Folanator
Brawndo's got electrolytes...
Preview of this weekends games, The Terps against Princeton will be a very close and good game. The 'cuse and Johns Hopkins??? Woa baby. That one will be a clash of heavy weights. I expect Va to wake up and win easy. I also think Hofstra is a very very good team that should win big.
Should be a fun 2 days...
Should be a fun 2 days...
May 17, 2006
Quint Kessenich
As of Tuesday evening I've watched six of the eight first round games - Leif Elsmo's Toyota Lacrosse Weekly has highlights from all the matchups from the Round of 16. It's worth a watch as we gear up for the NCAA Quarterfinals. <O:p</O:p
From day one, the goal has been <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:city w:st="on"><ST1:pPhiladelphia</ST1:place</st1:city>. And finally it's within reach. These games define your season. They define your career. Are you going to clean out your locker and say goodbye or will you play in front of 50,000 fans and a national TV audience?<O:p</O:p
Shaking off the rust<O:p</O:p
It’s hard to gauge the <st1:state w:st="on"><ST1:pVirginia</ST1:p</st1:state> win. At times they looked dominant and in certain areas they appeared rusty. For some reason playing with the lead in an NCAA playoff game can be very tricky. Coach Dom Starsia characterized the win on ESPNU. <O:p</O:p
"We're still trying to get back to the rhythm we had during the year," he said. "A game like this will help us down the road."<O:p</O:p
When Duke cancelled their season <st1:state w:st="on"><ST1:pVirginia</ST1:p</st1:state> was hurt the most. The Cavs lost two games - a regular season battle with the Blue Devils and a first round ACC game. Entering Saturday they had only played two games since April 8 and it showed.<O:p</O:p
<TABLE height=224 width=185 align=left><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Can Virginia keep rolling through the tournament?</TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>Notre Dame's goalie, Joey Kemp, made 20 quality stops and the Cavs still managed to net 14 goals. In the second quarter the Irish had them on the ropes, UVA looked a bit worn out - since they don't play as many subs as you'd guess. But a three-goal spurt before halftime put the game out of reach. Their mid-range shooting (8-12 yards) is scary. <O:p</O:p
If I'm a high school coach I'm showing that game tape to my players. Just textbook. Combine that with an unselfish approach and a first unit that presents a matchup crisis and you know why they lead the nation in scoring. I cannot say enough positive things about Kyle Dixon and Matt Ward. It's a joy to watch excellence.<O:p</O:p
Maryland-Princeton rematch<O:p</O:p
<st1:state w:st="on"><TABLE height=206 width=176 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>Joe Walters and Maryland will look to avenge a loss from two years ago. (Larry French)</TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>
Maryland</st1:state> jumped on <st1:city w:st="on">Denver</ST1:p</st1:city>. Maybe it was jet lag, because the Pioneers were 3-5 this season playing away from home in oxygenated air. Joe Walters became <st1:state w:st="on">Maryland</st1:state>'s all-time leading point scorer and gets to face his old nemesis in the quarterfinals. Two years ago the Terps fell to the Tigers in a classic comeback in the quarters. Walters has not forgotten.
<O:p</O:p
"I'm very excited. We get a chance to avenge our loss in the same quarterfinal scenario," said Walters. This game has drama written all over it.<O:p</O:p
<ST1:pPrinceton</ST1:p played in spurts against UMBC. Coach Bill Tierney's Tigers played excellent defense in the first and third quarters. Freshman Mark Kovler and Josh Lesko have become the focal points of their assault. It's interesting to see <ST1:pPrinceton</ST1:p picking for the ball on offense - a tactic relatively new to their portfolio, but it worked a number of times against the Retrievers. The Tigers salvaged a lost weekend for the Ivy League.<O:p</O:p
<TABLE align=left><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>It's Round 2 for Hopkins-Syraucse.</TD></TR>
</TBODY></TABLE>
A playoff push?<O:p</O:p
The <st1:city w:st="on"><ST1:pHopkins</ST1:place</st1:city> vs. Penn game lacked tempo. That seems to play into the hands of the Blue Jays, whose style at times can be difficult to watch, but they've learned how to win and that's all that counts. In May we all live by the Al Davis motto of 'Just Win.’<O:p</O:p
<st1:city w:st="on"><ST1:pHopkins</ST1:p</st1:city> has experience in key spots with midfielder Greg Peyser and goalie Jesse Schwartzman. When these guys see the NCAA logos hanging on the stands, they rise to the occasion. With JHU up 3-2 late in the second quarter, Schwartzman made a stellar save against DJ Andrzejewski and Kevin Huntley capitalized at the other end before halftime. That save was worth at least two goals, especially when <st1:city w:st="on"><ST1:pHopkins</ST1:p</st1:city> won the opening face-off of the third quarter and scored immediately to make it 5-2. Game over. This Blue Jays team is much more dangerous with a lead than they are when they have to chase and play catch-up.<O:p</O:p
If the law of averages means anything, the <st1:city w:st="on"><ST1:pHopkins </ST1:p</st1:city>clearing game will be efficient for the remainder of their season. At times they've resembled the Keystone Cops, or for the younger generation...'Dumb and Dumber.’ <st1:city w:st="on"><ST1:pSyracuse</ST1:p</st1:city> will ride hard with attackmen Joe Yevoli and Mike Leveille, two hustlers that haunt sloppy outlets and lazy clears. That's an obvious key on Saturday at Stony Brook.<O:p</O:p
Fizzling out<O:p</O:p
They jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Mining for fool's gold. And lost. I'm speaking of both Navy and Cornell. Credit <st1:city w:st="on"><ST1:place Georgetown</ST1:p</st1:city> for not losing their cool. It was a dynamite win for the Hoyas. And hats off to Sean Morris of UMass who helped the Minutemen go on a 7-2 run after trailing early. Morris was involved in five of those seven goals. The Big Red have now lost two playoff games in <st1:city w:st="on"><ST1:pIthaca</ST1:p</st1:city> during the last three years, both one-goal affairs. <O:p</O:p
UMass showed their usual grit - players like Fred Federico, Andrew Recchione and Brian Jacovina made critical plays when their season was at stake. UMass had eight different goal-scorers, which is always a strong trend in May. I couldn't be more impressed with the poise, confidence and presence that goalie 'Doc' Schneider continues to display. This kid is a special talent: he has the intangibles that UMass has been missing at the goalie position since Sal LoCascio graduated in 1989. <O:p</O:p
<st1:city w:st="on"><ST1:pGeorgetown</ST1:p</st1:city> had one of their best shooting days of the year - in the second half on Sunday they shot 7 for 17 against a premier netminder in Navy's Matt Russell. Dave Paolisso, Andrew Baird and Matt McBride threw darts at Russell, ending his career on a soggy, overcast Mother's Day. <O:p></O:p>
The first round's best matchup featured some monster hits - you don't want to get into a slugfest with the Hoyas. They can stand toe to toe with anybody and have a rock-solid jaw. You're better off finessing them, by using an invert offense and setting picks behind the goal. The Hoyas have a defensive duo that few can match with Jerry Lambe and Reyn Garnett, but to beat the Cavaliers goalie Miles Kass will have to make 20 saves, maybe more.<O:p</O:p
Pride’s revenge<O:p</O:p
Hofstra is one step away from the Promised Land. And the Pride get the opportunity for revenge against UMass. Coach John Danowski's squad beat <st1:city w:st="on"><ST1:pProvidence</ST1:p</st1:city> 14-8 on Sunday and it now sits at 17-1. <O:p</O:p
Quantifying this performance is tricky. They led 9-1 but were outscored in the second half. A few things I noticed: Hofstra has excellent shooters and guys who can kill you off the ISO. Their middies love to throw back after alley dodges. And they have an obvious chemistry - especially on attack between Chris Unterstein and Athan Ianucci. Unterstein is as balanced a player as you'll see. He has no weaknesses. He is a true double threat - to dodge for himself or dump and spin the ball. When he has the ball, he exudes control and confidence. <O:p</O:p
Fresh faces<O:p</O:p
My All-Freshman Team: starting in the nets with <ST1:pPenn</ST1:p <ST1:p's Drew Adams <st1:city w:st="on">Springfield</st1:city>) who was named both ECAC Goalie of the Year and Rookie of the Year. He's got the ideal frame at 6-1 and may eventually be better than Chris Garritty. On defense how can you not be impressed by <st1:state w:st="on">Virginia</st1:state>'s Matt Kelly and <st1:city w:st="on"><ST1:pHopkins</ST1:p</st1:city>’ Matt Drenan? Kelly (New Trier) is from Illinois and Drenan (Rancho Bernardo) is from San Diego, California - a prime example of why coaches need to harvest talent in all 50 states. At the midfield I like Josh Lesko (Deerfield, Ct.) and Mark Kovler (Landon, MD) from Princeton, Brian Christopher (Springfield, PA) from Hopkins, Pat Perritt (Sachem, NY) of Syracuse and Max Seibald (Hewlett, NY) representing Cornell. Seibald is a Joe Boulukos clone. The Class of 2009 has some impressive midfield talent. Also on the team: Danny Glading (Georgetown Prep) of UVA, Tom Duerr (Christian Brothers Academy, NJ) from Hopkins and Tom Dooley (Yorktown) of the 17-1 Hofstra Pride at attack. Interesting to note that none of these players are from the MIAA in <st1:city w:st="on">Baltimore</st1:city> or from <ST1:pCentral N.Y.</ST1:p, two perceived hotbeds.<O:p</O:p
Enjoy the games. On Saturday Dave Ryan and Jack Emmer will call the action from Stony Brook while I'm working the Preakness for ESPN. Then on Sunday Dave and I will team up for the double-header at <st1:city w:st="on"><ST1:pTowson</ST1:p</st1:city>'s Johnny Unitas Stadium.<O:p</O:p
Be sure to check out Toyota Lacrosse Weekly on ESPNU on May 18 at 6:30 p.m., May 19 at 2:45 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. and May 20 at 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m
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