
Ball movement forces defensive rotations → defenders must constantly shift and react.
Off-ball players move with purpose → replacing space and cutting to create options.
Multiple threats force tough choices → defenders must decide whether to cover the cutter, stop the inside feed, or close out on the outside shooter.
A built-in escape valve → if the play doesn’t work, it seamlessly resets without losing structure.
Final Thoughts
The Hopkins 2-2-2 man-up play is a textbook example of controlled ball movement, off-ball discipline, and intelligent spacing. By keeping both their attack and midfield units rotating in sync, they put the defense in a constant state of reaction, ultimately leading to a high-quality shot.
This structured yet fluid approach to man-up offense is something every team should consider adapting to their own personnel and style—because when executed correctly, it becomes almost impossible to defend.
