Conference Previews for the 2022 season - GLVC

SPEAKER_02 0:08

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Crease with Danny and Kevin, a coast-to-coast discussion of D2 mental cross. I'm your co-host, Kevin Stenstrom, and with me as always is the connoisseur of D2 Lacrosse, Danny Moran. How's it going, Danny?

SPEAKER_01 0:25

I'm doing well, Kevin. How about yourself tonight in Northern Virginia? How's it going?

SPEAKER_02 0:29

Uh could not be better. Could not be better. We get to talk again. You and I are just having fun talking lacrosse, and we get to talk about another conference and what to expect for them in the 2020 season. So there's nothing better than that, in my opinion.

unknown 0:43

No.

SPEAKER_02 0:44

So the conference tonight we're discussing had basically four teams in the top 20 most of last season.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

Probably the most surprising conference in Division II.

SPEAKER_02 0:55

Right. Now their rosters have changed a bit. So we'll see what happens. I mean, there'll be some think there'll be some movement in that conference. But if I am a team and I have them on my out-of-conference schedule, I would be worried. And of course, that we're talking about is the Great Lakes Valley Conference GLBC.

SPEAKER_01 1:14

Yeah, um, in my opinion, the scariest conference in Division II. Here's a team, here's a conference that's you know west of the Mississippi, Kevin. You know, they're not an East Coast conference. And they have four teams that are ranked in the top 20. Just about for the last three, four years, they've had teams ranked in the top 20. Last year they had four squads ranked in the top 20. And one team went to the NCAA tournament. Now you're talking about a team and squads west of the Mississippi, Kevin, and it's not supposed to happen like that. It's it's an East Coast game, right? It's an East Coast game. Yeah. Well, don't tell the GLVC that because they don't believe that.

SPEAKER_02 2:03

Right. I mean, and if you uh if you look at just the team you're just talking about, you know, we talked about it when it was uh conference time, right? It was NCA tournament time, and that's the Greyhounds of U Indy. Yeah. They played because of last year, once again, they play mostly in conference. They're 10 and 3. They split with Linenwood, they lost to Rockhurst, and as you'll see, they this conference beats each other up. And we talked about that with we talked about that with Coach Stark. We get to talk about that with Coach Peruzzi when he comes on. But they play each other tough. And if you watch their their tournament last year, when they beat Lindenwood, it they they beat them 10-9, and that was a darn close game. That was a fun game. That was a great game to watch.

SPEAKER_01 2:47

That was a great game.

SPEAKER_02 2:48

Fun game to watch. And to be honest, I thought Linden was gonna win that game for a while.

SPEAKER_01 2:51

So did I, so did I.

SPEAKER_02 2:53

And so then they go into the NCAA quarterfinals, and they're playing against Wingate. And Wingate basically hands it to him the first half. And you think, oh yeah, just what we thought. You know, Wingate, Sack, they're stronger. Oh no, no, no. UIndy came back, and they only lost by one goal. And that wasn't because I don't think that was as much about Wingate letting down as is UIndy showing what they're made of. And that's what this conference brings, you know.

SPEAKER_01 3:27

Yeah, uh in that in that NCAA game with U Indy, they uh Wingate's midfielders, uh defensive midfielders had a hard time keeping up with the midfielders from Undy. U Indy's midfielders are faster. And the the D Middies are having a hard time that second half against Wingate. They almost pulled off the upset. They were right there. They were right there, Undy. They were one goal away from being a final four team last year.

SPEAKER_02 3:55

Yep, without a doubt. And what's interesting is now let's move to this year. Their out-of-conference schedule has teams like Seaton Hill, Mercyhurst, Blake Erie, Walsh, and they even play limestone after the GLVC tournament. Yeah, well, which I find really interesting because what are they doing? They're prepping for the NCAA tournament.

SPEAKER_01 4:21

That's exactly what they're gonna do. That's that's why they have that schedule set like that. Yeah. Um, you're gonna have to play the big boys. UND's gonna have to come out east. They're gonna have to, you know, play some of the bigger guys, get those ranked squads on their schedule, and have to do that in order to there's no odd amount of qualifiers, Kev. Right. So, so they got to go out of confidence and they got to make noise, and they got to make noise in a big way. And that's by playing ranked squads. You indie, you know, Coach Greg Stocks does a great job with the Greyhounds. I mean, they're a really well-post team. They got studs, you know. Last year they had Drew Billligh and Wild R and Brian Robb. They're all coming back. And these kids, and these kids put up big numbers, Cav. We're not talking about four, five, six, nine points. We're talking 25, 30, 35, 40 points, some of these kids have been putting up. So you indie's no joke. No joke in the GLBC. If you're a team that has U Indy on their schedule, you best get you best strap yourself in because you're going to be in for a ball game.

SPEAKER_02 5:24

Yeah. And so the other thing is, and I forgot to mention they're also playing uh Lenore Ryan, but if you look at some of the teams in the middle of their out-of-conference, when I say middle, kind of uh not the not known for being in the top 20, uh, at least last year. Lake Erie, Walsh, Montevelo, Newberry, all good programs, all programs who want to play U Indy and make their mark. So if you U Indy knows, these teams are gonna come after them. And so they're gonna have a battle every every game. Every game.

SPEAKER_01 5:57

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:59

So let's talk about Lindenwood.

SPEAKER_01 6:02

Yeah, the Lindenwood Lions.

SPEAKER_02 6:05

They have the same uh win record, they were 10 and 3 also in 2021. Uh same as Undy, which I found really interesting. You know, they just lost out in in losing the the championship game.

SPEAKER_01 6:19

Right. I mean, Lindenwood's a really good squad, Kev. What were they ranked last year? I don't have my rankings in front of me.

SPEAKER_02 6:26

They well, you know, I want to say they were they were right around, I think a lot of times they were right around that 13, 10, 13. I don't have the rankings either. I don't know where they ended up in the end. Um, but I think it was a battle. They were nine. I think I think you endy and lindenwood was 11th.

SPEAKER_01 6:42

There we go. They yeah, they finished 11th. Yeah. Lindenwood. So they're a top 20 team, you know. And again, we're talking about teams west of the Mississippi. And you normally you wouldn't think of teams out there, you know. When you think of Division II Lacrosse, you think of the Limestones and the Lenorines, the Wingates, the Mercy Hearst, the Lemoines. You know, you're not you're not thinking about the Lindenwood and the new indies. Like, you don't think about that. It's it's not the one that pops off your head, but they're two squads that you have to think about. Yeah, you if you're going to be in the top 10 every year.

SPEAKER_02 7:20

Yeah. And they do amazing things. Like they're there's to me as a neophyte, you know, never coached. But if I look at things like some of their stats, like last year, the man up was only at 19%. But then you look at their record, right? You look at their record. They didn't have that great a stat, but then they turn other things around to make sure they went. Imagine if they improved that stat.

SPEAKER_01 7:44

Yeah. Well, that's coaching, you know. When coaching, that's good coaching, because if something's not going right, or you don't have something, uh, you know, a piece to that puzzle that's going to help you there, how can you help the team in another way? And and and and that that's coaching. And Linda Wood's got a great coach, you know, and that just it's a good conference, Kev. And these, like you said, they beat each other up, and they're all, you know, top when you have four teams from one conference in the top 20, got to take a good look at the conference.

SPEAKER_02 8:18

Yeah, now so uh for Lynn and Wood, it looks like their defense is gonna be strong coming back. They return Chase Showalter, Brian Kohlberg, and Jordan Knowles, all with some unbelievable stats and cause turnovers and ground balls. So it looks like they are really gonna be in good position there. And I think that helps them in things when they talk about where their face-off percentage is or even their man up thing. That the defense can carry on because they are losing their top three scores in Carton, Carter Collins, Rob Tucker, and Leonard Jones. So we'll see.

SPEAKER_01 8:53

To me, it looks like Carter Collins put up 53 points last year. Like that's that's a big loss. That's a big loss. Those are those gonna, you know, those those guys put up big numbers this year. So those are big shoes to fill. But you know, last year they had good numbers in all categories, their numbers, you know, they they they outshot their opponents, they won all the most ground ball wars, the clearing percentage, game save percentage. They're a good squad.

SPEAKER_00 9:21

Yes, on their schedule.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

On their schedule, they have limestone, Tampa, and Lynn. Lynn's a good squad, Kev. You know, like nobody's giving them any love. And let me tell you something. Lyndon Woods, they're gonna be a good genius, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:38

So here's what I find interesting when they do that swing and they they go down to the Sunshine State Conference, they play all those teams in the same week. 7, 9, and 11 March. That will be telling for them. That's a tough schedule. Because those aren't easy for Florida Southern, no, Tampa, Lynn. Boom, boom, boom.

SPEAKER_01 10:00

Yeah. And you know, and then at the end of the season, limestone again, you know, like it's you know, that's uh that's that's what you want, Kevin. Yeah, that's what you want. Yep, that exactly right. A team that's aspiring to get to that NCAA level to get to that tournament, you know. You you gotta play those teams, you gotta play those numbers, uh, those types of teams, and you're gonna have to travel, you know, those guys are gonna have to come out east.

SPEAKER_02 10:29

Right, right. And that's what the GLVC, we saw that with the RMAC and the GLVC is the same way. They've got to do some traveling to to, especially for out of obviously for out of conference. So let's move on to Maryville, the Maryville Saints. We've had Coach Stark on. It was that was great. He gave us a lot of insight to his team. Uh, they uh they're a very strong team coming back.

SPEAKER_01 10:50

Mary feels good. Coach Stark's got him falling out. Uh their big score, Jake Foster, is gone. Yeah, but they got some big boys coming back, Justin Morgan, Ethan Olson, and Big Foster's little brother, Ben. Now they're they're from Canada, the Foster brothers. So they've got some Canadian tacmen coming in, uh bringing in that box element, um, some shifty players. But they have a bunch of players on that squad that scored last year, Kev. They they spread the rock. They spread the rock. It's not just one guy. You try to you try to lock down on one guy, they got three more coming at you. Um, but they could use a little, you know, they could use a little stronger maybe out of conference schedule, I was thinking this year. You know, they're coming east again, but who's on their out of the conference?

SPEAKER_02 11:40

Well, they've got they've got Walsh, Lake Erie, Shorter, Lander, Uah, Emberle, Montevello. So there's some, I think, I think middle of the road. I think a lot of those teams want to put Meryville on their schedule. Because they know Maryville's a step up for a lot of them. I I'd say, you know, maybe, but I think there's there's teams that are gonna give them trouble. They can give them trouble. But I think who? Well, I think there's teams that'll be interesting matchups. I think, I think if you look at in the peach belt, both Lander and Montevallo, maybe Walsh. So I think there's some some teams there that we'll just have to wait and see.

unknown 12:20

Right.

SPEAKER_02 12:20

But I think you're right. It's not like they're playing uh uh above, they're not playing a lot of top 10 teams in their out-of-conference schedule.

SPEAKER_01 12:30

You see, if I was if I was Coach Starker, I would want to get, you know, a top 15, maybe one or two top 15 teams on my out-of-conference schedule. Because that's gonna, you know, just solidify their schedule, FPI and power rankings and all of that junk that that goes involved, you know, we don't they don't have the eye test in in Division II, and we have no automatic qualifiers in Division II. So in order, in order to get to the tournament, you got to play some of the big boys, you know, you got to get them power points and them, you know, those FBIs and whatever they call them. And I, you know, I think that Meryville, in my opinion, probably should have got maybe one or two of them. But you know what? Let's see what they do this season. They're gonna be a force to contend within the GLBC as you know as they were last year. And let's see what they can do because they got they got players coming back and they're and they're good. And and like I said, they spread the rock, and they they should be pretty good.

SPEAKER_02 13:31

And so the the next team was right there with Maryville last year. They were neck and neck. They probably, if I think if I look back, they probably switched back and forth on where they were in the top 20 uh a couple weeks, and that's Rockhurst.

SPEAKER_01 13:48

Yeah, Rockhurst. Um, another pretty good squad, you know, Kev. Um, what did they go? They went eight and four in conference and eight eight and five overall. Right. Coach Kevin Kelly, you know, he he's a solid coach, putting together solid teams out there. Again, GLBC, pretty good, pretty good conference. I think, again, the scariest conference in all the division two.

SPEAKER_02 14:12

I mean, you look in conference, they split with you Indy, and they split with Maryville.

SPEAKER_01 14:16

So yeah, you know, and they got some of their boys coming back. Stan Lynn High's coming back, Ricky Bloom's coming back, and um, they have 14 freshmen this year on there, so they did a really good job of recruiting this year. So I think that's a good one.

SPEAKER_02 14:32

And it looks like the face-off specialist, John Myron, is coming back, and he was at 61% last year.

SPEAKER_01 14:37

Yeah, he's pretty good. He's pretty good. He did pretty well last year. So I expect um Rockhurst to uh right there again, right there, right there. Um a scrappy, gritty group.

SPEAKER_02 14:54

Yep, and if you look at their out of conference, they've got some of those that we've talked about before the been in the uh in the top 20, Mount Olive, Mercyhurst, Rollins is always in and out there, and of course, Colorado Mesa.

SPEAKER_01 15:05

So yeah, and they're a good squad, Mesa, you know. They're no joke either. So good for Rock, uh, good for those guys, you know. I think I think there's I think they're gonna have a good year.

SPEAKER_02 15:18

So let's move on then. Let's move on to the team, Lewis Flyers, and Coach Peruzzi, who we're gonna have on later on. They're a young squad, right? They're just starting out. They they started in 2020, then shut down, and they only played 12 games uh in 21. So they are really young, mainly freshmen and sophomores last year, 32 on last year's roster. And they went five and seven. They had a winning record in 2020, I think, uh, and then five and seven, which, you know, for a starting program, that's pretty darn good. And they and they beat Meryville to end the season last year.

SPEAKER_01 15:58

Listen, Lewis, Lewis made a lot of noise, and coaches know about Coach Peruzzi and what he's what he's capable of. Um, after speaking to some coaches about Coach Peruzzi, they have a lot of respect for him. And they said he's a damn good coach, a damn good guy, and that's a team that everybody should really start to worry about. You know how other coaches were talking about Gardelman and Frostburg State, and that's that's the way they're talking about Lewis and Coach Peruzzi. It's the same kind of same kind of vibe. Here's a team that's just came out of nowhere and they're trending upwards in a quick way.

SPEAKER_02 16:36

Yep. And they've got some pieces to the puzzle. Like I said, they're their top face-off specialist is returning Peter Carlson. Uh, they're returning, uh, they've got a returning LSM, Sam Kern. And although their top scorer graduated, it looks like they've got Drew Andre and Nolan Dalap coming back uh two round out, you know, there on their scoring side, and and we can talk to the coach about other players that they've got coming in.

SPEAKER_01 17:02

Yeah, um, I'd love to get coach on and see what he's got to say about Lewis.

SPEAKER_02 17:07

Well, in just maybe a few more minutes, we'll be able to do that. Let's get through this, let's keep going, and then we'll bring the coach in. So let's let's go down to Davenport University. They struggled one and eight last year. So we've we've talked about this several times. They've got a small roster. Uh, they have a they're about 20 24 uh players, and they're fairly young, so they only have two seniors and six juniors from last year. So, you know, that means they're uh young squad, but they also depth can be an issue with only having 24. We've talked about this another previews as well.

SPEAKER_01 17:48

Absolutely. The Davenport Panthers did struggle last year, but they only win one game, one and eight or one and nine, or something like that. Um, but they got some of their players coming back, uh Jordan Caskinetti and Steven Oskin, uh Oxenkiel, Steven Oxenkill, they're coming back, two top scorers. But did you know that they had the GLVC goalie of the year last year? Wow. Daniel Milano. Daniel Milano, okay. So the Davenport have they have a stud in goal. So they might be, you know, young in players, but they got they got athletes there. And um small roster, yeah, like you said, um, they struggled in all areas last year. They really did.

SPEAKER_02 18:37

They and and they're a young team. They're a young team. They just moved into D2 in 2020. They were a club team before that. So it's actually the same model as Flagler, right? Their coach Escaval, he led their led them from a club team into the D2. So same as we talk about, you know, with um some of the other teams that we said started around uh 2020. You know, that's tough. That's a tough way to start. You start your your season, you start your D2 program in a whirlwind and in something no one ever expected. And and you got to almost it's a it's a start and then it's a quick stop, and you almost have to restart again.

SPEAKER_01 19:23

Yeah. And that's exactly the truth. That's exactly what's going on there. And uh let's see what they do this year, you know. Um new year, new chapter, new book, new, new, new, new year, you know. Here we go. Let's there we go. Let's ball, let's ball out and let's see where the ball takes us. And like I said, when you got you know the L VC goal of the year in between the pipes for you, that's a real, real good start.

SPEAKER_02 19:50

It's a great place to start. You I think you want to start one either there or on the faceoff. You get one of those two. And and we've talked about this as having a great goalie. I I think actually can save you more and help you more than than on the face-off side. Faceoff side is probably more uh visible, but like we've talked to some other coaches, because of the shot clock now, you can make up for that if need be.

SPEAKER_01 20:17

Soalie. Right. And coaches are finding finding ways to manufacture possessions off face-offs now. Um the face-offs, um, now that they're you know they're off their knee and no motorcycle grip. I think it's uh evened out the table a little bit, so to speak. And some of the some of the teams maybe had a great goalie when they recruited him, but he's not so good off his knee. And now they got to manufacture possessions in other ways, and that's on the 50-50 ground ball. So you can you can win games without a great face-off guy, but it's hard to win games without a great goalie in between the fights. Yep, yep, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 21:02

So let's move on then, and let's talk about Quincy.

SPEAKER_01 21:06

I don't know what to say about Quincy. I mean, they they they had a really hard year. Yeah. I mean, they they didn't win the ball game, Kev. Yep.

SPEAKER_02 21:17

Yep. It's third year for their coach, Eric Ruppel. You know, he came back from he came from being an assistant coach at Adam State. So he's trying to build too. There's uh several schools, obviously, here. If you look at Lewis, Davenport, and Quincy that are young teams. Um, Lewis is uh by far the one that's progressed the farthest, and and Quincy's one that's really gotta grow from that. You know, their their top scorer is returning, uh Jane or Jamie Bryan on brain. I don't know how you say that. And then Jack Springbourne on D is returning too. So they've got uh some things they gotta do, but you know, there's so much improvement they've got to make on that team. Man up was only at five percent. Four point Two goals per game and only about 22 shots per game.

SPEAKER_01 22:03

So they need players. They need some players there. They need players. Plain and simple.

SPEAKER_02 22:13

Yeah, so we we'll see how they do uh this year and build on it. Their 2022 schedule's not out yet, so we can't really talk about and then see how they would match up on other teams out of conference. But I think they will still struggle in conference this year, and and we'll just have to watch and see how how they improve.

SPEAKER_01 22:31

Being a younger, you know, the the team I'm really looking forward to watching, actually two teams that I'm really looking forward to watching this year is um Maryville and Lewis. I want to see where those two teams go because that Maryville team is scary. Yeah, they're just scary, you know, and they're one or two goals away from being a nine-10 win game uh team, you know. Um they they're a good squad. And I want and and Coach Faruzzi with Lewis, you know, I'm really interested to see where he's got his boys going because he's got some pedigree being a Belmont Abbey guy and and playing for Belmont Abbey and coaching there for a couple of years. So he's got that uh conference carolinas grittiness that you know he's come from a good squad, came from good coaching. So I I expect Coach Peruzzi and and and and Lewis to do pretty and Maryville. I I'm really interested in those two teams.

SPEAKER_02 23:29

So let's stop talking and why don't we just bring Coach Peruzzi on and see what he has to say about Lewis?

SPEAKER_01 23:35

Sounds like a great idea. Welcome, Coach. How are you? I'm good. How are you guys doing? Doing great, coach. Uh Joe Peruzzi from the Lewis University Flyers at the GLVC conference to join the boys from In the Crease tonight. Coach, we're really happy to have you on. Thanks so much for taking some time with us tonight. Appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 23:57

Thank you guys for having me. I'm I'm thrilled to be here. Uh, I'm really excited for what you guys are doing, not only for just the whole division two, but you know, looking at each conference and and just really um, you know, exposing how much great lacrosse that we're playing in this division that, you know, not not that many people are are maybe talking about or aware of. So we I think I speak for a lot of people in division two when I say we appreciate what you guys are doing and we appreciate the exposure.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

Oh, thank you so much. We do appreciate that so much. Thanks.

SPEAKER_02 24:27

Yeah, thanks, coach. You know, actually it's even uh funnier because I've said a few times, and we'll get into this in a little bit. I want to talk about your team first, but I've talked about on other podcasts how I think the GLVC is kind of underrated. Now, that could be just me and my bias from you know years past, but we'll get into that a little bit. But let's start off with your team a little bit. You have a really young program, and you start in 2020, you had the season ready to go, and then COVID shut you down. You'd even really get into really the the GLVC, the meat of your your conference play. So, what was that like when you're starting a program and then having that shut down?

SPEAKER_00 25:07

It was tough. Um, honestly, just for my kids, it was tough. I think it probably hit some other programs harder because we were pretty much all freshmen. So, like, you know, you don't have your heart ripped out of you, you know, your career is not over. So it wasn't like the same, I don't, I think like devastation that maybe other programs hit. Um, but I think it was frustrating for us because that season we were starting to play some really good ball. Um, and we had really struggled like a young team. We were dodging and shooting a lot and really trying to get the guys to buy into running the offense and sharing the ball and working for great shots. And we were kind of on a spring break, spring break trip where that was starting to click, and we were starting to hang some big numbers up on some teams and starting to kind of figure out our identity a little bit. And we kind of knew the back half of the season was going to be these big conference matchups, and particularly we recruit a lot of the same areas in the GOBC. So it was important, in my opinion, for us to show well and to try to show that we really could be competitive immediately. And we didn't really get that opportunity that year. Um, and as you can probably imagine, you know, our our our second class is done before we even played our first game, right? So we recruited in 2019 class, those kids are on campus. Our 2020 class is done. You know, we're finishing it up in the spring and we're showing kids like, hey, like, look, you know, we we're playing, and and we uh, you know, started off with a big win against Lake Erie, and that certainly didn't hurt, you know, in the first campaign in 2020, but it was like our second class is done. So, you know, you're recruiting your third class the next year, 2021 class. That class is essentially done. You haven't even played, shown what you can do really against anybody in your conference. So, you know, it was kind of a different vibe this past year to get to play everybody twice because I really felt like you got to see the chess match really unfold and teams got better, teams got worse, everybody got hurt or had guys out. So just like the chess match that happened, like I felt like as your first year in the Jill VC, I got to know, I got to know some coaching tendencies and some guy's styles pretty well, and they probably feel like they got to they got to know mine a little bit well. So it's gonna be exciting to kind of keep those rivalries. I think they're just gonna keep getting stronger here as we as all the programs keep progressing and developing. So I think it's a really exciting time for the conference because you could have anywhere from two, three, four, potentially even five teams that you know could be knocking on the door in that top 20. And um, I think that's that's exciting for Midwest lacrosse, honestly.

SPEAKER_01 27:46

Absolutely. I totally agree. I was just about to say that. I'm hitting the bells because that's like we're talking about quality lacrosse. Every time we say quality lacrosse, we got to hit the bells. And the GLVC has been quite playing quality lacrosse. I mean, you just last year, I know, coach, you had to face four ranked teams within the conference. That's not an easy task. And you know what? You were competitive, man.

SPEAKER_02 28:11

You end up five for a new program. That's that's great.

SPEAKER_00 28:15

Yeah, I mean, it's my it's my first losing season in in my career ten years. So I got high expectations for myself and and for the people around me and and for our kids. So not fun.

SPEAKER_01 28:28

For those in podcast land, coach just had like a sly smirk on his face. Okay, we can't they can't see us, but we have to we have to paint the picture, coach. No, I go ahead. I apologize.

SPEAKER_00 28:40

No, no, I appreciate it. It no, it's it's bittersweet because um somebody told me, you know, we started to build the program, you call a lot of people that you know, and you got a lot of people that have done this before. And somebody told me, you know, hey, you know, you're gonna learn to win, and you're also gonna learn how to lose. And it was really last year there were games that you know come out slow, go down three-nothing in the first four minutes, and you lose 11-8. And you're like, that that's like that's it. You just don't come out ready to go. You can play an 8-8 game for 56 minutes, and it's like, hey, you didn't show up the first four minutes, so sorry. Um, and and there were times where we battled back and had it to a goal, and then you know, a couple caused turnovers, couple transitioned the other way, and you blink, and it was a one-goal game, and now it's a three or four-goal game. So that they're tough lessons, but you have to learn them, honestly. And um, we grew from them, we developed from them, and our mindset coming into the last game was hey, you're playing a team who is nationally ranked this year, and it's May. So most of the times you get to do that, you're playing in the conference tournament, you're playing in the conference championship. So, yeah, we may be four and seven right now, but let's let's grow from this year and let's come into this with a conference championship mindset and a conference championship attitude. Um, and we were able to come away with a W against a really, really well-coached Maryville team. So that was kind of like showed us that, hey, like we really, we really do belong. We've been knocking on the doorstep all year and we needed some validation, and we got it at the end. So it was bittersweet being one game out of the um conference playoffs and not getting the opportunity to compete. But I think that also just made us a little hungrier in the offseason, work a little bit harder, play a little bit more wall ball, lift a little bit more, watch a little bit more film, and just grow because that's kind of been the concept here from year one is you know why we scheduled Mercy Hurst in our second game in program history is we wanted to grow. We we didn't fight that growth process. We embraced it that if we want to be a team like that, we got to play teams like that and see what it really is. So this whole thing has been has been a growth process, but not really getting to control your schedule in the 2021 season was just adversity. That's like, okay, let's do it. We get to play. These teams are all awesome, let's go. And um, we just embraced that challenge and that opportunity. And and um, you know, I can't, you know, can't speak high enough about the coaches in our conference, just communicating on a daily and weekly basis about the protocols and about what we had to do and being flexible and and having the conversation. And we were really the first conference to commit to that um conference-only schedule, and people thought we were crazy when we did it, and then they all did it three months later. So that was that was the reason we were playing games on February 5th when no one else was, because we were organized, we communicated, we had great leadership amongst the coaches in our conference, and I think that's really important for not only us to compete nationally and to show teams what we can do nationally, which we will get to do this year in our out-of-conference schedule, but also for us to just continue our growth as the conference and the growth in the Midwest, and you know, to be putting the most competitive product on the field possible.

SPEAKER_02 32:02

Yeah, I was gonna mention that, coach, that you look at your out-of-conference schedule. You mentioned Mercyhurst, but you open up after your scrimmages with Seaton Hill. I mean, you're coming out of the gates like, okay, we're coming to play and we're gonna play against the best. And I'm sure your team is really excited about that and the stretch beyond the GLBC, right? What what do you what is your team thinking about that?

SPEAKER_00 32:25

Yeah, couldn't be more excited about that opportunity. Coach Novotny uh is a guy I have a ton of respect for and um honestly look up to what he he's doing. What I'm you know, he's already done what I'm trying to do. He built SeatMill from the ground up into a national contender. Um so him just kind of understanding what it's like to be a young coach with a young team and trying to compete on a national scale and giving us the opportunity. Um, I really appreciate that. And the same goes to Coach Ryan at Mercyhurst. Like those guys understand what it's like to build a young program and understand what it's like to be in my shoes. So to just give us that, appreciate it. But yeah, I mean, I think we've we've always tried to do that. My first year we opened with Lake Erie. Um, my and that was um a great tough test to start your you know, your existence with. And then last year the conference rolled the dice, and it was like, oh, okay, you're playing indie, best team in the conference, returning champs on the road at indie. So it's like, okay, let's let's go and do that. Um, and that was a lot of adversity for both teams, but we learned a lot and grew from that experience. So I feel like we've been able to motivate our guys by playing a big game all January in that preseason of like, hey, you know what's coming. You know we're opening up with like you can't have a bad day, you can't have an off day. Like we're already young, we're already trying to play catch up. We need every day. So, like, I think there's a sense of urgency as soon as we get back because it's like, hey, we understand that not a lot of people are really giving us a chance here. So if we're gonna try to do something, we got to be organized, we got to be disciplined, and we got to make every day count, and we got to make it happen no matter what what comes our way, because adversity is gonna come, how we handle it's probably gonna really dictate how successful we are.

SPEAKER_01 34:11

That's good stuff, coach. Let's talk about some of your players, you know. Uh let's talk about um Drew Andre and what's it? How do you pronounce his last name? Thomas Purefierst? Purefierst?

SPEAKER_00 34:24

Yeah, Tommy's no longer with us in our program, but uh super excited about some of the guys we've brought in, some of the guys that we're bringing back. Drew Andre is actually one of the first commits in the entire program's history. So he literally committed to the program when nobody was committed to the program. So he's been quite literally the first the first flyer in history. So his growth. Wow, that's good. Yeah, his growth and

excited

SPEAKER_00 34:51

development has been exciting, along with Nolan Belete on the left side for us. Um so we have some guys that grew a lot in their freshman year. Um, Jack Stone, and um, we had a transfer, Hunter Leprino from Belmont Abbey from my alma mater, and um, you know, he tore his ACL senior year of high school, tore his ACL's first year at Belmont. So his sophomore year with us was really like his first full year competing since junior year in high school. So that was like a big growth process for him, and he's been an incredible leader in our program. So we're really excited about some of the transfers we've brought in. We're really excited about how they've grown in our program, some last year, some this year. Um, probably one of the best freshman class I've ever been around, you know, doing optional stuff. They're showing up to film sessions, they want to get extra work in. Coach, can you leave the lights on later? Can we leave the ball buckets out? Um just that's what we that's what we talk about in the recruiting process. We basically tell our kids how hard it's gonna be. We try to make it harder than any other program, and we want players who are gonna embrace that grind and not want the easy route. So we've got some grinders here that are coming up, and um we're super excited about that. And and really the leadership on the defensive end with Sam Kern, um, our goalie group, Josh Calvin and Raya Rath here are both outstanding. And um, it's just a really fun group to be around um with how they just approach learning and and how close-knit they are. So we're excited. You're gonna see some new names, some new faces this year that uh I'll I'll let come out when the time is needs to come out. But um we're excited about those guys and and how they've been doing for us and potentially adding some guys at the mid-year as well. So I think that we're we're gonna be different, but that's part of building the program is you know it's it's a constant growth phase, and you're gonna have guys that are are on board and with it the whole way, and there's guys that are gonna be like, wow, you were right, coach. This this is pretty tough. So just kind of building through that and trying to establish culture was something that was really valuable to us, and we had good players kind of come and go from our program, not necessarily just a parting away is not necessarily a bad thing, but just wasn't the right fit. And that's part of the struggle and building a program is like what is the right fit? What is a Lewis kid? Who who will do well here? So each year I think we get a firmer grip on what that looks like and who would who would work well with us, and we try to surround ourselves with like-minded people. So, as we're doing that, it doesn't surprise me that each class is a little bit read more ready to go because I think each class fits the mold a little bit more because we know what the mold is a little bit more as we get going with this.

SPEAKER_01 37:42

Right, right, right. Well, sounds great.

SPEAKER_02 37:44

Yeah, coach, we just want to thank you for coming on and talking with us. Uh great to hear about Lewis and what you're doing there, as well as kind of your insights into the GLVC. Um, really tough competition. Excited to see where you guys are gonna go. First out of conference, and then what you do. Like you said, you guys were within about three or four goals against every team in the GLVC, those four top-ranked teams that were ranked nationally, right? So it'll be fun to watch you guys this year and see what you guys can do.

SPEAKER_00 38:18

For sure. And and the fun part is I think some of these out-of-conference matchups, you're gonna see we go out there and play some of these teams. You're gonna see Rockers do it too, you're gonna see Indy do it too. Um, you know, you're gonna see Lyndon Wood go go in the South and same with Maryville and stuff. So it's gonna be kind of interesting to see how we fare against them and how they fare against you know, the the Mercyhurst and Seton Hills, and and um, and then how that kind of shakes out because a lot of the time your team is a lot a lot different come conference than they are in some of those early February matchups. So that's kind of the the reason we love playing those big games, and I think probably a lot of the other coaches do too, is because it's just you learn a lot about your team early on and what you really need to do and what your weaknesses are and what your strengths are when you're playing those teams that are really good. So I think it just allows you as a coach to continue that growth process at a higher rate because you're a little more familiar with with who you are and what you're doing. So it's gonna be a great opportunity for this conference to show what they can do on a national scale with some of those teams in the in the GMAC and some of those teams in the SAC and Conference Carolinas that we see every year in the in the conference tournament and in the sunshine. You know, it's gonna be exciting to see how we can how we can fare against those teams because obviously those teams have have uh you know great pedigree and been there and done that. And and for us as a growing conference, you know, um you know, having a year where we can send two teams to the tournament and and having a year where there's two or three teams in that conversation and the regionalization and and some of those conversations, like that's what that's what we're looking for from the southern region. And so for us, I think that that would be really the next step for this conference um to get on that national scale is to get local.

SPEAKER_01 40:08

I think you're right there. I mean, I mean, maybe not a maybe not a everybody knows about what's going on out west, you know, and especially in that GLVC. Um, Kevin and I know. We know, we see, we we we do our homework, we see what they do. I watch the games. I I you know if they're streaming it's Tuesday afternoon, they have a game, I'm home from work, I'm watching the game. And the GLVC uh is a really impressive conference to me because they're gonna travel and they're gonna come play the big dogs from the other conferences, and they've all been competitive. And you've been competitive too, even in conference. Uh and you played uh four big dogs, you know, you indies, no joke. That team's legit. And you know, you had Maryville, Lindenwood, and Rockhurst. I mean, those those teams can all ball out. And coach, you your team was right there with them. And now that you have these freshmen and sophomores, they got some NCAA time under their belt now. You know, now they're a little bit more seasoned, and it's only going to get better from here. Coach, I really appreciate you taking the time for coming on with us tonight. And uh, Kevin and I and the boys from In the Grease, we wish you nothing but the best this season. And uh hopefully you get to come back and uh we'll talk some more sometime. What do you say?

SPEAKER_00 41:25

I would I would love to. I appreciate you guys for having me on and getting to talk about uh the GLBC and and our program at Lewis. And again, just thanks for what you guys are doing for D2. I think it's incredible, and and uh just giving a lot of teams and a lot of coaches and programs just the exposure that they deserve. You know, we we definitely appreciate that.

SPEAKER_01 41:44

Oh, it's been fun for us, coach. Thanks so much, everybody. Joe Peruzzi, Lewis University Flyers. Thank you so much. We'll see you next time. Thanks.

SPEAKER_02 41:55

Danny, I really like Coach's attitude of he's got that attitude of, hey, if we want to be the best, we can't back down and we need to go and play the best. And I think really, in a lot of ways, that's indicative of most of the conference and how they're they've built their schedule. And, oh, by the way, how they have to treat everyone in conference because it is a tough conference to play in.

SPEAKER_01 42:20

Yeah, Coach Peruzzi from Lewis was uh was awesome tonight. I love his enthusiasm. I love I like I like that blue collarness. I like that frank, you know, hey, no sugar coating kind of guy. I like those kind of guys, and I could see myself being a player for him, being amped up. I could see him amping his team up. I think um Lewis is a team that's trending upwards, even though they're young, but uh, I don't know, man. I just something about this coach and something about what he's doing. And and he was a great guest tonight. Great guest.

SPEAKER_02 42:55

Yeah, I also thought what he said about the communication and coordination among the coaches shows uh why that conference is near the top and why they're gunning uh for more than one team in the NC2As.

SPEAKER_01 43:08

Well, you know, that's a conference that's sticking together. And uh, you know, birds of a feather flock together and you want to be in the same conference, and you want those guys on your side, even though you're going to battle with them once or twice a year. You know, and and but at the end of the day, those are the guys that you aspire to and they all respect each other and they're all friends, and it's a great conference kicker. Kevin, it's the conference that's scary the most. Like I said, if you're a team, you know, and you've got you know a GLBC squad on your schedule, you you better strap it up because it's common. It's it's common. You know, seat get your seat belts on. It's gonna be a game. They play physical out there, they play fast. You know, Undy's a fast team, Lindenwood's a fast and you know, physical team. Meryville was a physical and fast team. You know, it's just they're a good, it's a great conference. I think it's the most up and coming conference in Division II right now.

SPEAKER_02 44:08

Yeah, I don't think there's much else to say. I think we've covered it most. So for now, Danny, I think that's a wrap for In the Crease with Danny and Kevin.

SPEAKER_01 44:17

It was a good one tonight.

SPEAKER_02 44:18

That's a wrap. It's been great. And just subscribe and spread the word. Have a good night, Danny.

SPEAKER_01 44:27

Good night, Kevin. We'll see you next time.