Conference Previews for the 2022 season - CACC

SPEAKER_03 0:10

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Crease with Danny and Kevin, a coast-to-coast discussion of D2 Men's Lacrosse. I'm your co-host, Kevin Stenton, and with me as always is the man who is bringing it to the D2 Lacrosse World in 2022, Danny Moran. How's it going, Danny?

SPEAKER_01 0:30

Ah, Kev, just trying to bring it tonight. If I can bring it tonight, it doesn't matter.

SPEAKER_03 0:34

That's a good start. That's a good start bringing it tonight. We'll build on that.

SPEAKER_01 0:37

I'm doing really good tonight, Kevin. How are you doing tonight in Northern Virginia?

SPEAKER_03 0:42

I am I am very good and ready to get back at it in the new year of 2022. So let's get it started this year by talking about the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, the CACC.

SPEAKER_01 0:54

Yeah, Eddie, a good old CACC conference. Good conference. Good little conference, Kev.

SPEAKER_03 0:59

Yeah, I think it's kind of up and coming with a lot of young programs. They're all starting to make their moves. Obviously, there's one at the top, but it'd be interesting to see there's going to be interesting matchups because I think there's a lot of parody. And I it'll be interesting to see if the new dog comes out on top this year.

SPEAKER_01 1:15

Well, you know what? When you said parody, you hit the nail on the head on this in this conference. Um, there's a lot of teams, like you said, one at the top, but a lot of teams in the middle there that are all very young teams, but good teams. Teams with, you know, some veterans, uh, some teams that have been in a couple of big games. And we also have some teams that are filled with just freshmen. So it's one of those conferences, but we'll get into it one by one. And uh at the end of the day, it's not a bad conference at all. You know, it's definitely an up-and-coming conference.

SPEAKER_03 1:51

Well, it you know, it started uh in about I think around 2018. So it's fairly new. It's kind of a conglomeration from from other schools, either new schools or schools coming from other conferences or being independents. Independent, I should say. Right. Right. And I think that's what makes it unique. You know, we've we've got the peach belt that is brand new, and then probably this is right behind it as being that that new as as conferences. And this one, yep, I think has a lot to build on. And it's gonna be, I think we're gonna be in hearing more and more. It's gonna, it's going to become a stronger conference in years to come as as a lot of these new programs um solidify and and get you know their legs underneath them.

SPEAKER_01 2:35

I agree. I agree with you.

SPEAKER_03 2:37

So why don't we get it started? We'll go down the go through the round of teams there. We'll start off with the the top dog right now, Chestnut Hill.

SPEAKER_01 2:46

Yeah, the Griffins from Chestnut Hill um went five and oh in conference last year, 10 and 2 overall. Um and they only lost to, you know, they lost to Seton Hill, you know, top three, four-ranked, you know, team. And they lost to a really good Frostburg State team um only by two goals. So Cheston Hills.

SPEAKER_03 3:09

Yeah, that was a battle of a game. I watched that game, and it was close the whole time.

SPEAKER_01 3:14

Yeah, it did, you know, Cheston Hill's a good team, you know. They their first game, I think, was Seton Hill. That I think that was their first game, like in the fog. You know, it was like a cloudy, foggy, really misty, kind of crappy day. And, you know, they they they lost to Seton Hill. Seton Hill beat him up pretty good that day. Yeah, but yeah, the rest of the game. The rest of the season they balled. I watched it. I actually watched it. And uh, but the rest of the season they balled out. Right. And then they lost to Frostburg State. And I was like, hey, who's that Frostburg State team? Where'd they come from? So, but you know, their top scorer, Carson Reese, is gone. That kid pulled up, put up a lot of points last year. But Jackson Milnik is back and Ben Rivak is back to two of their top scorers.

SPEAKER_03 4:00

Um they lost their face-off specialist, who Zachary Armstein, who was at 78% last year. Crazy 78%. He took 90% of the face-off. So that's a tough loss for them. They're gonna have to regroup there. Now they've got other ones coming and to fill the gap, and they're just gonna have to step up.

SPEAKER_01 4:23

You know, there's another team that you know you don't want to be in the box against. They're pretty good on man-ups. They're like 50% on man-ups. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, like if you get them, you know, if they get you in the box, they're gonna convert. There's a good chance they're gonna convert. So Chestnut Hill's a really good team. You know, Coach Terranova does a really good job there. Um, I expect them to be kind of pretty much along that same route this year. I think they're gonna be the you know, the top dog, the ones that everybody's gonna be shooting to uh take down in that conference.

SPEAKER_03 4:55

Yeah, I mean, interestingly, they not only in offense, we talked about face-off, they returned some depth on D with Connor O'Donnell and Kyle Gartnermeyer coming back. So like you said, they're they're steady state. It doesn't look like they're going to dip at all. They're gonna have that same level of proficiency on the field that others are gonna have to try to knock off.

SPEAKER_01 5:18

You know, they're scoring 16 goals a game, but again, they were winning 70% of their face-offs. Right. So this year it might be a little bit different. Let's see what they do in face-offs, you know, next man up, you know, 70 plus percent. It's not easy, that's not an easy number to grab, Kev, you know. So no.

SPEAKER_03 5:37

And this season, they their starting schedule is Seaton Hill followed by St. A's. So they're stacked, they're out of conference to begin with, and and see where they go from there.

SPEAKER_01 5:50

So they're looking to make that next step, Chestnut Hill. You know, that's why they're that's why they're scheduling teams like that. They're looking to make that next step. They're you know, they're gonna be good. We'll watch their face-off guys, and we'll we'll check back them, you know, on week four, week five, and see how they're doing.

SPEAKER_03 6:06

Yeah, exactly. Exactly. I mean, I think they'll do they'll do well in conference. It's the out of conference that's going to be the telling schedule for them if they want to get beyond you know the conference championship and maybe into the NCAAs. They're gonna have to do a little bit better there this year. But they're a great.

SPEAKER_01 6:25

Yeah, but I don't think that that they're gonna run through the CACC maybe this year.

SPEAKER_03 6:30

No, I think it's uh that's what I'm saying. There could be some new moves. I think they're still the top dog, but I think there's a lot of teams that can can make that move. Yeah, yeah. Let's let's talk about one of them. Let's talk about Wilmington.

SPEAKER_01 6:42

Yeah, Coach Swickett. He's, you know, Wilmington, you know, they went four and one last year in Conn. It went five and four, but they had five games canceled. Here's another team, right? You know, this COVID thing, you know, this the whole mojo. You know, you got the train running, and then bam, cancellation. Now you're, you know, you're down for a week, you're down for two weeks, and then you've got a game. So it's hard to get that that rhythm going offensively and defensively. I think that's something that that that happens with with um Wilmington last year with five games canceled. You know, it was like one and then you know, then they had two off and then one and then one off and then two. That's that's a tough way to go through your season, you know. And um they they weren't that great at face-offs last year. That's that's that's hurt that hurt them this year. Yeah, so they're gonna need to improve at the face-off and um stop turning the ball over. They turn to turn the ball over a little bit, Wilmington. But again, young team, let's see what Coach Zwickert can do with them this year.

SPEAKER_03 7:48

Yeah, they've got some of their top scores returning with Logan Stinson, Giovanni Marino, and Jake Copio. Um, some of their top returners on D are also sophomores and juniors, so they've got a good core. When we talked to Coach Zwickert, he was very high on his team and who they have been able to recruit. So they have a young roster that they're building with. They only have one senior. But like he said, and if you look at their past records, they're only in their fifth season of the program, and they've improved every year. They've made steady progress until this past year, they made it to the conference championship tournament. Right. So now, obviously, what's their next step to win the conference? The championship.

SPEAKER_01 8:28

Yeah. Yeah, to win the conference. So, you know, they're gonna have to do better at faceoff. You know, that's one thing that we know for sure. They're gonna need, you know, to get those 50-50s and do better at the face-off. They need the ball, and they need to stop turning the ball over. They turned the ball over a lot last year. So if they can clean up in those two areas, Wilmington has a shot.

SPEAKER_03 8:52

I agree. I agree. And there's another team that I think he has a shot, and that's Georgian Court.

SPEAKER_01 8:58

Yeah, I like this team. Um, Coach Mickey Hover, he's jersey, it Georgian Court's out in Jersey. Jersey, Jersey's got a lot of tough guys out there. They're scrappy, tough bunch. And Georgian court, the Lions, you know, I think uh it fits the kind of the that Jersey blue collar kind of um thing. They they went three and three last year, but they went eight and five overall. Right. So here's a team that had a winning record. Here's a team that did very, very well. Um, Mike Ventresk is coming back, uh, and Daniel Burnham's coming back, the two top scorers. And um Coach Hober really has these guys doing good. They're almost at 50% of the face-off, and um they're deep. They're deep.

SPEAKER_03 9:48

Yeah, so they and their stats last year were very solid. Nothing really stood out to me like uh amazing except for their clear. Their clear was at 90%, which is phenomenal. So, you know, I think they're poised to make a move in their conference in the CACC. Yeah, out of conference this year is is interesting too. It's tough. It's tough. Yeah. They've got, you know, they've got Bentley on their schedule, they've got a Delphi, they've got Mercy. And pace. And pace. So they've got they've got a bunch of tough teams that they've got to play and do well. And we're gonna be able to have Coach on in in a little bit later in the in the in the episode. It'll be great getting his insight on on his team. But I think you're right. I think, you know, they lost some guys uh on D, that they so they have to have some guy. They really have some other, they need to have some guys step up. Um, and if they do, I think they're gonna be a very dangerous team.

SPEAKER_01 10:52

You know, I I I really I think that that because of that COVID thing, that they might have been a better team than Wilmington, even though Wilmington went four and one in conference, they might be overall a little bit better as on paper, Georgian court. They might be the team to go to the championship this year.

SPEAKER_03 11:13

Oh, I you know I if they do, I would not be surprised in one bit. I think you know, and um I think it is between Georgian Court and Wilmington to make that really the next step.

SPEAKER_01 11:26

You know, I watched Georgian Court last year, and I was pretty impressed with them. You know, they were just a solid ball team. Yeah, you know, again, this this this college, they've only been around how many years?

SPEAKER_03 11:37

They started in 2016. So they've got a few more seasons than than Wilmington. But they're not gonna be able to do that.

SPEAKER_01 11:44

So it's a young, it's a young program, but they're they're going places quick, Georgian Court. You know, this is a school that not too many people are really thinking about, you know what I'm saying? Like they're not talking about the Georgian Court Lions, but I think it's a team that you might have to start thinking about a little bit. Again, they went eight and five last year in a kind of messed up year. You know, again, they only went three and three in in conference, but they got better as the season went on. As the season went on, they got better and better and better. And I think, in my opinion, I think Georgian Court is going to make that big step this year.

SPEAKER_03 12:23

Yeah, uh, they they have a good shot at it. But let's move on. We can talk now about Dominican, the Chargers.

SPEAKER_01 12:33

The Chargers.

SPEAKER_03 12:36

They were two and two in conference last year, but they beat Georgian Court by one and then called well by one in the conference quarterfinals before losing to Chestnut Hill in the semi. So they kind of really came away very strong at the end, you know.

SPEAKER_01 12:57

Another one of those teams, young team. Yeah, that got that got better as the season was going on, you know, as they had more practices and more lifts and more runs and more, you know, shooting. And, you know, as the season progressed, they got better. And you know what? But teams are supposed to get better, Kev, as the you know, season goes on. Well, you hope right? Yeah, you hope. Sometimes you have an injury and it might screw everything up a little bit, or sometimes you might have multiple injuries, and you know, you get a lot of freshmen running. But you know, if Dominican had a they had a bunch of games canceled last year, too, you know, but they they got their boys coming back, Luke Martini, Daniel Carson, Marcos Pierce. I mean they got their top scorers coming back, right?

SPEAKER_03 13:41

Yeah, and they've got some top defenders with Joseph DeRosa and Brian O'Loughlin and and William Gordon coming back. So they've got a lot to use as their foundation and build off of on both sides of the field for this season. So I almost see them as the wild card because you look at their record last year, four and five, two overall, two and two in conference. But I don't think you can count them out. You know, if you look at what they did in conference and finally, you know, they split with Jordan Court and they beat Caldwell in the in the quarterfinals. And of course, then you got to go against Chestnut Hill, and it wasn't a match in the in the semis. But I think, like I said, I think they're a wild card.

SPEAKER_01 14:26

You know what? They very well could be. Um again, like last year it's such a crazy year. It's so hard to really give teams a full a full evaluation.

SPEAKER_02 14:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:41

Because their seasons were you know shortened and and the mojo, and I know I sound like I'm beating a dead horse, but I think it has a lot to do with those those mid-range teams, those middle of the road, yeah, and I think 50-60.

SPEAKER_03 14:55

Even what other not only the like you said of canceling games, but like a lot of the coaches have pointed out, now every team had to deal with this, and it's those that can get over that adversity a little bit better. Maybe the ones that are more senior, they have more experienced players. But when you're going on a bus ride for five or six hours and you're coming off the bus and playing, you don't have a locker room, like other coaches said, you've got different meal plans. You you can't sit together, you're not doing the same thing. Maybe like uh Coach Jorgensen said at St. Leo, where your whole team really doesn't get together until you are actually starting practice in January or February. And that has a big impact throughout the season. So you're right. I we talk about this and we look at that because that's what we have to look at is their stats from last year and their record from last year. Right. Exactly. But who knows, right?

SPEAKER_01 15:53

Right, like on uh any given Sunday, you know, that's you know, like again, you know, Dominican beat Caldwell in the first round. I mean, any any given Sunday. But these teams, you know, again, this is a young conference, Kev. I gotta I gotta reiterate this. I yeah, I agree with you. You know, it's a young conference, and a lot of these teams are young, only you know, have a program four, five, six years, still building, still building their programs. So Dominican, you know, uh they have a chance. Let's see what happens. Let's see what they do this year. Let's, you know, let's again, let's by week three or four or five, might have a better idea. Maybe by week five or six, we'll have a better idea.

SPEAKER_03 16:36

So that that's our that is our caveat for the in the crease boys is we say all this, but you know, you got to give us a break until week five or six, right? We can't eat pro until week five or six. Is that what we're saying? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:50

We're not soothsayers. We are not. But you know what? Just a couple of guys going down the list and just talking lacrosse and thinking what we uh think and going with stats that we have. And, you know, lucky enough for us, we get to talk to some of these coaches, and these coaches get to share some of their insights and what's going on. And and um it's it's been interesting. And this this this, you know, as I was doing my homework on the CACC, I became more interested in it just because of how young they are. It's at the young conference, you know.

SPEAKER_03 17:23

And then look at the next team, started in 2020, and that's Caldwell.

SPEAKER_01 17:29

Yeah, the Coldwell.

SPEAKER_03 17:29

Started in 2020, right in, and we've talked to a few other teams like this and looked at other teams like this, like Lewis, um starting in the COVID year.

unknown 17:40

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 17:41

Lewis and and Lander were the two that we talked to. Right. Um, and Caldwell's the same way, and you know, so last year they were five and six overall, but three and three in conference. So that's not too shabby for playing right a total of 15 games under their belt.

SPEAKER_01 17:58

Yeah, they're right in the middle of the pack. They only have 30 on their roster, so the roster's not that big. So the the depth is, you know, that's some of the teams that we're talking about now don't really have that depth. Although Georgian Court does. But like Caldwell, Dominican, smaller rosters, um not really don't have the depth yet. Again, still building small, you know, um brand new uh programs. Um, but Caldwell's got some of their boys coming back. Kevin Albright's coming back, Chris Snow, Michael Brown, all their top scorers from last year are coming back.

SPEAKER_03 18:38

Yeah, you can imagine that, you know, when you've got a young team like that, most of them are, their whole attack line is returning.

SPEAKER_01 18:44

Yeah, so they're gonna be a year older, a year bigger, a year stronger, a year faster, a year more seasoned. So they're gonna be better players. You know, they're gonna be a better team. So it's just a matter of like, because now they're gonna have to play Pace, they're gonna have to play St. Rose, you know, they're gonna have some places.

SPEAKER_03 19:01

Robert Webland, who's not easy.

SPEAKER_01 19:03

Right. So, you know, let's see what Caldwell can do this year. You know, hopefully, you know, COVID stays down, you know, and the numbers don't go up, and we don't start any of this crazy, you know, six feet and separation and all of that stuff again. I hope it doesn't go that way, you know. I know, I know.

SPEAKER_03 19:27

But what we got to remember is they're only in their third season. And so it's gonna take time to build. And I think what we see, you see that exactly how you pointed out. You see that in their roster numbers. They're at 27 right now. They've got to build some more depth to be a threat. I'll use the word threat throughout the whole season against against that. I just think it's tough to go a whole season with that, those numbers. You gotta get up in the 30s to be able to have that depth and and be able to play a full season where you're gonna be.

SPEAKER_01 19:59

I agree. I I agree with you. I agree with you. You know, and you know what? You know, they could probably ball out. You know, you know, you never know. They could have like this phenomenal season with the 30 that they got. You never know, but it's difficult. We know you need two solid, you need two solid MIDI lines in at the NCAA level. At least four good MIDI's, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_03 20:23

Well, well, that's like I I loved go back to Coach Snow from Coke or his line of plank telling us players. We only play 10v10.

unknown 20:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:32

And so that's that's what you got to get in your mind when you're going up there, right? I I love that quote because, you know, hey, they're putting 10 people on the field at a time, and so are we. So let's go do it. Now we know, like you said, it's if you have that depth where you can change MIDI lines so your lines aren't getting your primary line isn't getting tired. They're got fresh legs.

SPEAKER_01 20:55

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:56

Makes a big difference.

SPEAKER_01 20:59

Even on the defensive side, it makes a big difference. You know, exactly. If your D MIDI's a playing D all day, they're gonna get gassed, and at the end, they're gonna, you know, they're gonna get beat. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_03 21:10

So you look at it, even with the shot clock, and it's so funny nowadays when you watch the shot clock and you you see it come down to from 80 down to um th under 10 seconds, and you're like, okay, we're just about to turn the ball over defense, get it back on offense, and all of a sudden a shot goes to the goalie, it hits a stick, offense picks it up again. Or there's something happening, it's a new shot clock, and you're like, now back in the day, you could be doing that for three or four minutes anyway, but you do that enough to a defense. Yeah, you they get like you said, they get gassed, and it's always good to be able to get some fresh legs in there for one or two runs, yeah, the next series, just to give them a break.

SPEAKER_01 21:50

And that's why depth is important. So hopefully, um the the boys at Colwell can stay healthy, stay on the field, and uh give the Cougars a shot this year. See what happens.

SPEAKER_03 22:02

Yep. Yep. So let's move on to Felician, the Golden Falcons.

SPEAKER_01 22:07

The Golden Falcons. Yeah, um, Brendan Bonacore does a really good job up there coaching. Um, let's see, they were one and three and two and six. Another, you know, another small roster team. I think I think there's only 20 something.

SPEAKER_03 22:25

2020 in the last year. 21 their roster for 2022 isn't out yet, neither is their schedule. But last year's roster was only at 20. And the only up the other thing I saw which is interesting is that Brendan Bonnikum is not only the head coach for the men, but he's for the women as well. Oh, I did not know that. And both of his assistants, he's got an assistant that helps out on the women's team, and he's got an assistant, Jack Will Wilson, that handles D for the men. But it's like three people for two programs. Yeah. And that makes it tough. I I we we talked to Coach Buzzard about this at Davis and Elkins, and it's something that has worked well for them in other sports, and they're trying in lacrosse. Right. I'm wondering if police are doing the same thing, but I don't know. I I would think that would be tough to be able to try to handle.

SPEAKER_01 23:21

Yeah, could be a resource thing, Kev. It could be resources there, you know. Um, I don't know. Who knows?

SPEAKER_03 23:28

Now 20 no, interestingly, their their stats, their face-off was at like 65%, and their defensive team stats were pretty good. So it's not like they don't have some something to build off of.

SPEAKER_01 23:39

They got some players there. I mean, they won 70, almost 70% of their face-offs, right? Almost like that's that's pretty that's pretty impressive, you know. But they they need some help, Felicia. They need some help down there.

SPEAKER_03 23:52

I think without a deeper roster, they'll continue to struggle. Yeah, yeah. Like I said, I'm not sure about the coaching arrangement, how that worked. Maybe we can get the coach on and talk to him. I think that would be great because you and I both had the same sort of thing when we talked to before we talked to Coach Buzzard, and he made me a believer. So who knows? You know, we could just be we're just like you said, we're two lacrosse dads talking about it.

SPEAKER_01 24:15

But that's a that's what a good coach does. He he gives you that that motivational, that mind, something that's he's gonna stick in your brain. You know, when I when I coached football, I used to I used a lot of cliches with my kids. A lot of cliches. Sink your tail, sky your eyes, like all these little things that these kids are gonna take with them to their grave. Yeah, you know what I mean? They're gonna take with them. And and good coaches do that, and and that's what Coach Snow is doing. You know, he's telling us, hey, it's 10 versus 10. And he and he's right, he's right. Yeah, but you also know that you you need that depth a little bit, you know. Yeah. I that's why, that's why I think Georgian court is so poised to make that move because that's the one team in this conference that has the depth.

SPEAKER_03 25:02

Has the depth, you know. Well, yeah, along with Wilmington and Chestnut Hill. But right, but you're right, one of the newer teams. And that's the thing with Felicians, a young program, too, which I'm not sure we mentioned at the beginning, but it's another new program.

SPEAKER_01 25:16

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 25:17

It's another well, you know, young programs are gonna struggle in the beginning, but they're not gonna have a roster of 35 to 45 players, they're gonna have to build to that.

SPEAKER_01 25:26

Right. But they're still putting out, they're still getting good players, you know. They're getting players that can play. Right. You know, they're not scrubbed kids that are playing, you know, young kids putting up 35, 38, 30, 40 points a year. That's yeah, that's impressive.

SPEAKER_03 25:42

Yeah, and and oh, by the way, just like we said in this conference, because of its parody, I don't think anyone can rest when Felician comes to town.

SPEAKER_01 25:52

Well, not in the CACC anyway, you know. That's a conference like we talked about the parody in the beginning of the podcast. This this this the CACC might have the most parody out of all the conferences.

SPEAKER_03 26:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:08

It's just me. It's just me.

SPEAKER_03 26:10

Yep, and that's what makes it in my mind so interesting to watch.

SPEAKER_01 26:14

Yeah, me too.

SPEAKER_03 26:16

So let's move on. Last team in the conference, the post.

SPEAKER_01 26:21

The post Eagles. Um John Jezz.

SPEAKER_03 26:25

That's about all we throw all the stats out.

SPEAKER_01 26:27

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 26:28

Don't look at the record.

SPEAKER_01 26:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:30

It's a new era.

SPEAKER_01 26:32

Yep. John Jez. Um we had we had Coach Jez with us. He he's he's got a pedigree a country mile long. He's won everywhere he's been. He's a winner. He's a winner, Kev.

SPEAKER_03 26:50

Seven ECC championships, two D2 national championships, reach the final again in 2014. I mean, four other semifinals, we go on and on. You kind of hit on it.

SPEAKER_01 27:00

He's a winner. He's a winner. And the post Eagles had all freshmen on their team last year. Imagine that. We've we've we've spoken to a few coaches that have done this, and I just I can't imagine an NCAA team throwing all freshmen like like Michigan did in basketball, you know, the Fab Five.

SPEAKER_03 27:24

Yeah, a little bit different, but still.

SPEAKER_01 27:26

Still, but to me, it's impressive. I think it's cool. Oh, yeah. I think it's cool that, you know, it's basically these are your brothers, and they're gonna be your brothers for four years. And you're going, you're stepping on the battlefield from day one with these guys. I think that's kind of cool. You know, and they got they got their top three boys, you know, were all freshman year the last year, so they're gonna come back. You got Dylan Harrell, Hill, and Nick Meyer, and and Brendan Kelleher, a nice Irish kid.

SPEAKER_02 27:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:53

Uh coming back. And um, but here's the thing about Post, they got to do a lot of traveling. They're gonna be in Jersey, they're gonna be in New York, they're gonna be in New Hampshire, they're gonna be in Massachusetts. So they're gonna do a lot of traveling this year, and that can be that can be tough on a young team, you know, on the road, and it's it's not easy to be on the road when you're a young team. But uh I think they got the right coach to get them to do this.

SPEAKER_03 28:26

Yeah, I agree. I think they're gonna struggle this year, but I think you wait a couple of years. Oh, yeah. Administration, like Coach Jez talked to us, is making a commitment to this program. That's right. And the players there now want to work and win.

SPEAKER_01 28:43

I'm gonna bet Dollar, I'll I'll bet the house right now that last year Post didn't win a game. Big goose egg for the season. Not only in conference for the season. It went zero and eight. I can bet the house that that is not going to happen. It's gonna happen. Yeah, not with Coach John Jess. No. You're right, they're gonna take their lumps, they're a young team, they're gonna struggle here and there, but they're not gonna have they're not gonna post a goose egg this year. I can I can bet the house. I'm not a betting guy. I I don't like to bet. I sweat when I bet. Yeah, I'm not a gambling guy. I'm not. It just never was. And but if I were a gambling man, I'd bet that post definitely wins at least a couple of ball games this year.

SPEAKER_03 29:30

Yeah, I would I would go the same route as you. But I'd go the same route.

SPEAKER_01 29:34

But Coach Jez, you know, he knows his business and you know he knows how to recruit. And like you said, in a few years, they're gonna be a much different team. I agree.

SPEAKER_03 29:46

I agree. So there you go, Danny. That's kind of the roundup. And now the fun part, not only for you and me, but for everyone listening to this podcast, because we get to bring someone on and they get to listen to someone other than us. And that is Coach Mickey Hover from Georgian Court. Hey coach, welcome. How you doing tonight?

SPEAKER_01 30:13

I'm doing well. How are you guys doing? Coach Hover from the Georgian Court Lions. How are you doing tonight? Thank you so much for coming on the show and uh uh taking some time to be with us tonight. Appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 30:25

Oh, thank you for having me. You guys are doing such an amazing job, and um, you know, I I I love the fact uh, you know, D Division II is getting a little uh you know, a little press. Um, and I've I've listened to all the episodes and um you know, just just a pleasure to be on this and and really appreciate what you guys are doing.

SPEAKER_03 30:44

Thanks, Coach. We appreciate that. You know, really it I was saying this with Danny. I said it's been great working with you uh this year on the most recent podcast. And what I realized was it's not really worked for us. I wish this was our our day job, unfortunately. But anytime we get to talk, not only lacrosse, but especially Division II Lacrosse, very special to our hearts. So we really appreciate you coming on and giving us your insight. So I'll just kick it off. You're in a conference that has a lot of new programs, yours being one of them. You built this program just a few years ago from nothing, and you've done really well. I've had many winning seasons. What do you think your secret is to kind of building that up over the past couple of years to get where you're at?

SPEAKER_00 31:25

Yeah, I mean, I I got hired actually seven years ago, um, almost to the date. Um, and uh it's definitely been a great process. Uh, our former athletic director, Laura Leesman, um, the support that she gave to the program, um, you know, from the interview to to when I started was has just been so tremendous. Um and really all the programs in our conference uh in our in our school um have been so successful. So it's been it's been a really good process, um, you know, just kind of growing it. Um I had a great experience leading up to taking this role. Um I played Division II at Southern New Hampshire University um and uh coached four years as an assistant for Daniel Lindstrom at Gwen Mercy University. Um learned so much. Um he was such a great mentor. Um and really that was a starter program as well. Um I was there for the first year in 2008 and you know learned a lot from that process. Um and then when I had the opportunity to go to Immaculata as a young coach, I've hit a lot of mistakes and um learned a lot of things. And um, and then the opportunity came to come back home to New Jersey and um, you know, be back in Division II. Um, and the support from the school was just a no-brainer. In terms of kind of progress, um, you know, I really just saw an opportunity to pull from the surrounding areas. You know, we're really close to hop out of New York, uh Long Island and upstate New York, uh, and then the Philly area in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut.

SPEAKER_01 32:56

Um Jersey boys ball out too now.

SPEAKER_00 32:59

Don't forget the Jersey boys, they they play now. I was saving them, I was saving the best for last.

SPEAKER_03 33:05

He always talked about being in Long Island.

SPEAKER_00 33:08

So yeah, I wanted to make sure I hit the Long Island first. Um and then, you know, not being far from Canada, and then you know, our our our core of our teams from from New Jersey. And um, you know, I just knew that if I didn't mess it up, that we could do something pretty, pretty cool at at Georgian court. And um, you know, really it's it's been in a good spot. I mean, the secret, it's the guys. Um, they're just unbelievable young men. Um, you know, they believed in my vision, and at times it was just a vision. Um, and you know, really that first group was just a really, really uh guys that I couldn't thank enough for you know what they've done for my career, but also just the support, um, you know, dedication that they gave to the program was was tremendous. And it was, you know, a lot of wishes and dreams. Um, so I think that the secrets, the the student athletes at Georgian Court and the come come to Georgian Court and just believe in kind of where we want to go and my you know crazy idea of you know where we want to get to and and where we want to grow to.

SPEAKER_03 34:10

Well, it's interesting you say that, coach. I love how you talked about the first your first student athletes, right? Your first your first lacrosse players, because if you look back at those seasons, they're not winning seasons, but they are the foundation. You build the culture, and if they buy into the culture, and then when they get to be, in my opinion, when they get to be the juniors and seniors and the leaders, they're inculcating that culture into the next group, and that's what you build on, and that's what you really get. If they buy into the work ethic and the dedication and what you're talking about, it's really four years, five years down the road that that production is is seen.

SPEAKER_00 34:52

Yeah, and and I mean that 20 that the graduation 2019 class, that was our that was my first class. We've only had three graduating classes through um that have come in as freshmen and graduated as seniors. Um so we're still you know really young, you know, going into year seven. Um, but those guys that that came in, um, you know, they they put the foundation. I mean, you know, we were lucky enough to win the conference championship in 2018 and 2019. That was after a lot of beatings from some really, really good teams. And I did no uh, I gave them no help, you know, in terms of the schedule that we had with some really, really good schools. So um, yeah, the the guys that came in, they they laid the foundation and really that foundation stayed. You know, I I look at stuff, you know, I practiced, you know, we ended uh November 30th, and you know, walking out there, you know, they all they're all lined up, you know, with uh with partner passing before I even get out there, and the bags are all lined up, the sticks are all lined up. Nothing that I've told this group to do. They just they it's been established with the upperclassman.

SPEAKER_01 35:54

Awesome. That's excellent. That's excellent.

SPEAKER_03 35:56

Yeah, and and so talking about that, you you mentioned your you know, the teams you played in the first few years. Well, if you look at your out-of-conference, we'll call we'll get into the conference itself, which I find really intriguing. But you look at your out-of-conference schedule for next year, you've stacked them with a lot of NE10, and there there isn't a lot of rest in your out-of-conference schedule. You've got Bentley, Mercy, uh, Adelto, Pace. I mean, you've got some some big boys you're going up against, as always, and that's great for your team, I think.

SPEAKER_00 36:29

Yeah, I mean, we've we've always scheduled really challenging out-of-conference games. Um and it's for me, it's it's great to see the progression. And I'll give a little uh a little story from my my first year uh in 2016. Um, one of the staff members, and I've lost track of it at the time, um, you know, basically said, like, hey, are you crazy? And I'm like, What do you mean? Like, you know, in regards to what? And he's like, You have you know, you have 15 freshmen and six junior college transfers. Like, why do you have the schedule that you have? And that year we we had Mercy, Pace, LAU Post, Southern New Hampshire, uh, you know, and really no business playing them. But um, you know, and I think, you know, Jordan, uh, the first year, I think Mercy would have beaten us up by 30 goals if Jordan wasn't a good friend of mine. Um, and you know, Tom took it pretty easy on us, which is uh, you know, nice of them. Uh LAU Post was a really tough game, and then my alma mater beat us up pretty good. Um, probably all the tough times that they gave to Paul and uh assistant Ben Landman, who I played with. Um, you know, the goal was, and the goal still is, that you know, and when I took the job, it's it's being an NCA tournament team. And Division II, there's no AQs. So you you got to play the best to beat the best to be in that spot. So um we've never shied away from teams that have wanted to play us that are really talented. And and to be you know completely blunt, I've you know kind of sought some of those those uh teams out just because you know I think it helps us later in the year. It helps us when we can see the progression of you know getting beat by 15 goals and then the next year eight and then the next year two, you know, and and just showing, hey, we're we're we're getting there, you know, and and especially with the team, you know, that's that's the goal is that you want to you want to show those, you know, not not necessarily on the scoreboard, but where you want to get to. And um, you know, I think definitely helps us.

SPEAKER_03 38:26

Besides building, yeah. Besides building, like you said, uh, and you close the gap. If you close the gap each year, so finally you win. But even for you, those schools that you're playing really set you up and prepares you for your conference.

SPEAKER_00 38:41

For sure. For sure. Um, and that's I mean, a lot of that preparation stuff, you know. I I last year we, you know, with with a lot of different reasons with with kind of COVID, and you know, we had Mercy on the schedule twice and then Seton Hill, and you know, we were able to play Mercy once. You know, I think that that stunted our our growth throughout the season with our guys because you know, you you want to see those ups and downs. You know, I think to to learn how to win, you got to learn how to lose first, you know, and so um, you know, it definitely stunted us a little bit. Um, you know, but I think it prepares you for those later games when, you know, hey, we've been in this scenario, you know, and and uh, you know, we we need to we need to claw back and we need, you know, whether it's attitude or effort or you know, hey, this is you know, this drill or whatever it is, you you want those tough times that um will lead you to success.

SPEAKER_03 39:31

Yeah, so let's switch a little bit and talk more about this year, but I'm gonna use as a as a backdrop the conference game you played, the conference tournament against Wilmington, where you lost by one goal and came really, really close. It seems like you're really right there to challenge them and Chestnut Hill at the top. What do you think it'll take to kind of do that this year?

SPEAKER_00 39:53

Yeah, I mean, I I think we still have, you know, I and I I feel like I've said this for seven years, but we have a young team. Uh you know, at some point you gotta be wiring veteran. Um, you know, but I I think, you know, for us, each one gives, you know, a different challenge, but it's it's also the whole conference. You know, everybody's really strong. Um, but you know, to kind of get back to where we want to be, I think, you know, a lot of it's trust. Um, you know, the effort that the guys put in in the offseason, you know, is is huge. And I think last year there was a lot of excuses that um, you know, whether whether they were true or untrue didn't didn't matter, and everybody had the same, you know, issues and problems and struggles. And, you know, I I think that we'll we'll definitely be able to get back into a great spot, but everybody keeps getting better, you know, and and Willington's better and Chestnut Hill's better, and um, you know, uh everybody's gotten better. Mike's done such a great job at Chestnut Hill. Um Christian is such an amazing coach, and I think that they're in your four or five. I mean, they've just they've gotten better every single year. Um, but you look at everybody else in the conference. I mean, Dan's done a great job at Dominican. Um, you know, that's they were they were a tough team. They, you know, they beat us in the in the conference play um late in the season. Um, but even you know, Caldwell. Caldwell's a young program, and they're really, really skilled. Um, you know, and and then you go into you know, Felician, they're a super tough team that um, you know, has gotten better every year. And and then not to mention, you know, with with uh John coming in at at post, you're getting a coach of a national caliber, you know, natural caliber coach, you know, he's gonna stir things up. So, you know, really the progression. I I want to see an NCA, uh, a CACC team make the NCA tournament. You know, like that's my goal as a whole conference. I hope it's us, um, you know, and that would be awesome. But you know, really, I think it's about conference growth, and the growth has been tremendous, and we have such great teams. I think we'll definitely, you know, be be in a good spot, but the other teams aren't gonna make it easy for sure.

SPEAKER_01 42:00

Well, let's talk about some of your players. Sorry, Kev. Um talk about some of your players. Last year, Mike Ventreska. Um, is he coming back? Is he coming back?

SPEAKER_00 42:09

He's back, he's a senior. Um big lefty two-way midfielder. Um, yeah, so he's coming back. We returned Devin Bell um on the offensive end, Dan Burnham. Um he's a Long Island guy. Uh Iceland boy, right? Uh and then we have um, you know, a bunch of seniors that are mixing in, but we also have some freshmen. We're really deep in, I'll say this, we're deep in kind of every position, which is good and bad. Um, you know, we just have we have a lot of guys. We have six attackmen that we really trust, and you know, we have six midfielders that we really trust, and um, you know, four really good face-off guys, and four really good D mids, and you know, three good LSMs, and we're we're just really deep. You know, we're we're looking for a lot of those guys to step up, you know, into roles and be number ones and um be guys that we really can rely on. Um, but I think that we have really good depth, our goalie position. We have two seniors that are awesome. Um, we're just in a good spot, you know, in terms of our roster and and having a lot of depth. We need some guys to step up into those roles, and I and I think they will, and they've done a great job in terms of the leadership for sure.

SPEAKER_01 43:18

Excellent. Sounds great. It sounds like you uh you're on your way up in the conference a little bit. You know, I think last year with the COVID and so many games being canceled, and you know, you get going and then it's a stop, and then you go to and then you stop. Maybe you groove, you you lose that groove. You know, you kind of want to keep the train rolling, so to speak. And I think that happened to a lot of teams last year that probably were better than their records show, you know, because of that groove. And I think that Georgian Court's one of those teams. I think you got caught in that hey man, this train's stopping, we can't get it going. It's the groove thing, uh, another game can't. Canceled. But now this year, I think everything's going to be sort of back to normal.

SPEAKER_00 44:05

Yeah, it's it seems like it's back to normal. I'm going to knock on wood. You know, it seems like things are trending in the right direction. Um, but I absolutely I definitely agree. You know, the start stop, I I met with the seniors before um we went on on break and um before finals. And you know, something that they they they said to me is, you know, it's just really hard, you know, last year and even you know, I was in the fall when it's start and stop. And I'm like, well, there's gonna be times where we're gonna have seven or eight days between, you know, between a game. And um, you know, so it's I I think that that experience will will guide them for you know this year and in terms of you know, kind of those those breaks that you have where you know you you don't practice for uh you know a day or two leading up to a big game. Um, you know, I think the mentality will definitely change.

SPEAKER_03 44:54

Yeah, so coach, just to touch base again on the conference itself and the CACC, you ran it down pretty well. And I think in my I think it could be one of the most evenly balanced conference, especially if you look at maybe not showing by their records, but you know, a lot of new programs that are trying to try to keep on progressing, yours being one of them, right? And you've got ones like you talked about Wilmington, but even Caldwell and Felician all vying to get to that next step. I think that's what makes it interesting from a somewhat of a parity level from a uh and a game in a game situation. And I think that's what makes your conference so interesting is kind of that balance and the the young programs that they're all trying to get better.

SPEAKER_00 45:43

Yeah, yeah. And I think, you know, uh our first two years, so in in 2016, 2017, we were independent and um, you know, Chestnut Hill, Dominican, and Post had had existing programs. Um, I believe Chestnut Hill and Dominican were in the ECC and Post was independent as well. Um and then in 2018, that's when we started the CACC uh with the addition of Felician and Wilmington, and then called well in 2020. Everybody's young, you know, and and um, you know, I have so much respect for the jobs that the other coaches have done in the conference. Um, you know, every game's so tough, you know, there's no week to and you have to be ready each week, you know, and and especially with you know kind of how our conference play is is just lined up. You know, we we typically play, you know, midweek game on a Saturday. Um, you know, so that's all jam-packed in in end of March and April. Um so there's there's nowhere to hide. And if you get into a bad spot, you're you're sunk. Um, you know, there's it's not like it's spread out in March and in April. Right. You can kind of you know regroup, you know, at a point if you get to a lull. Um, you know, and and uh you know, we aren't where the ECC or the NE10 are yet. Um, but I think that all the the coaches are committed, you know. I think everybody, you know, except for John has has been here for or been in the conference for for four years, you know, and that's what you want to see that is that longevity of the coaches, you know, committed to the programs and committed to the conference growing. Um so it's been it's gonna be tough. They're they're gonna give me a lot of gray hairs this year, and hopefully I give them a couple gray hairs too, you know, on the way. But it's been uh it's it's been awesome to see the conference grow and build.

SPEAKER_01 47:27

And but you know what? It's been a great conference. I I there's a lot of parody, like you said, Kevin. There's a lot of parody in the conference. I think Georgian Court is poised to like you got a lot of guys coming back, coach. You know, you talk in depth. I like them Jersey boys. They've always been blue-collar, you know, hardworking kind of guys. And I wish you, I wish you the best of luck in the 2022 season. I really do.

SPEAKER_03 47:49

Yeah, it's funny. It's funny, Danny, when he started saying that he had, you know, I don't know, he had four short stick D medis, three LSMs, six, six attack men, six, six middies they all trust. I'm like, that seems pretty damn deep to me. So that's that's awesome. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 48:07

It'll be fun to watch without a doubt. I saw Coach's face light up too when he was talking about them too, you know. So he's very proud of his team, that's for sure. That's for sure. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 48:15

And they're all just such great kids, you know, and and um, you know, it's it's it's gonna be a fun year. We'll get a little, we have uh three offensive Canadians um that are that are freshmen. So it'll be fun to kind of see, you know, uh where we can go with you know some youth and and and some older guys that have been around the block. And you know, it'll it'll be really, really, I think, a good year for us. And you know, I think a good year for the CACC, you know, uh where we've been kind of chipping away in the regional rankings, you know, kind of year after year. So it'll be really fun to see where where we can go this year as a as a program, but also the uh just where the CACC can go. Um, you know, I think we're we're getting there.

SPEAKER_03 48:55

So yeah, well, coach, this has been awesome. Really appreciate you coming on, talking about your team and talking about the CACC because I'll be honest, it's probably one of the conferences I know the least about, uh, along with uh that's probably one of them and Peach Belt. And I I put those two conferences kind of are now kind of on my watch list to try to get in and at least watch one game every week from that conference because I I find it really interesting with the with the young programs because I think it's so great. I love watching them.

SPEAKER_00 49:27

Yeah, and and and it's uh it's definitely it's it's it's at a point where we're we're we're growing and you know it's a lot of people hadn't heard about the I I didn't, you know, I didn't know even anything about the CACC before I came in. And you know, just uh all the sports, you know, the at Georgian Court are really at the top of the CACC and you know have those kind of aspirations to be you know NCA tournament teams, and our track team does you know extremely well. Our women's lacrosse team won four straight conference championships. Um was in the NCA tournament. So it's it's really a a good athletic program um and and department. Um, you know, and and really it's it's on it's on the rise. And it's definitely they're they're good battles and and you know, I think really good kids and very like schools, um, you know, especially in in you know the Northeast, that you know, the the NE 10 and the ECC, they're uh the king, the kings of those uh the in the in the northeast. And you know, we're just we're we're we're playing those teams, you know. And you look at I think all of our all of our schedules and it's littered with really top programs. And and it's uh it's it's definitely you know, we're we're we're on the rise. I I I I agree with that and you know um appreciate you know other guys looking into it, and I think it will definitely help um you know recruits and just the interest you know in the CACC and you know the growth is is gonna be awesome in you know three, four, five years.

SPEAKER_01 50:54

So definitely, I totally agree. I I completely agree.

SPEAKER_03 50:59

Yeah, so coach, once again, really appreciate you coming on. Would love to have you on during the season uh and catch up and see how things are going, maybe after uh a highlight game that you have with uh with uh an opponent, and uh and we hope to see you soon.

SPEAKER_00 51:16

I would shock to be back on for sure.

SPEAKER_01 51:18

Lakewood's not that far from me. I might have to scoot over and watch the game in person, you know.

SPEAKER_00 51:24

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, well, coach real close to Jersey Shore. So yeah, get some good seafood out there.

SPEAKER_01 51:31

Yeah, yeah. Coach Mickey Hover from Georgian Court. I we really appreciate you coming on tonight, taking the time with us. You've been a great guest. We really do appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 51:40

Thank you guys so much, and and uh keep up the great work. This is awesome for Division II.

SPEAKER_03 51:45

Thanks, thanks for trying. Danny, Coach Hover was great, and I I think he was spot on. That was some great insight on the conference, first of all, and then it was great hearing about his team.

SPEAKER_01 51:57

Oh, yeah, Coach Hover, I liked him a lot. I yeah, I didn't have much to say tonight. If I was really listening, that's the first time uh that I've kept my mouth shut for more than five minutes. I mean, he was really good, and you know, we spoke about the depth of Georgian Court prior to Coach coming on, and he spoke about he's got three LSMs, he's got two solid MIDI lines, his attack, his defense. He he's he's excited for the season. And um uh, you know, we talked about that jersey blue collar mentality, and and Georgian Court lines are gonna bring it this year, Coach. I I mean uh Kevin, I I was very impressed with Coach Hover tonight. I really was.

SPEAKER_03 52:39

I was too, and I was also impressed on what he said about the rest of the conference. It kind of went down a little bit with what we were talking about in the preview, but I think he did uh even better job of talking about the different teams and what they bring to the table, even though they're young, but how the coaches are are focused on in their programs and what they bring.

SPEAKER_01 53:02

Yeah, and you know, how and how how close the coaches are in that conference. You know, they're all talking to each other and they're very close within that conference, and how how all the coaches are committed to the conference as well. So that's you know, we talked about the CACC being, you know, a very, you know, with the most parody. And you can see that this this conference is an up-and-coming conference, and these coaches know each other and like each other, even though they're gonna play each other and beat each other up on the field. They're they're all in the same boat, kind of so to speak. They're in the same conference, you know, and they're all kind of relatively young, and they're all looking to make the conference better and and make their squads better, and and just you know, bring a better culture to their to their respective programs.

SPEAKER_03 53:53

Yeah, it's I say it almost every week. It's just gonna be fun to watch. I'm really excited about this conference and watching this year. I didn't watch that many games last season, maybe one or two. I'm definitely gonna put more on the on the calendar for me this year. And all I can say to kind of close out is this was a great episode to start the 2022 year off of.

SPEAKER_01 54:17

Yeah, this was fun. This was fun tonight. Um uh the 2022 season's here, Kev. It's it's right around the corner. We we start in a few weeks, man. I'm I'm excited. As it gets closer, I'm getting more excited. I'm looking forward to the season for sure.

SPEAKER_03 54:32

Yeah, so a couple more conferences to go. They'll be coming up in the next few weeks, but uh for tonight, that's a wrap, Danny, for In the Crease with Danny and Kevin. Hey, that's a wrap, Kev.