Conference Previews for the 2024 season - GMAC

Intro

SPEAKER_01 1:16

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 Stentrum, and with me as always is the John McClain of D2 Lacrosse. Hey Danny, how's it going? John McLean, you got me. It's Christmas holiday reference for our Christmas episode. Die Hard. This strips, you got it. So I could have gone with a more obvious one like Buddy the Elf or George Bailey, but you are much more a diehard leading man type character. You know what I'm saying? Taking out Nakatomi Tower and screaming Yippie Kaye. That's the kind of guy you are.

SPEAKER_03 2:01

No, I'm more Jimmy Stewart, man. Merry Christmas, everybody. Merry Christmas pole. Merry Christmas tree. I think I relate more to Jimmy Stewart than I think you can go both ways.

SPEAKER_01 2:17

It just all depends on the day, right?

SPEAKER_03 2:18

Uh well, thank you so much for that, Kevin. I appreciate it. On this uh Christmas week, I'm having fun. It's like we're having a cocktail already. Uh, how are you doing tonight in Northern Virginia?

SPEAKER_01 2:29

Well, it's definitely Christmas. That's all I want to say, is we're a few days away from it as we record this on the 19th of December. Uh, so yeah, we're all the family's all home. Uh, my my daughter got home from college today. My our oldest got home this weekend from his uh PhD program at the University of Pittsburgh. So we've got uh we're no longer empty nesters. It's a lot of fun having the kids home.

SPEAKER_03 2:51

A couple of elves are home, right? Just missing Ronan now. Just missing Ronan.

SPEAKER_01 2:56

And how's he doing? How's he doing? He is doing really well. He's doing well. He's he's uh in leadership positions there in uh basic military training. We get to go see him graduate at the beginning of January.

SPEAKER_03 3:06

So that's great. That's great.

SPEAKER_01 3:08

It's all good. Awesome.

GMAC Preview

SPEAKER_01 3:10

So now, but let's move on. This week we get to preview a conference that is growing, Danny, by leaps and bounds.

SPEAKER_03 3:18

Good conference. It's a good conference, guys.

SPEAKER_01 3:19

It is, and we're talking about the great Midwest Athletic Conference, the GMAC. Now up to nine teams, would have been 10, except Alders and Bradis closed their doors, and they grow by two more next year, Danny.

SPEAKER_03 3:35

Yeah, yeah. Great, it's a great conference. It's good, right? You know, it's doing good things.

SPEAKER_01 3:41

Where do you want to start?

SPEAKER_03 3:43

Where do you think we should start? Well, let's champs.

SPEAKER_01 3:47

Let's do that. Okay. Mercyhurst Lakers.

SPEAKER_03 3:51

The Lakers of Mercyhurst from Erie, Pennsylvania Cavs, where they're located. New head coach this year, Trey Keely. Yeah. We we had him on the show. He was phenomenal. A lot of excitement out of it.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

He even knows he's filling big shoes with Coach Ryan leaving, and also Chris Ryan taking his assistant, Coach O'Hagan, with him to Mount St. Mary's.

SPEAKER_03 4:13

Yeah, but he he's got a good team. He's got a good team. He's coming into a really darn good program, Kevin.

SPEAKER_01 4:20

Right, right. And like he told us, he's not looking to change things to change it. He's looking to see how he can make them improve. And I think the team is going to, that resonates with the team because even though they were 16-3 last year, 6-1 in conference, they have a bad taste in the mouth on how they played in the championship. And that was not indicative of them as a team. No. And their ability whatsoever. If you look at who they how they had to get there, they beat St. A's, then Lemoyne to get there. And then they also beat Seton Hill in the GMAC finals.

SPEAKER_03 4:57

So they they beat number six Wingate last year. They beat number three Mercy last year, St. A's, Le Moine. They had a great season. Yeah. They beat some really, really, really good teams.

SPEAKER_01 5:09

Yeah. And the other thing that Coach Keeley did is he hired uh Nathan Reichel as the assistant. He was a volunteer assistant at Mercy Hearst, and now he's helping bring consistency to support uh Coach Keeley.

SPEAKER_03 5:21

Yeah, yeah. So they lose a couple of big boys though, Kevin. Yeah. Sean Duran. Sean Duran, face-off guy. Brett Only.

SPEAKER_01 5:31

Brett Only. Talk about losing on special teams right there. Your face-off specialist and your goalie. Yeah, yeah. I think those, you know, combat guys, Nicholas May, great guys. Yeah. Great. Those two guys are great on offense. But I think when you lose a Brett Only and a Sean Duran in the same year, Miles, too, man. That's what I'm saying. And then even on, and then on D, they lose Liam Bogodane and Stephen Kat. So, you know, on the offensive side, Ethan Lanymore is coming back and Colin Cardiff. So those are two studs on the offensive side. And then on defense, make Mason maybe Charlie Gleason. And then their short stick D middle's return. These two guys, their starters, Nate Latchaw and Braden McCard. We had a listener DM us last year during the playoffs. And I don't know if it was the tournament, conference tournament or NCA tournament, but he pointed them out to me. And I started watching the tape on them. And they, you know, they don't pull in the stats all the time, but like we've watched other guys, they make the offensive players not be able to shoot with, not get into their lanes, not get to their spots on how they play short stick D-mitting.

SPEAKER_03 6:44

Yeah, they're they're good. They were solid last year, Kev. Steve Morley comes back, six foot four, LSM. Oh my lord. Yeah. With with a long pole. You can he can reach stuff from like 14 feet away.

SPEAKER_01 6:56

I'm gonna say 25 feet.

SPEAKER_03 6:59

But you know what? Landamore coming back, that's solid. You know, Calgary, Alberta, kid, you know, he had 51 goals and 15 assists last year, along with Miles Hamm putting up big points and Sean Duran getting them the ball all the time. I'm interested to see. I think I think Mercy Hurst will be a very good team again. You know, when you when you take away guys like Olney and and and Sean Durant, Sean Duran a face off was amazing. Yeah. He was amazing. So you know who who he was like 70%. You know, like I know he was amazing. So I don't know, man. I think that they're gonna be a little bit different this year, but you know, they averaged 50 shots a game last year, 40% on their power play. They clear at like they're just solid in every category.

SPEAKER_01 7:47

Yeah, yeah, that's what I had. All their team stats were great. They're always fundamentally sound, this team, and that's not gonna go away. So they have pieces returning, like you said, and they are gonna be very tough in conference and be vying forward at the end. It'll be interesting to see what they can do at the level they usually are at, competing for the NCAAs uh this year with all those changes. And I'm not just talking the coach. They lost some key pieces in their players, and other guys are just gonna have to step up.

SPEAKER_03 8:20

Yeah, you know, I think you're gonna see a different look, Mercy Hurst Lakers, this year. You know, Mercy Hurst in the past has had phenomenal defenses where they get after it. Big boys back there, beating the snot out of guys. They had some big boys. I told a story once, I'll tell it a hundred times. They got off the bus the first time I saw Mercy Hurst. I thought it was a damn football team. They are big boys at Mercy Hurst. So I think with with Coach Keely there, you know, he was talking about how they need to learn his verbiage, and there was some things that, you know, that they had to stop doing and kind of do like a classroom type thing. And and you know, it might be a little bit different. I think we're gonna see a new look on the Mercy Hearst Lakers team. I think they're gonna be good. I think you could be right. But I think we're gonna have a new look. I think it's gonna have a different twist this year. So I'm interested to see. They have a great out of conference schedule. That's gonna test them in big time.

SPEAKER_01 9:18

Huge wingate, you indie, Wilmington, Frostburg, St. A's, Lewis, and Mercy. And Mercy comes later in the season, April 21st.

SPEAKER_03 9:29

Yeah, I mean, that's that's an insane out of conference schedule. That's a lot of RPI there. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:38

And I think you know if if you're right, and with these changes, it may take they may stumble a little bit to begin with until they get their their feet underneath them in the season. It's one thing going through fallball and then practice in the spring season. But when you start off with Wingate and U Windy, they open up against Wingate, don't they?

SPEAKER_03 9:57

Yeah, yes. That's gonna that's a huge test. And you know, Wingate's gonna want to. They lost to him last year. They want a little revenge.

SPEAKER_01 10:06

Mercy Hearst beat him last year, and I think it was their first game and Wingate's second game.

SPEAKER_03 10:10

Yeah, I think you're right. So I think Wingate, the dogs, you know, I think they're gonna look to get a little retribution. I expected them. That should be some game. That and that's a great test for Mercy Hurst out of the gate.

SPEAKER_01 10:22

100%. 100%. Okay. How about Seton Hill, the Griffins?

SPEAKER_03 10:28

Yeah, I like this team, Kev. Always kind of like Seton Hill. They're an exciting team. They're like a roller coaster. You don't know which direction they're going. You got to hold on for dear life, man. But Coach Novotny does an amazing job there. You know, they're in Greenberg, Pennsylvania, the Seton Hill grips. It was 12-5 last year and 7-0 in conference.

SPEAKER_01 10:50

Yeah. Yeah, they lost to Undy by one and Mercy by three. And they also lost to Mount Olive in Tampa, which Tampa, okay. Mount Olive was, we've talked about this. We talked about this when we did the Conference Carolinas preview. That was a little bit of a little bit of a hiccup. And I think it was a little bit of both. I mean, Mount Olive came to play, Seton Hill wasn't up to their usual task in that game.

SPEAKER_03 11:14

In that particular game, but you know, and the they're they're a good team. They were in it all year.

SPEAKER_01 11:20

Yeah, they beat Frostburg in overtime and North Greenville as well as Mercy Hirst in the regular season. So Yeah. That was the only thing. Yeah. And and so, you know, we do this. We ask the coaches if they can provide us their comments on their team coming up this year and who they're looking at, who who they're returning players, key additions, what they think, etc. This is the second year that Coach Navantley has provided it, and he always gives us a great quote. This is what he said this year, Danny. Practice and scrimmages have been really good, certainly reinforcing what we have seen from the team. But here's the good quote: this group suffered some disappointing close losses last year to good teams. Speaking bluntly, we are sick of that BS. Focus is on a conference championship and a return trip to Final Four weekend. It's been too long. You don't tell me that he's gonna have these guys hungry for this season with that kind of language to us.

SPEAKER_03 12:23

You know what? I thought I, you know, Seton Hill's a tough, tough squad, Kev. Every time I watched Seton Hill, I was like, they're a good team, man. I watched the Mercy game last year against Seton Hill. I watched a couple of, you know, I just they're a good squad, man.

SPEAKER_01 12:41

They got some good two years ago, they seemed inconsistent at times. Last year, they were as the solid as they usually are. There is no just like Mercyhurst, there's really no weakness in the team.

SPEAKER_03 12:55

You're right. You're right. They just Brian Navarney, man, he's a good coach. He knows knows how to get the best out of all those guys on the field.

SPEAKER_01 13:04

And they are coming back stacked. Just look at attack. They've got one, two, three, four, five, six guys who have started over the past two years. Andy Davis, Peyton Gensler, he's a beast. Jack Ellis, Vinny Kuglier, Cogliandro, Andro, Nate Hempster, and Connor Zostan.

SPEAKER_03 13:24

Yeah, Connor Zostan.

SPEAKER_01 13:25

They are so deep there, they're may have to move some of them to MIDI, coach was saying.

SPEAKER_03 13:31

And guys got like Blake Morrow and Carter Green, who got a lot of run last year at MIDI. They might have a little bit more playtime this year and might be a little bit more relied upon. And Blake's, I think, is going to be a junior or a senior. He's been around a couple of years. So he's got he's got the he's got you know what it takes to step up into one of those positions. You know, one of those players is gonna have to step up.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

Right. Well, the only person, the only player at midfield they're losing is Jeremy Sforza. Right. Now, that's a huge loss. Yes, it is. Huge loss for them. But they've got, like you said, Carter Green, uh, Caden Granberg coming back. Um, and so, and then on short stick D midi, their two starters, Cage Williams and Justin Dean, return. Two of the best.

SPEAKER_03 14:18

Yeah, but they lose their goalie, Josh, uh, Josh Miller.

SPEAKER_01 14:22

Yeah, and so here's the deal: this is the first time in a few years they're gonna have to start a goalie, break in and a goalie with no starting experience. And Coach says they haven't made a decision yet. They they have a very competitive group, Junior, Drew Dalard, sophomore Will Cody, and Richard Freshman Camroad are all making the decision way tough, he says. But that's gonna be a little bit of a change without having experience in the cage for them, like they usually do. And how does that affect their games? It could be fine. It could be that a guy steps in and does fine, you know, but yeah, big shoots to fill there. Now, face-off, junior Mark Strunk returns. He was at 58% last year. They've got an on Daga transfer, Cullen Kirchner, and Imama transfer Jared Chance, along with junior Jazak Pettit, all really pushing each other. So they got a strong face-off room, too.

SPEAKER_03 15:18

Yeah, they're they're a good team, Kev. You know, they're out of conference schedules pretty good this year. They play Malloy, RW, Chestnut Hill, U Indy. Mercy's back on the schedule with them. Those guys get after it.

SPEAKER_01 15:33

That's a good schedule. That's a good mix for them. Yep. Not not an easy game whatsoever.

SPEAKER_03 15:39

No, Malloy, like we talked about Malloy already. They're going to be a much improved team. We know how good RW is. They're a solid squad.

SPEAKER_01 15:46

And then Chestnut Hill.

SPEAKER_03 15:47

Chestnut Hill. You know, this what this is one statistic that sh stood out to me when I was looking up stuff. They had 272 goals last year, and 163 of them were assisted. That's a balanced squad. Yeah. You know, they're the getting guys are getting looks and getting and dishing dimes and getting easy looks by passing the ball. And that's fundamentals, Kev. And that comes from coaching. You know what I'm saying? So like exactly. That's a that's a really good stat. This is a team that's gonna move the ball well, they're gonna move the ball quickly, they have multiple scorers, they can score from attack, they can score from midfield, you know, their defense is solid. They're just gonna be a really tough out. No matter who plays Seton Hill, you better bring your A game because these guys can ball.

SPEAKER_01 16:42

Yeah, and they bring back so much depth across the board, except for goalie.

SPEAKER_03 16:51

Yeah, and it looks like they're gonna they'll be all right in goalie, it looks like. And they had some solid, solid categories last year. They averaged 53 shots a game, man. That's a lot. Yeah. You know, you get over. Yeah, you can't. You get over 45, 47, 48 shots a game. That's you're getting up there.

SPEAKER_01 17:12

Yeah, man. You're getting I think the only team I see higher, there's a couple teams I've seen in the 50s. The only one that I know of that's I think higher is Colorado Mesa. But you get at the that that 50 range and you're putting the ball at the net a lot of times.

SPEAKER_03 17:28

Yeah, yeah. And a lot of pressure on goalies. Yep. Yep. So I I expect Season Hills to be one of the, you know, they they could be in a championship for the GMAC easy. I think they're gonna be a ranked team preseason. They're one of the top 10, 15 teams in the country.

SPEAKER_01 17:45

Yeah. Okay, let's move on to Lake Erie Storm. Here's a team that if you look at their overall record last year, 7-9, you say, eh. But they are a tough team to play. They went five and two in conference.

SPEAKER_03 18:02

Gave Mercyhurst the game of their life. Mercyhurst was lucky to get out of there with that.

SPEAKER_01 18:08

Yeah. Well, they started off slow losing the first four games, but they had three or four one goal games. And like you said, they scared Mercyhurst and they only lost a Seaton Hill by three. Three is like in in in lacrosse. That's close to that's a tight game.

unknown 18:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:28

Close enough. Close enough. You know, some of their scorers though have graduated, Kev. Some of their top scores are gone.

SPEAKER_01 18:37

Yeah, well, they they get Dawson and Kindle back, but they lose Brendan Luthard, who had 39 goals and and 12 assists. But Kevin Albright's returning with 36 goals and seven assists. So and he and Dawson are are both grad students. So they're bringing senior leadership on the offensive side.

SPEAKER_03 18:59

Joey Ellison and Billy Coglin. These guys are gonna have to step up a little bit. I think they're gonna get a little bit more run this year on the offensive side. Uh, you know, Coach Sam Ashton uh does a great job with this Lake Erie storm. They've been improving year after year. Two years ago, one might have been a little bit of a lower year. Last year, they improved on that record. Yeah. And um, you know, they they got a good squad. And like again, it was seven and nine, like you said, which is like you're like, eh, but they went five and two in conference.

SPEAKER_01 19:30

Yeah, exactly. And I think, you know, so we talked about the offense. You look at Graham Lovestead and and senior Garrett Brockmark coming back on D along with junior Colin Farrell. Their D looks solid. So I think they're pretty balanced on both sides of the field.

SPEAKER_03 19:48

And uh pretty deep at at goalie. Noah back uh Noah Beckett Beckett, yeah, and Gavin Conlin saw 147 minutes last year between the pipes. Kenny Schumbert.

SPEAKER_01 19:59

Noah Beckman Beckett was only a freshman last year. Yeah, yeah. He was 49%. We say, okay, he wants he wants to get that better. I guarantee it, but he was only a freshman.

SPEAKER_03 20:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:10

So you've got to expect him to improve.

SPEAKER_03 20:14

Their main problem last year, I think, was was possession time. They they they lose the ball a lot. They didn't have the ball a lot of minutes. You know what I mean? They'd get possession and either take quick shots or or lose possession. That was a problem, I think, a little bit. And turnovers last year. They had a lot of turnovers last year, Kev. So this was a team that probably could do a little bit better by uh, you know, better ball keeping.

SPEAKER_01 20:43

Yeah, and I I'll tell you, I think they've got the senior leadership on both sides of the ball that I I think they're over a 500 team this year. I I I I see them I see them pushing Mercy Hearst and Seaton Hill. I think those games are gonna be tight.

SPEAKER_03 21:01

I thought they were gonna be a 500 team last year. Yeah, you know, overall. I you know, to be honest with you. Did you see their out-of-conference schedule? It's pretty good.

SPEAKER_01 21:10

Yeah, it's very good. Lewis, Undy, DeUville, Davenport, Wilmington, and Frostburg.

SPEAKER_03 21:18

That's a damn tough out-of-conference schedule for the Storm. And good test, and a good test. You know, if the Storm wants to take that next step, this is what they got to do. They got to play teams like Lewis and Undy and Frostburg.

SPEAKER_01 21:33

Well, I'll tell you exactly right. So we looked at Mercy, we talked about Mercer's first two games, Wingate and Undy. Lake Erie's got the same thing with Lewis and Undy. It's a tough test for them to start off. But I think they're going to want to get more wins here and they're out of confidence. Yeah. I think they are poised this year with the team they've got. They I I don't see a team well, I think Lewis and you Wendy are going to be tough, but I think the the rest of them, the Uville, Davenport, Wilmington, and Frostburg, they're going to they match up really well. And those are going to be tough games. And they've got a very good shot at going like four and two. I agree with you. If not better. I mean, they could scare Lewis or you, Wendy.

SPEAKER_03 22:19

Like I said, they gave Mercyhurst a game, and it was freezing cold. It was a night game. And I'm telling you right now, Lake Erie played out of their minds. And you could see the concern in Mercyhurst that game. You could see it at the end. You could see the urgency.

SPEAKER_01 22:36

You could see it in Coach Ryan on the on the sidelines.

SPEAKER_03 22:39

Even with all that that gear on, because it was cold that game. I remember he called a timeout, and it was like, I don't know, about six minutes left in the game. He called a timeout. He came out of that timeout and they had scored and brought it within like two. And then Lake Erie scored again and made it like a three, two, one goal game. And it was, it was like really intense, especially the last like seven minutes of the game. And then Mercyhurst wound up getting two goals and made it a three-goal game. But Lake Erie, I'm telling you, man, they gave Mercy Hearst a game. And that gives a team confidence. Right. Like, God, you know, we were there. We were there. You know, one more ground ball, you know, one, you know, one extra pass. You know what I mean? That's how close they were for knocking off like the number three team in the country.

SPEAKER_01 23:29

Yeah. So cook Coach Ashton brings them in this year and it says, look at guys, this is our game this time.

SPEAKER_03 23:35

Right. And what's not for them to believe that they can't do it.

SPEAKER_01 23:39

Exactly. And that's what Lake. Mostly all the same players. I think it'll be really, really interesting to watch from this year and see where they go. I agree. How how far they can climb. Yeah. All right. Let's talk Walsh Cavaliers. They also have a new coach this year, and David Salter. He was the assistant at lander. Right. And uh was the defense corner since 2020. And he also, just like Keely at Mercyhurst, he kept Alex Kungle as the assistant consistency.

SPEAKER_03 24:13

Yeah, Walsh was six and ten and four and three in confidence. Not a bad gear. Not a not great, but not bad. You know.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

Exactly. But you know what's interesting? They actually improved in both categories. Overall wins and conference play last year. You know, if you look at their schedule and you look who they beat, they they beat who you think they should beat, and they lost to who you think they would probably lose to, right? At the point where they were. And I think that's the next step for Walsh, right? Is getting that um to that next level where they beat, they make some surprise, they have some surprise wins.

SPEAKER_03 24:53

Yeah, yeah. You know, they got some good players there. Colby Bauman comes back, six foot 205-pound attackman at a Nanemo, Nanemo, British Columbia. Colby had 33 goals and 17 assists. I'm just glad you said that. Uh is it Nanemo? Nanemo? Nanemo, Nanemo. N-A-N-A-I-M-O, Nanamo, British Columbia. There you go. Definitely Indian, right? Yeah. Um, uh Hudson Donnell, he's a junior. He comes back 6'1, 220-pound attackman out of Chili Whack, British Columbia. I like that. That's a good one. I'm from I'm from Chili Whack, yo. And then uh Adam Timlin comes back in midfield, Westlake, Ohio. He had 27. You know, they're they got some players coming back, but you know what? They got they need they need more players. I only counted 27 on their roster.

SPEAKER_01 25:50

Yeah, yeah. I think that's one of their downsides, is just depth. And we talk about this all the time. You get a few, not only if you even if you don't get injuries, when you've got teams like Mercyhurst and Seton Hill with 50 plus players on their squad that can just come in and give them fresh legs all the time, they just are gonna wear you down.

unknown 26:14

Right.

SPEAKER_01 26:15

So you need a little more depth. I know that's one of the things that Coach Salter is looking at uh as he moves forward. But they also they have a pretty good out-of-conference this year. Yeah. In fact, for them, it's it's daunting. Roberts Wesley and UND Lewis, Frostburg, and Davenport.

SPEAKER_03 26:31

And don't they play Diouville too? Uh I didn't they could. I I think they played Diouville as well. I might be wrong. I may be wrong. But you know what? Like, for example, like let's like um Seton Hill took 270, had 272 goals last year, okay? As compared to Walsh, only had 181 goals. You know, and they gave up. No, they had 180 goals and they gave up 181. Isn't that a that's an amazing stat? Yeah. It's like one goal, but you know, it's they need they need players, Kev. They need some help a little bit. I think they need some depth.

SPEAKER_01 27:20

Yeah, no, their team stats weren't too bad. I mean, face off at 50%, um, clear at 81%. Now, the man up is what needs improvement at 26%. But yeah, yeah. But I I think you're right. I think the the key is getting depth in players and and being able to build from there. Now, the coach Salter, you know, he's trying to rebuild the culture. He even said he's trying to make it fun again for some of these players. As you remember when we talked to us on the coaching changes, he actually has some players coming back that were on the team before that quit the team but are now back under this new regime. So maybe that's that's something to look at, and maybe that's going to help them, maybe not totally this year, but in years to come.

SPEAKER_03 28:04

My one big note that I really have for this team is actually what I wrote is down not a bad team could use bodies and players and subs because this team starts out great in games and get gassed at the end. Yeah. And they and they can't hold on to to to win some of these games that are winnable for them if they just have some more bodies. So, hey, Cavaliers, not a bad season last year. Let's see what Coach Salter can do with the boys. And uh he's in the GMAC, so you know it's not gonna be easy. It's cold when this season starts up there, you know, out there.

SPEAKER_01 28:42

Yeah, exactly. So all right. Well, let's move on then to the new kid on the block last year, the Malone Pioneers in Canton, Ohio, right next to Walsh.

SPEAKER_03 28:55

Yeah, head coach Mike Campbell, Canton, Ohio. Won seven and eight last year. Not bad, huh?

SPEAKER_01 29:04

Seven and eight in your first year?

SPEAKER_03 29:06

For first year program, not too bad. But they did go one and six in conference. Okay. When they when they had to really win games in conference, they they didn't do it. Their signature win, though, was a 10-9 win over Thomas More.

SPEAKER_01 29:22

Yeah, but they all and they also beat Felician last year. That's right. They did. That's right. As well as De Uville and Lise McCrae. But I the surprise for me was probably Felician out of all those. Uh, you know, with Lees McCrae still trying to build De Uville being a new program that was in their second year last year. Right. Um, but hats off to them for what they did. You know, and I the interesting thing is they've got some studs on offense, Danny. Talon Heath, are you kidding me? It's a beast. Zach Smarjasso?

SPEAKER_03 29:54

Yep, we used to call his name Smargasso, right? Smargasso.

SPEAKER_01 30:00

Just yeah, Talon had 51 goals and 25 assists last year.

SPEAKER_03 30:04

You know where he's from? Elk River, Minnesota. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:10

Yeah, and he was a transfer from Lewis, as I recall.

SPEAKER_03 30:12

Yeah, and Smargasso was freshman of the year in GMAC and a third team all GMAC as a as a as a freshman last year, right?

SPEAKER_01 30:21

Was he a freshman?

SPEAKER_03 30:22

Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:23

So Talon Heath was, I think, a sophomore coming in. Zach was a was a freshman. Then you got other guys like Ramsey, Bernard, Kenny Kaiser, and Nolan Winter. All of them giving over 30 goals apiece. I mean, maybe they are it what does that tell you, too, that they share the rock.

SPEAKER_03 30:42

Yeah. Talon had two six-goal games and a nine-goal game. That's insane. I know. Like he was first team all G Mac. He was they, he's a stud, man. And like you said, Smar Gasso and Ramsey Bernard and their face-off specialist, Micah Pennington, was at 41%. You know, not too bad. You know, the Malone, the Malone Pioneers, they came out charging.

SPEAKER_01 31:12

Yeah, they and then and on defense, they had solid guys with solid stats. They got three guys with over 20 ground balls. Michael Davis at D, Caleb Selby at LSM, and Cody Burgard at at D. And in in double-digit cost turnovers as well. All three of them.

SPEAKER_03 31:31

Yeah. Yep. Now they know they did some pretty good things. I mean, they were averaging 41 shots a game. Their man up was at 39%. That's not too shabby. No. No, that's pretty solid. And they were clearing at an 81%. You know, that's like that's among the best in the in the country.

SPEAKER_01 31:52

Yeah, you get above 80%, you're good. I, you know, obviously the really top teams are at 80, 88%, look around there, a little bit above, but 81% for your first year with a small roster, which is usually what we see is that clears along with ground balls and turnovers are what really are difficult in your first year program with us with a small roster. But their stats were not bad last year.

SPEAKER_03 32:18

No, coach Campbell did a really, really good job with them. And I think with these boys coming back and having that year under their belt, and I think the pioneers are gonna they're gonna improve. Let's see if they can be a 500 team.

SPEAKER_01 32:30

Yeah, well, if they brought in, which I'm sure they did, because they're the roster's not out yet for this year, the 2024 roster's not out, they brought in more depth that can mesh with the guys that are there, they could really scare some teams in the conference this year.

SPEAKER_03 32:45

Yeah, I totally agree with that. They're not a team to look over, you know, in conference. If you're facing Malone, you gotta say, hey man, they got Talon Heath, they got Smargasa, they got like all the GMAC, they got all GMAC kids on that squad. Like, you know, it's it's you better step it up. They have a decent amount of conference schedule. Did you see it?

SPEAKER_01 33:09

Yep, they play uh it just came out. So uh Scad, Savannah, Shorter, William Jewell, Quincy, Davenport, Frostburg, and Deuville.

SPEAKER_03 33:19

And Voss State. Don't they play Voss State too? Uh I think they play Virginia State. It's their first year.

SPEAKER_01 33:29

We didn't talk about them. We gotta talk about them. They do play Virginia State. You are correct.

SPEAKER_03 33:34

Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_01 33:35

I missed them. All right. So, all right. Well that I mean, like I said, they can scare some teams. Like you said, no one can discount them.

SPEAKER_03 33:46

They played some quality lacrosse last year, Kath.

SPEAKER_01 33:53

I was waiting for that, Bell. Just waiting for it. It's been a while. It has, it has.

SPEAKER_03 33:59

Okay, well, let's see what let's see what Coach Campbell and the and the Pioneers can do this year. See if they can win at least another game in conference. That would be an improvement. And if they can get to five 500, that's amazing for a second year program. It is, it is.

SPEAKER_01 34:13

Okay, how about Davis and Elkins? Davis and Elkins. They were three and fourteen last year and two and five in conference.

SPEAKER_03 34:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:30

So they uh they beat Alders and Bradis, Thomas Moore, and Malone. But they still the work is still cut out for them. They now have another new coach, Lee Tester. He took over from Michael Zadroga, who was only there for one year after taking over for Coach Buzzard. So they have had a lot of turnover, but Lee Tester comes in with a great, great attitude, and I think he'll bring stability to this program, but it's gonna take some time. Their roster, though, is improving. If you remember a couple years ago, Danny, their roster was in the teens. Yeah. And now they're at 37.

SPEAKER_03 35:10

Yeah, but some of their players aren't coming back. They had some transfer to out and some graduates.

SPEAKER_01 35:16

Yeah. Yeah. So you're right. They lose. In fact, they lose their top three scores.

SPEAKER_03 35:22

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:23

So Tyler Kalodka, Nolan Morrison, and Austin Dirks.

SPEAKER_03 35:27

Right.

SPEAKER_01 35:28

They've got some guys coming back that are graduate from the defensive side. Uh Travis Scala senior, Jacob Morenko, graduate, Robert Stevenson on graduate, who really anchor their D. And that's what Lee Coach Tester was saying. He's got some guys that are really helping out from uh a seniority leadership. But I tell you, I think it's still going to be tough. It's a learning and growing year for them.

SPEAKER_03 35:53

Yeah, Davis and Elkins. The Senators need some help, man. They're just, they they just need help, Kev. Very young, a lot of freshmen and sophomores last year. Um they were outscored. They were only 25% on man up. They're only 31% on their faceoff. You know, they they they need to they need help. They need some.

SPEAKER_01 36:15

Yeah, now now the I they're out of conference, I think, is good for them this year. They've got UDC, Felicia, Holy Family, AIC, and Virginia State. That's perfect for them. That's perfect for them. Right. And, you know, then they'll they'll have to go into the GMAC, into the conference, and it's gonna be, like I said, I think it's tough sledding for them, but I'll tell you, I love Coach Tester's attitude. And I think he, if he and he's willing to stay, he's already told me he's here there, he's there for stability. He's there to stay there for a while. He's not planning to move. So, you know, he came from Aldison Broughtis, and he even met it, like he said, Davison Elkins is in much better financial condition than Allison Broughtis was. They're committed more to the program because they can be.

unknown 37:01

Right.

SPEAKER_01 37:01

And so, you know, give them time. Yeah let's see what how how scrappy they can be this year.

SPEAKER_03 37:07

Yeah, well, it's like you said, a lot of turnover at the head coaching position, which changes culture, which changes attitude, which changes changes a lot of things. And if you know, if you're a young guy or let's say you're a freshman sophomore player, you're on your third coach already, you know, it's like, oh, gotta learn a new, it's kind of it's it's an uphill battle, is what I'm trying to say.

SPEAKER_01 37:27

It is, but what I will, yeah. What I'll tell you though, remember what Coach Tester said that they have morning practices that start at six. And he even asked the guys, do you want to change that to the afternoon or evening? Which is what he would kind of want it to give him support. Right. And to a man, they're like, No, coach, we like this. So the seniors and the graduates got those freshmen conditioned to say, This is how we improve. Yep, and buying in. Buying in. So let's see. Let's see what they can do. Maybe they'll surprise us. That would be really, really cool. I would love to see that.

SPEAKER_03 38:02

Yeah. Three and 14. Ah, that sucks.

SPEAKER_01 38:05

You know, you just you just you're out there fighting, Kevin, you know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:09

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:10

You know. But here's the other West Virginia team, the one that won the West Virginia Cup last year by beating Davison Elkins on Allison Bratis, and that's with the Wheeling Cardinals. They didn't have a bad year. Yeah. They did not.

SPEAKER_03 38:23

Out in West Virginia, wheeling. Gage Bradshaw's coach now.

SPEAKER_01 38:28

Yeah, so he is, yeah, he's going into his third year this year's head coach. So talk about it. You know, he was he came in like halfway through a year. He had been an assistant. He is starting to bring stability to that program.

SPEAKER_03 38:43

Hey, they went five and ten last year and three and four in conference. You know, their signature win was a 16-15 win over Chowan.

unknown 38:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:52

No one expected the wheeling to beat Chowan. I'll tell you that right now. Um, they got some good players coming back. Mike Anderson out of Whitby, Ontario, at 55 goals and nine assists last year. Ty Taylor, another attackman. Uh, he's from Uxbridge, Ontario. 41 goals, 23 assists, but here's the kicker on this kid. Add 30 ground balls to that. Yeah. That's that's pretty impressive. Uh Jacob Nipple, attack out of Glendale, Arizona, 16 goals and 20 assists. Um, Gabe Henning comes back on the defensive end. Owen Worley, yeah, from Plano, Texas. He had 22 ground balls and 11 calls turnovers. You know what, Kev? They got some players there.

SPEAKER_01 39:38

Yeah. So that you look at you just named their whole attack lines were turning. And not only that, Danny, but those defensive players, they were young last year. Yes, they were. Gabriel Hennan was a sophomore, and Owen Worley was a freshman.

SPEAKER_03 39:52

Yeah. And and he played well from Plano, Texas. I didn't know they had lacrosse in Plano. Hell yeah. I guess they do, man.

SPEAKER_01 40:02

I'm learning stuff from this podcast. I know, I know. And so they have a great core to continue building. Yeah, I I wrote a note. I asked a question. Is this a year that you see some real improvement? Do they really climb to that 500 or over 500? They've they've got the players coming back that could do it, and the stability in the program now.

SPEAKER_03 40:23

How about Austin Hall in goal? 52% last year. Yeah. You know where he's from? Where's he from? You're gonna freak out. He's from Madison, Alabama. So they got guys from Whitby, Ontario, Uxbridge, Ontario, Glendale, Arizona, Plano, Texas, and Madison, Alabama. They got guys from all over the United States and Canada.

SPEAKER_01 40:46

You know what that's telling me? To get them to go to go to Wheeling, West Virginia is that that coaching staff is canvassing North America, not the United States, North America, to build a program.

SPEAKER_03 41:01

They're going from coast to coast and from it's just that I mean that coaches. It's great off. I love seeing that. That's why I like looking at where they're from now, to where these kids are from. I just think it's so interesting that a coach in Wheeling, West Virginia can get kids from Canada, Glendale, uh Plano, Texas, Madison, Alabama. That's just that's that's really good. That's really good recruiting. It is.

SPEAKER_01 41:31

So I um I say this all the time. This team I'm excited to watch this year and see where they go.

SPEAKER_03 41:40

This is a team that could definitely improve.

SPEAKER_01 41:44

I see him. Tell you what, Danny, in years past, go back five years and look at Wheeling's record. Yeah, yeah. They were damn good. Yeah, they've always been kind of scrappy and they've they've just recent years took that that downturn, and a lot of it has to do with just turnover of the coaching staff. And now you get Coach Bradshaw in there, and he's been there, he's going in his third season. They've got the structure, they know what they're doing, they've got a core coming back. They're their offense is more senior, their defense is young, but have experience in the G Mac, playing the Seaton Hills, playing the Mercy Hursts.

SPEAKER_03 42:26

Yeah, yeah. So I think they're gonna be a better team this year, man. I really do. I agree, I agree. Their out-of-conference schedule looks pretty good, too. Play Post, Holy Family, Davenport, Frostburg, and AIC. Any else that I miss any?

SPEAKER_01 42:44

I have Virginia State for them as well. Oh, they might play for our state too. Okay, great. That's a good, good out of conference. Yeah, yeah. I mean, post, Davenport, and Frostburg, even AIC, and then the Holy Family being the new one, that that'll be, you know, they they should win that one, but and Virginia State being new, but the other ones, those are gonna be tight.

SPEAKER_03 43:10

Yeah, that's a good, that's a good out-of-conference schedule for Wheeling. I like it. Yeah, I'm interested to see what the what the Cardinals do this year with Coach Bradshaw and the boys. I I think this is a team that's gonna make uh uh a little, maybe a little scare, a little run in the GMAC.

SPEAKER_01 43:27

Yeah, so when we were doing the trying to get coaches to you know give us information, uh Coach Bradshaw's like, hey, I'll come on, no problem. And I'm like, well, we're just looking for a write-up right now. But I'm telling you, I guarantee sometime this season, we're gonna have him on or one of his players because of the way they're playing. Absolutely, absolutely. Okay. Now we go to the new teams in the G Mac. Thomas Moore, which is an interesting one, Danny. They're the Saints, they're out of Crestview Hills, Kentucky.

unknown 43:59

They

SPEAKER_01 44:00

They actually uh played as an NAIA school last year for one year before coming into D two.

SPEAKER_03 44:08

That's correct. Coach Sean McGuinness, we had him on the program. Yeah. He's a great guy. Love the Irish. You know I do. You know, it it it might be Crestville Hills, Kentucky, but Kev, it's right across the river from Cincinnati. That's right. The Ohio River's right there. They go right over the bridge and they're in Cincinnati. So we can kind of say it's Cincinnati, right?

SPEAKER_01 44:30

Yeah. I mean, it is that close without a doubt.

SPEAKER_03 44:32

Yeah, it is. It is.

SPEAKER_01 44:34

So as they played last year, they were one and twelve last year in their in their in no their year zero season.

SPEAKER_03 44:43

Right. It was a year zero. Right, right. Their one win was a seven six battle with Aldison Rodas.

SPEAKER_01 44:51

Yeah. Yeah. So now they're coming in this year. They're out of conference, is a really good mix for them. William Jewell, another new program. Lewis shorter, Montavalo, and Tusculum.

SPEAKER_03 45:06

That's crazy for this team. That's crazy. I think Coach Coach McGuinness is throwing all these youngsters right into the deep end of the pool, isn't he? Yeah. He is.

SPEAKER_01 45:19

And they're they got a roster of about 24. And they're all freshman sophomores. Now, but look at it though, different than maybe Tiffin that we'll talk about next, he's got some guys that played last year and played against GMAC teams. They got their meeting wet playing Davison Elkins, Allison Bros, Walsh, and Malone last year. So they're no stranger to some of these teams in conference.

SPEAKER_03 45:45

No, no, they got some decent players on their team. Uh Spencer Lethbridge and the Tacman out of Cleveland. He had 16 goals and 16 assists in year zero. And get this Graham Hauser from Hilliard, Ohio, 25 goals and two assists. He doesn't like to share the rock too much. But why? But why would he? He's 6'7, 250 pounds. Are you kidding me? 6'7, 250 pounds. I'm not I'm not passing the rock either. I'm just getting out of his way. That's right. If I'm playing defense. And Nick Borren, an attackman out of Worthington, Ohio. He's he had 12 goals and 14 assists. Kev, all freshmen and sophomores. That's what it is. You know, coach is building a program. He's building a program from the ground up. From the ground up. Right. And and you know what? That's gonna take time. It's gonna take a few years, you know. And we know that, he knows that. Yeah. But the but the players when Coach McGuinness was on, told us how the players understood that and how they just grasp it and said, hey, we'll we are the start of something new here. And they're proud of being uh uh uh you know part of something new with the Saints there and looking to build, you know, this program up. And they'll be great, you know, alumni someday because they'll always say we were the first one. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 47:16

Exactly. And there's the next program brand new uh building, and that's what it is this building, it's the Tiffin Dragons with head coach Travis Brown. Now, what's interesting about him is that he brought in his former teammate and coach, they've coached together in other places, Ryan Stowe as an assistant. So talk about having instant chemistry and the coaching staff both understanding, speaking the same language to the to the players. That can make a huge difference going forward.

SPEAKER_03 47:49

Yeah, Tiffin, the dragons, they're located in Tiffin, Ohio. And if you look on the map, because I have nothing better to do with my useless life. I checked it out. I was like, where the hell is Tiffin, Ohio? It's nestled between Toledo and Cleveland, right off Lake Erie. So if anybody wants to know where the hell Tiffin is, it's right between Toledo and Cleveland, right off Lake. They'll be dressing 27 this year, Kevin. Yeah. And but what they did do is they brought in some graduate students. Right. Instant leadership. Right. They brought in uh LSM Mike Roman. He came in, he was a Westminster transfer. And Westminster's a solid team, and you know that. And a graduate student, a midfielder, Brandon McDonald, came from Couka College, which is a D3 school in New York. So that's what they got. They got those two guys coming in here to help help Coach Brown and be leaders for this brand new group, you know, 27.

SPEAKER_01 48:59

And you remember Coach talking about those grad students. Not only are they teaching the the freshmen the ropes on the field, but off the field. How do you study? How do you stay disciplined? Go to class, right? It's all those little things that are gonna make the difference. Because that's how you stay in the program and get to play, is if you're making the grade. Right.

SPEAKER_03 49:22

And you know, like Coach McGuinness, Coach Brown is building a program. Again, this is a new program in Division II. It's gonna take Coach a couple of years to get his, you know, get that those wheels on that train rolling. But you know what? I'm so excited for this squad and these young guys out of Ohio, and to see what they do. They're out of conference, they got a couple of D3 teams on there. They have a very unique uh out of conference schedule, which I think is good for this team. It's it's it's like you know what, they're dipping their feet in the pool, they're not jumping in right away like Malone is. Malone McGuinness is just throwing the the Irishman's just throwing the guys right at the you mean Thomas More.

SPEAKER_01 50:04

Right. Well, it's Sean McGinnis is the head coach, right? Yeah, no, but you said Malone Malone. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, it's uh Thomas Moore. Thomas Moore Thomas Moore. Because Malone's out of conference isn't Shabby either.

SPEAKER_03 50:14

My bad. My bad.

SPEAKER_01 50:15

Yeah, yeah, no worries.

SPEAKER_03 50:16

But yeah, they play a couple of D3 teams before they have to travel to Lewis and then UDC and Felicia.

SPEAKER_01 50:22

Yeah, and they got a couple NAIAs too in there. So it's uh it's a really unique mix.

SPEAKER_03 50:27

Right. And it's gonna, you know, again, they only have 27 on their roster. It's gonna be uh knock on wood, there's no injuries because one or two injuries can really spell doom for a team just starting out. But you know, they got a 16-game schedule, which is uh admirable for a first-year program. And again, with a couple of D3 teams, a couple of two NAIP games, I think that's good for the Tiffin Dragons and to uh get their feet wet in Division II.

Coach Ashton of Lake Erie

SPEAKER_01 50:59

Danny, lots happen in the GMAC as they add Tiffin and Thomas Moore, as we talked about just recently. But now it's time to bring in an expert from the conference to get his perspective on the conference, not ours, his. And what not only what he his conference, but what he's trying to build right there at Lake Erie. So what do you say about bringing in Coach Sam Ashton of the Lake Erie Storm?

SPEAKER_03 51:24

Hey coach. Hey, what's happening? Thanks for coming on the show in the crease with the two knuckleheads. Uh, we've been looking forward to having you come on. How's everything going out in Keensville, Ohio tonight?

SPEAKER_00 51:37

It's it's going. Moving along. Um, your weather's right to where we want it to be, crisp 32 degrees. So, you know, getting ready for January.

SPEAKER_03 51:45

Yeah, I'd love you.

SPEAKER_00 51:46

Yeah, yeah. Locking and loading.

SPEAKER_03 51:49

Not for me, coach.

SPEAKER_00 51:51

Definitely take a special breed to be out there in January, but you know, the guys love it, and it's part of who we are. So we just continue to ride that wave.

SPEAKER_01 52:00

Yeah. I love it. I love it. I uh it's always amazes me watching some of your early season games, teams like you and Mercy, especially if you play a night game. I it just amazed me that the players can actually get out there to move their limbs and shoot a ball and you know hit someone. It's just it's just amazing. But we'll get to your players and your team. I want to hear a little bit about you. Can you just tell us a little bit about your lacrosse journey and how it actually brought you to Lake Erie?

SPEAKER_00 52:27

Yeah, for sure. So I'm originally from just outside of Frederick, Maryland. Uh went to Lingonort High School, a public school out there. Uh played there for four years, and then and went and started a program at Lenore Rhine as a player. So first team ever there. Um yeah, took some lumps early on, but through the career we got a lot better in a short amount of time and did some special things. Uh, my last year there, we were 10-4, won the conference, ranked 12th in the country, and I was an all-American. So, you know, went from there and became the assistant coach here at Lake Erie. I think, you know, 2015 had a really special year, 15-3. And uh Final Four team had some All-Americans, some guys drafted professionally. So the first taste of college coaching for me was an NCAA tournament, final fourteen. So immediately hooked.

SPEAKER_04 53:17

Um, this is easy. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:21

Yeah. Um, so yeah, I got hooked right away, and then six team came along, and we had another good year, ranked all season, conference tournament stuff. Um, had some good players in a good season. And uh after that, I went to the University of Dallas, which super small D3 school in Texas, and got there. It was a little bit of a rough go. Um, had 12 on the roster and two recruits coming in, so had to kind of rebuild it a little bit. And uh, you know, unfortunately they folded their program, so lacrosse no longer exists there. But uh about halfway through the last season there, uh the head coaching gig here at Lake Erie opened back up, so decided to pack the bags, come back up to the cold, and started in the spring of 2019 here.

SPEAKER_01 54:03

That's awesome. That's awesome. Yeah, and obviously you were looking for another job as as Dallas was closing. What interested you the most about coming back to Lake Erie along with it being a head coaching job? What interested you in coming back into D2 and for Lake Erie?

SPEAKER_00 54:23

Yeah, I think it starts with being closer to home. Uh I'm from Maryland, my fiance's from Syracuse, so easy to just hop in the car and get home and see our families instead of flying. I think when it comes to Lake Erie, just the competitive atmosphere in Division II. There's a lot of parody. Every year there's a couple teams that jump up and down, and everybody can compete with everybody. So, you know, if we're going from a bottom third uh team in division three and really clawing and scratching for a win, coming here with a program that has some history, um, you know, is competitive in a lot of ways, I think was really important. And then, you know, obviously the opportunities to grow and compete against some of the best teams and coaches in the country uh was a big thing for me. You know, wanted to test myself and and make sure that this was the right career path for me. And what a better way than to get right into the fire, right into the mix. Um that first spring you had Merrimack and Mercy and some big teams on the rock uh on the schedule. So you got to see what you're made of early on. And then I think the last thing is just the alumni base. I mean, guys who I had coached wanted me to take the job, guys who I hadn't coached who were just late here alums that knew of me or I'd met you know while I was here, they had reached out. So, you know, when 30 to 40 alums reach out and want you to take the job, I think it says a lot about you know what they want for the program, and and they felt that I was the best fit. So that meant a lot to me. Um, and that was pretty pretty much the reason why I came back.

SPEAKER_01 55:44

And then you then you have a base already. You have a not only a base of support, but that support helps obviously in fundraising, in donations, in getting the word out, helping you find players. I'm sure all of that really helps. And you've got that core, and that's a big core. That's not like five or six people in your supporting you. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 56:04

They were all in. They they came back to games, they wanted to help out, they donated to the program. Um, you know, we've only had a team here since 2010. You know, so all the alums are young, they're still very invested in the program, and that support was was huge for me.

SPEAKER_03 56:20

That's great. And you guys play competitive lacrosse, man. You guys are a competitive team. I mean, you had some big boys on your Roth on the schedule last year. And you know, your losses are one goal, two goal losses. I I watched the Mercy Hearst game last year. Dude, I thought you I thought you almost had it.

SPEAKER_00 56:40

Yeah, yeah. Our guys, um, you know, they really started to believe last year. We struggled early. Uh we had some identity issues, just who we were gonna be, what we wanted to hang our hat on. I would think we figured that out in the middle of the year, down the stretch. Uh, we had to make some changes in some areas and some guys stepped up when their number was called. But I I think once they started to believe that they could do these things, that's where we really started to hit that stride. And we were right there with a team that went to the national championship. And I think if you look back at the game and look at the look at the film, it's just a couple plays here and there that didn't make and maybe they made. And uh we learned from that. And I think our biggest thing as we go from last year to this year is just the experience. I mean, we have eight seniors and fifth-year guys, they played a ton of games for us. Um, it's just about taking those experiences and applying it the best way we can moving forward. So with every situation they've seen, especially being that close last year, uh, sights are set and goals are and expectations are pretty high for this group.

SPEAKER_03 57:43

That's good. That's good.

SPEAKER_01 57:44

What speaking of that, because that was one of my questions you you answered, it was really great about what you take from last year and what you can build on, but do you have any specific goals then for this year that you set for your team, or is it just trying to build more from what you did last year?

SPEAKER_00 57:59

I think a lot of it stems from last year. This fall, we really harped on the things that prevented us from winning those games. Um so that was a big focus for us in the fall, is just making sure that we're checking off those boxes every day. But our expectations as a program are always 10 plus wins in a season, conference tournament and win that, and CAA in tournament and win that. So we've done it in the past, like that's who we are. So our our bar and our standard is always that. So we talked a lot about championship level across and and what that takes and uh who we want to be moving forward. So uh we held them to that standard all fall, and I think they responded really well with our leadership and what they were able to do last year, but just building off of that and taking the experience and and applying it to these big games. And um now that we know we can be there, and and right there isn't there. That's a saying that we have all the time here. Like, right there doesn't mean anything. Like it doesn't count. You know, wins and losses is what matters. So I'm making sure they understand, you know, what those things are every day and just make sure we hit that standard on a regular basis.

SPEAKER_01 59:05

So then if we turn to this year, you have another tough out-of-conference this year with Lewis, Undy, Wilmington, and Frostburg in the mix. What are you trying to get out of those games?

SPEAKER_00 59:20

Yeah, I think luckily we're located in a spot where we get to play some top-notch out-of-conference competition early. I mean, Lewis and and Undy are two teams that you know prove themselves over the years of being you know the standard of what it looks like out Midwest. And so I like that we get to challenge ourselves early on. I think it's always an opportunity to get our feet wet early in the season, see what we're made of, uh, what we need to work on. Um, but the biggest thing we want to take out of these out-of-conference games is just continue to be battle tested. I mean, our conference is really strong. We've sent one or two to the NCAA tournament every year. And we want to make sure that we're tested when we get to those games.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:01

Right. Yeah, makes sense. Iron sharpens iron, right?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:06

Yeah, and they got great players, and and you know, Wilmington's got a lot of guys, Frostburg bring back a lot of guys. Obviously, Lewis brings back a lot of guys, it's one of those top teams in the South. So it's always nice to be able to see somebody different, maybe doesn't play the same style that we see in the conference or in the region, uh, and be able to test ourselves pretty early.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:26

So now I have to ask you this, though, really quickly, based on that schedule. Is there a little extra incentive to go against Frostburg and your old boss there, uh Steve Gardelman?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:37

As a competitor, I love going against anybody.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:40

Um there's the answer, Danny.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:44

There's the answer. I love going against everybody, but you know, I got a lot of respect for Steve. He gave me my first college coaching opportunity. We accomplished some great things together, so a lot of respect. But you know, there's always a little bit of something there just because you know Steve and I know each other really well, both on and off the field. So um, but I love being able to compete against everybody. And and Frostburg's uh another team that's you know in Maryland where I'm from, and a lot of Maryland guys on that roster, and we obviously recruit against them for the same guy, so there's always a little something there. But at the end of the day, it's it's another team on the schedule, it's it's another game, it's another challenge for us. So um, like I said, I love going against everybody.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:25

That's well said, and I'm sure Coach Gardelman will love to hear the way you put it right there.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:31

Yeah, he didn't see the smile on his face, so that's what that's what Gardelman he can hear it, but he won't be able to see the look on his face.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:39

Yeah, I mean, we've had battles. I mean, we've beaten them at their I think every game's been a one or two goal game. Yeah, yeah, they're always good. So, you know, we love playing those guys just from a competitive standpoint. But at the end of the day, I know our alums are always fired up for that game.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:55

And then you got the GMAC, which is a tough ass conference, man.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:00

It is. It is. There's there's some ballers in it. Um, Mercieris, Walsh. I mean, yeah, we always got guys uh that can do some damage. So, you know, we always want to make sure that we're giving the respect where it's due. Um, but we always want to be fighting for those those top spots in the conference. So, you know, Merciers is always scheduled as a big one, Cedon Hill is always scheduled as a as a big one. Um, you know, Walsh is a great team with a new coach that's gonna have some some new things. So the GMAC's tough, man. It's tough.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:32

And it's growing so much. You got Malone coming in last year and Tiffin and Thomas Moore this year. What do you think about that growth for the GMAC?

SPEAKER_00 1:02:40

I love the growth. Um, it shows the GMAC is committed to men's lacrosse. You know, we started off as the South Region ECAC with the Lindenwood and Hearst and Seton Hill and us and some others. And it's just nice for our student athletes to be able to now take day trips. Not every conference game is an overnight five hours away. And it's nice to see us to start to grow and have a 10-plus team conference moving forward. So as those teams get better and better in their first, second, you know, through fifth, fourth years, um, you'll see that the GMAC is is competitive top to bottom. So I'm super excited about it. Um, and obviously all of our other sports in the GMAC are very competitive, uh, both in the conference and nationally. So it's nice to see the GMAC committing to it and being able to move forward as a full team conference.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:28

Now let's let's turn to your players. It looks like you have some really good offensive players returning with Dawson Kendall and Kevin Albright. And then on D, you've got Derek Brockmeyer and Graham Lost. Do you feel you're well balanced on both sides of the ball, or is there is there a strength in one area or another?

SPEAKER_00 1:03:47

Yeah, I think we're probably the most balanced that we've been since I've taken over this job. Um, we have some guys that really understand what we're doing offensively. It could be game-changing type of guys with a ton of experience. I mean, Dawson has been an all-region player, first-team all-conference guy. Kevin was a first-team all-conference guy last season. Uh obviously we're gonna leave on that, lean on them pretty heavily uh with some of our other guys that we got in the mix. Jack and Schooley's uh another fifth-year midfielder for us. So um, you know, really excited about what the midfield brings. And uh I think defensively, the two guys that you mentioned, they're playing some really good lacrosse right now. Uh they did last year. Graham was a second-team all-conference defenseman in a pretty tough defensive conference. Garrett, you know, stepped up a lot last year as an LSM and was able to do some things in the conference. And so those guys are playing some really, really good lacrosse. They really understand what we're doing defensively. And I think as a whole together lacrosse team, we have an identity this year already. Um, and it's not offensive, it's not defensive, it's an all-inclusive type of identity where we're gonna lean on some aspects heavily in some games, and we're gonna lean on some aspects heavily in some others. But the balance is what makes us dangerous and what makes us competitive is that at any given moment, you know, our offense can go off and get 15 goals, and our defense can be stifly and hold teams to under 10. So, you know, our identity is really gonna be, you know, this whole team atmosphere, and and our guys have bought into that through the fall and have competed a lot. So um, those guys that you mentioned, they they have some big things ahead of them this spring, and I'm excited to see what they can do once they start playing games and getting it to the rhythm again.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:27

How many freshmen did you bring in this year, Coach?

SPEAKER_00 1:05:30

So we got nine freshmen. Uh one's a transfer who redshirted last year. So those guys will definitely come in and make an impact. That's really who we are as as a team. We've always played young guys. We've had two of the last three freshmen of the year in the conference. So, you know, they get a lot of experience in the fall. They get thrown right into the mix in the spring to see what they're made of. And that's when they get to that senior year, they've played in fifty games and they've seen every situation. And I think that's what separates us from a lot of teams is that we are able to. To develop our young guys really quickly. They get a ton of reps in practice. We do have a smaller roster than a lot of programs. So having individual development, having individual sessions, and the reps they get in practice and in games helps them as they move forward and build confidence. So those young guys are ready. They had a really good showing in the fall, and I'm excited for them to really get tested early in the year with probably two top 20 teams first two games. Yeah. So I'm excited for them.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:28

It's awesome. It's awesome. That's what I would want if I was a freshman coming in, man. You know, I have that chance to play and a chance to play against big competition and see where we're at. That's what I would want to do.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:41

Yeah, and then they go into that sophomore year with uh with a lot of confidence in what they can do, and um they know the work that needs to be done over the summer. And we say it all the time for our soft, there is no sophomore slump here. I mean, you you gotta come better than you were as a freshman and build off of it. So uh there is progression in that year, too. It's like, hey, you you were in a role, that role's gonna get bigger as you move into next year, and you gotta be ready for what that looks like. And and they they buy into that and they work hard over the summer and they come in the fall uh where they need to be.

SPEAKER_02 1:07:11

That's interesting. Yeah, I agree with you.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:14

Yeah, so I had this question, Coach, and what you may look for in statistical improvements uh that you want to see this season. But as you were just talking now and talking about player development and individual player development, and how you can do that with a little bit smaller roster, I guess more of my question is do those what do those stats mean to you, those team stats? I know there's obviously importance to them, but how do you use those a metric and how do you change that dynamic to to get those either improve them or what do you do to improve what you want to do on any side of the ball, including special teams?

SPEAKER_00 1:07:49

Yeah, so I think the biggest thing, we have some stats that we really look at as a team. I think the assist to goal ratio offensively is a big one for us. Uh last year, I think we assisted at like 51%. Um part of that is making sure that everybody knows that it takes all six guys on the field offensively. So in this position, a freshman might be an initiator for us, right? Initiate it, draw a slide, move it to the backside. He doesn't get a point for that. Uh but we track that on our own. Um, and the more assists we have, it means that we're really playing team lacrosse. Um we track some hockey assists on our own offensively to show these guys hey, you drew a slide, you did your job. Um, yes, your buddy scored the goal. And guess what? Next possession, he's gonna do the same thing for you. So when your opportunity comes, you've got to be ready. Um defensively, we track a lot of different things. Um, you know, ground balls is a big one, but we call them momentum plays. Um, you know, double teams that lead to a ground ball that get the ball to the offense. Uh anytime we're able to give up the shot that we want, that's something that we track as well. Our goalies are pretty good. And if we give them save opportunities, they're gonna make those saves. So uh we can live with some of the shots we're giving up based on where they are in an area. So if you do your job, you get a little stat there. Um you know, this year, what we're gonna do with our helmets is we're gonna do some helmet stickers to kind of track that and show that a little bit more. Uh so we have some categories already built out. Um you know, crosshairs for goals, uh little dime for an assist, strong arm for a hit, some of those things uh that we can visualize.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:19

I love it.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:20

See it. So something a little bit different. It's a little football thing, but I think again, when we're in film on a Monday breaking it down and we're throwing out helmet stickers left and right to the guys that might not have a lot of stats, but are making big things for us, I think uh can get everybody behind it and do some things that way. So uh those are the things that we do. Uh and at the end of the day, the individual development is who we are. So guys are making plays, they might not get stats for, but the boys are super hyped for them every time they make it.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:49

That's awesome. I I really appreciate you kind of pointing that out because Danny and I, as we do these previews, we talk about the stats, we talk about individual stats and team stats. And sometimes, just like you pointed out, those those are things that everyone tracks, but are they really that important? And you just pointed out a few of them that that I love. Uh especially my son played on the offensive side, so when you're looking at assist-to-goal ratio, I love that. I love the fact that you're tracking hockey assists and even not may not even be the hockey assists, but it's like you said, the player he passed it because he was, you know, double-teamed or whatever and moved the ball around, and that's the important thing. I think that is that's just great learning for me even more. As I sit here as a fan, I always always say that I was the best lacrosse player in the stand you ever want to meet, and I have no idea what I'm talking about.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:36

So that's just that's that's good lacrosse, you know. You're playing good lacrosse, you're playing quality lacrosse when you do things like that. It's the little things that are gonna take you over to the next step, you know?

SPEAKER_00 1:10:51

Yeah, you'll see our guys, you know, if we have a guy who's doubled and he makes a pass to a guy who makes another pass, who makes another pass. I think the first guy that the guys will run to is the guy that started the whole thing. Um, not the goal scorer, not the assist guy, but the guy who made the play that made the play. Uh thought about that. Um, because again, at the end of the day, it's a team game. Uh, it's the fastest game on two feet. And uh if you don't play as a team, you're never gonna get to what you want to get to. So you'll have guys step up as as freshmen and have a couple points in a big game, and and then they might go silent for a game or two, and and then their number comes and and they're hot, and let's feed them the rock. So uh really all involved and and what it looks like. And giving our senior leadership a lot of autonomy this year has been really crucial for us to be able to show you know who we can be and and what they value. Uh our fifth-year seniors, they hang out with our freshmen and everybody in between. So they want to see those guys succeed. They want to see them gain experience and have confidence. So when the big games come, they know they can trust them uh to make the right play uh through and through.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:52

So well, coach, I like what Lake Erie's doing. I like what they've been doing. I want to see my man Gavin Connolly get in the pipes this year. His dad was a hometown friend of mine, good hoop player back in the day. Watched a lot of Lake Erie in the last three years, a lot because of that kid. And uh again, I watched that Mercy Hurstlack game last year, and I just thought, wow, Lake Erie's a really good team. They're up and coming. They got players there. They don't they don't back down. They they bring it and they bring it in weather, in cold weather. And uh, coach, I just think you're doing a great job with with the storm there.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:32

Thank you. No, we got we got some dudes, and uh at the end of the day, it's it's all about the program. Um we can sit here and interview me and I can talk about it, but the guys live it every day. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them. They deserve a lot of credit of how far we've come. Uh they took some lumps early on as freshmen, and and now you'll see kind of reaping of of what that was this season. So we got some dudes, and and they can definitely play, and I'm excited for us to to be tested early and and see what we're made of as the season goes on. Because you know, we have something special, I think, this year, and I think our guys are really looking at measuring you know what they think we can be. Um they're the driving force of this team right now. You know, I'm managing it and I'm making sure everything's got a purpose, lifts and practices and film, and and everything's got a purpose, but they're the ones who are putting in the work, uh doing wall wall, getting extra reps in, taking the young guys under their wing and developing them on their own. So uh excited uh for them to get what they want through their career and really make it come to a head this this season.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:34

Well said, Coach. And I'll say one other thing. As you know, you're the last GMAC coach we've finally been able to get on, and it was well worth the wait. 100% coach. What you just said right now, I can't wait to get some of your dudes on for our player spotlight during the season. Yeah, 100%. We'll definitely do that.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:54

Yeah, I'm sure they would love that. We got some we got a couple communications majors that that should be pretty good at it.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:00

Um, don't put us to shame, Coach. We can't have that.

SPEAKER_00 1:14:03

No, maybe maybe stay away from a couple of the math guys. They're not the best presenters. But uh, we got we got some guys really well spoken, really excited about the opportunity. Got a bunch of New Yorkers, you know how they like to talk.

SPEAKER_02 1:14:16

So uh that's both funny.

SPEAKER_00 1:14:20

No, if you guys want them on, I'm sure they'll they'll welcome it, uh, no problem. So uh but again, man, thanks for having me. The guys are super excited about this season. I'm super excited if you can't tell of what we can do, and um, I'm excited for us to be able to showcase that, you know, February 17th and in the first game of the year and hopefully late into May.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:39

Yeah, I think there's a storm coming. There's a storm brewing. There's a storm brewing out in Plainsville, Ohio. Coach Sam Ashton, Lake Erie Storm. Thanks so much for taking the time and uh joining us tonight. We really appreciate it. Wish you the best of luck in the 2024 season. We'll be watching and uh go get them, kid.

SPEAKER_00 1:15:01

Thank you. Appreciate you having me on.

Final Thoughts

SPEAKER_01 1:15:04

So, like I said, Danny, way overdue of having Coach Ashton on the podcast.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:12

Yeah, Coach Ashton's good guy. He's out there in Lake Erie, man. It's gonna be it's gonna be a good season for him. I I think he's a great guy. Uh I like what the storm has been doing over the last couple of years. I expect him to have a really good season, and uh, I'm really glad that he came on the program. He's a good guy.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:29

Yeah, he did a good rundown of the GMAC as well that we went through before we having him on. And I'm telling you, the GMAC is gonna be very interesting this year. I it's another I I can't think of there. There isn't a conference that we've gone through yet that I'm like, God, it's getting me excited to watch.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:48

Yeah, the GMAC's always a good conference. You know, these guys get after it, it's up in the weather, uh, they get weather in the in the beginning of the season too. It's like they're like black and blue conference too. Like, you know, there's A and B. And it's the GMAC and the and and GLVC. The GLVC, right. And uh there's a good, you know, they they have ranked teams, you know, Mercy Hurst and Seton Hill, and and and uh they got guys that can play and kids uh that are playing high quality lacrosse out there. That it's just a great conference. If you look at the kids who make uh all G Mac, they're phenomenal players. Yeah, you know, they're Division I caliber players, these kids they're that good. Yeah, so the the G Mac is doing something right, it's growing uh exponentially. Two more coming next year into the G Mac. They're gonna be what a 10 10 game.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:42

11 game team uh conference.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:48

Wow, they'll be the biggest conference in division two next year, then I think so.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:52

Well wow and we'll be having Emory Henry's Emory and Henry joining, so they may be at 11 as well. Wow. Those that's big. Yeah, that's a lot of changes. Yeah, crazy. All right, Danny, let's move on to some lacrosse news. Uh, we heard recently last week, uh coach John Snow will not be coaching Coker this year. He had shoulder surgery in June, and uh he told me uh in a text it's not getting better. So he's doing rehab this winter in Atlanta. His assistant, who's been there since 2021, Austin Ambrose, is taking over as the interim head coach. So we just want to wish Coach Snow a speedy recovery so we can see him back in the coaching ranks very soon.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:41

Yeah, coach, go get him. Work hard on that rehab, get yourself better. D2 and uh Sack need you, brother.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:49

Yeah, exactly. And now, Danny, we got two more things to go over. First, as we get ready for Christmas, I kind of have an inexpensive gift for all our D2 lacrosse fans. Not those and it's it's easy because all they have to do is go on YouTube. I've been watching a YouTube channel lately that is getting me pumped for this season. It's called D2 Lax Highlights, and it is posting all the great games from last year. So I highly recommend anyone out there if they haven't looked at it yet. They're like 15, 20 minute clips and and they've got the announcers. It's not just watching the game, they've got the announcers from the game announcing the the plays. It's fun. So our fans can go back to our previous episodes when we discussed those games, then watch the highlight, or uh vice versa. Figure out who did better, the the announcers on the game or us in the podcast. But it's it's I'm telling you, it is getting me pumped more and more because you see how good the lacrosse is.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:54

It's phenomenal. I uh actually saw uh one highlight on Instagram from D2Lacks. I didn't know they had I didn't know they had a YouTube channel till till tonight tonight. So I'm definitely gonna check it out. You know me. Um, but I did see one highlight, and it was Wingate versus U Indy.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:12

And yeah, I think I know the the the player who scored.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:15

Player of the year. Willie Greco, man. Yeah, that was Willie Greco on that one. Yeah, and uh that kid, man, a perfect question mark. He's gonna be a tough one to to guard this year, but uh that was the one I saw. So I was like, wow, all right.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:31

I was I got excited myself, you know. Yeah, so it's great. The the things are great. And now finally, for the last piece, I thought we'd discuss a Christmas gift for our coaching listeners in our scorebreak teacher spotlight of the week. This week, Danny, it's recordable film sessions. Recordable film sessions allow coaches to easily create video analysis materials and they can then use their voiceover and even use live animated drawings like you see on sports uh during sports uh cast, right?

SPEAKER_03 1:20:08

Like John Madden used to do as they review films.

SPEAKER_01 1:20:12

So whether it's in a live session or or they they're doing it at their desk, they can then send it out, and the athletes can then see it right there, review the view the recordings as they get them. Because sometimes it's easier, and with only a limited amount of time that you have with the players, number of hours you can do, you can now exponentially give more film sessions with actual uh voiceovers instead of just hey, uh uh a chat, which you can use also in the chat sessions, but there's so many different ways to do it. It's just like what we're doing on Zoom right now, right? We record this and then we pump it out to our listeners. Coaches can record uh over and voice over their film sessions. It's a really cool addition to the the score break family. And then send it to that player.

SPEAKER_03 1:20:59

Hey player, yeah, I saw this, check this out, and it could be recorded like I'm talking in here, like Johnny. You want to slide on this a little step earlier, and and have like an animated thing. Yeah, just think about you know, that you know, a coach can just DM a kid, you know. Yeah, hey, this one place stood out to me, check it out, see what you think. Or, you know, like you said, they they don't they don't have the time to get them in the classroom or in the film room. They can just shoot this out. That's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_01 1:21:28

Yeah, in fact, if you think about it, guess what? All the teams are going into winter break. Yeah. And think about if you had this and you had film from your fallball sessions or from last year, film from last year that you can now extra time the coaches have, maybe they can do these uh these recordable film sessions and send it to the players over the Christmas break to get them ready when they come back.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:56

Yeah, coaches, www.scorebreak.io mention in the crease and get 15% off your first year, man.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:05

And with that, Danny, this episode is the one that comes out before Christmas. So I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to you. Have yourself yourself and Merry Christmas, Kevin.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:24

I love Karen Carpenter. What a voice. Oh, I know. And this is one of my favorite Christmas songs. Always makes you think, you know, ready, honey, bring it closer to the house.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:35

Get your warm already, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_03 1:22:37

Get it, yep, get it by the fire, you know, glass of wine, a little glass of Bailey's, whatever it is. Kev, it's Christmas time. It's time for family and friends, and it's the best time of year, Kev. And I wish you and your family the best this Merry Christmas.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:55

And same to you, and same to our listeners.

SPEAKER_04 1:22:57

And with that, Danny, that's a wrap, Kev.