Conference Previews for the 2026 Season - RMAC

Intro

SPEAKER_04 0:33

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Creed with Danny Evan, a coast-to-coast discussion of these two men for your co-host, Kevin Stenstrom, and with me as always is our Hall of Fame hustler, Danny Moran. Hey, Danny.

SPEAKER_00 0:48

Every day I'm hustling, hustling. Every day I'm hustling. Kevin Stenstrom, what's going on, my man?

SPEAKER_04 0:56

I'm just giving uh props to you. We kind of talked about this last week. I was thinking about this. Look, it you're a union electrician, you do other electric work on the side, you play in several bands, you do a podcast. There are rumors that you're soon to join the PGA tour champions. I mean, you hustle all over.

SPEAKER_02 1:18

Uh the PGA has not no worries about me coming on. That's funny. It'd be a senior tour, super senior tour.

SPEAKER_04 1:26

Well, that is the senior tour now, but you know what that means? You would be just like me. You would be the volunteer saying shh to all the people watching. That's right.

SPEAKER_02 1:35

Hold it up the signs. Quiet. That'd be my job. That's my job. Very funny. And thank you for that introduction. How's everything tonight in Northern Virginia, Kev?

SPEAKER_04 1:44

It's great. You know, I can't complain. Can't complain. We're in November now. We're recording this a couple weeks before it's actually going to go live, but it's uh, you know, we're just getting, we're getting closer and closer to the holidays, a couple weeks away to Thanksgiving. So, you know, it's that it's that transition time.

SPEAKER_02 2:03

Right. And like you said, we're a couple of weeks ahead, maybe one or two weeks ahead, but you're a Navy man through and through. Tomorrow's Veterans Day. Happy Veterans Day. Thank you for your service, my friend.

SPEAKER_04 2:16

Oh, no worries. I actually I tell people this all the time. I I I lucked into a career. That's what I did. I went, did I OTC to pay for college, thought I'd do five years. Twenty-three years later, I had to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. I appreciate what you said, and like I told you, I enjoyed my time. But to all the veterans out there, even though it's going to be about a week late, happy Veterans Day and thank you for your service.

SPEAKER_00 2:40

Yes, absolutely.

RMAC Preview

SPEAKER_04 2:43

Now, Danny, I mentioned you as a hustler, but this conference has a bunch of teams that are hustlers too. They have to hustle for out of conference games. They hustle on planes, trains, and automobiles to get to those games and even hustle for, I think, recognition. But I think that's starting to change. Those days may be over for the RMAC.

SPEAKER_02 3:12

Yeah, little Joe Walsh to start tonight off. The Rocky Mountain Way, Kev. I love it. Yeah, I love Joe Walsh. When we were kids. Sneaking beers in the woods, listening to Joe Walsh. Would you have like an eight-track tape or a cassette? Yeah, those are the eight-tracks, the old days. That's right. That's right. Yeah, the Rocky Mountain. What a conference. These guys are the Road Warriors, always on the road, traveling all over the country. Some of these guys play eight, nine, ten games before they play a home game, Kev. It's the most unique of the conferences, I think, in Division II.

SPEAKER_04 4:06

I agree. And the other thing that I love about it is it's growing. Look at they lost CSU Pueblo last year. They gained a few others. They gained another one with Northwest Nazarene this year. They're at six, their own automatic qualifier. And they've got teams, Danny, like Colorado Mesa, that are always in the top 20. They usually have one in the top 20. I looking at and doing my homework on this, if I had to pick my top 20 right now and I haven't finished all my conferences, I would put two in the top 20 right now.

SPEAKER_01 4:41

Oh.

SPEAKER_04 4:42

I won't tell you what they are yet, but that that's uh that's what I'm thinking on paper once again.

SPEAKER_02 4:47

Well, you know, again, couple like a unique kind of conference. The guys have to travel, lots of traveling. It's not easy, but I guess they're kind of used to it now. I guess you know, the upperclassmen of these schools, because they have to travel. They come out east for three, four, or five games. Sometimes they're out out east for a week. Yeah. You know, just think of the logistics that the coaches are.

SPEAKER_04 5:11

And a lot of back-to-back or a couple days in between to cram some of those in there to get their schedule. Now, the great thing about the AQ for them is they may not have to hustle as much in the future going forward. They still want a good schedule, but look at they win their conference they're in. Now, what they want to do is still play those tough teams like they have in the past so that they are NCAA tournament ready.

SPEAKER_02 5:35

Correct. I agree with that. So you want to start off with last year's champs? I guess we should. Colorado, Mesa, Maverick. Troy Moyer, head coach, located Grand Junction, Colorado, Kev. Beautiful part of the country. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_04 5:58

Oh yeah. 13-4 last year in 2025, 7-1 in conference, carbon copy of 2024.

SPEAKER_02 6:08

Yeah, they had some nice signature wins last year, Kev. They had a 21-14 win over then number 13, St. Leo. Yep. They beat number nine Flagler for the conference championship, which was a game that you and I both called. But they lost to Tampa in the NCAAs 12-7, gave them a game a little bit. You know, that Colorado Mason Mavericks team. They've been knocking on the door, Kev, for the NCAAs for a couple of years. They finally got in and they had to face Tampa.

SPEAKER_04 6:40

Right. They were they were the eighth seed going to number one. As I remember that game, Tampa was always kind of in the lead. They always had control, but it never was very that far out. I mean, CMU was right there. A five-goal difference with Tampa for them, that's not too bad.

SPEAKER_02 7:01

No, not at all. Again, you know, they had a kind of a crazy season, a bunch of away games before they got home. Um, but again, some nice wins over some ranked teams. They're a good squad, the Mavericks, good. They lose a couple of big boys, though. They lose their boy JJ Bromet.

SPEAKER_03 7:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:18

He seems like he was like a staple there forever, right?

SPEAKER_03 7:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:22

They lose face off Mike Edwards. They they lose defenseman Caden Hathaway. Those are some big losses right there.

SPEAKER_04 7:30

Yeah, they also lose Logan Smith, uh, number six in points uh on offense, but they bring back number two through five, Connor Jensen, Eric Peterson, Dylan Pless, and Eli Bibler.

SPEAKER_02 7:44

So all those guys are good, Kev. All of those guys are good. And they performed. Jensen had 54 points last year, 36 goals.

SPEAKER_03 7:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:53

And and and Eric Peterson had 21 goals and a bunch of assists for 35 points. And Dylan Pless was put, he was getting his at the end of the season. He was coming on strong. Right. He was doing really well at the end of the season. Uh short stick D. Middy, Duce K comes back. You know where he's from, Kev? Where is he from? From Lone Tree, Colorado. That sounds like a Western town, doesn't it? Where are you from? Well, I'm from Lone Tree. So face-off Cam Cassados or Caden Rhodes.

SPEAKER_04 8:25

Yeah, and look at what they did last year with those two, along with Mike Edwards, right? Dylan Sheckets was gone, and they still, with that group, chipped into a 57% face-off. Yeah. So they kept right up there with that group. And I I'm not going to see, I don't see a drop-off with Cam or Canyon.

SPEAKER_02 8:45

No. I think it's going to be kind of business as usual there. Uh goalie Shaden Shields comes back, had a great year last year. You know where he's from, Kev? He's from Can is he from Canada? He's from Naples, Florida.

SPEAKER_04 9:00

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_02 9:01

How do I get that totally wrong? I know. I know. Hey, you know what, Kev? This team has talent, man. I mean, they're solid in all areas of the game. Like you said, face off is at 50%. They clear at 90%. They could improve a little bit on protecting the rock, had a lot of turnovers last year. Um, they averaged 46 shots a game. They're efficient off on offense, very disciplined on defense. Most of this team returns. I expect the Mavs to be a problem for most teams and to be in the national rankings from week one.

SPEAKER_04 9:36

Right. I agree. Their offense was young last year, and they are still this year, but they have plenty of game experience. And they add in two limestone players on offense, Camden Moody and Andrew Diaz. Now they were freshmen last year in limestone, so who knows? We'll see. But uh that tells you that they've got the core. They've got the core on defense, offense, they've got the goalie coming back and face-off. There really isn't any part of the field where it's a rebuild.

SPEAKER_02 10:06

And and Jensen's only a junior, the attackman. He's only a junior this year. I mean, who knows? I mean, I again, I think this team is deep. I think they're talented, and I think they're going to be a problem for just about everybody that they play.

SPEAKER_04 10:23

I wrote a note. They were my first team that I re uh previewed in this conference, and my first note at the end was prohibitive favorite in the RMAC this year. Yeah, I think I think there's one team that on paper right now can challenge, and we'll get to that. But let's look at their 2026 out of conference. They've got Rockhurst and then Florida Southern. Florida Southern is coming to them at home. So there's a shout-out to the Mox. I think going, you know, instead of uh Colorado Mesa having to do seven away games to begin their season, they've got a team coming to them. So they've got Florida Southern, then they head down to Tampa. They play Palm Beach Atlantic on March 14th, Tampa on March 15th, and then Flagler on March 17th. Oh, wow. That's the kind of quick turnaround that they've got these teams have to do. But that's a that's a stacked schedule.

SPEAKER_02 11:19

Yeah, so much for that taking it easy a little bit on the schedule. Because that's that's rough, man. Yeah. You know, Tampa, you know, Tampa's not going to be tough. Florida Southern should be a good game.

SPEAKER_04 11:31

You have three Florida teams in four days that you have to play. And they were ranked last year. Except for Palm Beach. Right. Flagler was ranked, right? Right? Yeah, but Colorado Mesa returns a ton, and they are going to be good.

SPEAKER_02 11:49

And that would be a rematch of last year's combined Peach Belt on Mac. In the last out of conference, right. Flagler. At Flagler again. Okay. So here we go. So that's a good that's a good schedule. I like, see, I like what Troy Moyer does out there, man. He's he's he's a hustler. Now that guy's a hustler right there. Yeah, I agree. Getting these teams on his schedule, the logistics that goes into all of this crap, Kev. Just the that that a lot of colleges don't have to go through.

SPEAKER_04 12:20

Exactly. Exactly. All right, let's move on to the runners up last year. Concordia University of Irvine, the Golden Eagles, with head coach Jesse Foss.

SPEAKER_00 12:34

Golden Eagles.

SPEAKER_02 12:39

I'm such a bad bird intimidator.

SPEAKER_04 12:42

Is that that's your I can't tell. Is that a golden eagle or a Falcon?

SPEAKER_02 12:45

I don't know what it is. It's bad. It's bad either way you look at it. Yeah. The Golden Eagles.

SPEAKER_04 12:54

They came on strong in conference last year. They ended up being 8-7 overall, 6-2 in conference. The only team they lost to was Colorado Mesa three times. They beat Rollins 12-11 in overtime.

SPEAKER_02 13:07

Yeah, big signature win for them.

SPEAKER_04 13:09

Yeah. Now they lost to Adelphi, Tampa, St. Leo, and Florida Southern, but look at those teams they played. I mean, that is putting De Gauntlet.

SPEAKER_02 13:17

Yeah.

unknown 13:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:18

All-ranked squads. All ranked, you know. So I give them a lot, I give Coach Foss a lot of credit for putting those kind of teams on the schedule. They lose a couple of guys, though, Cav.

SPEAKER_04 13:29

No, they that's the the issue, I think, from the challenge for them. And I'm going to start off right with their special teams. They lose Cade Poe at face-off at 62%, and their goalie, Daniel Yang.

SPEAKER_02 13:42

Two huge. Those guys were really, really good for them last year.

SPEAKER_04 13:47

And their backup goalie, Joey Heckel, who used to play for Anderson, was a graduate student last year. So he's got to be gone. So you know, they're starting fresh with probably a freshman or maybe a transfer.

SPEAKER_02 14:02

Oh, I they're you know, they lose a ton of senior leadership, especially on defense. Especially on defense.

SPEAKER_03 14:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 14:11

But they lose Chad McFadden, who's 47 points, Brody McDonald, who was really good for them last year. Uh Brady Galbrath. But, you know, they return a couple of guys. I think it's going to be a little different for them this year. Uh they return senior attacks. Barnes had 26 goals, 21 assists, 47 points. Not not a shabby uh year at all. For Jeremy Barnes. Yeah. Senior attack Matt Carressi comes back. Yep. At a level in Maximus High School. Max Tester, Noah Pillow.

SPEAKER_04 14:46

So yeah, I think on offense they're doing okay. They they lose a little, but they they retain a core. Now on defense, they lose Jake Claudier, Connor Kuhl, Colin O'Connor, Ed McCann, and Schwarz 6 D mini Ben Gorlich. I mean, they lose a ton on defense.

SPEAKER_02 15:06

Yeah, and very seasoned veteran leadership group that was. I think it's, you know, um, I don't know. We'll see. They they you know, they had a pretty good season, though, last year. They had an average 43 shots a game, close to 40% on man up. Faceoff was close to 60. I guess face off Drew Klingman's gonna get get the nod this year. He's got big shoes to fill. Yeah. That's if that's the case. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 15:33

And look at their clears. They were at 92% last year. Yeah, there was a squad. I mean, that's that's what you gotta do to maintain that that ball through the middle to set your offense up.

SPEAKER_02 15:46

I watched him play a couple of times last year. I was impressed. But you know, they they did have Yang and Gole and who was pretty good, and Poe, who was able to get them possessions, you know. They were pretty good in those positions, and they lose them. So we're gonna have to see who steps up into those roles this year for Coach Foss.

SPEAKER_04 16:04

I agree. You know, there's a reload on D, and especially you add in the special teams reload. And with CMU returning so much, they're going to be in a little bit of different place this year, I think, than last year. Now, they have a strong and deep roster, and they have in the past, so it's it's it really becomes next man up. Who is ready to take over that role?

SPEAKER_02 16:26

Yep. We're gonna have to see who fills in those certain roles, who they're gonna get in goalie. Yep. Does Klingman get the start at face-off? You know, uh, is Barnes gonna be the guy this year for them? You know what I mean? Yeah. So see their out of conference schedule?

SPEAKER_04 16:43

They're out of conference. They've got a good one. This is an interesting one. Yeah. Alabama, Huntsville, and Lees McCrae, both games in Knoxville, Tennessee.

SPEAKER_02 16:53

And Lees McRae is gonna be good, man. Yeah. They're gonna be much improved, I'm telling you.

SPEAKER_04 16:58

And then they play, they go to Florida, they play Emmy Riddle, Tampa, and Florida Tech in five days. Yeah. In a five-day swing. And that's a good schedule, man. That is a a good schedule.

SPEAKER_02 17:13

I like CUI. I like what you know Coach Foss has done out there in California. Um, getting players, getting guys from out east to come out there, which is pretty cool, you know. Yeah, a lot of those guys want to stay on the East Coast, you know. But um I like CUI. I like what they do. I like what they I like what Coach Foss has got going on there, I like what he's brewing. So I think it's a kind of wait and see to who comes and steps into those bigger roles this year. But I'm gonna be interested to see, especially those first couple of games, UAH and Lees McCrae, see how they look.

SPEAKER_04 17:51

Yeah, I think that'll be a good test because UAH is trying to come back on the upswing, like we said last week on the podcast. Lees McCrae has a ton of players this year. You know, John Grant Jr., the way he can coach, what he's been doing. They are gonna be a totally different team. So yeah, yeah, 100%. Okay, that will that's a great litmus test as they go into the season and then get into the RMAC. Let's move on to the Westminster Griffins. Do you have a do you can you can you simulate, can you do the the bird call or the call of a griffin?

SPEAKER_02 18:32

Oh, griffiths. Is that what a griffin does? I have no idea. Could be. I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 18:40

It's half bird, half lion, you know, what can you say?

SPEAKER_02 18:43

Yeah, I have no clue. Hey, Coach Brad Lavoie takes the helm.

SPEAKER_03 18:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:50

For the Griffiths. Located in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah, Kev.

SPEAKER_04 18:57

One of the prettiest fields. It probably rivals Point Park that we're gonna talk about in the GMAC right there in Pittsburgh. I mean, it's beautiful.

SPEAKER_02 19:07

I would love to get out there for a game someday. Um I just every time I watch a game out there and I see those Rocky Mountains in the background, it's just it's just amazing. It's just it looks like a pretty cool place to go to school, if you ask me. Hey, the Griffiths were pretty good last year, 500.

SPEAKER_04 19:25

Yep. Yep. Five and three in conference, seven and seven overall. Probably not where they'd been before in 2024.

SPEAKER_02 19:33

Yeah, they didn't have any real signature wins, though, this year.

SPEAKER_04 19:37

Yeah, they beat Lynn. Lynn was a better team this year. They beat Colorado Mesa once. So those were probably the two biggest. They lost to CUI three times. Yeah. Although the last time was an overtime in the conference tournament.

SPEAKER_02 19:52

I watched that game. I watched that game.

SPEAKER_04 19:55

So they they were not consistent last year. True. True. But but look at Danny. They return. I think they return more than than what Colorado Mace is. They return their six top scores. Carterinazu, Camden Stanley, Luke Silstrop, Camden Rossi, Duke DeValt, and Pierce Dahl all returning in 2026.

SPEAKER_02 20:27

Carterinazu had 50 points last year, 33 goals, 17 assists. Pretty good player, man.

SPEAKER_04 20:33

And Camden Stanley had 27 goals, so he was close behind and 12 assists. And those are two middies. Their midis led a lot.

SPEAKER_02 20:41

Yeah, and it was only a freshman last year. He's a sophomore this year. And leading scorer last year, as a freshman. Junior short stick D MIDI, Gail Gunther comes back. Yeah. You know where he's from? Where is he from? Esakwa, Washington. Pretty cool. There you go. Face off Ashton Carge comes back 56% last year. Not too shabby.

SPEAKER_04 21:05

Yeah, and then you add that, goalkeeper Christian Jones at 55% returns. And their whole goalie room seems to be back. Charlie Maney is another senior. He's back. Cade Conahy and Mason Frey, they're back too and make up that goalie room. And they Mason Frey, Kate Conahey both had some time last year, so they've got some experience behind Christian Jones. They're waiting their turn. They're just stacked. And like you said, Cale Gunter returns, but other guys on D, Logan Huggard, George Phelps, Liam Sweeney, Ben Weber, they are all returning on D. Like I'm I'm going through their roster and say, who are they missing?

SPEAKER_02 21:43

You know, if you look at their stats last year, a lot of their players saw playtime. Yeah. Like a lot of fresh legs. They get guys out there on the field to play. I think, again, I don't think they lose that much. You know, four out of the top five scorers retired. I had six.

SPEAKER_04 22:01

I had their top six scores returning.

SPEAKER_02 22:04

Okay. Most of the defense returns. You know, and I I again because of their death, a lot of players saw action last year. I don't think they're going to lose much. I think they could probably improve probably a little bit.

SPEAKER_04 22:21

I think they're going to be back to their 2024 ways. I think they are going to make a run this year if they stay healthy. If that next year they elevate one more, you know, they got more experience this year. If they can elevate that to the level, they're going to challenge Colorado Mesa this year. I firmly believe that on paper, from what I'm looking at and what these guys did. I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 22:47

We'll have to see. We'll have to see.

SPEAKER_04 22:52

I am high on this team this year. All right. Like if you look at it, like sometimes you see top players, and all of a sudden you say, okay, well, their top score is great, but the other ones kind of drop off. Their top three, 33 goals, 27 goals, 28 goals. I mean, they are producers, right? If the other guys, the ones And they share the rock.

SPEAKER_02 23:11

They share the rock. There's guys in multiple, multiple positions scoring multiple goals. So I I I just They got players there. Yeah.

unknown 23:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 23:22

You know? And look, Coach Lavoie, when he was on, he even said that they have got to just be. He didn't use these words, but he was kind of saying we just need to be a little more consistent. We need to put it all together.

SPEAKER_02 23:36

Yeah, he looked like he was ready for business too, Coach Lavoie, right?

SPEAKER_04 23:40

He's he's been there for several years. He knows the program. Yep. Joe Kerwin's still around. He can use that along with his other assistant as advice. I think I think they are poised. They can really make noise in in this conference this year. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:58

They'll be they'll be up there at the end. We'll see we'll see what happens. I uh again, I I want to see first couple of games. They got a good out-of-conference schedule as well.

SPEAKER_04 24:07

They do. Palm Beach Atlantic, Lynn.

SPEAKER_02 24:12

At Palm Beach. Right. So these are the guys travel, you know. That's what I'm saying. Here we go.

SPEAKER_04 24:17

That's right. Now they play Lynn again this year, also. And then they play Rockhurst and Maryville. All away games. And I see that as a build, right? Palm Beach Atlantic and Lynn. Probably going to be fairly comparable this year. I think PBA is going to be a little bit better. They they were dangerous last year now and then. We'll see how they come out. But then they play Rockhurst and Meryville. And we know what Maryville was like last year. And we know Rockhurst, although they didn't have the record Meryville did last year, they are a well-coached team who's always dangerous.

SPEAKER_02 24:55

Rockhurst was a real good physical team last year. They just came up short a couple of times. I mean, they're a good squad. So that's a that's a good that's a good out-of-conference schedule for the Westminster Griffiths. Um you know what their massy rating was last year? Their massey rating was 28th in the country. So they're considered in the top 30 in the country.

SPEAKER_04 25:19

And would you have expected that if you didn't look at that and say, oh, like Westminster out in Salt Lake City?

SPEAKER_02 25:27

No. And you know, they had a seven and seven record, but look who they play. They come out east, they play big boys, you know what I mean? They it's not an easy schedule. Um, they were kind of on the on the younger side last year. Now these guys come back a little bit more season, one more year, bigger, stronger, faster. You know how I feel about that, Kev. And you know what? I think the Griffiths will improve under Lavoie. Um, I'm really looking forward to see how they come out against like Lynn and Rockhurst and see what they look like. If they can, if they can go 3-0 in that in that out of conference, if they can get three three out of the four? Yeah, I think they're gonna be tough. Yeah. So their mastery rating was 28th. And you know what the mastery ratings, what I like about it is it really it gets all the algorithms together, really shows their efficiency on offense and defense and everything that goes into it.

SPEAKER_03 26:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:25

So to be 28 and be a West team like that, you know, a team way out west in the top 30 of 81 schools we have now in Division II, Kev, 81 schools we have in Division Two. So they're in the top third of the country, and uh I can I think they will continue to be just what they are. A good squad.

SPEAKER_04 26:49

And I'm excited to see what they do this year.

SPEAKER_02 26:52

Yeah, I want to see what Lavoie does with this team. You know, he had a a way about him. He was like all business, it seemed like. So maybe this team's gonna be a little bit more disciplined, maybe a little bit more physical. We'll see. Yeah, it'll be good.

SPEAKER_04 27:05

All right. How about we move to Adams State? Oh boy. Grizzlies. The poor Grizzlies. Head coach Drill Moffin. Out there in Alamosa, Colorado. They were 0-8 last year and 0-8 in conference. They did not play too bad against Dominican. But they have a tough road. This year, it's his eighth season at the helm for Coach Austin. Remember, we talked to him last year. We got him just on a call to talk about where they were going, what they looked like. And he was pretty frank with us. Look at they don't have scholarships. Yeah, they have no money. It's a shame. They and you can tell they don't, usually they're out of conference. If it is out of comp much of out of conference, they don't have many because they don't have the funds. They've got to do a lot of fundraising. This year it looks like they've got 35 on the roster, which is more than they've had in years past. They've got eight seniors, four juniors, eleven sophomores. Now they had a ton of sophomores freshmen last year. They lost about half the class like to me. They had like 20 freshmen last year. And they have 12 freshmen this year. So they are still young, but they've got some seniors and juniors. They've got some depth than they had before in when they're in the 20s. Can they they just need to really build if you look at their team stats, baseoff percentage of 25%, clears only at 68%, losing ground balls. They need to stick to the basics and see what they can do.

SPEAKER_02 28:46

They struggle, Kev. They struggle in every area. You know, they struggle with numbers, they struggle. I think the biggest problem there is the fact that there's no scholarships, and these kids can go somewhere else and get some money and play. You know, I think that's a problem with Adam State. They, you know, since you and I have been doing this podcast, they've struggled.

SPEAKER_03 29:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:08

They've they they're lucky to get one or two wins a game uh a year every year.

SPEAKER_03 29:14

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 29:14

It it's just I I give I give Coach Austin a lot of credit for sticking, you know, sticking up and getting these guys to play.

SPEAKER_04 29:25

And play hard when they're out there. I mean, they do play hard. I now he said that last year they weren't going to be great. They keep on trying to work on it. Maybe they'll improve in the second year of an improved roster. That's about what we can see and see what they can do. They just have got it. What they really have to do this year is they have to improve on the basics. Forget about the wins.

SPEAKER_02 29:52

Yeah, the basics at least to get close. They need some like talent. You know, you gotta get some talent there. Like, for example, like their face-off was combined 27%.

SPEAKER_03 30:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 30:03

You know, they're they're running out there, two guys, and both of them are struggling. I mean, it's just I mean, their top scorer had nine goals. Yeah. You know, like there's kids that score nine goals a game in some of these teams out. You know what I mean? It's like they struggle, they're a struggle. I mean, but they got some guys coming back. Malik Maxwell comes back, attack Jacob Parsons come back, um, defenseman Vinton Mora. You know where he's from? Where is he from? It's from Ingleside, Illinois. It's pretty cool. Yeah. Uh defensive uh defenseman Logan Brewer comes back. I don't know, Kev. I don't know. I don't know what to say about uh Adam State. Do you have their out-of-conference schedule?

SPEAKER_04 30:46

Do you they it wasn't listed, but we do know that they will probably play Rockhurst because of the Colorado Mesa out of conference schedule. They are actually playing Colorado Mesa is playing Rockhurst in Alamosa. So I assume that they're going to get it that Adam State will get a game out of Rockhurst. And they're gonna play Florida Southern because CMU is hosting Adam State and Florida Southern at their facility in Grand Junction, Colorado. So we do know they'll probably have a few out-of-conference games, and that Rockhurst and Florida Southern are no joke.

SPEAKER_02 31:26

No, you know, again, I I feel sorry for the Grizzlies. I feel sorry for that coach. I do, I really do. My heart goes out to them because it's not easy to go out there without some sort of, you know, something. It's hard to describe, you know what I mean? Like there's just not a whole lot of talent out there.

SPEAKER_04 31:49

Right. And when we talked to Coach last year, he said, look, it he had a great big freshman class, he's lost about half of them. He's got another good freshman class. He just got to get those guys to stay and build on that talent and develop.

SPEAKER_02 32:06

Yeah. Yeah. Got to find, you know, guys that are committed to that program. Yep. I agree. Again, I think it's gonna be kind of hard because if a kid, let's say a freshman comes in and he balls out and he does well and he's on the squad and he's doing well against other squads. He's gonna put his name in the portal and see if he can get a scholarship, you know?

SPEAKER_04 32:28

Yeah, I yeah, I could.

SPEAKER_02 32:29

I mean, I know I would. I would. Yeah, if you're gonna, yeah. Hey, mom and dad are foot in the bill. I'm out and out west. It's a team that's kind of struggled, you know. I'm I'm doing well, I'm playing well against good teams. I might want to test the waters. I again, I feel sorry for Coach Austin and what he's got going on out there, but let's let's hope for the best. I mean, their massive rating was 67 last year. So bottom third, you know.

SPEAKER_04 32:57

Yeah, yeah. Okay, let's move on to Dominican. The Dominican in California, not the one in New York, the Penguins.

SPEAKER_02 33:07

The Penguins.

SPEAKER_04 33:10

Coach Bobby Grove. Yeah, out there in San Rafael, California. Yeah, in wine country.

SPEAKER_02 33:16

About 12 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, probably pretty country. I've never been out there.

SPEAKER_04 33:23

I was out there a long time ago, Danny, right when I got my wings of gold from the Navy.

SPEAKER_02 33:31

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_04 33:32

So you're on the West Coast, huh? Yeah, I got my wings out in Sacramento, California. My parents came out. We uh we went to San Francisco for about four or five days, and then we went to wine country up past on the other side of Golden Gate. So it's kind of but it's been a long time since I was there. I would love, love, love, love to go out to Dominican this year when Dominican and Dominican play each other out of conference.

SPEAKER_02 33:56

Yeah, that would be kind of cool. Another team has struggled a little bit though last year. Two and two and ten overall, two and six in conference. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 34:08

Yeah, they they did struggle. They're a team that did fairly well in MCLA, not as well as CUI, who actually won the Division I championship before they moved in Division II. And so they they've got some some work to do. The thing that really worries me about this team is I looked on their roster, and it looks like they only are showing about 26 coming on the roster for 2026. They lose 14 seniors or grad students from last year out of a roster of 48.

SPEAKER_02 34:42

I counted only 26 on the roster.

SPEAKER_04 34:45

Yep, 26. And they had five only five freshmen coming in, eleven sophomores, four juniors, and six seniors or grad students. And so that's gonna be tough. That I think that's gonna be tough for me. You have that size roster playing against teams like CUI, Westminster, Colorado Mesa, and I'll tell you, Northwest Nazarene. And their roster's in the 40s. Yeah. You just need fresh legs.

SPEAKER_02 35:13

I'm surprised from 46 to 26. That's crazy.

SPEAKER_04 35:17

I I'm wondering if we're just not the the It's not updated, you think? The schedule's I mean, not schedule. The roster's not incomplete right now. I can't but who knows?

SPEAKER_02 35:28

Yeah, who knows? I mean, that's what's on the on the website as of as of like last week. Right. So they got some good players coming back, though. They do. Sophomore MIDI, Chase Pacenta. 28 goals, 11 assists. Number one score. And he was a freshman last year. He was a freshman last year. You know where he's from? Where is he from? Littleton, Colorado, and he went to Columbine High School. Oh, wow. Yeah. Yeah. So Chase comes back, junior attack Tanner Ennis. He started every game as a sophomore. He had 28 goals on only 45 shots, Kev. Kid can bury balls, man. Yeah. He got almost 30 goals on. We only had 15 misses all year.

SPEAKER_04 36:15

Yeah, I had him 19 goals and nine assists for a total of 28 points, but I may be reading that wrong. It's all right. And then number four, Will Elfline. Another attackman comes back. Now, as a freshman, too, their number four score.

SPEAKER_02 36:30

Yeah, so they were super duper young last year.

SPEAKER_04 36:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:34

I mean, I don't think a lot of those graduates and seniors even played, did they?

SPEAKER_04 36:39

Yeah, I'd have to go back and look. They had a lot of graduates last year, a lot of graduate students. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:44

The team needs help, though. There's no depth, you know.

SPEAKER_04 36:47

They they return on a deep Wyatt Anderson defender, Tristan Lawrence and Cruz Manis. And their goalkeeper, Tristan Hunter, returns. However, Chris Tristan, he was only at about 39% save percentage last year. So Yeah, that's not that's where they're having a little bit of trouble. Let's see, you know, maybe he improves this year. They they their key losses uh this year Jason Edi, uh, a number three scorer, Luke Vando, attackman, and then face off Josh Peavy. He was at 52%. Not bad. Along with losing deep old Nicholas Woodward, who had 30 ground balls and 12 cost turnovers. So I I look at this, it's really interesting. They have a huge roster regression if what we see is true on their website. But they have several good pieces returning, not only on offense, but on defense, right? They're they've got a lot of defenders that are coming back that have a lot of playing time, if not starting time. But will they have the depth? I just don't see them having the depth to be able to compete in this season.

SPEAKER_02 37:56

You know, they might they might hang with teams for half or so, but they just don't have the legs, you know, with only 26 on the roster. I don't know. I think see, uh I think Dominican of California, I think they're gonna struggle a little bit this year unless they can get some mid-year transfers. Yeah, which could be. Which is very, very possible. Right. It's very possible. So I have to get in touch with Coach Grove and see what's going on out there. Yeah, I'll have to shoot them another note. To shoot him another note. Did their out-of-conference schedule come out or no?

SPEAKER_04 38:27

Their out of conference did not come out. All I do know is that they're playing Dominican of New York, and they're playing them at their facility. Okay, so all right. All right, so last team, newest team, Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks. The Nighthawks. That now that's totally different than the Golden Eagle. I could tell the difference in that one.

SPEAKER_02 38:59

I'm terrible at animal impersonation. Coach Tom Blanchard, and uh they're located in Nampa, Idaho Cav. First team from Idaho in Division II. Love it, love it. Crazy, crazy, crazy. We had coach on our program. We loved him. He was full of energy. He he's got it going on there at Northwest Nazarene. Do you think so?

SPEAKER_04 39:29

I do. I do. Look at they in the MCLA last year, they were 16 and 3.

SPEAKER_02 39:35

They were the Pacific Northwest Lacrosse League champs last year, 16 and 3. 45 on their roster. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 39:46

And they're still young. They've got 19 freshmen and 12 sophomores.

SPEAKER_02 39:50

And coach told us he's already got 20 committed for next year. Yeah. Like look out for them. They're gonna have like 40 freshmen and sophomores on the team next year. They're gonna be huge. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 40:07

Yeah. And look at they don't lose a lot either. On offense, they lose Keaton Bean. Now he was a goal. 77 goals, Danny, for this guy.

SPEAKER_02 40:17

I want to. I wish I could have seen that guy play. No kidding. I would love to see some like film on him. Coach, Coach Blanchard, send us some film on your boy there.

SPEAKER_04 40:27

We need to see it. And Lloyd Howard. Lloyd Howard, I had a pausley 38 goals and 30 assists.

SPEAKER_02 40:36

They got boys that played and played well. Bodie Jones, junior attackman, had 49 goals and 33 assists for 82 points.

SPEAKER_04 40:45

He is 6'3, 200 pounds, Danny, as an attack.

SPEAKER_02 40:50

That's a big one. That's a big one, boys. You know what I'm saying? That's a yeah. That's a diesel right there.

SPEAKER_04 41:00

And look at they've got Caleb Johnson returning. Sorry.

SPEAKER_00 41:07

That's a long one.

SPEAKER_04 41:10

He's coming right through right through the main.

SPEAKER_02 41:14

Wow, I didn't realize it was that long. But he's a diesel. He's a diesel. He's a big boy. They got some guys that can play. What about uh junior defenseman, Colin Safely? 68 crown balls last year, Kev. These kids can ball. Sophomore short stick D-made Logan Talbot 67 ground balls last year.

unknown 41:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 41:38

Dude, I looked at their schedule. They were smoked teams. Now, I don't know. They played some like Air Force Academy. They played some like big squads.

SPEAKER_03 41:47

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 41:49

And dude, they were smoking squads, smoking them, scoring over 20 goals in some games. Yeah. And only giving up like three or four.

SPEAKER_04 41:59

And so also on offense, they got Caleb Johnson coming back. He had 50 goals and 20 assists. They've got a transfer sophomore attack, Colton Altemus. He played as a freshman at Boise State. He was the PNCLL D1 offensive player, MVP, and rookie of the year last year. 55 goals, 21 assists. He is playing right next to Bodie Jones, and they've started to build some great chemistry. A coach is telling us through fall practices. They're going to be impressive together on that attack line.

SPEAKER_02 42:31

Yeah. Did they come out with their out-of-conference schedule? Do you have their schedule?

SPEAKER_04 42:36

Their out-of-conference is Quincy, William Jewell, and Dominican of New York. As you remember when Coach we had him on, he told us that he said he had trouble this year getting games. So he's going to he's probably starting already for next year.

SPEAKER_02 42:54

Right, right, right. I'll tell you, I'm really, really looking forward to seeing the Nighthawks play. Because I think they have players there. I think they're going to go 3-0 in their out of conference. I think they're going to win their first three games. I set it here. I set it now. Think they can beat Quincy?

SPEAKER_04 43:14

I think I think they have a good shot at going three and oh in their out of conference.

SPEAKER_02 43:18

I really want to see them play. I think they're I think they're they just they're walking in with a good squad, you know?

SPEAKER_03 43:26

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 43:27

Like it's established there.

SPEAKER_04 43:29

They lost their goalie, Raiden Alianik. They lost their face off Race Neal. Now they got another face-off specialist, Isaac Veal, who was at seventy-three percent last year. Race Neal was at 83%. So you know, tell me, is is it just the the competition? We'll see.

SPEAKER_02 43:52

I think that might be part of it though, Kev. I think it might be part of it. League. In that league, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 44:03

What but what Coach said is what they're doing, I think, is really impressive. He's they said they're focusing on the details on accountability, you know, what they wear to practice and making sure that everyone pays attention to those details and doesn't cheat the system. Because as he said it, it's those little things that are going to get them prepared and be able to play smart and disciplined on the field.

SPEAKER_02 44:30

Absolutely. I mean, I think discipline, you know, be you're being a Navy man starts with making your bed in the morning, right?

unknown 44:36

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 44:36

You're all you're all wearing the same clothes, same socks, same hats, you know, you're going, you're looking like a team. You look like a team. You know, I I know coaches make their some of their teams suits and ties, man.

unknown 44:49

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 44:49

You know? And there's nothing wrong with that. That discipline l bleeds over into other things in their life, and on the practice field, and in games, and in your personal life. So there's nothing wrong with any of that.

SPEAKER_04 45:05

Totally agree. I think they have such a core group of players returning. They are going to be competitive, and I think they are going to make the RMAC conference tournament.

SPEAKER_02 45:18

Oh, I I think so too. I think so too. Just from what I see on paper.

SPEAKER_03 45:23

Right.

SPEAKER_02 45:24

But again, I have to see them play. I want to see them physically play. I want to see what kind of offense they run. I want to see what they do on defense. I want to see how they clear, what their athleticism looks like. I want to see all of that before I can really before I can really say too much, but like again, on paper, they look amazing.

SPEAKER_04 45:46

If you look at Right, when you see guys that have 77 goals. 77 goals. They were an offensive juggernaut in the MCLA in their league.

SPEAKER_02 45:57

Or were they playing?

SPEAKER_04 45:58

But what does that mean?

SPEAKER_02 45:59

Right.

SPEAKER_04 46:00

What's the level of competition?

SPEAKER_02 46:01

Yeah, welcome to Division II, boys. You're gonna, you know, it's you're gonna see bigger squads, you're gonna see physical squads.

SPEAKER_04 46:08

Colorado Mesa.

SPEAKER_02 46:09

You're gonna see all Americans. Yeah, it's a different, it's a different, it's a little bit of a different even a team like William Jewell or Quincy, right?

SPEAKER_04 46:18

Dominicans working their way up. But William Jewell, look at they had a tough year last year, but they don't back down from anyone. No? And neither's Quincy. Quincy is another one where their coach came in a little bit late last year after the the change and RuPaul went to Emory and Henry. So he had some things to pick up on. But if you don't think that those teams aren't gonna be hungry in the out-of-conference, and then look at in conference, like we just talked about, CUI Westminster, Colorado Mesa.

SPEAKER_02 46:54

Yeah. It's a little bit a little top-heavy, a little bit, the conference. But again, it's such a unique conference because they have to travel, the logistic that's involved, the money that's involved, and I think that's why Adam State struggles, because they just don't have the resources that the other schools have. So again, a completely unique conference with um, you know, Colorado Mesa Maverick sitting on top. They're the top dogs in that in that conference.

SPEAKER_04 47:24

You know, and knock them off the mountain.

SPEAKER_02 47:26

Yep, and uh, you know, right now, I don't know who can in that conference as I see it right now. I mean, because Mesa has depth, they have talent, they're solid in all areas of the game. They're almost at 60% and then face off. They clear the ball well, they average 46, 47 shots a game. They're just a a well shooting team. They're a well-oiled machine, man. You know, so their massive ranking was 10, Kev.

SPEAKER_04 47:56

So it's it's I'm telling you right now, I'll say it right here.

SPEAKER_02 48:01

You like the Griffiths.

SPEAKER_04 48:03

It's gonna give them a run. I'm not saying that they I I bet you they split this year. And I want to see what happens in the tournament. I think Westminster can give them a run.

SPEAKER_02 48:13

Well, you know what? That out of conference, let's see what they do against PBA with the new coach. I think they could win that game, probably. I think Lynn is gonna be a tough game for them because Lynn doesn't suck and they play in that hard-ass Sunshine State conference, and Rockhurst is solid. They're a solid squad. So uh we'll we will see again with Westminster. And then you got CUI, the Eagles out in out in uh Irvine, eight and seven last year. I think they're pretty good. They got a great out-of-conference schedule with UAH in Knoxville, Lise McCrae in Knoxville. I think that's really cool. Then they go down to Florida and play three really hard teams in Emory Reddle, Tampa and Florida Tech. And then they open up conference play with Northwest Nazarene. That's a game I probably will definitely watch. And uh on your calendar. Yeah, Rocky Mountain Conference. You know, definitely, I think, the most unique conference in all of Division II.

SPEAKER_04 49:17

Totally agree. And with that, Danny, moving on. Do you have any shout outs for tonight?

SPEAKER_02 49:24

I don't have any shout-outs, but I do want to thank all the coaches that came on for our coaching carousel series. You guys were amazing. Loved having you on. Wishing you guys all the best of luck this year. It was a really great array of coaches. I love the energy. It was such a different array and really cool with MacLeavy and just, you know, just it was it was a good bunch. And I really wish all those guys uh uh a lot of luck. Also, want to thank all you listeners for keeping on listening, man. You guys have been great. You keep plugging those DMs to us if you have any questions, if you have any things you want, any ideas that you have on the show, any any inside information that you might want to pass along to the two knuckleheads for these conference previews. You got and we're still looking for possibly get merch going, still looking for some people to help us along with that if we can get that going. And you know what, Kev? We need to remind the people to share our stuff with high school coaches, with high school coaches, club coaches. Let them know how good and everything that's going on in Division II. Everything's not all Division I or Division III. There's top-notch quality lacrosse in division two from coast to coast. There are 81 teams now. There's more teams in Division II than in Division I right now.

SPEAKER_04 50:48

And here's what I'd add to that, Danny, and this is what I was going to say. This is the perfect time for people to start listening during these conference previews. Why? Because they get the flavor of what each conference looks like, what teams look like for this next year, so that when it gets into the season, they have that in the back of their mind. And then they can pick games, they can listen to us, and they can say, Oh yeah, I remember hearing about Northwest Nazarene. They were right, they went 3-0 out of conference. Oh, yeah, or Westminster. Wow, they really are playing well and they're giving Colorado Mesa a run. Or Colorado Mesa is doing what they always do. And this gives high school players a chance to look at these schools. Either a team that a program that is mature or a program that is new that you can help out and get playing time right away.

SPEAKER_02 51:45

That's right. I had a dad approach me and said, You're the podcast guy. And I said, Yeah, I am. And he said, Because of what we talked about a certain school, his son committed to that school. Because of what what we said about it. He said he listened to it, he said he had his son listen to it, then they did their research and then started sending the coach like stuff, and the coach responded, and next thing you know, he committed to that school. So we did help at least one person. And that's kind of cool. I was like, hey man, I wish you the best of luck. I really do. I hope you I hope everything works out for you guys, and uh, you know, you're joining a big boy and just go out there and hustle, I said to the kid, you know.

SPEAKER_04 52:34

But I again that's that is from the Hall of Fame hustler himself.

SPEAKER_02 52:40

Yeah. Too much hustling's catching up to me, Cup. I actually spoke to the union today about retirement. I have my my retirement meeting next March, so we're counting down.

SPEAKER_04 52:53

There we go.

SPEAKER_02 52:54

So the hustle's gonna slow down a little bit.

SPEAKER_04 52:56

You you ain't retiring from this gig anytime soon.

SPEAKER_02 52:59

Oh, no, no, no. Oh, I do have one more shout out. Last Friday, the ECC champs, the Malloy Lions, got their rings in a ring ceremony. That's a good one, yeah. And uh, you know, both men and the ladies won the ECC for the first time in school. So shout out to the Malloy Lions. You guys killed it this year.

SPEAKER_04 53:25

And that's all I got, Kev. Well, then that, Danny. That's a wrap.

SPEAKER_01 53:35

That was the Rocky Mountain Conference, Kev. And this is Joe Walls with Rocky Mountain Way. Hello, Rock and Roll 2.