Conference Previews for the 2025 Season - Great Lakes Valley Conference

Intro

SPEAKER_00 0:09

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Crease with Danny and Kevin, a coast-to-coast discussion of D2 men's lacrosse. I'm your co-host, Kevin Sentrum, and with me as always is the man D2 fans ask for by name, Danny Moran. Hey, Danny. Kevin, stop with the lies now.

SPEAKER_01 0:30

There's nobody asking for me.

SPEAKER_00 0:32

I don't know. I've been to games before. They're like, are you Danny? And I'm no, I'm just Kevin. I'm just Kevin. I'm the other guy. Kevin, how's it going tonight in Northern Virginia, my friend? I'll tell you what. A lot of balls in the air, Danny. I've got trips that you know, you think in this Christmas holiday you wouldn't be uh doing so much. I fly to San Antonio in another day. I'm there for three days. I have to fly to Boston for a family thing, and then I immediately turn around and head to Y for another business trip, which gets me back around the 14th or 15th of December. So it's pretty busy here on my end, which is why we're doing a lot of back-to-back and a lot of recording this week to get ahead of the game so that we can always put out a podcast for our listeners.

SPEAKER_01 1:14

Yeah, yeah. That's because you're a podcast, prolific podcast producer, my friend.

SPEAKER_00 1:20

You do it all. I try. I

GLVC Preview

SPEAKER_00 1:22

try. Well, are you ready? This conference, Danny, we are discussing today, is one that if I started thinking about it, we talk about the peach belt, and there's four teams only in that, and they are it's real parody. I think this conference not only beats each other up, but the pair they are getting tighter and tighter, and that's the GLVC, the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Here we go.

SPEAKER_02 1:53

Kansas City, here I come.

SPEAKER_01 1:57

Yeah, baby. Kansas City.

SPEAKER_02 2:01

Kansas City, here I come.

SPEAKER_01 2:04

Oh, the Great Lakes Valley Conference that had three teams in the NCAA tournament last year. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:12

Who would have thunk, huh? I know. Well, and I tell you, we can go back and forth on whether we thought that was deserved or not, but they were in. And they were, and the three teams that got in were really good, and they played each other really tough last year. That's why I'm saying how tight this conference is. And as I went through my review and going through each team, I still saw real, it's a really, really tight conference. As a matter of fact, Coach Peruzzi, when he sent us in his review of his team, this is what he said to us. And I think what he said captured exactly what I've been thinking the last couple days as I've been looking at this. Here's what he said GLVC probably is as interesting as it's ever been. We have great coaches in this league, and it feels like the entire league is getting more talent, more polished recruits out of high school or the portal that can have an immediate impact. We, meaning Lewis, hosted the GLVC attorney last season, but we were one goal away from being the four seed. This league will be tighter and more competitive than ever.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

I think that's spot on. Yeah, I have to agree with him. I'd have to agree with him on that. Hey, you know what? It's a conference that's produced U Indy. Okay. And U Indy's been to what the last five NCAA tournaments? Could be.

SPEAKER_00 3:30

I I haven't gone back and looked at it, but I think so.

SPEAKER_01 3:34

So UI's been, you know, a team with crazy all-Americans and really well coached and deep, and they've been making noise for a couple of years. Maryville and Lewis, you know, have come on strong in the last two years, and those three wound up in the in the NCAA tournaments last year.

SPEAKER_00 3:55

Right. And then Rockhurst really is always in it every year. And I think this year, they are the dangerous team.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

Ah, that's so funny that you say that because we'll talk about Rockhurst. We'll get there.

unknown 4:09

All right.

SPEAKER_00 4:10

Where do you want to start?

SPEAKER_01 4:12

Hey, you know what? It's like a pretty good conference, Kevin. You know, good teams come out of this conference. They're getting guys from the Midwest, they're getting guys from the West, they're getting guys from Canada, they're getting guys from the East Coast. So this conference is doing a good job of recruiting and recruiting decent and good lacrosse players. And the coaches, like Coach Peruzzi said, they're good coaches, and they're doing a really good job of recruiting and getting kids out there. So we might as well start with Coach Peruzzi's Lewis Flyers. We might as well start. I hear you. Hey, they went 14-5 last year, 5-2, made it to their first NCAA tournament in program history, and uh got beat up pretty bad once they got there. But you know what? They got there.

SPEAKER_00 4:59

Well, they this is what's interesting. So they were the GLVC champs, which definitely got them into the NCAAs. They turned it way up at the end of the season last year. They beat Meryville three times. They like and they beat Merryville in the first round of the NCAAs before they they hit Tampa, right? Um and they and this is how they turned around, also. They lost to UND the regular season, but they beat them in the semis of the conference tournament.

unknown 5:31

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 5:32

So that's what we talk about, how tight this conference is in competition. Look at they they lost to Maryville in the first game of the season 13 to 5. Then beat them again in the regular season, beat him in the finals of the of the tournament, and then beat him again a week later in the NCAA.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

Well, if you remember last year, Kev, we've in Lewis had that slow start kind of, and you and I discussed like, hey, what happened to Lewis? They kind of started off a little slow, and that can happen, but but they came on at the end of the year. Hey, they were really good, man. I mean, they they really did a lot of good things last year.

SPEAKER_00 6:12

Yeah, yeah. So let's turn to this year. Um, let's talk about their out-of-conference. It's a good one. They've got Newberry and then Limestone, and they play those two teams two days apart. Then they've got Walsh, Davenport, who's no longer in the GLVC, Lake Erie, Tiffin, Westminster, Northwood, UAH, and Seton Hill. That's pretty good. Yeah. That's a that's a good, good out of conference schedule.

SPEAKER_01 6:44

Well, I got some questions. I got some questions.

SPEAKER_00 6:47

Yeah, what do you got? I got some of the same thing.

SPEAKER_01 6:49

What do you what do you what do you they lose a ton of senior experience, Kevin? Yeah. A ton of senior experience. Last year, their first their top scorers combined for 234 points. They total score over the year, Lewis, was 484 points. They're losing 50% of their points, their offensive, their offensive output. That's that's pretty crazy, man. They're losing Evan Clement, Braden Boyanko, Kevin Blas, Drew Andre, Nate McClain, all these guys put up.

SPEAKER_00 7:29

So so Kevin Blas is returning for a grad year.

SPEAKER_01 7:33

Oh, he is? Okay. Yeah. That's good for Lewis.

SPEAKER_00 7:36

Yeah. So they they do lose. You're right. Number one, Evan Clement and number two, Bain Boyenko, and Nate McClain, and Drew Andre. But on their attack, they're returning Malachi Good, who was number three in scoring.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

Yeah, 26 goals, 19 assists, not bad.

SPEAKER_00 7:52

They've got Paul Roskowski, who was the top five in D2 and man-up goals last year.

SPEAKER_01 7:57

You know where he's from, Kev? Where is he from? Tulsa, Oklahoma. Really? Paul Roskowski is from Tulsa. 22 goals last year.

SPEAKER_00 8:07

And then you got guys, yeah. Then where they're really deep is their returning mids. They've got Michael Methaney, Don Bravada, Luke Schroeder, uh, Nolan Dalup, Kevin Blas. Both of the both of those guys are returning for a grad year. Jackson Morandon and Lance uh McCann. So those guys, some of them are coming, uh are transfers. Jackson Morandon is a two-time national champ transfer from Hartford uh community college. Lance McCann comes over from Air Force Prep. So they've got guys ready to make a move to take over for those guys that are leaving. They've got a good stable of players on the offense that are ready to come in and take over. What you said is exactly right, though. It's the senior leadership from a lot of those guys. Not only the points, but the senior leadership. Yeah, they lose Rhea Wrath and they lose Kai George at short stick D Midi. He's the one, he signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Mammoth recently. So now on defense, though, they return Logan Sushi, who was all GLVC LSM, Tyler Davis. Yep. Henri Merendan. He's a grad transfer, uh, two-time All-American at Lynchburg. Leo Dunlap, uh, Zach Adelino, and Joe Zanda, Joe Janda from Detroit Mercy transfer. So once again, they've got pretty good depth at all positions, but they are changing people out, right?

SPEAKER_01 9:42

Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure. I'm sure they're going to be a pretty formidable squad. Again, they lose a lot of senior leadership, you know. Yeah. And that's a lot of these guys that are stepping up were freshmen and sophomores last year. So right, or transfers.

SPEAKER_00 9:58

So what they're doing, what you're saying is it's a chemistry thing, right?

SPEAKER_01 10:02

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 10:02

Yes. Now, luckily, in both of their face-off specialists return Dom Torello at 61%, and Dylan Kendrick, who is at 58%. So that should help him. The real thing is, I think, one of the things, not only those changes, but at goalie, they do have Caden Donahue, who's backed up Ria Wrath for the past two years. And Coach tells us he went over 50% when they scrimmaged Marquette in the fall with double-digit saves. So he keeps that up. It could be seamless in goal, I guess, from what they had at RIA Wrath, who was really, really good for them.

SPEAKER_01 10:39

Well, you know, with Blaz returning, that's good for them. You know, again, a lot of these uh um freshmen and sophomores last year on the offensive side, down the sector number twos, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. And and they all got burned, they all got playtime, they all did really well. But again, with the transfers and and younger guys stepping into bigger roles, it's about chemistry. It's gonna take time. And when you're playing like in Newberry and Limestone and stuff like that on your out-of-conference, you don't have a whole lot of time to really to mess with stuff. You got to get on the ball quick.

SPEAKER_00 11:17

Right. And and that's why I actually like their out of conference. I think it's a good mix. They're gonna have some really, really tough games like Limestone and Seton Hill. And then they got some other teams where they can maybe hone their skills a little bit more. You know, they'll they'll see where they need to be at with a team like Limestone, and they'll get hopefully build on the chemistry of some of some of the others. Now, some of these teams still are not going to be easy. I mean, Davenport, Lake Erie, Westminster, UAH, Seton Hill. I mean, those are tough, tough teams. So I think I think it's set well for them to be ready for conference play, which is what they want for the AQ. You're right. I agree with you.

SPEAKER_01 12:02

And that's you know, that's pretty good. But again, they're meeting Newberry and Limestone out of the gate. You know, that's Newberry has a lot of turnover too, though.

SPEAKER_00 12:11

Yeah, so I think they're gonna that's gonna be a clear. They don't suck. They don't suck. Well, neither did Lewis last year.

SPEAKER_01 12:17

No, no, no, not at all. I'm not saying, I'm just saying it's they're in for you know, the first couple of weeks are gonna be tough for the Lewis wise, they're gonna have to get into gear quickly. Yep, yep.

SPEAKER_00 12:29

Or or and or they could lose both those games, but learn from it.

SPEAKER_01 12:34

Oh, absolutely. Well, every game you learn, you lose, you learn. Yeah, you know, again, I've always said I never went through a practice where I didn't learn something about me, the team, and the game. Right. So a good coach is will always learn something, especially from a loss. And sometimes a loss in the beginning of the season, that little sting is enough fire, fire under the blue.

SPEAKER_00 12:56

Look how they start off last year against Meryville, losing 13 to 5.

SPEAKER_01 12:59

Yeah, exactly. There you go. Case in point. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 13:04

Okay. You want to move on? Let's move on. How about you Indy? Uendy, the Greyhounds. 11-6 last year. Head coach Greg Stocks always has his team ready. They were four. They were four and two in conference. They lost to Lenore Ryan and Newberry in the regular season and limestone in the first round of the NCAAs, but they did beat Mercy Hurst and Seaton Hill in overtime and Rollins when they were number two. So that like you talked about in kind of the intro, UND has set the standard in a lot of ways for the GLVC. And all these teams are reaching for that standard. And I really think they're all close. Most of them are close in this.

SPEAKER_01 13:48

Um Indy's a great team every year. I mean, they they they're in the NCAA tournament, they're tough, man. They give, you know, they're well coached, they're deep usually, um, stacked on defensive side, usually. They have uh they just have a really good program there at Undy. Yeah, but Kev, just like Lewis. They lose a ton, man. A ton. And I think this is a lot, if you ask me. You know, Owen Braddock, Justin Williams, Nick Rongard, Sam Pichovic, Dylan Braddock, goalie Casey Carlson, who I think is a great goalie and quiet out of the career. Yep. You know, um, you know, face off Caleb Parker, Dougie Crawford and Trevor Lockwood, and all of these guys, man. They lose a ton of guys.

SPEAKER_00 14:42

Yeah, and D, they lose. I think you said it, uh, you said Dougie Crawford, Trevor Lockwood, Jack Sullivan. I mean, they do return on offense. Tristan Schaefer, who is their number one scorer, 32 goals, 19 assists, and number four. Nathan Lamb. Where's Tristan? You know where Tristan's from? Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

SPEAKER_01 15:01

He's a good player. Yeah, yeah, he's a good player, man. He was their leading score. 32 goals, 18 assists, 50 points, like you said.

SPEAKER_00 15:08

And Nathan Lamb comes back too, but they they lose so much firepower. And then on D, they returning Seamus Faulkner at D. Yeah. Deepole, Adam Wong, LSM. He was a freshman last year and he had 44 ground balls and 21 cost turnoff. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He was pretty good. And Kyle Rizzo also. So they've got four. And this is another team, as coach pointed out. They brought in some transfers to really help him out. At MIDI, Tanner Ham from NJIT, Jackson Ford from Robert Morris. At attack, Matt Pereira from Robert Morris. D. Middy, Lackland Korn from Queens, and goalie from Linenwood, AJ Preachuk.

unknown 15:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:51

So the same thing.

SPEAKER_01 15:53

AJ Preach is 6'4 to 15, man.

unknown 15:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:59

It's it's almost like Lewis and Undy are in the exact same boat.

SPEAKER_01 16:06

They graduated 16. They brought in 22 freshmen, Kev, and there's 52 on the roster. With the with the transfers, over half the team is brand new.

SPEAKER_00 16:18

Well, here's what the coach coach uh stock saws. First of all, this is what I say. This is a changing of the guard on all sides of the ball for Undy. Coach said they're extremely young, with fifth 43 of their 54 guys being either fresh a freshman or sophomore on the field. And that's unusual, as I recall, from Undy teams.

SPEAKER_01 16:42

Yeah. Yeah. Very, very unusual. They, like I said, that you know, they they've been stacked for years. They you knew you knew if you're gonna play, if you indie was on your schedule, you better buckle up, man. Because that was gonna be a game.

SPEAKER_00 16:56

And it was always, and they were always stacked, especially. It seemed like they they just had the best middies.

SPEAKER_01 17:02

Short stick dems are really good. You know, they just had you know, Casey Carlson in goal for the last two, three years. I mean, just a really good team. And like I just brought up 22 freshmen, graduate 16, 52 on the roster. And with this five or six transfers coming in, you're talking half the team is brand new, Kevin. That's yeah. I don't know. I don't I don't know what to think about you, Wendy, this year. Yeah. Yeah, I I it's will they be good? Of course they'll be good. Yes. Will be will they be on NCAA level, 20 level, you know? I don't know. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 17:48

They're out of conferences. Davenport, limestone, Newberry, Lake Erie, Lenore Rhine, Montevallo, Seton Hill, Tampa, Uah.

unknown 18:02

I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 18:03

Brutal. Brutal. I don't know. I could see maybe UND winning three of those games, maybe.

SPEAKER_00 18:15

Four, maybe. I say could be could be four to five is what I'm looking at. But that's a that's a that could be a stretch.

SPEAKER_01 18:26

I don't know. Again, these guys are new. It's a whole new thing. And yeah, you know, there's only a handful of kids that have been through, you know, Coach Stokes' program, you know.

SPEAKER_00 18:37

So I'm sure that a lot I think by the end of the season it'll be close in the conference tournament. I see them making to the tournament. Now, your question of do they have enough to get to the NCAAs? I think the way right now, on paper right now, is they I I think you're right. I think they'd have to win the tournament to get in.

SPEAKER_01 19:04

You know, I just think they have too much turnover in the key positions. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:09

I think it's one of those we've talked about this with several teams already. They're going they are going to get better as the season unfolds.

SPEAKER_01 19:18

Oh, yeah. Most teams do, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:20

Most teams get better. But you know, they've they've got a it just seems like they've got a especially with their out-of-conference, it's gonna be a struggle. Are they gonna be in a uh foreign team conference? I just uh I think it's it's gonna be tough.

SPEAKER_01 19:39

You know, they might have the same conference schedule, but I'm talking about those out of conference Tampas and the Lenore Rhines and the Limestones, and even Montevallo, like Montevallo's good team, you know. Yeah, oh yeah. They're a good team. I mean, they're not work walkovers, you know. And UAH Seton Hill's always nationally ranked. They've been, you know, Navante's gonna put out a good team. Like again, I've never seen a U Lindy team this decimated like that, like this. Yeah, they've always had seniors there that kind of would write those young guys and get them playing and get them. It's it like it's gonna be a new look um on the Greyhounds team this year. Yeah. But but like you said, you know, Coach Stocks will have them have them playing, and you know, they'll they'll be a formidable squad. I just don't know if they're gonna be the U India past.

SPEAKER_00 20:38

We'll see. We'll see. We'll see. I I'm I'm on your side right now. Coach Stocks and Grimes will not like us after this preview, but what do we know?

SPEAKER_01 20:51

What do we know? We're just two knuckleheads, just spewing stuff. We're just spewing it. Waiting for Monday night football to start. Hey, you know what? We got our ear to the to the railroad.

SPEAKER_00 21:06

It's gonna be you're you're right. I think out of all the years I've seen, they've always lost a few players, but they had so much talent that was still there. And not that they don't have some talent there still now. We talked about some of the players coming back, they've just lost more than we're they're keeping this time around.

SPEAKER_01 21:22

So more more than 50% are new faces.

SPEAKER_00 21:25

Yep, yep. Gonna take some time. Yeah, it is. Where do you want to head next? Go to Meryville. All right. Meryville, the Saints.

SPEAKER_01 21:34

Coach Stark had a pretty good season last year, Kevin. This is a pretty good team. Good offense. 13-5, 5-1 overall in conference.

SPEAKER_00 21:45

That's and you know what? Well, last year, when you say they did pretty well, there was a big improvement in the overall record and their conference record from 2023.

SPEAKER_01 21:54

And just the way they played the game. Like if you watched Meryville play, hey, they beat Maryville. Number 19 Lewis. Okay, they beat ranked teams last year. They beat number 15 Colorado Mesa. Yeah. And they beat number 19 Rockhurst.

SPEAKER_00 22:09

And they lost to Wingate by one.

SPEAKER_01 22:12

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And give Wingate a game. Yeah. Gave Wingate a game.

SPEAKER_00 22:18

So and they lost to Lewis in not only the championship, but the NCA first round by one goal each game. That's how close it was.

SPEAKER_01 22:31

Yep. I like this team this year, Kevin. They don't lose a whole bunch.

SPEAKER_00 22:38

Well, they here's here's their losses on the you know on the attack on the offensive side. Zach Baker at attack, Ben Foster, and then Ethan Olson.

SPEAKER_01 22:48

Well, Ben Foster and Zach Baker, those two guys are the top scorers. Yeah. And Ethan Olson was there. But you're right.

SPEAKER_00 22:56

Who are they returning?

SPEAKER_01 22:57

They got a lot of guys coming back. Junior Middy, Justin Simonson had 21 goals and 20 assists last year. Sophomore midfielder Ben Ben Meckett, 24 goals, seven assists. Reed Ersa, the senior, comes back. He's a Clayton Surrett. Yep. Clayton Sarrat, another great player, 21 goals, 13 assists. You know, their face-off guy, Shane Rayburn comes back. The short stick, D. Middies, Carlson and Chalton, and a lot of their guys do return.

SPEAKER_00 23:30

Now they do lose their goalie Dylan Ratke. Yes, they do, which is big. He was good. He was good. That's big.

SPEAKER_01 23:38

So does Evan Hawk, does Evan Hawk get it or Evan uh or Evan Alfano, one of the two backup goals?

SPEAKER_00 23:46

Yeah, or do who did they bring in? Because their roster for 2025 is not out yet. So I don't know if they brought in any anyone else, like a transfer or anything like that, or a freshman, but we'll see. We'll see. They do, like you said, their face-off specials are returning. They lose a few key players. I think really the but they've returning a lot of key players. The real question for me is that goalkeeper.

SPEAKER_01 24:14

Yeah. That's the big question for the Maryville Saints right now. But like I said, their face-off guy comes back. A lot of scorers come back. Those guys, those guys coming back, put up a lot of points last year, Kev. I think I counted 52 on the roster. You know what? Maryville has athleticism and they have depth. And they assisted on more than half of all of their goals scored. They share the rock. Yeah. They move the ball. They do. They're fast on offense. They move the ball really, really well. They were 26% on man up last year and uh 55% on the faceoff. I mean.

SPEAKER_00 25:01

Get this, Danny, too. They made a significant jump in team efficiency from 2023 to 2024. They were 32nd in offense efficiency in 2023. That jumped to 14th in 2024. On defense, they went from 24th to 9th. And their save percentage went from 49% in 2023 to 61% in 2024.

SPEAKER_01 25:29

Yeah, they put it together last year, you know. Again, and the games they lost, one goal, two goal games. You know, they were in it. Again, I don't think they lose all that much, other than the question in goalie. I think Merryville is going to be a team that's going to be better watch out. I think they're going to be good this year. I think you're right.

SPEAKER_00 25:50

But I here's another team that I think again. Again, they're out, they don't have their out-of-conference schedule out yet. No, it's not out yet. Nope, it is not. I'd like to see who I do too. On their schedule. But here's another team, Danny, that I think is going to be dangerous and really good this year, and that's the Rockhurst Hawks. Kansas City, Missouri, Kev. That's right. They were 10 and 5 last year, four-and-two in conference. They beat Undy in overtime, lost to Lewis in overtime, and they lost to Meryville in the conference semis.

SPEAKER_01 26:24

Yeah. Coach Kevin Kelly. Let me tell you something. Rockhurst quietly kicks people's ass.

SPEAKER_00 26:32

Totally agree.

SPEAKER_01 26:34

Totally agree. They're just one of those teams. They're not like out in the front. They're not out in the forefront, but they kick your ass. And then they get on the bus and they go home.

SPEAKER_00 26:43

Look at some of these team stats from last year. Face off 60%. Clears 90%. Man up 43%. You tell me they don't play team ball.

SPEAKER_01 26:55

They're a tough, formidable team. They lost to you Indian overtime. Lost to Lewis in overtime. I mean, they lose Ricky Bloom, Alec. Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, you're right. 13 freshmen on the roster.

SPEAKER_00 27:10

Do you not listen to me on this on this podcast?

SPEAKER_01 27:12

I'm sorry. I got notes. I'm going off notes. Yeah, man. They lost to Meryville twice, each by three. They're competitive. They're good, man. They got a lot of guys returning.

SPEAKER_00 27:28

I think they returned three out of their top five leading scores. They lose number three, Ricky Bloom, and number four, Al Keflin. But Linus Toward and Jonah McConnell, number one and number two, are back, and they were both freshmen last year.

SPEAKER_01 27:43

Yeah. Linus Toward had 39 goals and five assists. You don't like the dish too much. Sophomore attacked Jonah McConnell, 32 goals, 10 assists, 42 points. That's great for freshmen, those two guys making noise as freshmen. And you know what? They're only, you know what I always say about freshmen coming back as sophomores? Bigger, better, stronger, faster, smarter. So they're going to even be more formidable this year. Uh junior midfield Lars Yorkowski comes back. Uh uh sophomore midi, Adam Husby comes back. Senior Parker Jones comes back. Their junior goalie, Brockalia comes back. He's at 52. He's good. Their face-off guy, Carlson Bradshaw, comes back. Bjork Anderson, the short stick D mid, comes back. Matt Calberg, the defender.

SPEAKER_00 28:34

And they have number one. Yeah, and their number one and two LSMs return. Kate Reading and Ian Kalen.

SPEAKER_01 28:41

And they have a Rutgers transfer, Austin Winship.

SPEAKER_00 28:45

So um here's some notes. Here's some notes from Coach that he sent up when he gave us our preview. He he talked about he talked about Linus and Jonah. He says, Jonah is our Mahomes with the ball on the stick. Linus is like our Kelsey, where he just catches and finishes. And he points out this is the bad, this is why I had to do this quote. By the way, I'm from Buffalo and a huge Bills fan, and a Josh Allen guy as well. So making this analogy is tough for me personally, but appropriate. It's pretty funny, Coach Kelly. And then you add in uh what they've got in midfield. I mean, they've got two solid lines, if not three.

SPEAKER_01 29:28

They're going to be very formidable this year, Kevin. I think you should watch out for the Rockhurst Hawks this year.

SPEAKER_00 29:36

They and they don't lose much on defense.

SPEAKER_01 29:39

Like, I'm again, they don't lose much at all.

SPEAKER_00 29:44

And here's who uh I'm um this is what teams need to look out for. Coach says the X Factor player is Rocco Hicks. He said, This is our jack of all trades. He's a great story. He was a full scholarship tight end at Bowling Green, where he played in 15 games during his career. Then he's a freaking athlete. Yeah, he's a great high school player. He did he's an athlete, he's the coach says he's an absolute dog. He decided he graduated in three years. They the coach said he wasn't really going to play a lot as one of the top three tight ends. So he comes over to play for Rockhurst. He's 6'4, 250 pounds. What position? He says he can play short stick mid, but he can also, but he also has ridiculous skills, uh, stick skills. So he's probably gonna be playing both ways for him. Wow, that should be interesting. Can you imagine if him on as a short stick D MIDI and then getting the ground ball and bringing it in transition at 6'4, 250?

SPEAKER_01 30:48

I don't have my diesel train sound effects. I wish I did. That's what that's gonna be. It's gonna be like a diesel train.

SPEAKER_00 30:56

After going through all this, this is my this is the thing I wrote down on my on my thing. Watch out for this team. Bring back a lot of weapons.

SPEAKER_01 31:06

Yeah, and you know what? And they're gonna have a little chip on their shoulder, a couple of one goal losses and stuff like that from last year. Um, if they're if they had national rankings that would go like, you know, one to 25, you know, they only do the top 20 in division two. If they went to 25, Rockhurst would be 24, they'd be in the top 25 in the country. And I think, and I think with all the guys that they have coming back, and I think they're in my top 20. And and you know what? They're out of conference, they got Quincy, they play uh Meryville once out of conference, and then Tampa, St. Leo, Northwood, CMU, Alabama, Huntsville, and Adams State.

SPEAKER_00 31:54

Yep, and they play William Jewell twice, so one of the times is an out of conference also. So they've got three count them. I mean three GLV C teams that they're that are twice, that played twice, which they do a lot, obviously, for travel, you know. Right, right, right. But you're right. You look at that, and and they played Tampa St. Leo, both of them last year. So it's not like they're new teams to them.

SPEAKER_01 32:18

Right. You know what? I just think these young kids would be like, hey man, we got something here. Let's go. Yeah. So I like Rockcurst. I think they're gonna be very formidable nationally as well as in the GLBC.

SPEAKER_00 32:33

I totally agree with you. Totally with you. Okay, let's go to the Quincy Hawks. This is well, the last two teams we're gonna go over are the teams that are trying to get relevancy in the GLVC. Quincy Hawks may have a tough time this year, as you know. So their coach, Eric Ruppel, left to go to Emory and Henry. They have a new coach in, Jake Acevedo. They were five and nine last year, 0-6 in the conference. We got uh some previews from Coach Ruppel before he left. They graduated 15 from last year, but he and they have some key losses. Five of the top scores are gone. They're returning. If they stay, some good players, Caden uh Prediger, Collins, Sean Usher, Caleb Hensley, Eli Cohen, and Connor Knock. But my question really is are they did they stay? And what has the new coach been able to do? This is going to be a work in progress, I think.

SPEAKER_01 33:41

Yeah, I don't know, man. It sounds like chaos of Quincy to me right now. They only had 45 on their roster in 2024, and then you said they graduated 2024.

SPEAKER_00 33:51

Only 45, 45 is good. I don't know how many they brought in.

SPEAKER_01 33:56

They said there's nothing updated on the website. There's no there's nothing about the new coach, there's nothing about a new roster, uh, updated schedule, nothing. So I really don't know what to say. Like you, we don't know whether some of these guys are coming back or what. You know, so like you said, they had senior attackman Caden Prediger, sophomore attack, Caleb Hensley, sophomore MIDI, Eli Cowan, junior MIDI, Austin Vetter, Connor Knock, like you mentioned, face off Ray Lingard. He's a senior out of St. Louis. They were 54th in the country out of 79 teams in goals scored. They averaged like about 10 goals a game. Um, a work in progress, man.

SPEAKER_00 34:42

Yeah. And, you know, their coach came in really, their new coach, end of fall ball at best. Uh, you know, I think it was mid-October, late October. I don't know how they were able to do what they were able to do. So, you know, they're they've got their work cut out for them this year. It's it's a tough conference where they're at. They're in the middle of Illinois. It's kind of a little bit tougher, probably, for them to recruit. I think their whole goal is to try to be competitive in games.

SPEAKER_01 35:14

Yeah, again, that nothing's been updated. I don't know what to say much about Quincy except from what I know. I mean, they were five and nine last year, one and eight in conference. They struggled, Kev. They struggled.

SPEAKER_00 35:26

They were oh and six in conference last year.

SPEAKER_01 35:28

They they struggle. Oh, what what the heck do I have? I'm on this, I must have writ written something down on a different piece of paper. Anyway, I mean, they they can't score 10 goals a game and expect to win games. You know what I mean? They have to do a better job than that. I I don't know what to say about Quincy again. Right now, it seems a little bit of chaos going on there. If anybody knows what's going on, drop the stats.

SPEAKER_00 35:54

Yeah, the the one the one thing I would say is, and the stats, they they kept on improving from past years. So, like their man up was at 45-4%, vice 21% the season before that. Clears were at 86%, that's not bad. Face off at 50%, that's what you at least you want. But like you said, there's so much turnover with players and a new head coach, it's really a big question mark for this season.

SPEAKER_01 36:18

Yeah, I don't know what to say. I really don't. I think they're gonna struggle again. It sounds like it sounds like they're trying to just reform.

SPEAKER_00 36:28

I agree. I agree. So let's move to William Jewell, the Cardinals in Liberty, Missouri. Liberty, Missouri. Coach Ryan Burke, seven and eight there. That's very good for a first-year program. They were one and five in conference. They beat Malone, Thomas More, Dominican of California, and Quincy.

SPEAKER_01 36:52

Yeah, they were all freshmen last year, Kevin. The whole team was freshman.

SPEAKER_00 36:56

They only had all freshmen, and they they went seven and eight.

SPEAKER_01 37:00

They had 35 on the roster last year, but they have 44 on their roster this year, Kevin. Yeah. So they're trending upwards and getting players there.

SPEAKER_00 37:11

Got to be impressed with Coach Burke's recruiting.

SPEAKER_01 37:15

Oh, hell yeah, man. Again, I think in their first year D2, the to win seven games with 35 kids on your roster. That's and all being a freshman. I mean, that's pretty damn good. Yeah. That's pretty damn good. I don't care who you're playing. This is a first-year program. Yeah, now they're second year. So everybody comes back. Yeah, and it looks like 17. And you've had a bunch, yeah. You know, so um sophomore attack, Jake Weinkoop, 20 goals and four assists last year. Seth Heath comes back, 12 goals and six assists. Again, they were a young team. Uh Carson Wright, 12 and 3. Tanner Garcia, 10 and 4, defenseman Zach Johnson. You know where he's from? Where is he from? Windsor, Colorado, Kev. 32 ground balls, 24 calls turnovers last year.

SPEAKER_00 38:16

And then and then get this, Danny. They had six players with at least 20 points. That's just great to build on. And their goalkeeper, Finn Ziberth, returns. He was at 56% saves. Save percent.

SPEAKER_01 38:31

They have another defender, Bear Anderson. Love that name. Bear Anderson. He had 29 ground balls and 19 calls turnovers last year, Cap. These freshman defensemen get after it for William Jewell. You know, just between those two kids alone is damn near 60 ground balls. Yeah. Just between the two of them. So uh face off Cody Kaiser, Max Hunter. I think there's a promising future there at William Jewell. I agree. I agree. Second year program, they're gonna take their lumps, they're gonna, you know, make mistakes still, but they're trending upward.

SPEAKER_00 39:14

Here's what I said I wrote down. What they want this year is to be competitive in the conference against the UNDs and the Lewises and the Rockers. Not that they win, but they're competitive. That they make it close, right? They put the scare in them. And I think they have a they have a shot.

SPEAKER_01 39:36

I just think you know, you know, their out of conference looks very that's a good out-of-conference, very favorable to them, if you ask me.

SPEAKER_00 39:45

Lincoln Memorial, Chouan, Malone, Northwood, Quincy and Rockhurst, Montevallo, and Uah.

SPEAKER_01 39:54

See, I can't count the Quincy and Rockhurst. To me, that those are conference guys. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 40:00

But they're they're part of the out-of-conference. I'm I'm with you. I know, yeah, I know. But I know from teams they usually don't play. I'm with you.

SPEAKER_01 40:06

Right, like the LMUs, the Chawans, the Malones, Colorado Mesa, Monte Valo. And you know what? I think Coach Burke has got something trickle latent. Is that a word? Trickle late? It is now.

SPEAKER_00 40:20

It's it's an in-the-crease word.

SPEAKER_01 40:23

So he's got something trick-le-lating there and in Liberty, Missouri. And um I'm kind of looking forward to seeing how they play. You know, I didn't really watch them last year.

SPEAKER_00 40:36

You know what I mean? I think I caught one game. I watched them in one game, but that's not enough to really see. I think it'll be really you're right. We gotta watch a few of their games this year just to see the way are. I think early on, especially with some of these out of conference, you know, Malone.

SPEAKER_01 40:55

I'd like to see them play Colorado Mason. Let's see what they, you know. So I think Coach Burke is, you know, again, he's got something trickly. He's got something trickle. And uh again, I want to see them play this year. So I like the Cardinals. Let's see what happens again. Young team again, Kev, very young, only second year in the pr in the in Division II. Um trending upwards, it looks like.

SPEAKER_00 41:21

Yeah, yeah, and everything. In everything, you know, roster size, depth. It'll be fun to see where they go this year. So or if they get a sophomore slump.

SPEAKER_01 41:32

We will see. They won the seven games last year as a first-year program. That's not too shabby, my friend. It's not.

SPEAKER_00 41:39

It's not. All right. Well, that is the conference, Danny.

Shout outs

SPEAKER_00 41:46

So to close it out, do you have any shout-outs for today?

SPEAKER_01 41:49

I have no shout-outs, Kevin.

SPEAKER_00 41:52

Okay, I've got one. And this goes back to a couple things. One, the NLL just started their season. Two, we know that D2 is real. We mentioned today, tonight, that Kai George, formerly of U.S., signed a contract with the Mammoth. But there are a ton of D2 players that are playing in the NLL. We had several on our podcast in the past. So I just want to shout out all those D2 players who made an NLL roster this year. Yeah, shout out to those guys. Good for you, man. Too many to mention because I know I'd miss one.

SPEAKER_01 42:35

A ton. A ton is right.

SPEAKER_00 42:37

D2 is real, Kev. Israel. All right, Danny. So that closes out not only our shout-outs.

SPEAKER_01 42:44

Hold on now. Let's talk about the GLVCB just before we leave. What do you think overall of this conference and what it might do this year? Do you think that it's another three team in the tournament?

SPEAKER_00 42:59

No.

SPEAKER_01 43:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:01

I do not. I think at most it's two. It's probably one. And who do you think it's going to be? I'm putting you on the page. It's going to be whoever wins uh the conference tournament.

SPEAKER_01 43:14

Oh, you took the easy play out.

SPEAKER_00 43:17

If you ask me today who I think will win the conference tournament, my money's on Rockhurst.

SPEAKER_01 43:25

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 43:27

It's either Rockhurst or Maryville. And we're getting we're gonna get them both wrong. But those are two good choices. I think it'd be William Jewell. I tell you, this is this con we ought to talk about the other ones, but this conference tournament, like I said with CACC, when you get to the conference tournament, they are really, really good games. Really good games. CACC usually is a surprise. This one may not always be a surprise, but they're always good games. And that's why I look forward to it. These teams will build over the year and they will beat each other up in conference play. I don't think they will have more than two teams make it to the playoffs. To be honest, the NCAA playoffs, to be honest, Danny, I don't know enough about how they're going to really pick the at-large bids right now to say, like, I mean, we've talked about with coaches. Will uh a conference like the SAC have more than two? I don't know if we really know that right now. I think it's just gonna play out. And we're gonna have to see really how the how the season unfolds with a lot of these. There are there are four, there are four teams in there, because I still can't count you indie out just because of what the what they have brought to the table every year for the past five years, that you just don't know how it's gonna end up. But right now, on paper, I say they have one, maybe two teams, and I'm going with Rockers for the the uh conference championship.

SPEAKER_01 45:04

Yeah, I I you know I'm strongly on your side with that. I like Maryville too, because I think Maryville has athleticism and depth, and just love the way they move the ball, man. They're good on offense. And again, uh they they just I don't know, man. They were one or two games from being a really, really, really good team last year. And again, love the Rockhurst Hawks and Kev Kevin Kelly and what he's doing in Kansas City. All of those bad boys come back. They're formidable. They've you know, there are a couple of losses last year with one goal losses. I mean, these kids are gonna have, I think, a little chip on their shoulder. I think it's gonna be a little different Rockhurst team. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 45:50

And then you look at look at you look at Lewis and Undy, just from who they've got on, not only in their their head coaches, but their coaching staff. Yeah, they've lost people. I can't count them out. I mean, I think it's going to be close. I, you know, I in the past conference previews we've done, I went as a pick'em for the Peach Bell. This one I threw myself out there. I'm gonna say Rockers, but I tell you what, I love those four top teams in the GLBC.

SPEAKER_01 46:22

Yeah, it's gonna be good. It's gonna be good. I think the GLBC is a good conference, man. I think it's a really good conference. They put out formidable teams nationally out there, man. And again, I think it's gonna be really interesting to see. I think you know, UND loses a lot. I think Lewis loses a lot. They bring in a lot of new guys. We'll see. We'll see. It should be good. But yeah, it's a good conference.

SPEAKER_00 46:46

Totally, totally. And with that, Danny, anything else? That's a that's a wrap, Dev, I think. That's a wrap. It's a wrap.