DII Lacrosse Game Time - a look back at Week 9 and a preview of Week 10

Intro

SPEAKER_00 0:41

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Crease with Danny and Kevin, a coast-to-coast discussion of D Two Men's Across. I'm your co-host, Kevin Stencrum, and with me as always is our Sonny Crockett, Danny Moran.

SPEAKER_04 0:57

I know, I know exactly where you're going with this one. How are you doing tonight in North Virginia, Kev?

SPEAKER_00 1:03

Well, I think a lot of our listeners are going to be scratching their heads on the Sonny Crockett uh uh shout out right there. But it I'm doing great. I'm doing great. I can't complain. You know, I'm I'm busy, busy, busy, and then trying to work this. It's always good to have uh a little time on the weekends, a little watch lacrosse, do a few notes, a lot of notes, I should say, pages and pages of notes as I get ready for the podcast.

SPEAKER_05 1:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:26

But I'm really excited about our guest tonight, Danny.

SPEAKER_05 1:29

Yeah, I'm excited too. Haven't had him on in a while.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

Yeah. As he said, he he wants to stop coming on because he keeps on coming in the coaching carousel. But we'll get to that. We have another guest analyst today, and this one is Coach Alex Williams, former head coach of St. Rose. Now look at he would have been at St. Rose if the school was still there.

SPEAKER_02 1:52

Bringing the heat, uh can y'all feel that?

SPEAKER_04 1:57

Can y'all feel that?

SPEAKER_05 1:58

Going to Miami.

SPEAKER_04 2:00

That's right. Miami in the place where we come let go in my life.

SPEAKER_00 2:05

What's up, Coach? How are you? Now the head coach for Barrie University. Hey coach, how are you?

SPEAKER_06 2:11

Doing well, guys. What's going on? That's uh, Danny, thank you for that. That was an awesome intro. I appreciate that. And Kevin, you're right. I would have been at St. Rhodes. You know, we we we had a good time. And you know, I enjoyed my my last year and a half at Lander as well, but really, really excited about this opportunity. It's been a great, great start so far. We've been we've been having a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_05 2:31

I think it's great that we're adding another Florida team and a Miami team. I think it's great. How about all those out-of-conference games are gonna be like, let's go to Miami?

SPEAKER_04 2:40

You're gonna have no problem filling out-of-conference schedule up, coach.

SPEAKER_06 2:44

Yeah, we we've been uh we've we've we've had our fair share of schools reach out. Um we're being strategic about about the schedule, but I think we're we're building a pretty pretty competitive schedule. And you know, we'll look to make a trip or two each year. And and so um, you know, we're connecting with with some some programs and coaches about that, and um, you know, just really excited about about everything, you know, and about you're obviously I'm watching on Instagram, you're getting commits.

SPEAKER_00 3:13

So don't give it away yet. We'll save it for the next podcast with you about how many players you have. I know you're still recruiting, but how is that how is that this year going? Not playing, not practicing, and all you're doing is recruiting. How does that feel to you?

SPEAKER_06 3:28

Yeah, it's been a weird year. Uh it's been a really weird year for sure. Uh, I think having a full fall ball at at Lander really kind of took some of the edge off. You know, we did have a little bit of a later start here, typically when programs you know hire to build, it's a child, it's a June-July hire for that when the budget resets, but for good, for good reasons, you know, it was a lengthy process. Um, and our administratives, administrators here were really supportive. And so um having that fall ball definitely helped, staying in contact with with those coaches, being able to connect with, you know, um, you know, I talked with like Coach Mitchell at Anderson Lot, Coach Ling at Montevallo, um, Coach Gardelman at Frostburg. So talking to those guys really helps to kind of stay stay engaged, and some other guys that some other you know good friends at you know the division three and division one level, but um it's been a weird, a weird, uh, weird spring. You know, I will say on the flip side, um, I got some advice from a mentor, Coach Kltacky at Western New England a long time ago. Um, and it was like when you have moments like these, like take advantage of it with your family, because usually in the spring you don't get that. So um, you know, I spent a spent a lot of time with my wife and my we have a 15-month-old, you know, Brooks. Um, so we've been I've been hanging out with Brooks a lot, you know, he gets to come to the office and you know, we go to the beach and do things like that. So that's been really uh fun to watch him kind of you know as he's growing to his personality and all, which I'm you know really not taking for granted in this moment, you know, to be able to spend time with him. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 4:52

That's just even with the sleep deprivation, as I recall back in the day. Yeah, yeah, yeah. There's a lot of that.

SPEAKER_06 4:58

He's he hates sleep. He hates sleep. But you know, we're we're we're grinding through the recruiting, it's been going really well. Uh, you know, we're pretty fortunate. We have a great group so far. I won't get into details, but um we're really excited. We have a competitive group, you know, and a really excited group. And and uh um, you know, August 24th or whatever it is can't come, can't come soon enough. That that first day of classes.

SPEAKER_00 5:19

So we're we're we're pumped. That is awesome. We can't wait to to see it, and of course we'll have you on and we do the coaching stuff and and get more. Hopefully, it'll be in fallball. We'll get a little more info on what's going on. It'll be great. But Danny, I think it's time to get going. Ramp this up with your top 10 countdown.

Top 10 Countdown

SPEAKER_01 5:47

Top 10 countdown.

SPEAKER_05 5:52

Oh, here we go. Top 10 countdown, week 10, Kev. Number one, Adelphi. Rolling, rolling, rolling. Keep them. They beat Mercy in a close game, 11-8. Mercy played pretty good against Adelphi. Then they turned around and beat the snot out of Southern New Hampshire University. A Delphi's undefeated, and they look, I don't know, Kev, they look really, really, really tough. Really tough. Number two, St. Anselms beat number 18, Assumption, in a really kind of great N10 kind of showdown game. They beat him 15-12. Ben Turpin, eight goals and one assist in the game.

SPEAKER_00 6:30

He's crazy.

SPEAKER_05 6:31

Yeah, he had a great game. Number three, Wingate lost to Lenore Rhine, 16-10 in a non-conference game where the two teams were supposed to play at Delphi in that one week.

SPEAKER_00 6:42

So they picked up a game for the game.

SPEAKER_05 6:44

So they picked up a game, and it was a home game for uh Lenore Rhine. So the Wingate Bulldogs had to travel up to between the bricks, and it's never easy to play Lenore Ryan in the bricks. And uh and uh Wingate lost 16-10. Then they turned around and knocked a snot out of Emery and Henry 22-3. So the dogs go to 8-2, and they face Newberry in a top five matchup next week.

SPEAKER_00 7:10

Let me just say one thing about Lenore Ryan game because I mentioned it when Wingate beat Lenore Ryan the first time at the Crown Classic. It was my first watching a Wingate Lenore Ryan stress-free game in years and years. I will tell you, any Lenore Ryan fan watching the game that they played last Wednesday was stress-free for them. Lenore Ryan came out and just owned that game. They just played great. Yeah, they did. They played a complete game from top topic.

SPEAKER_05 7:38

Probably the best game, best game all season for Lenore Ryan.

SPEAKER_00 7:42

Especially, I think, on the D. I mean, they're offense on the clinging, but yeah, all sides of the ball. Anyway, I I digress again. Keep going.

SPEAKER_05 7:48

Number four. Tampa Spartans, another team rolling, rolling, rolling. They beat Emory Riddle 16 to 6. Aaron Cho with three goals in that game. The Spartans are 11-1, 2-0 in conference, and they face Lynn next, Kev. Number five, Anderson lost to number 16, Kataba, 22-12. I think that shocked the nation. I really do. I think that the whole country was shocked at that score. Uh Tanner Stout with six goals and one assist for Kataba.

SPEAKER_00 8:23

I'll tell you just really quickly, I had we had several DMs on Instagram and Facebook, and all it said was Kataba? And and you and I talked about this. Not that I think that Kataba couldn't win that game. I was just shocked at the score, and I went back and watched it in replay, and they just played a hell of a game.

SPEAKER_05 8:42

Oh, they really did. Number six, pace. Rolling, rolling, rolling. Another team that's rolling along in the NE10 up there. They beat number 19, St. Mike's the other day, 6'5 in a great defensive game. It was a really, really good game. Uh Nate Gulenchowski in goal.

unknown 9:01

Wow.

SPEAKER_05 9:01

19 saves in the loss. Pace goes to 8-1, and they face AIC next. Number 7, Lewis lost to number 10, Meryville, 14 to 10 in a kind of a kind of a weird game. If you saw the game, it was kind of like a weird game, but Lewis falls to 8-2, they're 1-1 in conference, and they face Undy next. And that's a game they're gonna have to win.

SPEAKER_01 9:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 9:29

Number eight, Newberry beat Emory Henry on Saturday, the 21st, beat them 26-6, and they face Anderson on Wednesday. By the time this drops, that game will have been done.

SPEAKER_01 9:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 9:42

Uh Newbery is nine and two, and they're undefeated in sack play cav. Number nine, Seaton Hill beat Tiffin. I don't know what the score was. What was the score? I don't even know the score.

SPEAKER_00 9:54

I think it was like 17-2. I have to go back to the couple. So like that, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 9:57

And number 10, Maryville beat number seven Lewis in GLVC play 14-10. Wyatt Robertson, five goals in that game. Merryville is eight-2, Kev. Quietly kind of sneaking up on people like, what's going on? We didn't look at Meryville too much in the beginning. People better start looking at them now because they're playing pretty well. They're 2-0 in conference, and they face Quincy next. And just a couple of scores to note. Holy Family over Georgian Court, 12-9. Holy Family goes to 5-3, Kev.

SPEAKER_00 10:31

And 3-1 in conference.

SPEAKER_05 10:33

Yeah. Geez. Frostburg over Deuville. Yeah. And now it's like, okay, what kind of Frostburg team are we getting now? Because now they're starting to play better. They are definitely trending upwards. They're playing better. I didn't I you know I didn't know who to pick in this one because Deuville's been playing really, really well. Frostburg's, I think, a little deeper than than Deuville is, but Deuville looks pretty good in that conference. Frostburg beat him 14-6. Sean Mullenau had three goals and and two assists in that game. How about Tuskelum over Coker?

SPEAKER_01 11:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 11:10

17 to 14 in that game. That's a big win for Tuskelem. Absolutely. Luke Bowen with five goals and two assists in that game.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

The Pioneers are now six and three. Look where they were last year. And they're two and three in conference.

SPEAKER_05 11:26

Kev, they put 20 more guys on their roster. They have so much more depth. They added so much more. A lot of those sack teams have really added, you know, those middle to lower end of the sack. Yeah, it's awesome. They've added men. They've added bodies. They put heads in beds. They got guys out there. They're running better practices now. They can do more, you know. So that sack is a gauntlet. How about North Greenville and another one goal? They beat hang on to beat Mount Olive 11-10. Stephen Holes with four goals in that game. Belmont Abbey. Rolling, rolling, rolling in Conference Carolinas over Barton, 17-5. The Crusaders go to 9-3. Brendan Bashi, four goals and two assists in that game over Barton. Franklin Pierce getting themselves a dub up there over AIC, beat him 18-10. Colin Casey with four goals and an assist. And uh, like you said, Northwood over Point Park. 25-10, Kev. Ryder Mulvey, six goals and three assists. And Northwood sits at 7-2. And that's just some scores to watch. Uh note, Kev.

SPEAKER_00 12:41

Yeah, I've got uh one other, actually two others. Post beat Dominican 12-7. CACC is playing pretty well in their conference. And then LMU beating UAH in a close one, nine to eight, as they as they both look at it and keep going forward. UAH has been close in a lot of games. Now they play Monte Valo next coming up, and what I say about that game is throw out the records. This is Peach Belt. What do you think, Coach? You think that's I mean Monteval would have the the would probably be the favorite, but I I I you just never know when you're playing in the Peach Belt against these teams, they are so close.

SPEAKER_06 13:20

Right, yeah. I I would ask, I I don't have the schedule up, but who who's home probably has a slight advantage, you know. Um but yeah, it's it's it's it's it's a pick'em game for sure. You know, it's it'll be you know, I I know that UAH has you know some more depth this year that they've been utilizing in early games, but this season, um, you know, they're battle tested. But you know, you got you know, Coach Link style playing fast up there, you know. So um I I think it's you know depending on the day who's uh you know. That game is at Huntsville. It's at Huntsville. Okay. It's a short drive. It's a short drive off from Montevallo, right? So I think it's really gonna come down to like the you know those small details who who's clean in the clear and um you know in and you know who wins the the the ground ball, but you know, and and who loses to turnover battle, I think is gonna be you know the the big decider of that one for sure.

SPEAKER_01 14:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 14:10

And and it's gonna uh in the peach belt this year, it's gonna add implications to the conference tournament because the four-five with Virginia State, you'll have to play an extra Tuesday game in the peach belt. So whoever's five, four will have to play five before going to the semis for the three-two. So you really want to sit in that that one through three spot so that you can put playing that that Tuesday extra game.

SPEAKER_05 14:34

Like a play-in game almost.

SPEAKER_06 14:35

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So all five teams in the peach belt are competing in the conference tournament this year. So want that extra rest day, that prep day for sure. All right, that's that's good news.

SPEAKER_00 14:45

That's why we have them on, Danny, because he wouldn't have known that. All

Week in Review

SPEAKER_00 14:49

right, well, let's move on to our weekend review. Let's start off with the the game, our game of the week last week, which was Colorado Mesa at Westminster, 1312 finish in overtime. Colorado Mesa pulls it out.

SPEAKER_05 15:04

Quality lacrosse, Kev. Some exciting, exciting lacrosse for our game of the week. Hey, this is the case. Are we on fire? Are we on fire calling the games of the week? Every game that we call game of the week has been a one-goal overtime game. We're killing it, kid. That's right.

SPEAKER_00 15:18

That's right. Now we have to eat crow later on in the show, but right now we're not gonna get away. We always eat a little crow. Yeah. What do you think of that game, Coach?

SPEAKER_06 15:25

It was a good game. You know, I was able to catch catch most of it. Um, you know, I was really impressed with uh, you know, the speed of play. I thought it was it was you know, that first quarter was back and forth and uh you know, impressed by a couple guys on Westminster. You know, I I don't get to watch the the R Mac very often, so being able to catch catch a couple games. Uh early in my career, I worked a couple events with Coach Moyer, so I've always had a ton of respect for him. And um, you know, Coach Vavois, you know, stepping in that role has been doing a great job. And you know, uh the RMAC's tough, you know. That that top that you know that that that top four, I you know, they it's any given day for sure. But um, you know, I know we'll talk a little bit more about the end of the game, but it was exciting for sure.

SPEAKER_00 16:06

Yeah, so it was 7-5 at half. This is what I saw, uh, Coach and Danny. Colorado Mesa seemed to control the game and the possession, yeah, but Luke Silstrop of the Griffins kept them in the game in that first half. He played really well, had some great scores, and then the the Griffins turned to playing zone D a lot in the second half, which seemed to really help him out. Both defenses played well in in that second half. I would say also, this is I'm interested on what you think about this, coach. One thing I thought I saw was like Westminster seems to want seemed to want to play fast, they wanted to push the ball. Whereas but their problem was they would cause some turnovers and they couldn't keep control of the ball. Whereas it looked to me that Colorado Mesa was very comfortable just getting in the 6v6 versus versus Westminster.

SPEAKER_06 17:05

Yeah, I would agree. I thought I thought early in the game too, like, you know, um to your point about the time possession, like Mesa would have like these long drawn-out possessions where they would grind one out, and then all of a sudden, whether it was uh a shot save turnover, um, you know, Westminster would put you pushing the ball back. Like I remember uh 46 Duke is it default? Yeah, just cat yeah, catching in transition and being able to attack a uh you know a late approach or off a off a you know a pass down takedown or something like that. And so I noticed that as well. I also noticed Westminster in the first half was going to a little bit of zone off end lines and things like that. So um, you know, and it just seems like you know, like I agree. I I agree that Mesa wanted to play a little bit more of that half court style for sure.

SPEAKER_00 17:47

But Danny, here was the really interesting. I know you didn't get to see the game. This was a game of runs, not in the second half, but in the fourth quarter. It was 8-6 after three with Colorado Mesa up. They basically basically just traded goals in that third quarter, right? It was just one goal apiece. The D's were playing really well, like I said, the defenses. Westminster goes on a three-goal run in one minute. They they get a goal at like 10-13 by Duke DeVault, they follow up with a poll goal off the face-off, then they get a third goal in transition just over a minute later. So between 10-13 and 9-04, they score three goals, they go up 9-8. Wow. Then Colorado Mesa turns around and they score the next four. Now they do it just like we said, they like to be in settled offense. They did it from that time, wherever it was, 40 seconds later to make it 9-9, so it was eight something in the game. They scored their fourth goal with two thirteen left, so it's 12-9. Okay. Westminster finally scores at the 120 mark. It's 12-10. And I think this game's over. They're gonna keep pushing their they scored two more goals in that same minute to tie it up at 12-12 and they go to overtime. And they had a chance to to win, but they force the ball inside, CMEU gets it back, they call timeout. They have a nice set play, but it was a nice save by the goalie, uh Griffins goalie. Griffins have it, they call timeout, they do a skip pass, it misses its mark now. Colorado Mesa brings it back down. The Griffins played great D. They would have the they had the CMU had the ball for a long time. Like the full, almost the full shot clock, I want to say. Until finally, Dylan Pless sweeps across the middle and basically passes three defenders because they were playing kind of like a zone. So they the defense would pass him. That third guy, he just got enough past him to score on the win. Got his hand free, and that was it. So it was, I mean, you can't really say, well, they just beat like it was a tight game. Tight game.

SPEAKER_05 20:08

If you look at the stats, I mean the stats are super duper close. Westminster outshot him actually, 53 to 40. Shots on.

SPEAKER_00 20:16

Let's talk that. Usually you see Colorado Mesa with high shots in their overall for the year. Like we've said that year, they love shooting. Westminster took a doom this time with shots.

SPEAKER_05 20:27

Shots on goal were practically even. Westminster had 30 on goal, Mesa had 29. Uh Westminster had 25 turnovers, and Mesa had 21. That's a lot for two teams at this part of the season, you know. That's a lot of turnovers at this part. Uh 23 for 27 at the clear for Colorado Mesa, 20 for 24 for Westminster. Ground balls were even at 43. Uh, one for two at the EMO for Colorado Mesa, one for five for Westminster. These teams know each other. They don't like each other. They have to play each other a couple of times a year. They they all know each other. You know what I mean? It's like it's a big game in the RMAC every year, and both teams know it. They know it's like those two, you know.

SPEAKER_00 21:10

Yeah, well, CUI last year did really well. They're not at that level this year, so we'll see what happens there. The other interesting thing is we have I have not seen Shaden Shields in goal for Colorado Mesa the last two games. It's it's Boaz Brown who's been in there. Now he had 18 saves and 60% save percentage for them. So they have a good second goal there. I can't I don't know if he's backup. I don't know if Shaden is injured or something.

SPEAKER_05 21:34

That's another reason why Mesa won that game. I mean, that kid had 18 saves again.

SPEAKER_01 21:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 21:41

Westminster was getting shots off.

SPEAKER_01 21:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 21:43

So that's always a great game. And uh a single, you know, single goal overtime, RMAC. Great, you know, great lacrosse, man.

SPEAKER_00 21:52

That's what what's that's what we've all signed up for. That's right. All right, let's move on. Let's talk Rollins. At St. Leo. Coach, did you get a chance to look at that game?

SPEAKER_06 22:03

I did. I did. It was a good one. It was a good one. I try to watch all the uh the Sunshine State games now. Geez, I wonder why. Familiarize myself with the conference and and the play uh for sure.

SPEAKER_00 22:16

St. Leo pulls us out 12-11. This was a a back and forth game for a lot of it.

SPEAKER_06 22:24

It was. It was pretty even. Like looking at the stats, like you know, shots are even, saves are even. I think Rollins had a slight advantage in the in the in the in the ground balls. Clears were pretty much the same. And um I thought like early in the game, like I thought Rollins had had them figured out pretty you know defensively, had had St. Leo's offense pretty pretty well schemed. You know, I know uh Coach Clumini, uh D. Clemente does a good job there with that, and and and then St. Leo was able to get a couple. Um and uh and then the you know, I think I think later in the game it's kind of when when St. Leo was able to find their rhythm um as they were going.

SPEAKER_00 23:02

Yeah. Interesting that I the one interesting thing I saw, Danny, and I'll let you talk about this, was it was 1-1 after the first quarter. It was 4-3 Rollins at half. Only seven goals in the first half. There were eight goals scored in the third quarter. That's what just kind of killed me. Now, at the same time, Rollins stayed up eight seven after three, and that's when St. Leo started to come back. Now, Rollins was up 10-7 uh with 11-17 left, and the one thing I thought was, and it's still a lot of time in the fourth quarter. I'm thinking Lions need more possessions, they just need more possessions. Well, they were nice and calm. They came back and tied it up and then ended up winning the game. It was almost like who has it last? Who has the ball last? And the the other thing I would say, you know, Stellwagen scores on the wing because he was left free to go up 12-11 and win the game. There was two minutes left. So Rollins has a chance, but the Lions short stick D-medy defense held them and then caused a bad pass to give it back to him. It was a really good defensive set at the end for them.

SPEAKER_05 24:14

Oh, that was I thought it was a really, really good game. I, you know, I've been liking St. Leo all year this year, you know, Kev, I've been talking about them a lot. They are dangerous. They have multiple scorers, man. They got five or six kids that can put the ball in the back of the net. They have a super solid defense with Owen Wills and Jimmy McGonagall back there. Those guys are good. And then he got Drew Wheeler in goal. Now, I thought that both goalies played very well in this game. They both made big saves in every single quarter that kept their team in the game. It was a beautiful 84-degree Florida day for a conference top 20 matchup, two evenly matched teams that had both been playing very well. Both teams played fast, both goalies locked in.

SPEAKER_01 25:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 25:02

Rollins drew first blood when Zach Blinkov buried one. St. Leo answered on a Multisante goal, tied it at one after one. It was a 1-1 game after one. Solid, solid first quarter. Second quarter, both of the same, kind of like clean lacrosse, got not a lot of mistakes being made. Guys making good choices with the ball. Goalies making plays. Uh Blinkoff's second goal gave the Tars a one-goal lead, and they let it half four to three. This is a ball game, Cap. This is a ball game, coach. You know, it's not high scoring, it's more defensive battle at this point. A super clean and even third quarter, if you ask me. Both teams were trading goals again. Every team scored four in the frame. McHugh and Aaron Williams buried biscuits to give the Tars a three-goal lead, but the Lions were able to answer with two. Palmer and Rauchi buried biscuits to keep the Lions within one. It was seven six Tars after three. In the fourth quarter, the Tars scored twice quickly by goals by Belair and McHugh, and Rollins had a three-goal lead again with ten minutes left, mind you.

SPEAKER_01 26:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 26:14

Then St. Leo exploded on a five-goal run, tied it at eleven with three minutes left. The Lions, Braden Stenwegen, buried his third goal for the hat trick and gave the Lions a one-goal lead at the two-minute mark, and that's where we ended up. And it was a 12, uh, uh, uh, just a great, great lacrosse game.

SPEAKER_00 26:37

Yeah, and like I said, I think the Lions defense in the end, and especially I was watching the short stick D mids push the the Dodger out and around, and just did a great, phenomenal job to get that win for him in the end.

SPEAKER_05 26:54

So for the Lions, Braden Steelwagon, three goals and one assist. You know where he's from, Kev?

SPEAKER_00 26:59

Where is he from?

SPEAKER_05 27:00

He's from near me. Oakdale, Long Island, not too far. He's a Long Island kid. Aiden, no gin. No gin, two goals and two assists.

SPEAKER_00 27:09

He's a dynamic player to watch.

SPEAKER_05 27:10

Yeah, yeah. He's he can he can rip, man. He can rip, and he's not as he's not as scared. He's not as scared to let it go. It's also the way he passes. He's a good player, man. Yeah. Uh LeBlanc, Alex Clark, Bent Baker, Thomas Nealan, Raucci, and Palmer all added one. Duke McGill was eight for 17 at the dock. Drew Wheeler in goal, 12 saves, and my man Owen Wills, two ground balls and two cost turnovers for the Tars.

SPEAKER_00 27:38

Yeah, well, and then St. Leo, also James Davies had four ground balls, three cause turnovers.

SPEAKER_05 27:42

I'm telling you, their defense is good. They got Davies McGonagall and Wills back there. Yeah. They're tough, man. They're a tough defense for sure.

unknown 27:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 27:51

JD Henger. I got to shout out JD Henger, too. He's a UMass Lowell transfer. We uh we tried to recruit him at St. Rose. He's also good. He he balances back and forth between LSM and close depending on matchups for them as well. Number 88. He's in a scene, he's a senior this year. You know, I think they're they're balanced down there. Drew Wills, Drew Wheeler is consistent. You know, he's he's found some consistency, which is which is really helpful.

SPEAKER_05 28:13

Coach Jurgensen has himself a squad this year. They can make some noise in the Sunshine State, I believe. Uh you know, this give this win over Rollins, I think, is a big win for them. I mean, but for the Tars, Logan McHugh with three goals, Zach Blinkoff with three goals, Aaron Williams with two, Sweeney Belera, and Dom Sasarin both added, all three of those guys added one. Brady Greco, 15 for 24 at the dot, and Collins Celters had 10 saves. So St. Leo goes to 6-3, they're 2-0 in conference, and Rollins falls to 5-4, and they're 1-1 in conference, Kev.

SPEAKER_00 28:51

Yeah. We talked about this last week. I think all those matchups, Rollins, Florida Tech, St. Leo, when they're playing each other, you know, and then add Henry Riddle in there, too. I just think all those four are going to beat each other up when they're playing each other.

SPEAKER_05 29:07

Sunshine State's a badass conference, man. Yeah. These guys get after it, and every year these teams are all improving. They all add guys, they all get better and better.

SPEAKER_00 29:17

They're all at that mark trying to get rid of take over Tampa. That's their site, and they're and they're all climbing.

SPEAKER_05 29:23

Yep. And Florida Tech damn near did it in first game one in the beginning of the season.

SPEAKER_00 29:29

You even look at teams like PBA that has had a good season. You know, Florida Southern's starting to come back. Florida Southern has not last year and this year not where we've seen them in the past. Right. But don't count them out in future years. Like I think this conference is going to be really, really tight. And look out to see what Barry does coming up. That's what I mean. We got another squad. All right, let's move on to Maryville at Lewis. Meryville pulls us out 14 to 10, Danny, like you said. I have to start off with this and then I'll let you go. Maryville Men's lacrosse DM'd us with a picture of a crow after the win. Good for those guys. Yeah, I love it. I loved it. You know, like keep us honest. Like, we're gonna eat crow. You know, so now we both eat crow. I think you have to eat a little more crow because you said Lewis was gonna really womp them.

SPEAKER_05 30:19

I said Lewis big is what I said. Yeah. Remember. I said Lewis big.

SPEAKER_00 30:24

Coach remember.

SPEAKER_05 30:25

Yeah, man. I said Lewis big. You know what? Lewis has been playing so great, like really offensively exploding. And Maryville, I kind of been waiting to see, you know, like I I don't know, you know. That's why I picked Lewis at home. But Maryville.

SPEAKER_00 30:43

Oh, I picked Lewis at home, too. So yeah, Maryville played really well.

SPEAKER_05 30:46

It was a cold and windy day in Romeoville, Illinois that day, my friend.

SPEAKER_00 30:50

I don't know a game I haven't watched streaming in at Lewis where I don't hear the wind howling through that field. I think that's all you hear on the microphone. They don't have any. I think Coach Bruzi likes it that way. Oh, he loves that.

SPEAKER_06 31:06

He loves it that way. They live for that. They embrace that. They welcome that for sure.

SPEAKER_05 31:12

This was a GLVC top 10 matchup, Kev. Ben Mickett got the Saints on the board 30 seconds into the game. Lewis tied it up a few minutes later on a rip from Camden Rapus. Riot Arce fed Wyatt Robertson on a nice pass. Roberts had buried the biscuit. And after one, Meryville led 2-1. Kind of a, you know, feeling each other out kind of first quarter.

SPEAKER_00 31:36

Just like you said about St. Leo and Rollins, this was a strong defensive showing by both teams in that first quarter. They were both teams disrupting lanes. They were getting sticks in lanes. They weren't allowing the dodges down the middle. And that and Evan Delfano had five saves in that quarter, which I think made the difference and kept him up at two to one.

SPEAKER_05 31:59

Yeah. Second quarter, the offenses began to ramp up a little bit for the both squads. They kind of basically traded goals in the beginning of the quarter. Sheedy tied it up at two for the Flyers, but Ben Mickett got a second of the day. Rapis tied it at three for Lewis on a feed from Paul Rokowski, who's having a crazy good year. Yeah. Lewis went on a little three-goal run, but Meryville was able to answer on a John Charlton long pole goal off transition, which was a pretty nice goal. But Lewis led 6'4 after Cole Wesner's goal. It was 6'4 Lewis at half. Yep. Yep. I'm thinking, okay, I'm not looking so bad right now.

SPEAKER_00 32:40

Lewis was a good one. And you weren't looking bad because uh Lewis had eight shots in gold to Meryville's four in that quarter. And I'm thinking, okay, starting to sh Lewis is starting to show what they're made of. Right. But then we get to the third and the fourth.

SPEAKER_05 32:58

Tobias, uh Colin Tobias buried a biscuit and brought Meryville to within one. Both teams scored on man-ups in the quarter, and Griffin Johnson scored on a beautiful goal with just 15 seconds left in the quarter. And Lewis was holding on to that one goal lead after three. So it was it was a game. I mean, going back and forth now. The fourth, now we're starting to amp up. I mean, this pace, the pace is just ramped up in the fourth. It's a one-goal game. It's a conference game. These guys were starting to play a little bit, starting to get a little chippy, a little more uh physical out there, you know, as the GOVC can get a little bit. Uh Maryville tied it at nine at the 11-minute mark of the fourth when Colin Tobias was able to bury a biscuit in a basket in Meryville and led Maryville led a 10-9. Lewis called a timeout, but Maryville rattled three unanswered before Kaczynski scored his only goal of the day for Lewis, who called a Kaczynski's been lighting it up.

SPEAKER_01 34:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 34:04

He was quiet the other day. And he brought the Flyers to within three. But Wyatt Robertson was able to put the Saints back on the back on the ground with a man-up goal, and the final was Meryville 14 and Lewis 10. So that was quite the game. I, you know, Maryville came from behind and pulled it out.

SPEAKER_00 34:23

Yeah, they went on that five-goal run. You said three in a row, but they had a total of five going in there. The other thing I would say, Danny, is what I saw was both defenses really go the opposite way. Offensive players could not beat their man on the Dodge. The way they were scoring, the way the team scored the best is when they were moving the ball and they were moving off ball and they scored. That's what I noticed of this game. Both defenses were playing shut down D, and it was when they could really move the ball. There were some obviously some goals in transition or whatever, but I you really saw that, and you saw that with Maryville when they were scoring in that fourth quarter.

SPEAKER_05 35:02

Yeah, it was a good game, man. I I was kind of surprised to see Meryville pull it out anyway. So again, Meryville goes to 8-2, 2-0 on conference for the Saints. Wyatt Robertson led them with five goals. Colin Tobias with three goals and assists. Ben Mickett with two goals and assists. Dylan Johnson, Jack Taco, and John Torton, like I said, added one. Andrew Skifsted, six for 13 at the dot. Nevin Alfano with 14 saves. And for Lewis, Cole Wesner was the man with three goals. Camden Rapp is three goals. Carlos Kaczynski, one goal and two assists. Paul Rakowski. Kaczynski and Rakowski were quiet in this game. I mean, the defense did a really good job against those guys. Uh Malachi Good had a goal. Uh Zach Godalino had four ground balls and three cross turnovers in the game.

SPEAKER_00 35:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 35:52

Dylan Kendrick was nine for fifteen at the dot.

SPEAKER_00 35:55

Yeah, and the the thing I would say about the team stats, they were pretty even except for saves. Maryville had 14 to Lewis nine. That's huge. And then man up. Maryville went three for four to Lewis's one for four. Yeah. Yeah. Which helped them out. I mean, big time. I I don't know if those stats are are all telling. I th I just think it was a Maryville showed up. Louis Lewis played a good game. It was a good game. It was a good game. Maryville just kind of closed it out in that fourth quarter.

SPEAKER_05 36:24

Yeah. Those quick three unanswered was like that. That was the like the straw that they just that that one hump that they couldn't get over Lewis.

SPEAKER_01 36:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 36:34

They hung in there, man. Lewis was like I said, you know, they had to come back, Maryville, from behind.

SPEAKER_00 36:39

Yeah. So it was a good win by them. All right, let's move on, coach, to your old conference in the NE10. Let's talk St. Anselm at Assumption. St. Anselm pulls us out 15-12. Did you get to watch any of that game?

SPEAKER_06 36:54

I did, yeah. I got to watch to watch that. Um, it's good to see see those guys battling up there. Um, I know that's that's a little bit of a a rivalry game in inside the conference for those two teams. Uh so you know it you can always count on them to get up for it for sure.

SPEAKER_00 37:10

Yeah, so Assumption took took an early 3-1 lead. I I saw that Assumption was playing really good defense, but St. A's continued to work a two-man game until they score to make it 3-2. And this one only I could say, Danny, I'll let you talk about it a little bit. I mean, you just you it's Ben Turpin. I had Ben Turpin exclamation point, exclamation point. Throughout the game, he seemed unstoppable. He was unstoppable.

SPEAKER_05 37:40

And they still only won by three.

SPEAKER_00 37:42

Yeah. Well, and here's the other thing. Here's the other thing. It was seven five. This talk about different scores. St. Leo game was one-one after one. It was seven five after one in this game. I mean, they were scoring. I thought St. A's controlled a position with the faceoff wins, but Assumption kept on fighting back, you know, and then the last minute they closed it out in that first. Assumption went on some runs to keep it close, right? Throughout that game. The one thing I would say is they kept it close, but then they I thought if I went back to the stats, I would have seen a lot more turnovers. They would have a lot more turnovers than Saint than St. Anselm, but that wasn't the case. It just seemed to me that when the turnovers happened, they were critical and uh St. A's was able to score. And I think that kind of plays itself out when you look at the ground ball stats. Ground ball stats. St. A's had 44 to Assumption's 17.

SPEAKER_05 38:42

Yeah, but King Quinn Gannon had 18 of them from.

SPEAKER_00 38:46

Oh, yeah, you're right. He had a lot from face off. Yeah. That was the other thing. Faceoff is what and that's the other amazing thing. Like you just said though, face off 26 for Saint A's to five for Assumption, and they only lost by three.

SPEAKER_05 39:00

Right. I mean, like, I like assumption. When we go back to the pre my preseason top 20, I had assumption in there.

SPEAKER_01 39:09

Yeah. Everybody's like, you got assumption?

SPEAKER_05 39:11

I was like, no, these guys are good, man. You know, they have playing in the NE 10. They got a tough schedule ahead of them. And right now they're sitting at 7-3. Even with that loss, they're still a very good team. Totally. This go ahead, coach.

SPEAKER_06 39:26

I was going to say, and these guys have been been around for a while. Like these names are considered like Boomer Staunton, you know, Pat McGrath. Like they've been here. They've been Corcoran. Yeah, they've been there for a while, right? So like they're they're battle tested. They know any game in the N, it's a game of runs, you know. And so, I mean, that that's gonna play dividends, you know, in the long run for sure.

SPEAKER_05 39:49

You know, and then and you know what? In years past, Assumption would have played scared against a CNA's team. They didn't play scared. They played like, come on, man, let's bring it. And like, you know, this was like the the the prototypical NE-10 matchup, if you ask me. A little cold out there, you know, and two teams that are just gonna get physical. Assumption jumped out to that three-goal lead with with goals from Boomer Staunt and Ben McHugh and Max Lohenberg. But St. A's struck back scoring six consecutive goals. Ben Turpin scored on what would be a career day. LeMay, Eddie O'Brien, both buried biscuits for the Hawks, followed by two more by Turpin in that quarter. Um St. Ay's was leading 7-3. Brian Short and Ben McHugh added two more for Assumption just before the end of the first. And it was a 7-5, kind of exciting, fast-paced first quarter. The second quarter, each team traded goals, and Assumption tied it at 8 by yet another goal from Ben McHugh. St. Ay's scored two more and had a 10-8 lead at half. So that was kind of a good game going back and forth. It was kind of anybody's game, but St. A's kind of looked like they were in control a little bit to me. You know, like even though it was a two-goal game, they kind of looked like they had that control.

SPEAKER_00 41:21

I don't know if their runs were a little bit longer and deeper than the runs on goals that the Greyhounds could put together. Right.

SPEAKER_05 41:31

And in that third quarter, I felt that the Hawks began to separate. They scored five goals in that frame, holding Assumption to just two goals, and St. A's had a nice commanding five-goal lead going into the fourth. Assumption in the fourth quarter turned the ball over four times, but did manage to score twice in that frame, but it just wasn't enough. Uh, you know, it was a a good any ten game, and number two Saint Ays kind of hangs on a little bit because Assumption really gave him a game. I mean, that game I think was a little bit closer than what the score was, but again, I never felt that St. A's was gonna lose that game. If that makes sense, that's the that's the weird thing.

SPEAKER_00 42:17

Assumption played really well, but uh Saint A's he always felt like was in control of the game.

SPEAKER_05 42:25

Yeah, especially in that second half. Going into like the middle of the third quarter, you could start to see they just kind of had control of the game. But man, Assumption they kept chipping, man. They kept going out there, they kept going out there, they was getting ground balls, they just happened to turn the ball over a couple of times in the fourth at critical times. You know? One time was like they had the ball in the beginning of the of the of their shot clock, and just a bad pass just went right over the kid's head. I mean, it just blew the whole possession, you know. So, but what for St. A's coming up, they got a tough part of their schedule coming up. They play number 20 St. Mike's, which I don't think is going to be an easy game for St. A's.

SPEAKER_01 43:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 43:10

Then they play, then they're at Adelphi on April 4th, then AIC, then they face Southern New Hampshire, then they face Pace. So they got some they got three tough games coming up.

SPEAKER_00 43:23

Totally agree. The one game that we talked about last week that obviously we can't talk about in the week in review is the game that's coming on Wednesday that will already be finished when we when this drops, when this podcast drops. It's New Barry at Anderson, which you already talked about uh up in the top ten countdown. Going to be a really great

Offensive Player of the Week

SPEAKER_00 43:43

game. In the crease, player of the week offense.

SPEAKER_05 43:48

All right, Kev, our offensive player of the week. We got I gotta give a shout out to a couple, well, at least one runner up this week. My runner up is from Northwood. Mr. Ryder Mulvey, the sophomore attack from Caledonia, Michigan. He leads the team with goals in 29, and he's second on the team in points with 32. And he has an impressive 32 ground balls. He had six goals and three assists the other night. So that's my runner-up, Mr. Ryder Mulvey from Northwood. And my offensive player of the week goes to the sophomore from Groveland, Massachusetts, Mr. Ben Turpin, eight goals and one assist versus assumption. That's a quality game and a career game for Mr. Ben Turpin, our offensive player of the week. I love it.

Defensive Player of the Week

SPEAKER_05 44:44

In the crease, player of the week.

SPEAKER_00 44:47

Defense. All right, gentlemen, the defensive player of the week comes from your old haunt there, Coach Williams. Roberts Wesleyan, senior deep Liam Linden, had 11. I I'm not joking. I'm saying that correctly. He has now the single game cause turnover record for Roberts Wesley. Can you repeat that again? Can you repeat that again, Kevin, please? How many? 11 ground balls and seven cause turnovers.

SPEAKER_05 45:23

That's a quality game from a defenseman right there.

SPEAKER_00 45:27

Something you like to see from Roberts Wesley, don't you think, Coach?

SPEAKER_06 45:31

Absolutely. You love to see it. You know, you love to see it. I know he's also a captain for the program, so um, you know, leader on and off the field. And I believe he was a Malloy transfer back uh really? Yeah, back in the day. I think he transferred after a year or two and then is finishing up his degree. He's been there for three. So yeah, no, you love to see it. You love to see those boys, you know, getting getting that win. And um as they get kind of deeper into ECC play. That's a conference that's wide open.

SPEAKER_00 45:58

Yeah, it is. It is. I I thought maybe Roberts Wesley is one of those teams that we said we got to watch them and see uh how they play. They always seem to be a team that does the most with a smaller roster than any other team I've seen. They just the grit they show coming from Rochester and playing is just awesome to see. Uh so I look forward to seeing what they can do the rest of the

Games to Watch

SPEAKER_00 46:22

year. Let's, though, move on to our games to watch this week. And as always, with our guest analyst, we open the floor to you for the first pick.

SPEAKER_06 46:32

I'm gonna fast forward to Tampa St. Leo. I think that one has a really good chance. Like that's gonna be a great game in conference. St. Leo's rolling. We talked about their depth. Um, both Austin.

SPEAKER_05 46:42

Where is that game? Where is that one?

SPEAKER_00 46:44

That's I think at St. Leo. Okay. I think you're right. So and and so right now, from what uh the old USILA at Tampa was number four, St. Leo's 17. That's on Wednesday, April 8th. And you're right. I we pegged this game early on when we did the conference previews. I was looking at where the when they would play because I thought St. Leo, we both thought St. Leo would be really good. Tampa is Tampa as always. St. Leo is like we early talked about, they're a great team. They've got weapons on both sides, they are solid in every position.

SPEAKER_06 47:24

Yeah. St. Leo also has to come off of playing, you know, Florida Tech, too, right? Right. That's a quick turnaround, and and Florida Tech is big, they're fast, you know, physical brand of lacrosse. Like that's not going to be an easy, you know, they can't overlook, you know, turn around, not gonna be an easy turnaround, and they can't overlook uh uh tech at all.

SPEAKER_05 47:44

No, no, I totally agree with that.

SPEAKER_00 47:47

Yeah, we were talking about that last week. Florida Tech's defense, the only game I saw them have a really bad game, their defense, is when they played North Greenville. Other than that, I mean, when they came out against Wingate, the last week's game we saw every time they just are so disciplined on their slides, they're just and like you said, Coach, they are big.

SPEAKER_06 48:07

Yeah, they're big.

SPEAKER_05 48:08

They're big, they're physical, and they're fast. And they and they and they slide and they recover. They play really good. I believe that their defense has been keeping them in games this year. Their offense is good, don't get me wrong. They're good, but it's their defense. It's really, really keeping them in games.

SPEAKER_06 48:24

Yeah, yeah. Tech the tech keeps it simple, right? They they keep their they keep it simple and and they let their guys you know be decisive and play fast, you know. So it you know, they don't they don't try to do anything too too flashy, too crazy, you know.

SPEAKER_00 48:38

And here's the interesting thing about this St. Leo Florida Tech game. Both teams sit 2-0 in conference right now. They both have games this coming Wednesday, will have been finished by the time this episode drops. St. Leo plays Florida Southern, Florida Tech plays Rollins. That will be a good game.

SPEAKER_05 48:56

So it's I gotta give Tampa, I gotta give Tampa the edge against St. Leo. I do too. You know, they're just so strong, you know, just in so many areas, especially defensively. Their short stick D mids are real good. Their goalie's been great, you know. Uh MP Thomas has been really solid at the dot. Yep. You know, but you know what? St. Leo's got a good defense too, you know. Like they got players there. I could see St. Leo giving them a game.

SPEAKER_00 49:25

Oh, I agree with that. I don't know.

SPEAKER_05 49:28

Because you got to admit, Tampa hasn't been destroying people. They're beating people, but they're not destroying guys. You know, they're not putting up 18-19, they're putting up 13, but they're not giving up, they're giving up only eight or nine. Right. Right.

SPEAKER_00 49:43

It's gonna be a contest.

SPEAKER_05 49:45

If you only give up eight, you only need to score nine to win the game, right? What you know? W's don't have to be pretty. I always say that. You know, everybody's like, what's wrong with this team? Well, they won. Right. They won by three. Right. Oh, but that's not what they're supposed to win every game by 16? Like, no, you know, good games are close games. Those are the games I like.

SPEAKER_01 50:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 50:06

I like those one goal back and forth, let's beat the snot out of each other, every possession counts kind of games. Those are the better games. I like fast games too, but when they get defensive, I like that physicality, being that Long Island guy that I am. I like to see I like to see uh uniforms get dirty, man.

SPEAKER_06 50:25

Yeah, a chess match, right?

SPEAKER_00 50:27

Yeah, yeah. All right, so I've got another game on Wednesday the eighth. I don't really think this game is close, that's not why I'm picking it. It's because Coach Cody Golan of Point Park is bringing his old master, Brian Novotny, and where he played in coach Seton Hill, they're hosting them at Point Park for a game. So it's mentor versus master, and I just find that interesting to see what they do. I it's gonna be a learning learning lesson for Pennsylvania.

SPEAKER_05 50:59

Mentor better strap himself in.

SPEAKER_00 51:02

Oh, I think he already knows that. They better strap himself in. See it feels good, man. Yeah, oh yeah. This is where they learn, right? This is where they learn.

SPEAKER_05 51:11

This is where they're by playing programs like that. Absolutely. That's the program you aspire to be like.

SPEAKER_00 51:17

And just looking at yeah, I'll ask you, coach. When you look at film like that, even if it's a blowout, are you you've got to be picking out things like how that other team does things and how you can improve, right? It's not so much like, oh, we just got killed, we don't want to want to watch the tape. It's gotta be, you've got to look at it from a this is the things we've got to aspire to.

SPEAKER_06 51:39

Yeah, I definitely think there's there's definitely that, right? Like who are the benchmarks in your conference or just you know, in your region, and and how do you, you know, what do they do well that you need to improve on? But I also think for games like this, these, Point Park, their their mentality right now is is to consistently improve. And so whatever those key points are that they're talking about in film and in practice, it's hey, did we execute in those moments, right? Did we, you know, if if we were focusing on you know uh a a part of the offense, right? And a part of the you know, off ball support on defense, then you watch the film. Are we connecting the dots? Are we stacking those those single plays and games? Even if it's you know, minute like details, like I think that's a big piece that they have that that you're gonna consistently want to talk about is those small victories throughout the season, even when you're playing, you know, a top, top ten, top five program, where um you know, yeah, it could it could be overwhelming looking at the big scope of that game for them potentially, you know, but if if they really want, like I know Coach Golan is gonna be focusing on those those details. It's us versus us, right? When we're whoever we're playing and whatever they're working on in practice, I guarantee you he's gonna be talking about those successes more so than like, you know, hey, what does Seton Hill do well? Because they could be a completely different team, right? You know, it could be a different style and things like that. So I I think I think it's gonna be a little bit more about the details and and then yeah, obviously the benchmarks. Like you want to be the best, you know, you gotta beat the best, and you gotta get to that level and and um to compete for conference championships. So there definitely will be a piece of that as well. But um, that that would be kind of my takeaway in in one of those type of moments.

SPEAKER_05 53:12

Excellent take. Excellent take.

SPEAKER_00 53:14

Yeah. We couldn't have said that, Danny.

SPEAKER_05 53:17

No, no, no, definitely not.

SPEAKER_00 53:18

So but so let's just go on. We'll just go on. Danny, what games are you looking at?

SPEAKER_05 53:23

Well, the one game that really uh uh is really sticking out at me is an NE10 game, and that's the St. Mike's against Assumption game. Yeah. Now, both teams are playing very, very well in the NE10. I think both teams are going to make the playoffs. Uh this has big seedings involved now, and now it's now it's seedings in the NE-10. That's where we're getting to. I think uh maybe we found out who Southern New Hampshire really is this past week at losing to Bentley and then getting uh the snot knocked out of them by the Panthers of Adelphi. But as much as much as they're improved, Southern New Hampshire, they're not there yet. They're not at that next level, but they're getting there.

SPEAKER_01 54:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 54:10

But St. Mike's and Assumption are. They are at that next level, and they are looking to get a chance to take down the big dogs in in that. And you know what? They both have legitimate chances. And I think that St. Mike's at assumption is gonna be a telltale sign for seedings in the NE10. What say you, coach?

SPEAKER_06 54:36

Um, I I I I I agree. You know, I agree. I think I mean both these teams are battle tested, you know, they're they they're blue-collar, you know, both coaches do a great job. Um, you know, they're they're gonna they know each other, they're they're familiar, you know. So it's there's you know, maybe they you know bring a new wrinkle to to that game, you know, you try to add a layer, um, but it's it's gonna really come down to you know that the middle third and um you know who's who has the consistency there late. But I mean that's these are the games you get up for, you know, when when you're when you're you know you're getting ready in the any ten. It's um and I think this past week St. Mike's showed it, and and same with Assumption, right? You know, with with with St. A's, like they're they're hanging blow for blow.

SPEAKER_05 55:16

And um, you know, so the number two team in the country.

SPEAKER_06 55:20

Right, exactly. St. Mike's holding, you know, Coach Mariano's, you know, setters to uh what was a six-five game.

SPEAKER_04 55:27

Six five.

SPEAKER_06 55:28

You know, like just a defensive battle, and you know, and I you know, I know that you know Coach Bar uh Barbone and and and Coach Smith do a great job, so it's gonna be it's gonna be a hard-fought battle.

SPEAKER_00 55:40

Yeah, and the one thing I'll point out is that Southern New Hampshire has not played Bentley yet, but they did lose then that great game to St. Mike's in the Cold Water. That's the one you're probably thinking about. Yes, that's right. That's right. Yeah, that's right. You're right, you're right. Yeah, but you're right. Southern New Hampshire, but that was a one-goal loss, and they played a Delphi. I think that's a good thing. Well, they've been very competitive in Southern New Hampshire. St. Mike's actually has surprised me because of what they're doing in conference this year. Whereas last year they did great out of conference, they couldn't hang in conference. And this year, look at this. They they beat Southern New Hampshire. They took Pace to one goal. Yep. It'll be really interesting to see what they do against Assumption. I agree. And Pace is a good team, man. Pace is a good team.

SPEAKER_05 56:25

Yeah, they're they're solid, bro. They're solid squad. I've watched them play like four times, at least four or five games this year. They're good.

SPEAKER_00 56:34

Okay, I've got another game on Saturday, and it's one I always look forward to, because this is another one. You just throw out the records and where both teams stand, and that's UDC against Virginia State. This year it's down at Virginia State. This is a must-see game every year, just for the grit and determination these two teams exhibit when they play each other. I mean, there's no holes barred in this game, and it's some good play. They're getting better each year. I love going to this game each year. I've been to it the past two. I don't know if I can make it this year down there, but I I'm I'm gonna try to make it happen. I got some things going on Saturday I have to work out. But this is always a great game and teams that are improving as well. Any other games that you guys have on your on your list?

SPEAKER_05 57:21

Oh, that's it. That's it for me. All right. Well, go ahead, coach.

SPEAKER_06 57:27

No, no, no, I was just gonna say I I'm I'm I'm talking about you know, Anderson and Newberry, I'd I'll be interested to see how uh Newberry and Wingate goes on Saturday as well. That's you know, yeah, two prolific offenses, you know. Coach Well does a great job with defense. Coach Cotter, you know, preaches a physical brand of lacrosse, you know, and and so it'll be again, you know, sack play, you know, seating, you know, conference tournament implications. It'll it's it'll be a battle for sure.

SPEAKER_05 57:55

Yeah, Newberry's added uh some players, you know, from Limestone that have really added a lot to their depth. And uh they're just playing very, very well the Newberry Wolves this year. That game is in Newberry in South Carolina. Um tough place to play. It is a tough place to play. I don't know, man. This might be a pick'em game for me.

SPEAKER_00 58:18

Here's the other thing I'd say about this game. If Newberry beats Anderson, both teams will be 6-0 in conference going into this game on that Saturday.

SPEAKER_05 58:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 58:29

So I agree.

SPEAKER_05 58:31

I I think it's a pick. Top five matchup, you know, top six matchup.

Game of the Week

SPEAKER_03 58:36

How many folks invest it the game of the week? We believe it's the best game in all of the biggest.

SPEAKER_00 59:20

That is number one against number two, Adelphi and St. Ay's. St. A's comes to Adelphi for this game. Both undefeated. This is on Saturday, April 4th. Both teams are undefeated in conference and regular season. Christian Tomei is number one in save percentage and number one in the world in goals against average in all of the NCAAs.

SPEAKER_05 59:45

He's number one in the world. He's on fuego.

SPEAKER_00 59:49

It's really hard to get a ball past him right now. What's funny is we talked about this in our conference preview, right, Danny? We said, how are you gonna replace Dylan Renner? Yeah, how are you gonna replace him? And Christian Tomey, who we know is good, who has bounced around not so much a lot of us because of injuries and a few other things, and bounced around uh different teams at Belmont Abbey for a year, but is a ri he is really showing his worth right now.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:20

Yeah, he's playing well. And you know what? He's got a really good defense ahead of him.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:23

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:24

You know, with Delisandro and Link Letter, and I mean, he's got a you know uh a boatload of all Americans on like he's staring at all American butts.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:36

Right.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:37

You know, all the butts that he sees are all all Americans up there. So, you know, they make a Reese Bauer, you know, Delisandro, uh who else? Who's the short stick kid? That kid's ridiculous too, man. They're just really good. Yeah, they're just really good.

SPEAKER_06 1:00:56

Coach Volpe and Coach Purdy, they they consistently on that end, I mean, just consistently all across the board, you know. But yeah, I feel like that's like a D mid EU, you know. I feel like they always consistently have those just dynamic athletes at the D mid that can run, you know, they're gritty, you know, and you know make make offensive life you know miserable.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:16

In years past, they've always had like multiple midfield lines offensively just come in like the Chinese Army just keep rolling them in. This year, not so much. They run those bulls, those number ones a lot. Yeah. Um they they were eight minutes into the third quarter, they were up 15. Those ones were still in. Then then Purdy finally pulled them. I was like, about time, Purdy, gotta pull them guys, get them youngins, get some playtime, get some NCAA minutes. But they look really tough a Delphi. And that's gonna be a good game. I would probably go to that game if I wasn't going to the Wingate Newberry game. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So I would probably attend that game, but uh gonna have to say a Delphi right now, they're the national champs, a two-time defendant. Until somebody can knock them off, this might be the only team that can do it.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:07

I would agree with you. It's a Delphi at home. Gonna have a big crowd. St. A's pretty nice. Beat him last year, but that was at St. A's. That's right. I think, and you look at Christian Tourme versus Finn Grenara, who I love Finn Granara as a as a goalie, but he struggled a little against assumption. So does he bounce back? I think you gotta give the nod. I have to give the nod. Other people may not. I'm gonna give the nod to a Delphi. Yeah, yeah. Coach, you can stay neutral if you want, unless you want to pick someone.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:37

No, I'm I'll stay neutral. I uh but I I am interested to see that what what the face-off battle will look like. You know, I think that you know that may be a slight edge to St. A's, but yeah. I think the depth on on both sides, uh, but the the depth and experience, you know, uh uh it's gonna be a good game. You know, I gotta shout out my boy Noah Gibson, you know, St. Rose. Oh yeah. St. Rose, you know, dog. You know, still get to still get to connect with him every once in a while, so I'm glad to see he's still still doing well.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:06

You know what's amazing when I watch him is that he is so big, but he's pretty quick. Like he's deceivingly quick.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:15

Yeah, yeah. He he is he is deceivingly quick. And it's awesome to see it like you know, for us at St. Rose not to get down the rabbit hole, but you know, he he did a lot for us, you know, and uh and and then when you put him in uh uh you know a group, you know, surrounding him with players like Adelphi has, he's able to, you know, really just you know own his role and responsibility, and and it's it's awesome to see him, you know, just be able to take advantage of those opportunities, you know.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:44

Oh, he's been doing it well too. He's been tough out there. I mean, again, multiple scores, Dernan, Danellin's a sick player. I just think he's ridiculous. Yeah. Then you got Kyle Lewis and McDermott, who never saw a shot, he didn't like. I mean, that kid just lets him go from everywhere. He doesn't care. He's so shifty, quick, boom, turnaround, you know. And then and then Noah, you know, like oh, oh, I forgot about him. He just blows one by you, you know what I mean? So Delfight's tough. But uh, this should be a born burner, as they say, Kevin.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:18

Burn burner, gonna be a born burner.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:21

I agree. That's a great way to end off what games to watch. There's a ton of other games that I had listed, like just good matchups. Holy Family against Post, Bridgeport at Wilmington, U Indy at Davenport. They're all they've all got good reasons to watch. It's either because of their conference record or whatever, but uh really some good matchups.

SPEAKER_05 1:04:43

I'd like to see the Davenport U Indie game. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:47

I just think there's so many good games out there to just get a hold of. If you're close to where you can go and watch them live, go do it. Like there's nothing better. Nothing better. Okay. Enough of my rambling. It's time now

Shout outs

SPEAKER_00 1:05:01

for shout outs. For the I I've got two. First of all, you gotta shout out Coach Williams for coming on. First of all. It's always great. It's been a while since we were able to talk, Coach. Fantastic to have you on. I'm sure we'll say it again at the end of the show, but I really thank you for coming on. And because of that, we give you the first real shout out. Anyone you want to shout out?

SPEAKER_06 1:05:25

Oh man. Uh catching me off guard here. I didn't even think of a shout-out. Let me go, let me let me go last. Let me go last.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:32

Okay, all right. So I've got to start, Danny, with one besides coach, because I was remiss last week. I must have OD'd on too many Carmel Macchiados from the number of people giving us cups of coffee on our website. We got people to buy us coffee. We got lots of people, a good amount of people in the first day, two days, and said some great comments to us about how they love the show. Some of them were like, that's a First thing I do on a Thursday morning is watch the show. I lock my door and make sure that no one can bother me. So really, really thank the the fans out there for supporting us in any little way you can. I like coffee. More coffee. More coffee, please. That little button on our in the crease in the creaselacrosse pod dot com in the lower left hand corner can be five bucks, can be two bucks, can be twenty-five bucks. Twenty-five bucks buys a lot of coffee, which we'd be happy with. But we really appreciate those who did. It's just phenomenal. That's my first shout out. What do you have, Danny? Do you have any shout outs?

SPEAKER_05 1:06:36

No real shout-outs this week. Uh happy Easter to all the people out there. And uh happy Passover.

unknown 1:06:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:45

It's that time of year. Okay, I've got two more then before we go to you, Coach, to close it for shout-outs. First one to one of the guys you love, Danny. James Napoli of Bridgeport, 100 career goals. Oh, my man. My man Napoli. Boy can play. The last one I've got is a really interesting one. I got this through lacrosse reference stats. It's all the teams who have improved this year. We've talked about several of them this year already. To qualify for this list, you had to really he has a lax ELO rating, which don't ask me to explain how it is because I'm too dumb to understand it. But it's out there. You need MIT guys. It's great. These are all the teams that here's the top ten teams that have increased their lax ELO rating from where the where they were below the medium last year and have gone up. And it's a good list, and you will know why they're on it for most of them. Here it goes. Leez McCray, William Jewell, DeUville, Northwood, Florida Tech, UDC, Shawan, Tusculum, Tiffin, and Thomas More. And that that Laxiolo ELO rating is, I think, pretty much spot on because all those teams we see we have seen through their record and things they've done, and they've all increased their national ranking from where they were last year to this year. That is so phenomenal to see. I think they all deserved a good shout out.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:17

Yeah, and what does that tell you about division two, Kev? Yeah. That tells you that it's still growing. It's getting better and better.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:26

It's getting more competitive.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:28

More teams are getting better players, and it's getting more competitive. That's what it is. This division is just growing and growing, man.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:36

All right, coach. I've warmed you up. Do you have a shout-out?

SPEAKER_06 1:08:41

Yeah, I got I got a couple. I'll go, I'll go. First shout-out will be um first shout-out will be to the Lander Bearcats as they continue to grind through the season, you know, and they got a big couple weeks coming up against uh they go uh Huntsville at home, Montevallo uh to finish out the regular season before Peach Belt play. Um and then I'm gonna give you guys a shout-out for continuing. I you know, a lot of our our fans don't know, the you know, the pod fans don't know the the work you guys put in behind the notes. I see the notes, I see the I see see you guys grinding, so we continue to appreciate the uh the the work that you guys put in and in the in and everything. You know, I love tuning in on my rides, my ride in uh on on Thursday mornings, you know, to listen to the to the upcoming podcast. So keep doing that. Appreciate that what you guys are doing, and then I'll just give a quick shout out to all the future bucks out there, the future Buccaneers that are getting ready to pop up on campus here in Miami Shores in uh in a few short weeks. You know, we're we're excited and ready to ready to rip.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:38

Love that shout out, coach. That's excellent.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:41

That's a good one to end off without a doubt. And coach, once again, we can't thank you enough for coming on. It's been a blast. It's great catching up with you. And we do wish you, like we do with all the other coaches, but we do wish you the best as you move forward in recruiting and getting more commits and getting that team going in 26 and 27.

SPEAKER_06 1:10:02

Thanks, guys. Appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:11

All right, Danny. For this week, that's a wrap. That's a wrap from Miami.