Game Time - A look back at week 1 and a preview of Week 2 of the 2022 season

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Crease with Danny and Kevin, a coast-to-coast discussion of D2 Men's Lacrosse. I'm your co-host, Kevin Stenstrom, and with me as always is that fan favorite, Danny Moran. Hey Danny, how are you doing?

SPEAKER_04 0:26

Oh, Kevin, you're too funny, man. You crack me up. I'm doing great. How about yourself? How's it doing uh in northern Virginia tonight?

SPEAKER_02 0:34

I'm doing fine. I'm doing fine. And I'm just ready to get going on this. So, you know, the first week had a couple of real upsets and some of what I'm calling statement wins.

SPEAKER_04 0:45

Kev, if this is the one of the best first weeks of Division II lacrosse we've had in a quite a long time. If this is if this weekend was any indication of what the season's gonna be like, I think we're gonna be in for a good one, to be honest.

SPEAKER_02 0:59

Yeah, yeah, I agree. So why don't we just get right into it? Why don't we start off with some of those upsets?

SPEAKER_04 1:04

Which one you want to talk about?

SPEAKER_02 1:05

Let's talk about Lenore Ryan Undy.

SPEAKER_04 1:08

It was a great game, it was a good game. Um, you indie came to play, they came to play. They're fast, they're aggressive. Um, it was a great game, it was a one-goal game. Um game of runs, it was a game of runs. It was you see it? Did you watch it?

SPEAKER_02 1:23

Yeah, so you indie starts off going up 3-0, and it's and then it's about even in the second quarter, so it was 6-3, and then they get up 10-5. So they went on a few runs. Yeah, but Lenore Ryan came back.

SPEAKER_04 1:38

Of course, you know, they're stacked, they're loaded on offense. But you know what? Um, defensively, you Indy played real well. Their goalie played well. Um, and Austin Bear had a great game. Oh, he had a great, great game. He really did. He stood on his head, but um the the close poles were playing really well. They were getting their sticks up in lanes and just causing passes and you know, making guys on you know miss passes that they would normally have. That's that that's a really loaded Lenore Ryan team.

SPEAKER_02 2:12

But I really I I really felt they got him a little confused. And I think it shows up in the in the stats for the turnovers because that was the real difference. They were pretty even in all statistical metrics except for turnovers. And you indie had only nine, and Lenore Ryan had 20.

SPEAKER_04 2:30

And you know what? U Indy actually, you know what, they they were poised when LR went on their little run at the end, you know. Uh U Indy stayed the course, you know. They're a very well-coached team, they did well good. It was a good, it was a good, good win for Undy, and and it was only one game for Lenore Ryan. Okay, that's that's right. That's the way that's right, that's the way I'm looking at them. They're not going to know no, but that was a big upset, you know. That was an upset. I know there's gonna be U Indie fans out there that'll be like, what do you mean it's an upset, man? We're that good. No, you're ranked number nine. You beat you know last year's national runner-up. That's an upset.

SPEAKER_02 3:07

It is, and then it is good for them. And and we'll just see the the matchups coming up for both teams. So let's let's talk about the really other big one, the other upset, Lewis beating Seton Hill.

SPEAKER_04 3:19

Yeah, man. Um, I had that game on as well when I was watching the Lenore Ryan game. I had the Lenore Ryan game on the big TV and had the uh Lewis Seton Hill game on the iPad and the iPad. You had my command center going, you had command central there in northern Virginia going, and so I had my iPad, but I had the sound down, so I wasn't hearing the cheers and stuff, and so I was kind of like more focused on the LR game, and then all of a sudden I looked up and what was it like 7-4 or something or 7-3?

SPEAKER_02 3:48

Started off 7-2, they were up 7-2 at half, Lewis. And I think the difference really was that Lewis was just much more aggressive. They came under the game plan to, in my opinion, to disturb and confuse, and they were going after ground balls, they were moving on offense, and they didn't win a lot of uh face-offs, but they made up for it and hustling for those ground balls and confusing things in the middle for Seton Hill.

SPEAKER_04 4:17

Yeah, you know, we had Coach Peruzzi on earlier in the year, and he talked about how gritty his team was and how excited and how hungry they were, because they really had only played 15 games in the last two years or something like that. So, you know what? Coach Peruzzi had his boys ready to play. Seton Hill's a really good team, Terry.

SPEAKER_02 4:35

Very, very good team. I think that confused him. I think the other thing that Lewis did really well is even though Seton Hill had more shots, Lewis had a higher shot on goal. They had 31 shots on goal versus versus Seton Hill's 21. And they were better in cost turnovers by double.

SPEAKER_04 4:56

That's that's huge. That was the game, you know, with the cost turnovers there, you know. And congratulations to Lewis. That's a big statement. That's a big win for that program.

SPEAKER_02 5:05

It's a huge win. They're now in the poll at number 18. They got a couple of good articles. I saw today, one on Inside Lacrosse and one in Lacrosse magazine. So hats off to me. That's that's what I love to see is D2 teams getting recognized for their play. I wish they were doing it more often with the teams just talking about the teams at the top, like they do Duke, but it's a good start.

SPEAKER_04 5:27

But you know what? I think those they're they're doing those write-ups because they know that in the crease has got a podcast out and and we're making some noise out there, putting on the pressure. So all of a sudden, there's like a little bit more D2 coverage now. Come on, come on, it's all because of us. Yeah, I mean no, but that that you know what? Congratulations to Lewis and Coach Peruzzi. And and you know what, Seton Hill? That's one game for them as well. Yeah, they're not going anywhere, they're locked and loaded. And you know, we had coach on last week and he said it was the deepest team he's ever had. So I expect they'll be fine. They'll be fine. Yes, I expect them to turn things around very quickly.

SPEAKER_02 6:07

Okay, now let's move on to some of the ones I'm calling statement wins. And the first one I'd like to talk about is Belmont Abbey and Limestone. This is a game that we, you know, it's an old Conference Carolina rivalry, and we thought this would be close. A couple of these statement wins we thought it'd be close. Noah Haas came out and scored the first goal for Belmont Abbey, and then Limestone went on a seven-goal tear, and that was all she wrote.

SPEAKER_04 6:35

Took the air right out of Belmont Abbey, took the air right out of their sales. Hey, coach Storrier, you know, his first game back, he was making a statement. Well, and you know, limestone had a down year last year, and and and I don't expect them to have a year like they had last year. I expect them to be a very good team this year. So I wasn't I wasn't surprised that limestone won that game. I was just more surprised at the score.

SPEAKER_02 7:01

No, I agree. I think once again, the stats told the story. Limestone had 55 shots to Belmont Abbey's 29, and the shots on goal were 33 to 18. And the clears for Belmont Army were only at 17 out of 26. And I think that's a telling stat because what I saw when they got down, it seemed to me that they in the clear were trying to go for a lot of long balls. Their goalie was trying to bring it way down field, and I seemed to feel like they were pushing it too much and not playing methodically to get back in when it was still, you know, a second quarter.

SPEAKER_04 7:33

Yeah, you know, it's I didn't get to see the limestone game, but um, again, Coach Storyer, you know, it's his first game there as head coach. And uh, I had a feeling he was gonna try to make a statement there. And you know what? Belmont Abbey's a really good team, too. It's only one game for them, but they'll they'll be back on track.

SPEAKER_02 7:52

They will, they will. So the next one we we need to talk about is Tampa against Lynn. That was another one that I was surprised at the final score being 15 to 3 in a game once a gun. You and I thought was gonna be really close.

SPEAKER_04 8:05

Well, you know, we talked about how Lynn gave Tampa, you know, games last year, but that that year is over, and and the Tampa's got a has a new regime going on with JB Clark at the helm now and and uh a look. And but what surprised me is only three goals from Lynn. That that's that says that.

SPEAKER_02 8:25

Well, that will tell you how good Tampa's D was playing. We talked about what they were losing on offense, but their D just shut down a team that can score goals.

SPEAKER_04 8:35

Yeah, yeah. That it's it's it looked like you know, it's sounds like because I didn't watch that game either, but sounds like Tampa's defense came to play because only holding Lynn to three goals is pretty pretty astonishing, actually.

SPEAKER_02 8:48

And the other thing we were wondering about was losing some of those scores. What would Tampa do? And the answer was they spread it around. Nine separate players were on the goal sheet at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_04 9:04

Wow, wow, that's that's pretty impressive.

SPEAKER_02 9:07

Yeah, and I have to put a shout out to Blake Ulmer, their goalie, who had uh an awesome game. Another goalie who played lights out, right? He had a great game. But the another one I want to talk about really quickly, and once again, it's not so much the game, it's the team, and that's Florida Southern. We talked about that last podcast. They were gonna play Anderson on Friday night, and then they were gonna turn around and play Catawba on Sunday. And we wondered, you know, how much gas did they have? They're playing two teams that you know maybe aren't top tier, but are both fighting to be top tier and are good teams in the sack.

SPEAKER_04 9:43

Right. Florida Southern went out.

SPEAKER_02 9:47

How many goals?

SPEAKER_04 9:48

They're still scoring.

SPEAKER_02 9:50

They won the first game against they won 23 to 12 against Anderson and then beat Katawa 21 to 5.

SPEAKER_04 9:58

Wow. So they put up 43 point get goals in two games. That's insane.

SPEAKER_02 10:05

Yeah, that's insane. That statement is uh we are a team to be reckoned with.

SPEAKER_04 10:12

That's right. And who do they play this week? They play Tampa. Yeah, Florida Southern plays Tampa this week. So here's here's Florida Southern coming off a back-to-back, you know, large goal wins. That's you know, that does a lot for the confidence of a team, and they're gonna go to Tampa and play and play. That should that should be some game to watch, to be honest with you. I think that's one of our games to watch this week.

SPEAKER_02 10:41

Without a doubt. So I think the last game I'd like to touch on is the one we talked about, we thought would be really interesting, was Flagler's first game against Emory Riddle.

SPEAKER_04 10:50

Yeah, I watched that game. Um Flaggler is young, and we took we spoke to Coach Dunn about that. Uh Duncan, I'm sorry. And he he knows that his team is young and that they have some growing pains and some, you know, some uh speed bumps that they have to navigate over. But I thought they would be a little bit more competitive against Emory Riddle. And Emory Riddle looked very big. They've they looked strong and fast, they looked bigger, stronger, and faster to me.

SPEAKER_02 11:23

Yeah, they moved the ball really well, is what I saw. And we were asking ourselves in the last podcast who would step up, who would ball out, who would be the stars. And I I can pick out three for Emory Riddle. One is Christian Hofer, who had three goals and two assists. That ain't bad for a day, let me tell you. No, it's a good game, and then Lars Hoag, who I'd never seen before. He's a six foot six-inch, 215-pound midi, and he moves really well.

SPEAKER_04 11:56

6'6, 215.

SPEAKER_02 11:59

Wow, and then finally, their goalie, Lucas Frazier. He had nine saves, you know, and obviously he only had only eight goals against. He had a great game.

SPEAKER_04 12:09

Yeah, yeah, no, he played well. And um, on Flagler's side, uh, who's the kid? Ty Ty Tom. Ty Tom had a really good game, really good athlete.

SPEAKER_02 12:18

He had four because you said he's a very good athlete.

SPEAKER_04 12:21

He's a really good athlete, um, quick on his feet, shifty, and he's pretty, you know, strong and aggressive. Um, that's that's a player to watch for Flagler because he he played really well. He looked like at the end, he was like, Give me the ball. I like kids like that, and it was crowded there. There was a lot of people at that game.

SPEAKER_02 12:42

That was the thing I wanted to mention. That was awesome. They said they had 800 people at that game.

SPEAKER_04 12:48

Wow, that's amazing. You could hear them, you could see them in the back. I was like, wow, this was packed. That was so cool to see. What's it Daytona though? Where are they in Daytona? Where were they? Pretty nice in Daytona.

SPEAKER_02 13:00

That's not a that's a hop, skip, and a jump for from uh St. Augustine. So that yeah, it was a good, good come combination crowd there.

SPEAKER_04 13:08

So, you know what? It was Flagler's inaugural game in Division II and NCAA. So kudos to them. You know what? You you gave it a good shot. You can go out next year next week and get them again, guys.

SPEAKER_02 13:20

There you go. All right, Danny. After that recap, let's move on. Tonight we get to talk to another coach that started his program, and it is continually on the rise in a very tough conference, the SAC. Yep. So let's let's just welcome him in, Coach Nick Cotter, head coach of the Newberry Wolves. Hey coach, how you doing tonight?

SPEAKER_04 13:41

Doing well, guys. Thank you for

Coach's Spotlight

SPEAKER_04 13:43

having me. Hey, Coach Cotter from the Newberry Wolves. Thanks so much for coming on, taking your time. Got a big game tomorrow, starting out tomorrow, ain't you?

SPEAKER_01 13:52

Yep. Uh, we go to Young Harris tomorrow. So, literally just getting out of the film room, uh, just getting home, and bus leaves at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

SPEAKER_04 14:03

All right, good luck tomorrow on that game. Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 14:07

So, like we talked about, coach, in the intro, and you're a new program, still fairly young, but you've been making a lot of noise and you continue to build every year, it seems like. To what do you contribute that quick success?

SPEAKER_01 14:26

Uh, well, the support of the institution uh is a is a big part of it. Um, they they really want us to they're they don't want to be mediocre anymore. Um, you know, I've I've had talks with the president uh constantly. Probably I talk to him probably three, four times a week, and they want to invest and they want to win. And they're doing that around the campus, uh, with the facilities, um with everything. So when you have the support of an institution, it kind of makes your job easier. Um, not to mention, I've also had, you know, very good role models in uh in in my career. You know, I I played under uh Tim Boyle over at Dowling.

SPEAKER_05 15:12

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 15:13

Um so he kind of uh he he whipped me into shape, let's say. Uh so I I know the way he is, although I I have heard he softened up a little bit. He'll probably give me he'll probably give me hell for that one.

SPEAKER_02 15:28

He'll be listening.

SPEAKER_01 15:30

Um, and then uh, you know, being over at St. Leo with Brad Jorgensen, who did the exact same thing. He started his program at Leo. So um, you know, when the when the position came open at Newberry, you know, I was I did about four years at at St. Leo. It was, you know, time to start looking to further my career. And, you know, it was certainly tough leaving because, you know, that was when the Leo boys were making the run for the national championship.

SPEAKER_04 15:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:59

Um you know, so you you build so many friendships with the players and the parents that uh it it was tough. It was tough knowing that you know that was their year, and now I'm going to start a program. And I think we went.

SPEAKER_02 16:19

That is a transition, huh, coach? That's a transition right there.

SPEAKER_01 16:23

Oh, I think we we went four and eleven my first year, and I was just like, why did I leave?

SPEAKER_04 16:32

But you know what? Your team each year has gotten better and better, and uh, you know, your record has improved. Last year you went six and four in the SAC. And if you ask me, that's really, really good. Because, in my opinion, it's the toughest conference in D2.

SPEAKER_01 16:50

I would I would agree with that. Um, I think we have what, five teams that are nationally ranked with conference. So uh, and even the ones that aren't nationally ranked, you still have you have to show up. Whoever shows up game day will have the the opportunity to win that game um in in this hack. Um, you know, so it's you know, you look at Anderson. Anderson's been they've been killing it. I just watched their Florida Southern game, and I mean they hung in there for three quarters. And it's awesome. And they're what second year program?

SPEAKER_04 17:27

Yep, yep, yep.

SPEAKER_01 17:28

So, you know, watch out for them. And then you with all the coaching changes in our conference, um, you know, you this past this first week was crazy.

SPEAKER_02 17:40

It was you know, with uh stone and Belmont and Lewis and Seton Hill, like it's D2 are yeah, that's right, there are no days off in any game you play.

SPEAKER_01 17:54

Yeah, there's a lot of sleepers. There's and it's it's great to see. It's great to see, you know, how spread out D2 is now becoming. Um, and you know, with Newberry, we've we keep putting putting in the work, um, you know, from you know, a mix of guys from all over. Uh, you know, we don't really recruit in one select area. Um, but it's the guys are bought in. The guys know what it takes to win. The guys know that the conference that we're in is the toughest, and they have to show up every single game.

SPEAKER_04 18:36

And you know what? I find that most of those SAC teams do show up. They're scrappy and gritty, even the middle of the road of the SAC teams, you know, those those 500 or a little bit above 500 teams, these guys are good, man. They come out and they play and they they have players and they're coached, and it's just a really good conference. Um, how do you get your kids to get all psyched up to play these guys, these big dogs in the SAC?

SPEAKER_01 19:05

Well, when you have what, two teams in our conference that went to the final four, I I think that is kind of the writing on the wall there. If you don't show up, you know, they're gonna they're gonna hit you pretty hard. So they know that it's the mindset of every day you gotta show up and you gotta you gotta compete. Um, and that's the benefit I feel of having, you know, being able to have 55 guys, 60 guys on your roster is it's kind of the next next man up mentality.

unknown 19:39

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 19:40

You know, if you're not going to bring uh you know 100% every single day, the next person will.

SPEAKER_04 19:49

Well, your teams have been balling out the last two years, especially. Uh, you know, last year, you didn't you beat limestone last year? You beat limestone, they were ranked. Yep. And yeah, you know, what a great win for the program.

SPEAKER_01 20:03

Yeah, we beat them, we were able to beat them by six. Um, but I mean, that was a COVID era. Anything in the COVID era, I kind of wash away.

SPEAKER_04 20:16

I hear you. I hear you. I hear you.

SPEAKER_01 20:18

Now you got uh storier over there, and I mean they're doing I watched that game and they they made a statement right there. Absolutely, did they ever? So it's it's fun to be a part of it. It's fun to be competing in the sack and you know going up against some of the best teams that are in division two.

SPEAKER_02 20:40

Yeah, because you look at your out-of-conference, you indie, Mount Olive, Lynn, St. Leo, to name a few. Those are tough, tough out-of-conference games, which you add in with the sack. And like you said, it's it's a full, full schedule for you guys.

SPEAKER_01 21:00

Yeah, we'll have to uh touch base at the end of the season to see if I was uh crazy in scheduling this.

unknown 21:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 21:08

That's where you want your program to go by playing these teams. You know, you want your program playing these squads and and getting your your young guys, hey, this is what it takes. You know, I think that I I I I commend you for doing those out of conference schedules like that. I mean, it's only good for Newberry.

SPEAKER_01 21:28

Yeah, I I mean, I I think it could do I I think it's a positive in in many ways. Uh either you go in and you you do very well or you're going in and it's an eye opener.

SPEAKER_04 21:43

Right. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 21:45

So uh, you know, and it's a good way to judge kind of where we're at. You know, we're going into year five. Um you know, and we we've been able to compete with some. We haven't been able to get over the hump yet. So that's kind of what's keeping us humble and hungry. Um, and making sure that we show up every single day.

SPEAKER_02 22:07

So, coach, just to finish up here, we started off talking about, you know, you've got a game tomorrow. How is your team? What's your team like right now? Are they you just finishing the film room with them? I'm just curious, like, are they just really pumped to go? Were they really excited about the first game? Do you almost have to calm them down or are they kind of even keeled? What what's your what's their what's their mentality like right now?

SPEAKER_01 22:33

They're they're ready to get after it. Um, we've had, you know, obviously uh a month and change here with uh practicing. We had a we had a scrimmage last weekend against Ember Riddle, um, which was good. And we and then we had several in the fall, but they're ready to get the season underway. Um and then, you know, young Harris, you know, with theirs with their situation, and I mean Coach Heron's gonna do a great job there. Um, he he's he's a great guy. I've talked to him several times on the recruiting trail. And I mean, just with his knowledge and his background in lacrosse, um, I know that he'll do a great job at Young Harris.

SPEAKER_02 23:15

Yeah, we had him on the early another episode earlier on our podcast, and I agree. He is a he just has a lot of knowledge. He comes from a very unique perspective, and I think it's really good for young Harris and good for Division II. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 23:32

Absolutely. As I said, with you know, kind of where I've been brought up from, with you know, the head coach being Matt Dowling, Timmy Boyle, and then Brad Jorgensen, and then myself included, also being surrounded by great assistants. Um, you know, helps your program, you know, where we're toying with the national rankings right now here at Newberry. Um, it's because I've been surrounded by great mentors and great assistant coaches, with, you know, I had uh Joe Wilson, who's now over at LMU, um, Rodney Tapp, who's now at Tuscalone. Uh and um Coach Handman has uh stepped up here at Newberry. And I mean, he does a great job recruiting, and um, you know, it makes my job a lot easier.

SPEAKER_04 24:25

Absolutely, absolutely, and all really good coaches that you know are gonna make their marks on their programs now.

SPEAKER_01 24:34

Absolutely. No, it was it was disappointing only having Tapper for about um about a season. So he he's a he's a Canadian like myself, and you know, he was getting uh the green uh he's H1B visa. So I had renewed his visa and then he leaves me in. So if he's listening to this, I'm gonna be sending him a bill for about fifteen hundred dollars. There you go.

SPEAKER_02 25:05

Well, I don't know. I think that's a really great place to to leave it with with uh coach Cotter right there as he's talking about Coach Tahap and Abilio's him.

SPEAKER_01 25:18

Absolutely. I'll I'll find him too. Don't you guys work?

SPEAKER_02 25:21

I'm sure you will, Coach. Well, we really thank you for coming on uh the show tonight. Really happy to be have you on and talk about your team and your first game tomorrow and what you're doing for the rest of the season. I think Newberry is gonna be a force to reckon with this year.

SPEAKER_01 25:39

Appreciate it, guys. Thank you for uh everything that you guys have been doing for D2.

SPEAKER_04 25:44

Uh coach, thanks so much. We really appreciate you coming on and taking the time with us tonight. And all the best, uh, good luck to you tomorrow and the rest of the season. We really appreciate you coming on. Awesome. Thank you, guys.

SPEAKER_02 25:56

Thanks, coach. Good night, good night, coach. All right, Danny. I have to start off this segment of games to watch this week with a little bit of a disclaimer. Last week I said that Mars Hill's first game was going to be this Wednesday, February 9th. That was incorrect. They already played, they played this Saturday, they played against Montevallo and they lost. And Lise McCrae also played this weekend against Queens and they lost. So they will both

Games to Watch

SPEAKER_02 26:21

be hungry for a win this Wednesday. Probably the this podcast will already be out, but this Wednesday they'll both be hungry, and our crack research team does not get the bonus they were expecting.

SPEAKER_04 26:35

You know, you know what, Kevin? You know how you and I are it's we're on the same page because my third game on my list of games to watch is Lees McCray versus Marshall. There you go. So you and I you and I have got like this kismet thing going on. I love both coaches, they're both great guys, you know. We've had them both on the show, and they were just dynamite, just dynamite guests. And you know, as coaches, they're great coaches, but they're even better people. So when you got guys like that, it's hard for me to root against one against another. But I would have to say that maybe Mars Hill has has the edge a little bit, you know, just maybe a little bit more depth than Lees McCrae at this at this point. And uh yeah, I would agree with you there.

SPEAKER_02 27:22

And I'd like to play at Lees McCrae.

SPEAKER_04 27:25

I'd like to see Coach Turner get his first win as a head coach. I I would, you know, on a personal level. But you know, you know how we feel about coach. You know how we feel about coach down and you know coach done, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:39

Banner Elk down there, you know. Yeah, he if you if you ruin against him, he may take away his invite for us to go down.

SPEAKER_04 27:47

Yes, yeah, I know, and I don't want to do that. So because I'm I'm seriously thinking about taking away.

SPEAKER_02 27:52

I I don't want to say I I I agree with you. I I I love both coaches, and I I hope it's just a great game and that both teams ball out. Got a quick game on Friday, the 11th. I want to just mention quickly, and that's Rockhurst Davenport. And that's because it's a GLVC game, it's a game where it's our first game of the season for both. Rockhurst is coming off a really good season last year. Davenport lost to him last year 12 to 8, and they need to like we talked about in the preseason review, we they really need to kind of close the gap to get moving in the right direction. So I'll just be watching to see if they can do that. I think it's still an uphill climb for them. I think Rockhurst will do a will probably beat them, but it'll be interesting to see if they can bring it close.

SPEAKER_04 28:35

Yeah, they're playing that conference game early in the season for them, but uh, so that does so there's a lot on the line in that game, you know. And when you when you start conference play, it it matters big time. So exactly. That should be that should be uh that should be a good good game. Uh I'm expect those two teams to go at it a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 28:55

You bet, you bet in conference without a doubt. Okay, another one now. Let's move to Saturday. One I've got on my radar is North Greenville versus Lenore Ryan. And here's the reason for that. First of all, North Greenville, uh team that's up and coming, really interested to see where they go in this game. They played against young Harris opening game and and did really well. But the interesting thing of this is it pits brother against brother. Miles Moffitt at Lenore Ryan against his younger brother, who he had a goal, he had a goal against you Indy. His younger brother Hayden is coming off a four-goal, one assist game against young Harris. Now, young Harris and you and and Lenore Ryan aren't the same team, but I think it'll be really fun to watch the two brothers go at it.

SPEAKER_04 29:49

Oh, yeah, definitely, but they don't go at it against each other because they're both on offense, you know.

SPEAKER_02 29:55

What stat-wise, you know.

SPEAKER_04 29:57

But you know what? Little brothers got some bragging rights right now. Hey, hey, big brother. I put up I put up four last week. You've only put up one.

SPEAKER_02 30:04

He was offensive player of the week for Conference Carolinas.

SPEAKER_04 30:08

Well, good for him, man. Yeah, so the Moffitt brothers, we got some two studs down there, and I and South.

SPEAKER_02 30:15

I have to point this out. Um, I got some of this knowledge through our Canadian connection pipeline for Intel on Canadian players. I we have an Instagram. I've got to ask, I gotta ask him if I can use his name and and should give him a real shout out. But he dm'd me on Instagram and he keeps on giving me all the this great intel, and so I have to use it. So he's he's our he's our northern research team.

SPEAKER_04 30:44

All right, we gotta I don't know if we can afford him on the budget, though.

SPEAKER_02 30:50

Well, so far he hasn't asked for anything, so I keep on accepting all his information. So funny.

SPEAKER_04 30:55

All right, okay.

SPEAKER_02 30:57

What else what other games are you looking at?

SPEAKER_04 30:59

I um again, the Florida Southern Tampa game that was discussed a couple of minutes ago. You know, Florida Southern put on 43 points in two games. That's got to give a team confidence, and they're going into Tampa. I think they're gonna be amped up, you know. And Tampa, uh uh let's see what they got, you know. If they come out strong and beat this team, then we know we got a real, real team in Tampa.

SPEAKER_02 31:22

Yeah, you know, before this weekend, yeah, it's a great game. It's a uh Sunshine State conference game. They beat each other up, as we've as we've said before. But I think with Florida Southern coming out so strong and Tampa coming out so strong, let's see how this one ends up.

SPEAKER_04 31:41

Yeah, you know what? And I don't think Florida Southern's gonna lay down. I mean, I think they're gonna go out and try to play. So and and another game I'm looking at is uh Lake Erie and U Indy. Lake Erie, you know, didn't have the best year last year, no, had a good had a good year of recruiting. And um, this will be a good test, you know. Uindy's a good team. So you got some of the young guys on Lake Erie get to see what a really, really, really good team, top 10, top five team looks like and plays like. So it's gonna be a good thing for Lake Erie. Yeah, no matter which way you cut it, you know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_02 32:17

They've been going, they've been going up, they've been slowly getting better and better each year over the last couple years. Let's see how they play against you, Wendy. Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 32:27

So those are our games of the week.

SPEAKER_02 32:29

I got a couple more. I've got oh, you got a couple more? I do. I I've got wingate against Mercyhurst. Oh, yeah, definitely. I can't believe I don't know. The reason why I say that is the coaches know each other so well. And you know, Mercyhurst lost some top two scores uh in Caleb Kuber and Devin Pfeiffer. So they're top the third score is back, and they brought in some Canadians. This is from our crack research team up north that are D1 transfers from Harvard and Harvard and Hartford. I don't know if they're you know, I don't know if they're gonna get in the game. We'll see if they get in the mix and see what they do. And then if you look at Wingate on their on their offense, they're loaded at attack. Their attack line had a combined 21 points against Barton in their first game. 21 points.

SPEAKER_04 33:20

They're lethal. They're lethal at attack line. Lethal. They score and score in bunches. You know, I watched the Wingate Barton game, and um, it looked like to me that Wingate was just trying to work the offense. They have some young guys on D, and they were just trying to work the offense, they weren't trying to do anything. Barton came back, gave a couple of you know, a couple of scores, and then Wingate just went bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, and scored like four goals. And and then you just knew that Wingate was in control of that game, and and it looked like they could score at will.

SPEAKER_02 33:51

Yeah, they broke it up open in the in the fourth. So that's what I think. What I think though, they're both seems like they're both reloading on D. You mentioned it on the Wingate side. So I think whoever plays better on D is gonna come out the winner.

SPEAKER_04 34:06

Yeah, you know what? These two teams, you know, traditionally really have been there have been great games. I mean, I've I've talked about Mercy Hurst and Wingate a couple of times, and the games that I personally have seen. And they these two teams are just loaded with studs on both sides of the field. They have great coaches, and it's always a great game. You know, just just the best game I ever saw, and with my own eyes, was a wing was a Wingate Mercy Hearst game. And I mean, I've been I've seen Duke and I've seen Albany and I've seen Hofstra and I've seen Syracuse, I've seen Denver. I mean, I've seen all the big D1 schools play. That was the best game I've ever seen. And it was a it was a division two game between Wingate and Mercyhurst. So I expect it to be quite the game. Yeah. Mercy Hurst has Mercy Hearst has the edge, though, the last couple of years. They've they do.

SPEAKER_02 35:05

See, they I'm sure Coach Ryan wants to keep that going. But let me mention, not a game, it's a team again. And it's Colorado Mesa.

SPEAKER_04 35:12

Yeah, they're coming easy.

SPEAKER_02 35:14

Saturday, they play Rollins, but before that, on Wednesday, they are playing uh Alabama Huntsville. So they'll go Wednesday, Alabama, Huntsville, Saturday, Rollins, and then Monday they play Coker. And Coker played pretty well against Mount Olive. So Colorado Mesa is going bing bang boom against this road trip. And this is a test for their loaded team, and I'll be really interested to see how it goes.

SPEAKER_04 35:45

Yeah, you know, the Colorado Mesa always comes out east every year, Kev, and they put a good out-of-conference schedule together. I give kudos to coach out there. We had him on the show, and um I I just think that Colorado Mesa's gonna be a really good team again. They're gonna be a team to reckon with. They they put together quite the quite the roster again, and um that should be fun for those guys. Hey man, they're getting on a plane and they're gonna go to Florida, you know, and then North Carolina, and you know, so it's a nice little trip for these kids that are you know live out in the Rocky Mountains.

SPEAKER_02 36:23

There you go. Yep. Hey, so Danny, one other game I want to mention of interest next week is on Tuesday, 15 February, and that is Barton versus the UDC Firebirds. Now, Barton's just coming off, will be coming off their second game against Young Harris, but it is UDC's first game in over a year. And like we said in the conference preview, I just think it's so great that they're back in it, just like young Harris, back in and playing lacrosse. So I'm gonna try to tune into that game just for the the fan revelry of seeing them playing again.

SPEAKER_04 37:03

Yeah, it's it's great that they're back into into in division two. And um, again, you know, Kev, the the game is just growing and and the division is growing. And to have these guys back after a year of absence away from the game is is a positive thing. So they got their first game. I'm sure they're gonna be hungry and psyched to play. So Barton Bulldogs better look out. U DC's coming.

SPEAKER_02 37:29

Danny, our next guest is part of a midfield core that you love. As you've said, they are fast.

SPEAKER_04 37:40

They are fast, as fast as can be.

SPEAKER_02 37:42

Yes, they are, and of course, that team we're talking about, that midfield core comes from you indie. And Brian Robb, all the way from British

Player Spotlight

SPEAKER_02 37:51

Columbia, is one of those key guys in that midfield.

SPEAKER_05 37:55

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 37:56

Yeah, he was an honorable mention all-American last year, and this year, he's a preseason all-American pick as well.

SPEAKER_04 38:04

Yes, rightly so. The the the the boy balls out, man. He's balling out. We'll ball out.

SPEAKER_02 38:12

So it's perfect to have it in there. I would love to say that uh it was it was Kismet, let's say, that we I got him on at this show. So why don't we welcome in? Welcome to In the Crease, Brian. How you doing?

SPEAKER_04 38:23

I'm good, guys.

SPEAKER_00 38:24

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_04 38:24

I appreciate it. Hey, welcome, Brian, to the show. We're so glad that you could take the time um to be with us. I know you had a long trip last night, got classes this morning. So I really appreciate you you coming on tonight. Thanks.

SPEAKER_02 38:38

Yeah, just so our listeners know, we're recording this segment on Monday. And as most people know, they finished their game with Lenore Ryan on Sunday. And and basically, I think Brian's almost coming fresh off the bus to talk to us, getting it at one in the morning. So we really appreciate that, Brian.

SPEAKER_00 38:56

No worries, it's it's good to be here.

SPEAKER_02 38:58

So, first of all, congratulations on the win. That is awesome against Lenore Ryan. What a way to start your season! Yeah, could you have asked for anything better than that?

SPEAKER_00 39:08

No, no, especially on that field, uh coming off last year when we uh lost, lost in the NCAA tournament on that field. So um, going in that week, we knew that we wanted to get that win back, especially on that field and uh against the number two team. So so it feels great.

SPEAKER_02 39:23

Yeah, that that's awesome. It that's very interesting. You say that about uh being back on a field. I completely forgot. You had that very, very close game against Wingate. Came back from I think it was like six, seven goals to tie it up and then lose it in the last minute or so. But this this game, you seem you get you guys seem to have under control most of the time. You guys did a really good job.

SPEAKER_00 39:49

Yeah, no, uh, definitely. It felt it felt good. We had a we had a strong week of practice, um knowing that this was a a big matchup, probably one of the biggest matchups we'll have all year. And um, yeah, we just stayed disciplined throughout that week. It was a good week of practice. And obviously sitting on the bus for 10, 11 hours getting there isn't isn't ideal, but once we got there, we we felt warm and yeah, we we took it to them for the first first bit, and then we ended up uh being a little bit laptidasical, which caught up to us and ended up making making it a little closer than it should have.

SPEAKER_02 40:25

So well, you know Lenore Ryan's gonna come back. Danny and I talked about where we were texting back and forth during the game. You know, Lenore Ryan is is gonna make a run. They're just too strong not to be to make it close.

SPEAKER_00 40:38

Absolutely. So we just try to keep our heads throughout throughout that little run they had, and um we ended up uh getting getting a goal, go ahead goal, and then then getting a dagger goal, which was which was nice to finish them off, especially.

SPEAKER_02 40:53

Well, as I recall, didn't you have the go-ahead goal?

SPEAKER_00 40:55

I did, I did.

SPEAKER_02 40:56

How did that feel? I mean, that at that time of the game, how did that feel?

SPEAKER_00 41:03

It felt good, but I mean, all kudos to uh to Ben Foster. He he got me the ball, drew this, drew the slide, and um, I just closed my eyes and tried to put it away.

SPEAKER_02 41:13

So well, if you can score like that closing your eyes, uh you can uh you're gonna have to teach that to a lot of other players, I guess.

SPEAKER_04 41:23

Yeah, that core that core group between um you know Ben Foster and Bill Ig and yourself, you guys got something going on. I love the way you guys share the rock. I like that. You know, I like that that there's just not one guy on you, Indy, that you can actually key in on. If if you key on on one guy, two more are gonna score. What do you think about that?

SPEAKER_00 41:46

Yeah, I mean, it's it's definitely good to have. We we've been playing that kind of system um through the past three years. I've been a part of the team. And I mean, like it, there's no there's no selfishness on this team, and that's what I love about it, right? Um, people are gonna have a big point night, some people might not other than the next games. That other person might have a big point night, and and that's what it is. Like, uh, we just try to stay disciplined, persistent throughout each and every game. And I mean, we just need to focus on playing a full 60 minutes, right? And that's that's our problem, it's always been our problem.

SPEAKER_04 42:22

Um, but yeah, I mean, it's I don't think it's much of a problem as you say it is, uh, Brian.

SPEAKER_02 42:30

Yeah, we've watched several of your games. I don't I don't see that. I mean, yeah, so like we just talked about, Lenore Ryan went on that run, but you know, you guys stayed, like you said, you stayed disciplined in that game.

SPEAKER_00 42:42

We are, we we're disciplined, and and that's one of the best things about this team, right? And um when we go down, we we fight, we fight hard to get back, but but when we go up, we get a little bit laxadaisical, and then other teams catch up. And I guess we like uh making our making our games a little closer than we we would like. But the parents on our team call us the heart attack hounds, so the heart attack hounds.

SPEAKER_04 43:09

I like that one. That's good. So let me ask you, uh Brian, um, what what brought you to Undie?

SPEAKER_00 43:15

How'd you get to Undie? So I've I'm a box across player, I've been playing box across my whole life. And in in ninth grade, I went to a private school, played rugby and hockey, and I just I wasn't really cut up for the private school life. Rugby.

SPEAKER_04 43:30

Rugby. Wow, okay. You know they don't wear any equipment in rugby, Kevin.

SPEAKER_00 43:35

I don't know if you're now in 10th grade. Um, I went to a school called Claremont in Victoria, and that's when I started actually playing field across was in 10th grade. And uh 11th grade, 12th grade, and then I got a couple couple of offers, and I actually committed to Queens of Charlotte and then decommitted um last minute, and then uh I got a hold of Well, coach, yeah, Coach Stocks got a hold of me and asked me to come on a official visit. So I did that. And when I got here, it was a dream come true. I felt at home. The guys were awesome. And Coach Stocks is a phenomenal guy too. And yeah, it's it's been awesome ever since.

SPEAKER_04 44:16

That's awesome. That's a great story. Let me ask you this. If I if I were a recruit and I was asking you, Brian, Rob, hey, tell me, tell me about you, Indy, man. Like, tell me what's it like. I'm thinking about coming there. What would you tell me?

SPEAKER_00 44:31

I mean, athletics in general here is just awesome. Like, we're we're one of the top-ranked schools in division two with all of athletics. Um, the school too is great academics, small classes, which really caught my eye because it's just you and the professor whenever you really want. And another thing was being so close to the city, too. The like the Colts, the Pacers. We we we go to games all the time, and we're always in the five-minute drive. So that's awesome. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 45:02

Indianapolis is a nice little city, actually. I really like that city. And it sounds like or it looks like if you look at your roster, that there's a fairly good pipeline coming from Canada to be on the lacrosse team. How many kids do you have from from Canada?

SPEAKER_00 45:16

I think about 14. Well, yeah, good chunk. Good chunk.

SPEAKER_04 45:21

Yeah, all of them box players, right? Yeah, exactly. See, those box players, they're good and tight, Kev, man. They're good and tight, they can get the ball off in different angles. And um, I think the most most of the Canadian players that I've seen have been outstanding players, especially because they come from that box, that box background. Would you agree, Brian?

SPEAKER_00 45:43

Oh, definitely. Yeah, it's a different skill set, and it um playing field across is just easy, it's easier to see the field, especially making having quick decisions and and whatnot. So I think box across players excel in in field across. Yeah, I was gonna ask you box? I'm sorry, Kev. I'm sorry, Kev.

SPEAKER_02 46:00

Go ahead. I'm sorry. Do you still play play box like in the summer or whatever?

SPEAKER_00 46:04

Yeah, so the past I got drafted by the WLA Shamrocks um two years ago. And unfortunately, the the past two years COVID hit, so I haven't really been playing. And it's been a dream of mine to play on that team for ever since since I was like three years old, going to those games and and watching those those guys play. And yeah, like thousands of fans, which is just it's like just watching it is just unreal. And I can't imagine playing in it. So hopefully this summer everything turns out and I get to finally play, but we'll we'll see what happens. COVID's covet in Canada right now is still still a thing.

SPEAKER_04 46:41

So oh wow, okay. Now let me ask you this. Um, what are some of your um what's some of the stuff that you like to do off the field? What do you do off the field when you put the stick down and you have no books in your hand and you're not at the library?

SPEAKER_02 46:59

What kind of that's all all of his time right there? Library, books, stick.

SPEAKER_04 47:04

There you go. Book stick.

SPEAKER_00 47:05

Now, what do you what do you like to do off the field? Well, depending on the season here, um like like in the summer or the fall, us roommates like to go golfing a lot, so we try to go once or twice a week. Um, but come winter time, it's more inside stuff. So so lots of video games, lots of movies and stuff. We we love to go go to downtown, um, yeah, go see pacer games, go see Colts games, and just try to stay active. Uh, I love being out and about, so there's not much adventure here in uh tropical Indiana. So um, yeah, just try to stay busy as much as possible. But lacrosse does take up a big chunk of our time here. So, and hey, I'm not complaining. I love the sport, so awesome.

SPEAKER_02 47:51

So, on that, Danny, you think he's ready for that lightning 10?

SPEAKER_04 47:56

I hope see. I think he is. I think he's gonna handle it like a champ. So, what we do in our spotlight, uh, Brian, is I'm just gonna rattle off 10 questions real quick and give me the quickest answer that you possibly can. All right, he's he's sweating, don't sweat, don't sweat. It's all good, kid. It's all good. Hey, listen, question number one: what was the first sport that you picked up? Uh hockey, hockey. Great. How'd you get started in lacrosse? Uh, older brothers, actually.

SPEAKER_00 48:31

Wow, all right.

SPEAKER_02 48:33

How many older brothers? I'm I'm I'm doing the corollary here.

SPEAKER_00 48:36

Two older brothers and one older sister, so I'm the baby.

SPEAKER_04 48:39

You're the baby of the bunch. All right, okay, cool. Who was or is your biggest influence in in lacrosse and why?

SPEAKER_00 48:49

Um I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 48:52

I I've had a lot of uh not one guy, not one guy that you're like, wow, I'd love to be, you know, or maybe a coach that inspired you, or I'd say Colin Doyle.

SPEAKER_00 49:03

He was um captain of the Toronto Rock for as long as I can remember watching him. So I've tried to try to pick up my game like his, but I mean, he uh yeah, he's something else. He's retired now.

SPEAKER_04 49:16

So okay. Next question. What kind of music do you listen to? Is it rap? Is it pop?

SPEAKER_00 49:22

Or honestly, I listen to everything. I listen to rap, country, pop. Uh, been listening to a lot of alternative lately. So yeah, everything.

SPEAKER_04 49:31

I like alternative myself. What was the last song you listened to? Uh, Feathered Indians by Tyler Childers. Oh, wow, cool.

SPEAKER_02 49:40

You'll have to look that one up, Danny.

SPEAKER_04 49:42

All right, ready for this one? This one's always a fun one. Give us your best impression of coach, coach, figure it out. Figure it out.

SPEAKER_00 49:52

That's what he says.

SPEAKER_03 49:53

Yeah, that's great. Just figure it out, huh? Okay, short, sweet, and to the point. Just figure it out.

SPEAKER_04 50:03

Yeah, that's a great impression, Brian. Okay, ready for this one? Who's the funniest guy on the team? Who's the funniest guy?

SPEAKER_00 50:11

Well, besides myself, I'd have to say uh Sam Arson.

SPEAKER_04 50:18

Boy, what's so funny about him? He's just a funny guy.

SPEAKER_00 50:20

Yeah, he's just all around. Like that guy can make me laugh 24-7. He's okay. Anything he says, like that's the thing. Like, if he's serious, I can't even take him. I can't even take him seriously.

SPEAKER_04 50:31

Okay. Sam gets a shout-out on the podcast. All right. Who's the most athletic guy on the team? All around athlete. Like, who's the best all-around athlete on the team?

SPEAKER_00 50:45

Uh, I'd say either Kyle Bosch or Drew Billig.

SPEAKER_04 50:49

Okay. All right. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 50:51

I'll have to give them a shout out too.

SPEAKER_04 50:52

There you go. Yeah, the boys that share the rock. You definitely want to keep them on your good side. Um tell us the thing about you, Indy, that you'll miss most after graduation.

SPEAKER_00 51:09

Honestly, that's a that's a tough one. I I probably the team. I mean, we're we're so close, uh, like as a team, yeah. And we've been through so much together, so much adversity. And yeah, uh yeah, definitely the team, actually.

SPEAKER_04 51:25

Wow, great. And last question: what's your plan after graduation?

SPEAKER_00 51:30

Um, I'm declaring for the NLL draft draft next season, and then um gonna move back home to Victoria and hopefully start a job in finance.

SPEAKER_04 51:41

Oh, good for you. I hope that uh everything really works out for you. I think it will. Appreciate it. That was good. You did great, Brian. Got a big smile on. He's like, that's it as hard as I thought.

SPEAKER_02 51:52

These guys are throwing softballs at me. Well, Brian, I have to say it was great having you on. I'm happy that we actually got you on, especially right after the Lenore Ryan game, and get your your thoughts and insights on that. And we wish you and the team all the best of luck throughout the season. We think you indie is gonna keep going up. I would not doubt that you're you make it to something like the final four, if not the the the final this year.

SPEAKER_00 52:21

That's the plan. I appreciate you guys. Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 52:24

Uh Brian Rob, everybody from uh Undie Greyhounds, top dog midfielder there, kid. And you're playing real well so far, and you've had a great, great career so far at Undie. And um, all of us here at uh in the crease wish you nothing but the best and great success this season.

SPEAKER_00 52:43

Thank you guys. Thank you for having me too, and thank you for uh doing your part on growing division two lacrosse. I I think what you guys are doing is awesome.

SPEAKER_04 52:51

So well, thank you for that. We appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 52:54

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 52:56

So, Danny, the first week did not disappoint. And I'm sure uh it's only gonna get better from here.

SPEAKER_04 53:06

Oh, that was a great first week. I mean, even Coach Cotter just said, you know, what what a game, you know, what everybody the the Lewis and and and what limestone did and and and you know you indie going in between the bricks down in LR and and coming home with a win. That's uh that's a big first week in in Division II lacrosse. That's huge. And again, if there's any indication of what the season's gonna be like, we're in for a good season, and I'm excited for it. What a hell, what a hell of a first week, you know.

SPEAKER_02 53:40

Uh and once again, it's just proving what we've been saying all the time and why we're doing this podcast. Uh D two lacrosse is great, lacrosse. So it's legit, it's legit. And if you live near a D2 team and they have a home game, instead of watching ESPN Plus or ACC network for a D1 game, you can record that. Go to the game live. If you remember that what they had at um Flatle and Be Riddle. Oh, yeah, yeah. The crowd, 800 people. That must have been phenomenal. So get out there and watch a game. I hope everyone enjoys the games because right now, this is a wrap for In the Creek with Danny and Kevin. That's a wrap,