Conference Previews for the 2022 season - Conference Carolinas

SPEAKER_03 0:09

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 Stenrum, and with me as always is that straight shooter of D2 Lacrosse Info, Danny Moran. How's it going, Danny?

SPEAKER_01 0:27

Hey, Kevin. Thank you so much for that intro. How are you tonight? I'm doing great. How's everything going in Northern Virginia tonight?

SPEAKER_03 0:35

It's going pretty well. I can't complain, you know. A little cold, a lot of snow on the ground right now, but I'm pretty excited because we are getting to finish up our conference previews with a with a great conference, one that is well known. But that's not the only reason I'm excited. Uh, since this is our last preview, that means that the 2022 lacrosse season is basically here. We're just days away now. So this is a great way to end it up and and and move forward. But let's let's start it off and let's talk about uh the conference that we're here to talk about, the Conference Carolinas.

SPEAKER_01 1:09

Yeah, Conference Carolinas, really, really good conference, Kev. Um, you know, a lot of good teams came, you know. We don't have limestone in the Conference Carolinas anymore. They've left. So um, you know now we got the uh Mount Olive, uh, you know, and you have Belmont uh Abbey, you have North Greenville, Barton, Emmanuel, Lise McCrae, and Chawan. And um it's a great conference. Uh it's got a lot of history to that conference, um, you know, and so and some good teams and some uh NCAA berths out of that conference.

SPEAKER_03 1:43

Yeah, I mean, we we definitely saw that last year. I mean, obviously with limestone leaving, that leaves one of the top-tier uh teams moving on to a different conference, but they still have a very strong conference with the likes of Belmont Abbey and Mount Olive at the top right now, but other ones that are starting to move up and and look to make their mark as well. So let's let's start off and let's talk about the conference champion from last year, the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey.

SPEAKER_01 2:11

Yeah, Belmont Abbey was, you know, they were they're always a good team. You know, Coach Barrett, year in and year out, does a great job of recruiting. Um, his teams are nitty and gritty, and they get after it. They can score, they can play defense, they um cause a lot of turnovers. You know what? They're just one of those teams that's always ranked, um, always a tough game, a tough team. You know, they didn't have the same overall record as Mount Olive did last year, but they both went five and one in conference. Right. So so they both had the same Mount Olive and Belmont Abbey last year, but Belmont Abbey beat Mount Olive in the championship, you know, in the Compass Carolinas championship last year. So I'd have to say Belmont Abbey's got to sit at the top of that conference.

SPEAKER_03 3:01

Yeah, I would agree. I mean, they had a weird beginning, right? They lost to Cotabba and then they lost to uh Lenore Rhine, but then they went on a win streak.

SPEAKER_01 3:10

Um they won like nine in a row or something. Right.

SPEAKER_03 3:14

They they lost to UMO, they lost to Mount Olive, and they lost to Limestone at the end of the season, but then they came right back in the conference tournament and beat Mount Olive. So it was just an interesting year for them. Uh once again, still strong, 10 and 4 overall. That's nothing to be ashamed of whatsoever. I mean, really at the top.

SPEAKER_01 3:33

Nope.

SPEAKER_03 3:34

Um, and to be honest, they really are coming back almost full force on the on both the offensive and defensive side. Their top four scores are returning, and their entire tack attack line is returning with Noah Haas, Luke Spanier, and Austin has Hazen.

SPEAKER_01 3:51

Noah Haas is a beast. That kid is a beast.

SPEAKER_03 3:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

He's a really, really good player. I mean, he put up 48 points last year, Kevin. You know, 37, 37 goals, man.

SPEAKER_03 4:02

Yeah. I mean, and then you've got on the defensive side, they're they're stacked again with James Butcher, Brad Mackey, and Neil Lingerman all coming back. So, so they're really balanced, and and they're gonna be right at the top again.

SPEAKER_01 4:15

Yeah, they're seasoned, you know, they're seasoned. And, you know, like I said, Coach Barrett, he he's a great coach, man. He he does amazing things with Belmont Abbey year in and year out. And to have all those players come back, you know how coaches feel about that. They love that. They love that.

SPEAKER_02 4:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:31

So I I I expect them to do really, really well this year. I expect them to be a top 10, a top 10 Division II school this year.

SPEAKER_03 4:40

And what's interesting is their out of conference has some of the same players that they played last year out of conference. So you've got Limestone, you've got Lenore Ryan, you've got Cataba, you've got Queens. And then they, you know, they mix in uh some from the the Peach Belt, and uh also they're they're meeting with Westminster from the RMAC. So they've got an interesting out of conference, and once again, I think if they stack up well, which I think they will, I mean, uh against those teams because of who they have returning.

SPEAKER_01 5:13

Absolutely. Those they're not um, you know, Limestone and Lenore Ryan are not gonna be able to walk all over a Belmont Abbey team. A Belmont Abbey team is gonna be ready for them. You can you can guarantee it.

SPEAKER_03 5:25

Yeah, and then they, you know, if you look at last year, their man up was at 54% last year. 54% man up. Uh so if they keep that going, you know, they're gonna they're gonna score when they when they're when they're man up, and they're like I said, they've got all their scores returning and their defense coming back. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:45

And hopefully he can, you know, add like one or two to the mix that uh can come in off the bench and and add some spark to them as well. You know, I'm sure I'm sure Coach Barrett has uh a wealth of depth at his at his disposal.

SPEAKER_03 6:01

And we'll get to talk to him about that because we'll bring him on later on in the show, which will be great. So let's move on and and talk about Mount Olive, the other team that always seems to be at the top, not only in their conference, but really in the rankings.

SPEAKER_01 6:15

Uh Coach Murphy, again, that's another coach in the coat in the conference, Carolinas. Um Coach Murphy, he's an amazing coach. He does another another great job of recruiting, getting really good players. Um they they lost to North Greenville last year. So that, you know, so it was that a slip up on Mount Olive or was that a nod for North Greenville? You know, I I don't know. I think North Greenville is one of those teams that's trending upward, and we'll talk about them in a show, too. But um, they had they had a tough win. They didn't have the season last year that Mount Olive is used to having. They struggled a little bit on defense last year, whereas in years past, they've had, you know, pretty much all Americans on defense. So they they beat Barton, but they beat Barton by a goal. You know what I mean? Right. They beat a good Queens team and they had a Colorado Mesa took them to overtime.

unknown 7:17

Right.

SPEAKER_03 7:18

And we're talking about Olive.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

So they had another close win against Newberry last year, another one goal win. So, and then they lost to Belmont Abbey in the championship. So they had not the year that they're used to having, but did they make the NCA tournament? They did. They did. And what happened?

SPEAKER_03 7:42

They got killed by Tampa.

SPEAKER_01 7:44

Smoked, they got smoked, did not smoke. Tampa didn't play anybody and blah, blah, blah. And we didn't pick them to go very far in the uh, and then we started eating pro because Tampa came out and smoked Mount Olives. So I think you know, Mount Olive's got some guys coming back, Aiden Lalon and Blake Talon, and Connor Watson and Lucas Lucas Shine. These guys coming back. They're seasoned.

SPEAKER_03 8:11

Yeah, they're starting goalie. Coach Murphy's gotten on the sleeve this year. Yeah, starting goalie's coming back for his fifth year, Andrew Avarello. So they got some keys. I'll tell you what interests me though, is they lost their associate head coach, Dylan Price. He went and take over uh William Peace University as the head coach there, and he's been there since 2014. And he's run the D. The D that they've been known for. So and their top defenders from last year are gone. So I think that uh will be interesting to see how Thatcher Clark, who's coming in, he's a 2019 grad. Um, he coached two years at Coker before coming back to his alma mater. So it'll be interesting to see how he takes over the reins uh from Dylan Price. I think that's a loss that may hurt them this year. We'll have to wait and see.

SPEAKER_01 9:09

We'll see, because you know what, again, I I just I think they were a little they didn't have the defense last year that they've they're that they usually have. Like I said, in years past they've been really, really good defensively, all Americans, big boys, you know, that type of thing. And last year seemed to slip away from, like I said, they had close games against teams that they probably maybe should have won by larger margins.

SPEAKER_03 9:36

Yeah, now they also have a very interesting um out of conference. They're playing a lot of the the sack with Coker, Cotabba, Queens, Wingate, and Newberry, but they're adding in Rockhurst and Seaton Hill as well. So they've got a pretty well uh stacked out-of-conference schedule.

SPEAKER_01 9:54

Well, you know, that's what Coach Murphy does, man. He he he loves playing the big boys and and then and he his teams have been, you know, uh a perennial national ranked team every year. You know, Coach Murphy's he's he's a he does a great job. He's an amazing coach, he really is.

SPEAKER_03 10:12

Yeah, and and and we, as you and I know, we talked about this. You know, the preseason poll is out. I think they were ranked 10th preseason, right below Belmont Abbey. So, you know, as always, uh they're already being looked at by USA Lacrosse as uh uh a top 10 team, and we'll see where it goes from there. I mean, right. Um, you know, that's preseason. Uh like you and I talked about. I don't put much stock into it. It's good to look at, it's fun to look at, and then see how people stack up and go from there. But I agree. We'll we'll see where they go. So let's talk about that team that we really have. I think we need to decide, or it'll be interesting to see this year if they make that next step. And and really that game that they beat Mount Olive in, North Greenville University. Are they really have they moved up? Did Mount Olive move back, or was that just an anomaly? Uh North Greenville Crusaders.

SPEAKER_01 11:07

Well, I think the Crusaders are trending upwards, Kev. Yeah, I'd agree. Um, don't don't forget, I mean, they what they do in in conference last year was my uh they so they were four and one in conference and a 7-7 overall record.

SPEAKER_02 11:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

But I watched them play limestone at limestone a night game. And they, if they would have stayed out of the box a little bit in the fourth quarter, they had a chance to win that game. They they had a chance to beat limestone. They really did. They had the Saints and Limestone on their heels all game, but they had some late penalties, and we all know how limestone is when you they go, they they go man up, they're almost lethal. So, I mean, North Greenville is a team that I think is, you know, I think coach coach Coach Corey Stress has that team trending upward. And I think other teams are noticing that too. I think other other coaches and other squads are noticing that North Greenville's on their way up.

SPEAKER_03 12:06

Yeah, I would agree. I mean, I think I think they every year they seem to improve a little bit more. And last year was really interesting because to me they were a little bit inconsistent in their play. They lost to Montavalo, a good team, so that's no mark against them. They only lost by one goal to Lenore Ryan, which I think was the first time you say, Whoa, where is this team going this year? Right. They beat Catawba when they were ranked at the time, they beat Mount Olive when they were ranked at the time, but then they lost to Lander uh a new team that, you know, as we talked with their coach, they they had winning records also. It's not like they didn't have winning records and they're a one in ten team. Right. But you just see that, you know, from a lander to a Mount Olive, just a little bit of a inconsistency in in their play. And I think that just I don't think that's a mark against North Greenville. I think that's just more the growing pains that they're going through as they progress up and improve.

SPEAKER_01 13:07

Well, you know what? They need to be better on their man-ups, okay? Because they were only about 30% last year. So if they want to take the next step, that's one area where they're going to need to improve a little bit. But their face-off guy, Nick Robinson, was at 63% last year. I mean, that's pretty darn good, Kev. Yeah, you know, so if they can clean up a couple of little things like, you know, staying out of the box, um, you know, and and themselves being better on man up. And again, they got Thomas Assari coming back. That guy put up 64 points last year. You know, he's that's no joke. And they got Devin Napoli, 31 goals last year, and he's only a sophomore this year, right?

SPEAKER_03 13:54

Right. And the goalies last year that they used were, I think they were all freshmen. And Joe Amici got the most minutes, but they're all coming back.

SPEAKER_01 14:05

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And their top three scorers are coming back, and you know, they're gonna add, you know, more spice to the to the soup, I think. I think they're gonna be a pretty good team this year.

SPEAKER_03 14:16

Yeah, I would agree. It would be interesting. It's gonna be interesting to see. I um I I would venture to say that it's no longer a two-team race in Conference Carolinas. I think it's getting it's a little bit a little bit tighter. I think North Greenville is making their move, and it'll be interesting to see with them uh with Mount Olive and Belmont Abbey.

SPEAKER_01 14:39

But yeah, they're getting some they're getting some good athletes at North Greenville. They're getting some players now, you know, and uh definitely trending upwards. It'll be fun to watch them and see what they do.

SPEAKER_03 14:50

Yeah, so let's move on and let's talk about a team that's fairly young with a fairly big roster, and I think is one of those teams that could be a wild card also, because they were eight and five in 2021, and they lost to Mount Olive by one in the regular season. That was Barton.

SPEAKER_01 15:10

Yeah, the Barton Bulldogs, Coach Warren Schumache. Um, what'd they do? They were three and two in conference last year. They're a good team, they're a good team, you know. Um, their big guy, Bowden Nichols, he's gone. But Mark Crawford is back, and attackman Seth Mandrick is back. Yeah, and Tyler Thompson and Logan Wheeler are both back, and I think they're gonna get a lot more minutes this year, those two guys. So, and you know what? They open against uh number three Wingate. Yeah, you know, they're putting a big dog one of, you know.

SPEAKER_03 15:45

Well, and and you remember what what Coach Boyle said about Barton. He said, you know, last year when we played them, they were a young team, and and he doesn't think the same score is gonna happen this year, where they really put it to Barton last year, and then you look at how Barton improved throughout the year in 2021, it's gonna be a tougher team for them to go against. And and last year at face-off, they were like at 60 percent.

SPEAKER_01 16:12

So clearing was at 84 percent. So they're a good squad. You know what? They got to keep the turnovers to a minimum. They were turning the ball over a lot, you know, and and then again, another team that needs to do better on man up, you know, kind of a young team last year, you know, and and these kids, a lot of these, the you know, the scorers are coming back, except for the except for Bowden Nichols. Everybody else is coming back, Kev. I expect Barton to be, I expect them to be a pretty decent squad this year.

SPEAKER_03 16:43

Yeah, no, I agree. I think they're a wild card in Conference Carolinas, and it'll be fun to watch them, especially against against Mount Olive, uh, the the topper top tier uh teams in their conference and see see how they handle them this year. Yeah, I agree. I agree. Let's let's talk about Emmanuel, the Lions.

SPEAKER_01 17:06

Okay, Emmanuel Lions.

SPEAKER_03 17:08

Um I'll start it off. So they're let's start with their they have a smaller roster there at 33, which you know isn't isn't devastating, but you always kind of you and I have talked about this all the time, whether or not you get the depth from that. Their face-off percentage last year was pretty good. It was at 47%, so they're right, hovering right where they need to be. I think one of their big things and the telling statistic that certainly couldn't help them out last year was they had 106 penalties in 2021. 106. And their competition, their opponents were like at 50. Wow. So you know when you're when you're down, yeah. When your man down that much, you you're not scoring. No, you may be able to survive and and be able to stop another team from scoring, but you're not being able to be effective on the offensive side with that many penalties.

SPEAKER_01 18:01

They only averaged 41 shots a game, you know, and and teams against them were averaging 50. So they were playing defense a lot, you know, a lot. So that's a team that needs a little help, but you know what? They got some guys coming back. Shams Durant had 25 goals last year. He's coming back. Yeah, and and Alan Vasquez had 15 goals. Young kid, he's coming back. Yeah, and um, they lost, you know, in most of the categories in statistics, they didn't do so well.

unknown 18:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:32

So I'm at Emmanuel needs a little help, you know. You know, they need a little help. Hopefully, um Coach Stevens is was able to recruit well and get some players in there and and start to take them in a different direction.

SPEAKER_03 18:45

Yeah, no, and they've got a uh their out-of-conference, I think is very comparable, may help them. You know, they've got uh Alabama, Huntsville, Lander, Shorter, Mars Hill, Palm Beach Atlantic, and Young Harris, uh, along with Pfeiffer, and there is a D3 school, used to be D2. Right. So they've got a they've got an out-of-conference schedule that kind of matches where they're at a little bit more right now. So, you know, we'll see where they go and see if they can improve uh from last year.

SPEAKER_01 19:17

Yeah, I agree. I agree.

SPEAKER_03 19:19

So let's move on and let's talk about uh Lees McRae, who, you know, didn't have a great season last year, one and eleven. It's the fifth season for Coach Brad Dunn, you know, and we've talked to him. You know, I absolutely love his passion for his program. He made me a believer in what he's trying to do, but I think really now it's time to see if that team can show it on the field.

SPEAKER_01 19:41

Yeah, Coach Dunn is a great guy, isn't he? He was a wonderful, wonderful guest. Um, I could totally see myself hanging out and having a beer with them. He was he's my kind of guy. And you're right, Kevin. He the passion and what he showed for his, you know, his school and just the way he he was made me a believer as well. Um but they need some help, you know, they need some help, they need some players down there. Um, they're a big scorer, JP Galloway. He's back. Mikey Moore and Ryan Bochamp, the three top scorers for Lee's McRae for Coach Dunn, are coming back. And um, I think JP Daniels is gonna see more minutes, and I think Tyler Finlay is gonna see more minutes this year.

SPEAKER_03 20:25

Yep, yep. Now, Mikey Moore is not back, he's he's graduated. He's graduated. Okay. But, you know, they do have to work on, you know, man up was only about 17%, and face-offs are only at 33%. So there's some things they've got to try to fix and turn around. This roster is still a little bit small at about 32. But I think I'm hoping. I I I'm you know, I'm I'm a homer. I'm a homer after talking to Coach Dunn.

SPEAKER_01 20:51

Yeah, yeah, I can like you not like him. Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 20:54

Exactly. All right, so Danny, um, here we go. The last team to look at, the Hawks. Chowan. Chowan University Hawks. Tough for me to say that. I haven't figured that one out yet.

SPEAKER_01 21:09

Murphy'sboro, North Carolina. Do you know where that is?

SPEAKER_03 21:12

I do. I do know where that is.

SPEAKER_01 21:15

See, I didn't know where that was, and um, I was like, okay, so what's the next biggest city near Murfreesboro, North Carolina? And it's kind of like not too far from Norfolk, Virginia.

SPEAKER_03 21:27

Yeah. Yeah. They're right along the 95 corridor as you as you go down, right?

SPEAKER_01 21:32

They're a little bit off, but yeah, the Hawks from Showan University. Um, they struggled last year. Yeah, they struggled. Um big, big old goose egg in conference. They went 0 6 and 1 11 on the season. Um, not not a great season for them, you know. But uh they do have some of their top scorers coming back.

SPEAKER_02 21:58

Right.

SPEAKER_01 21:58

Um, they have Again, ready? Eric George, he's a six-three, six foot three-inch attackman from Alberta, Canada. He's coming back. He put up 40 points last year.

SPEAKER_02 22:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:11

So, you know, that's a big boy at the attack.

SPEAKER_02 22:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:16

Six foot three. He's a Canadian. So you know he's shifty and good. Yeah. Another Canadian attackman they got coming back is uh Jackson, uh Jason, Jackson Martin. Right. He put up he put up 32 goals last year. And then one of their midfielders, Jackson Downs. So they have two Jacksons, Jackson Martin's attackman. And Jackson Downs, a midfielder. He put up 30 points. So they got some ball boys that can ball out.

SPEAKER_03 22:43

Yeah, exactly. And the interesting thing is, you know, the coach Josh Sees, he's in his third year. He took over for the program from Jim Griffin, who started the program. Right. So Chouan is not a an established program. It's a new young program. And when you're trying to start a program and get it going, we've talked about this. How something like COVID and all the issues you deal with can cause more challenges for a team like Joan than maybe more uh established programs.

SPEAKER_01 23:17

Right. You know, impacted them more, a little bit more. Um, you know, that that whole COVID year was so screwed up, Kevin. And and you and I have talked about it in so many of the podcasts. But you know what? At the end of the day, it's it was a really big part of the season last year, the COVID and the cancellations and again talking about having your mojo and the and then getting it ripped and then stopped, and the kids had to separate and they couldn't go to the, you know, get chicken wings together. And yeah, just an oddball year. And when you're a young program trying to build a culture and trying to, you know, get the train rolling in the direction, right? COVID, COVID is just that big obstacle on the track. Yeah, you know, so yeah, hopefully this year they can turn it around a little bit.

SPEAKER_03 24:04

Yep. Now their roster's at 32, so depth could be an issue. It you know, it's it's a smaller number, but it's not like others we've seen in the 20s. And they're out of conference, I think, is is a good balance for them. They've got Lander, Tusculum, Alderson Broadis, Young Harris, Davison Elkins, and Coker. Davison Elker.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 24:24

So they they've got teams that are kind of in the same mix as them and some other teams that like Coker and Lander and Tusculum that always are tough to play.

SPEAKER_01 24:34

Right, right. You know, I I'm not sure that coaches has that team ready to play some of the big dogs yet. You know, maybe they just you know play those Alabama Huntsville's and those and those games and and and and and get your players seasoned.

SPEAKER_03 24:50

Get them up on step, right? Get them ready, you know, get them like you, like you just said, if that gets them going, gets that engine going, and gets them moving in the right direction by playing similar teams, that could help propel them into their conference schedule.

SPEAKER_01 25:08

You know, when it builds confidence for, you know, uh an up and coming program, you know, to you know, to you know, go and get a win against one of those squads, it's gonna build a lot of confidence for a young young squad, you know, and and you know, coach Coach C has you know, it's got a little bit of an upward battle to to to work through right now. But let's see what happens in the 2022 season, you know. Again, we spoke about it all the time, any given Sunday, right, Kev?

SPEAKER_03 25:36

Exactly, exactly. So that's kind of the roundup, Danny, with these teams. And it'll be interesting to see everywhere from you know Chon all the way up to Belmont Abbey. But the great thing is that right now I'm really excited to talk to Coach Chris Barrett and bring him on from Belmont Abbey and get his perspective on not only his team, but the conference as well. So why don't we bring him in right now? Hey coach, welcome. How you doing tonight?

SPEAKER_00 26:02

Doing great, doing great. Appreciate you guys having me on.

SPEAKER_01 26:06

Hey, Coach Chris Barrett from the Belmont Abbey Crusaders. Thank you so much for coming on with us uh in the crease knuckleheads tonight and uh taking the time out of your busy schedule to just talk some D2 lacrosse and we'll talk some conference Carolinas. What do you think?

SPEAKER_00 26:22

Happy to,

coach Barrett

SPEAKER_00 26:23

happy to. D2 lacrosse is is growing, a lot of good lacrosse out there, so happy to uh to talk on it. Absolutely. I'm excited to.

SPEAKER_03 26:31

Yeah, so let's start off with your team first. Uh, your team went 10 and 4 last year. You are always a tough team to play. Danny and I talk about that. I think one of your your team is like one of those teams that when anyone else gets you on the schedule, they're like, uh-oh, it's Belmont Abbey. We gotta bring our A game. Uh and last year was no exception for you. I mean, except for the loss to Cotabba, you only lost to ranked opponents. And since 2018, you have not had more than four losses per season, which is just phenomenal. How do you how do you keep that consistency? How do you do it?

SPEAKER_00 27:07

I I I I think it's about the culture and and kind of what what our expectations are and trying to take one step further each year, and and it's been tough and it hasn't been easy, and I and I think this year is gonna even be even more challenging, you know. Um, you know, putting in what way, coach? In the you know, putting aside COVID and all that stuff, which is challenging enough. I'm not even speaking on that, but I'm speaking on our schedule that we're gonna have out in front of us, especially uh right out of the gate in February. I mean you start with limestone. Yeah, I'm I'm like, who the heck is the coach? What are what are we doing? Who's who's making these schedules? But I mean, the way the schedulings work now, it's getting tough as far as you know, you get your you get handed your conference schedule, and those games are gonna be, you know, later in the season. And then so you're trying to fill up your your early part of your season, which is actually filling up with very good opponents from other conferences. So next thing you know, you're playing these knockdown drag out games in early February when you're still trying to get to figure out who your team is. You know, that I think that's what's so exciting about Division II lacrosse is you're getting these matchups of of prime time teams playing against each other early on in the year that those teams are gonna look very different, you know, two two months from February, you know, in April. Um, so I think it's exciting. Um, but I think that at the same time it's it's it's what you have to do in Division II Lacrosse if you want to get to the NCA tournament. You got to play the best teams possible, you got to play teams that you know you think can finish over 500. You wanna you wanna play those kind of opponents and and and win those games and ultimately do well in your conference and hope that at the end of the day, that's in the favor of the committee, you know, because that's kind of how this works. There's no AQs, and I mean, and you guys have talked to enough coaches on here where I don't need to tell you how it works, but um, so that's why we're always gonna try to put our best foot forward. So you know, like you said, limestone right out of the gate, Florida Tech, another strong team right after that. Florida Southern, Lenore Rhine. So it's then we're getting Catava, Queens, Lander. I mean, it's it's right out of the gate where we're we're rolling, you know, and and we've got to be ready to play some good lacrosse. And I'm excited about it. But I also think that that's what I think that's what the guys expect. That's what they are are told is gonna happen when they're getting recruited to come to Belmont Abbey. Um, and that's the kind of schedule we've had the last few years. Um, and I think uh, you know, it's kind of holding them to a different standard. Um, instead, you know, I think they're working over breaks and they're trying to get better and they're prepared for it. So we'll see. We'll see. Uh we'll see how this season goes.

SPEAKER_01 29:50

You know, well, you've got Noah Haas coming back, and you got Luke Spagnier and Austin Hudson. You got you got your top scorers coming back offensively.

SPEAKER_00 29:59

Yeah, we're excited about those guys. We're um Noah's a beast. Yep. Noah Noah is an is an excellent lacrosse player. Um, you know, can shoot the ball, uses his eyes. He's he's a force. I we we understand that he's he's not a secret anymore. He's on the scattering report for other teams. Um, we we we know that you guys know who he is. So the other coaches. Yeah, he's good, man. I've watched him play many times. Um, so no, we're excited about his growth and his development and now his leadership, you know, because now he's not you know freshman, sophomore, Noah Haas anymore. He's getting to be an older boy and uh he's seasoned. Yeah, he's a seasoned vet. He's a captain now, and you know, he's uh he's doing doing a great job of practice, especially with the young guys, because we're gonna have some young guys in the mix this year, especially with graduating the uh the midfielders that we did last year. Um, open up some room for some opportunity for some new faces and some new names to get out there and and participate and help us get going.

SPEAKER_03 30:58

Yeah, and it seems like on defense as well, you're bringing back a lot of players that you're really balanced uh across both sides of the field for this season.

SPEAKER_00 31:08

Yeah, we're we're excited. I mean, we do. We definitely bring back uh an excellent uh you know, starting win the goal with Thomas Sullivan, who kind of broke out last season and became MVP of the conference tournament.

SPEAKER_03 31:20

Um, he had a he had a great uh great tournament.

SPEAKER_00 31:24

Yeah, he uh he was awesome. He's but he stood on his head and had a great fall, and he's doing a great job. So, you know, he's uh we start there with him, we're we're in good shape, and then we got some guys that have been playing in front of him for a couple years now that are playing together for a couple years. So hopefully that continuity and um you know, trying to bring some it's it's always bringing the midfielders along, right? Right, because those three guys have been playing close together, and those three guys have been playing attack together, but now it's like okay, we got to integrate this middle part of the field here together on both ends, right? And that's always different every year, you know. That's always different every year, and that's the exciting part, you know. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_03 32:03

Yeah, so let's just talk about the uh how you ended up the year in the championship. You know, you lost to Mount Olive, but you came back, and I'll tell you, I I watched that game against Mount Olive, and I and I thought I I went into with you know preconceived notions that Mount Olive is gonna take care of you again, and you guys came back, you played a great game and you beat them. Does that kind of help fuel your team for this year? Like getting through that adversity of like you like you said, you look at your out-of-conference schedule and your in and the conference you have to play in every day. You've got to be prepared that way.

SPEAKER_00 32:40

Well, that's one thing too. I mean, we try to play a top out of conference schedule, hoping that it's gonna prepare us for ultimately for in conference. You know, I try to tell the boys conference games are forever. You know, those are the games that you really, right? Like, I mean, when we're we watch what we watch on TV, and those are the games that are talked about. Those are the games that you truly, really remember, outside of your NCA tournament games and those kind of things, but it's the conference games that you know that are that are the rivalries, right? Like you're watching Wingate and LR have an intense rivalry now, and now you have Limestone jumping in the mix over there. So they're creating a rivalry with those guys. Obviously, we're playing uh you know tons of games, close games, back and forth games with Mount Olives. So we have a natural rivalry there. We have uh you know a rivalry with North Greenville, where um, you know, two schools in the same conference with the same logo, you know, both Crusaders, right? So a natural rivalry every time we're playing, we're playing the Crusader Cup, you know. So that that's the exciting that that that's the exciting part about they had a conference schedule, kind of getting you ready, hopefully, for in-conference games, because our conference is is is excellent. I mean, we got really good coaches in our conference from you know Coach Murph at Mount Olive to Coach Struss, who's basically you know started and and ran that whole program at North Green Hill since its existence. Uh, you got Coach Schumach doing the same thing at Barton, and now you have uh you know Coach Dunn at least McCrae doing a great job. There uh they're coming along. Um, and and Coach Sess at Chihon getting going, and then you got always got Coach Severns at Emmanuel. I mean, it's we got some legit coaches doing, you know, doing some good things. And I I expect the competition to be even that much tougher this year. I do. Like we're we're we're we're gonna be prepared. We're not gonna be sleeping on any of our conference opponents, that's for sure.

unknown 34:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:35

Top to bottom. Like you said, you know, there's really good coaches and you know, some perennial, you know, ranked teams. But we think like teams like North Greenville and Barton are have been trending upwards, you know.

SPEAKER_00 34:49

Oh man, absolutely, absolutely. Especially um they're they're doing great jobs. They're they're winning a lot of games. Like, I mean, North Greenville had a huge win last year, I remember. And then uh one game that I was really excited for last year that didn't get to happen because of COVID was the North Greenville-Barton game. Right. That conference game never got played, and I was uh probably more excited just to kind of sit back with the popcorn and watch, you know, just see which way it was gonna go. Right. Both those coaches do an excellent job. Both those programs are are coming and they play hard and they they have great lacrosse players. I mean, North Greenville had uh had the conference player of the year last year. Barton had uh a number of first team all conference midfielders, uh, an excellent face-off guy. Um, so though they and and I only expect them to just be building off of that. I know Barton's added to his coaching staff with some excellent assistant coaches. North Greenville has uh excellent assistant coaches. Um Mount Owl just added a new excellent assistant coach. So I mean it's we just know that you just got to keep working, you know, got to keep working because I I I really feel like I, you know, we don't want to be that team that that people look at and they're like, oh wow, they they lost a game they shouldn't have lost. You know, we don't want we don't ever want to feel that way.

SPEAKER_03 36:04

Well, and it's interesting you say that because the way you talk about that in your conference, someone looking on from the outside, if you look at records, right? You look like uh, you know, even Elise McCrae, or you look at a Barton, um you play them, and if you lose to them, I I don't think it's a mark against you. I I think it's the the competition is getting tougher. I mean, uh Danny and I talked about this when we're doing the preview. We just look at Lees McCrae, and we had Brad Dunn, Coach Dunn on our on our podcast in an earlier episode, and that guy just made me a believer. That guy is so passionate about what he does, and I guarantee all the other schools are coming with that same fevered pitch in Conference Carolinas.

SPEAKER_00 36:48

Yeah, I absolutely I mean I think it's a credit to like you're saying what those guys are doing, you know, and how hard they're working. I don't think it's uh you know, it's a lack of whatever anybody else is doing. I just think it's you know they're they're working really hard, and that's that's that's what kind of keeps us working as hard as we we are, you know, to try and you know keep up with these guys and and stay where we're at so we can stay competitive and and give ourselves a chance at the end.

SPEAKER_03 37:13

You know, that's yeah, I think the the only difference I see in some of those teams is roster size from not you know just from a depth perspective. And Dan and I have talked about that, but uh we've also talked about that. Um and we had uh another coach, uh the coker coach, come on and tell, hey, he he's got a small roster, but he's telling his guys we're only playing 10 V ten. So any given day, you they can they can bring it, and if they're ever all healthy, you know, it's it's gonna be a fight.

SPEAKER_00 37:46

Absolutely, absolutely. I mean, that's that's the scary part about some of these teams, you know, and I think at the end of the day, you know, yes, that is scary, but it's the ultimately the teams that have the you guys know that have the depth that that can kind of play for you know from January to May. That's you know, I've I've coached enough teams and and watched a lot of teams that you've seen some kids playing some major roles in May that didn't touch the field until mid-April, right, or or or the beginning of April, or just you know, freshmen that came on late because they were really freshmen in February that started transitioning to sophomores by by the end of April and May. You know, so and that that's that's the fun part about college lacrosse, I think. And that's the fun part about college athletics is and that's always true to to my program and to any team I've coached, and I'll I'll say it to any kid I recruit and any coach guy I coach with is the depth chart we hang up for game one will never be the same as the depth chart for game 15.

unknown 38:50

Right.

SPEAKER_00 38:51

It just it just won't. It just won't, you know. Um whether you're moving guys around or or there's injuries or or whatever else, you know, um unless, you know, I I don't know, maybe there is that team that that has that same lineup every single game, and God bless that coach. Um, but I just no, there's not too many. There's not too many. No, there's not a lot. So that's that's the that's what I you know think about trying to develop the program and try to develop guys and have depth and because I think it's gonna take it's gonna take an army of guys, you know, to to kind of get this thing to where we want to go, especially if we want to, you know, play for a conference championship, hopefully at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_01 39:30

I think you'll be right there, coach. Um actually, Kevin and I in our conference previews, um, we're picking you to win it again this year. We're we're picking you to so no pressure on you. No pressure, no pressure. No pressure from the in the crease guys.

SPEAKER_00 39:44

And that's and that's where you're you know, that's where you know you guys pick us and whatever else, all these other preseason polls, that stuff's fun. I tell the boys they still haven't sent us any trophies for all that, you know, preseason stuff. So, but at the end of the day, it also just it you know kind of goes back to the beginning of this conversation with you know, no, we're not sneaking up on anyone. Like we are like sometimes we could be a big, a huge win for for a program that like if our guys aren't ready to go mentally every single day, like yeah, we're we're that bullseye now, you know, where we were hunting, you know. And when I when I first got here, we were hunting. We were trying to get nationally relevant and uh you know regionally relevant and and and try to get to a spot where people were taking notice of the lacrosse we were playing, you know. And then, you know, kind of when that flips and that happens, now it's now it's you know you're the hunted. You know, we're we're the team that's being hunted, and we're the team that other teams want to make their name of. And and that's just how this kind of works. So, like yeah, you know, you just gotta you gotta keep working and keep, you know, and that's what's so impressive about some of these programs around here that that keep it going every single year, that are there, that are playing, that are competitive, that are winning every single year. Those coaches are doing a great job. They're keeping those programs, you know, new guys in every year, they're keeping that culture there, and and and they're winning a lot of the cross games and they're doing it the right way, you know, and that that's the fun part.

SPEAKER_03 41:08

Yeah, I love what you said also about uh the kind of the preseason polls and and that we pick you because that uh the in the crease boys picking you and 25 cents won't get you a cup of coffee anywhere in the United States of America. So um we you know you're ranked uh in the preseason in the USA lacrosse ninth, and Mount Al is right behind you. But um Danny and I have talked about this. And the same thing with the preseason All-Americans. That you know, Pat on the back for anyone who gets that's a great, a lot of great players that are on that, great teams that are listed in the in the preseason, but a ball has not dropped. There's been not one face-off yet. And um I I assume that's kind of how you look at it. It's it's fun to see, but there's no real stock in it.

SPEAKER_00 41:51

It's it's for mommy and daddy, honestly. It's it's for mommy and it's for mommy and daddy because there's no you know, committees that sit down when they're picking playoff teams and are like, hey, so what is what did Lax Magazine have these guys pre-season? What was you know, what was the conversation about like uh with these preseasonal Americans back then? You know, I think it it's it's awesome for the notoriety and and for for these kind of conversations and that kind of stuff. But at the end of the day, it if you believe all the hype, all it can be is a bunch of disappointment. Like, you know, Nick Saban, it's funny you hear the you know, you hear him talk about rat poison, right? But this is like I know exactly what he means, you know. He just kind of said it in a way where no one else has said it that way, you know? Right, right. But at the end of the day, too, you you could look at it and say, I mean, the way we're I'm trying to look at it is okay, nine, ninth is great, but we got eight more spots to go, you know. That's exactly so exactly that that that climb is gonna be so hard. Yeah, you know, from eight to seven is gonna be tough, and then from seven to six is gonna be even tougher, and so on. And uh, and then and then to keep that grind all year is uh that that's the fun part. That's the beauty of the season.

SPEAKER_03 43:07

You know, that's right, that's right. I I've got to ask this question, coach. Um, I want to talk about your D2 coaching tree that you're growing out there with Coach Laporte at Land or Coach Peruzzi at Lewis and Coach Wims at Embry Riddle. Am I missing anyone else? I mean, that's that's quite a trio of of coaches you've kind of put out there as head coaches now in the D2 world.

SPEAKER_00 43:29

Yeah, no, it's uh it's been fun. Um, I also think it's why you guys are probably talking to me today, because I've had some awesome assistant coaches uh in my in my uh past here and and and currently in my present too. I think we have an excellent staff with with Coach O'Rourke, who who can kind of is a master of it all, and and Coach Pays, who just got here and brings that Queen's intelligence and and that some of that division one intelligence and really that face off intelligence, which is From what I'm learning, a different language at some points. Um, right, right, right, right. And then you have Coach Irvin who, you know, who who brought who was an unbelievable all-American goalie who brings that Mount Olive. So we kind of have a little piece of everything in the office now. But no, back to uh the original point is it's been fun to watch these guys, and they're they're all doing awesome jobs too. Um, they're all awesome coaches. I knew that that you know, I think you know, sometimes you get lucky to be able to hire certain guys uh to be assistants. And I was definitely blessed with with those guys, and I'm blessed with my current guys, and I've really been blessed with all the guys. I mean, there's even you know, Coach Adam Marshall was a huge part of our success in the in the years past that that's doing a lot with the German national program and um you know, guys like that that that have moved on. But no, I appreciate you guys bringing that up because it is it is fun, especially when you get to uh the coaches convention. And you guys are all in a room together and you're looking around, and I'm like, oh wow, you know, you're all wearing a different logo, but at one point we were all sitting together, you know, or or at some point we were all kind of sitting together. But that no, that's the fun part. And uh, you know, I'll always understand the tree that I came from with with Mike Sereno and Limestone, and that that's really kind of where it all started for me. Okay. So just a piece of that. But you know, I even consider like Coach Marty Ward, who I played with and I was at Limestone, is like, yeah, he's not, he's not, I guess he's the bush next to my tree. I don't know. You know what I mean? Like he's he's you you're somewhere in the in the yard, you know. I mean somewhere in the yard. Um, you know, and then you get close with other guys, you know, like I mean, I I feel close with with Coach Boyle at Wingate. I have a good relationship. I I respect the job he's doing there. I mean, guy uh, you know, kind of the situation at Dowling, and next thing you know, he's just been in every conference championship game since then, since showing up at Wingate, um, doing an excellent job. So um, you know, just a lot of guys that are that are good coaches that sometimes it makes it even tougher on game day, to be honest with you, you know, having to play uh play against them.

SPEAKER_01 46:08

Well, if you're one of those coaches, coach, um, you're one of those teams year in and year out, like Kevin said earlier. You're you're just like, uh-oh, we got Belmont Abbey on the schedule. We got Belmont Abbey Saturday, you know, uh-oh. It's not, it's gonna be a game, you know, and whoever it is that you that plays you is gonna be in for a rough, nitty, gritty, kind of Long Island physical type of uh lacrosse, which personally I love. And uh that's why I like watching Belmont Abbey so much. I I watch a lot of your games, and um, you have some Long Island guys. You had a friend of mine's uh son on your team a couple of years ago, Del Grosso. Okay, so I I him and his dad and I are really good friends, and uh my youngest son played with his other, his other uh Del Grosso's brother and youngest son, Nikki. Okay, so so I I had a little uh in there, you know. So I I would watch and I just always thought the world at Belmont Abbey, I just said, wow, this team is always good. They're always that scrappy, gritty, physical, in your face type of blue-collar type of team, which I love those kind of teams, you know.

SPEAKER_00 47:19

I I appreciate you seeing it that way because that's the kind of team we want to be, you know. I uh that we definitely wanna we don't want to be one of those teams that you feel like you know doesn't play 60 minutes or or rolls over or anything like that. We want to make sure that you understand that you you're in for a game. You're in for a game, and we just want to gonna we're gonna come there, we're gonna compete for 60 minutes and give it the best we got and and then kind of go from there. But uh no, we appreciate that. That's uh that's who we want to be. That's who we are, and that's who we want to be, and we want to play fast, and we want to kind of get all over the field and and and use a lot of guys to do it and get up and down and have a lot of fun. You know, that that's kind of who we are.

SPEAKER_03 47:58

Well, coach, with that, um I think it's gonna be fun watching your team this year, watching Conference Carolinas. We really appreciate you coming on and and talking to us today. It's been I I have to give uh the audience a little uh um Maya Copa to you uh personally, as you were one of the first to say you'd come on, and it's taken me so long to finally get you on, and it's been great. Um, we really appreciate it. You brought a lot of good uh viewpoints and insight into conference carolinas and d2. And and that's kind of why we do these things because Danny and I are just two knuckleheads who who like to talk lacrosse, but we need experts actually to make us look a little more credible. So we appreciate you coming on. Giving us a lot of people.

SPEAKER_00 48:44

When you find those guys, let me know because I need to call them. But uh we'd love to have you on during I absolutely. I I I was just gonna say we appreciate what you guys do, and and you know, definitely feel free to to shoot me an email or ask me to you know come on and talk to you guys again. I absolutely will do it in the future for sure.

SPEAKER_01 49:06

Uh Coach Chris Barrett from Belmont Abbey Crusaders, thank you so much for taking the time. You've been a great guest, all the best in the 2022 season. A couple of weeks away, man.

SPEAKER_00 49:16

Yeah, we're ready to rock and roll.

SPEAKER_01 49:18

So I think I'm gonna put that that Belmont Abbey limestone game on the calendar, the right out of the game. That should be that should be a good one. Kev, we might have to make that like a game of the week to watch or something. There we go. I it will be a future spotlight podcast.

SPEAKER_00 49:33

Yeah, no, it'll it'll definitely be an exciting game for sure. We're we're uh you know, we're excited for all of them, but with that one being the first one, you know, we we understand that that that'll get some attention for sure.

SPEAKER_02 49:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 49:45

Well, coach, we we wish you the best of luck this year. And again, thanks so much for coming on with us. And uh we'll speak to you soon, okay? Thanks, guys. Chris Barrett, Domon Abbey Crusaders. Thanks again.

SPEAKER_03 49:59

That was just great with with Coach Barrett there. Um and what he provided us and information, not only on his team, like we always talk about, but his conference. I think they're poised, and he just got me more fired up to watch Conference Carolinas.

SPEAKER_01 50:14

You know, Coach Barrett's one of the better coaches in all of Division II. Um, he he was a great guest tonight.

exit

SPEAKER_01 50:21

I really enjoyed listening to him. You know, like I I said to him, I watched his team many times, and they're one of those physical, gritty, hard-nosed, blue-collar kind of squad that he loves, and they are. And they're a perennial powerhouse top 10 team every year, and one of those teams that again is, you know, when they're on the schedule, you're like, uh-oh, here's Belmont Abbey. Yeah. So, you know, coach Coach Barrett does an amazing job up there. He does, yeah, and and he recruits well, and and the coaches that he gets with him. I mean, he's got the whole package going at Belmont Abbey. He he's one of the better ones in all of Division II, uh, in my opinion.

SPEAKER_03 51:05

Yeah, I'd agree. And I think it's a testament to the rest of the conference as well, because you've got teams like Mount Olive always at the top. You've got the teams like Barton and North Greenville who are fighting and clawing to get to the top. And you've got the other teams like Lise McCrae and and we just talked about Choan and others that are trying to do the same thing a little bit farther behind, but I think it's a strong conference all the way through, and it'd be exciting to watch them this year.

SPEAKER_01 51:32

You know what? And and like Coach Coach Barrett just said, um, there's a lot of really good coaches in in this conference. You know, this conference has been around a long time, Kev. It's one of the older conferences in Division II, especially in the South. So, you know, the the type of player and the type of administrator that these these schools in this conference are going for are you know upper shelf, top top shelf type coaches. And that's what makes this uh this conference a little bit different from other conferences, if you ask me.

SPEAKER_03 52:07

Yeah, and and I think that's a great, great way for us to end up our series on the conference previews with this conference, Conference Carolinas, and what they bring to the table for D2. And now it's got only one thing left, and that's to get ready for the season. You know, so we'll game time. It's game time, and so we'll be coming back and we'll be doing things like games of the week to look at, players uh, you know, that balled out and talking about them, and and and then you know what we saw on the the the week previously, and we'll be doing that as we go forward.

SPEAKER_01 52:42

Yeah, Kev, I'm really excited for the 2022 season. Um, just a couple of weeks away. I mean, it's gonna be here before you know it. And I'm looking forward to doing uh more podcasts and and we'll talk about more upper current current things going on in Division II. Um coaching changes in the last couple of weeks. You know, Franklin Pierce, uh his coach, their coach has resigned, um, got some stuff going on down in Florida Tech, you know. So there's still stuff happening and and and the season's only a couple of weeks away. So I'm excited. And before we leave tonight, Kev, I I do want to say that our listeners have been really reaching out to us and and really giving us a lot of positive feedback. Um we we have had over a thousand downloads in less than a month and from December till till now. And that's because of all the listeners, they're listening and and they're they're liking what they're hearing. And and for those of you that are listening, we really, really do appreciate it. And for those of you who give us a little shout out, or whether it be on Facebook or Instagram, or whether you're DMing Kevin, um, we really do appreciate it, guys. Um, we're humbled that these coaches would come on. And when Kevin said, you know, we've had over 5,000 downloads, I told him that's 5,000 more than I ever thought we'd have. And you know what? It's been a lot of fun um doing this. And again, to all the listeners, thank you out there and keep those comments coming. We really appreciate it. We really do.

SPEAKER_03 54:26

Yeah, what I love about this, Danny, is like you just said, is I you know, I fully expect it to be you and me downloading the podcast because we love to listen to ourselves talk. But um what I like is that it's it's spreading, and what we wanted to do was to spread the word of D2 lacrosse and and shine a light on that the great play that is in this division. And I think that's starting to happen, and I hope that everyone's enjoying it, and that's why we love the comments. I've got a list of other episodes that people have given us to do that we won't do now. We've got to fit them in probably at the end of the uh end of the season, but um it's gonna be a lot of fun. This has been a fun ride, it's gonna be fun through 2022, and I'm just excited for the season to get started. Me too, me too. All right, all right, Danny. So that's it. That's it for this one, and uh see you next week. That's a wrap.