Game Time - A look back at week 1 and a preview of Week 2 of the 2025 season

Intro

SPEAKER_01 1:40

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 the Jimmy Fallon of D2 Lacrosse podcast, Danny Moran. Hey, Danny.

SPEAKER_04 1:57

Kevin, I don't even know where you're going with this one, my friend.

SPEAKER_01 2:01

Look at you are like the show host extraordinaire. In our day, we'd be saying Johnny Carson, right? I had to go Jimmy Fallon, a little bit newer. And why? Because tonight we have a guest analyst. Do you want to introduce the guest analyst?

SPEAKER_04 2:16

I'd be delighted to introduce our guest analyst. Tonight, folks, for the first guest analyst of 2025, we have the former Lees McCray head coach Bradley Dunn, who is now the assistant AD. He's like the prince, the pauper, the king. He's got all kinds of hats going on there at Lees McCrae. Ladies and gentlemen, bringing him in for the guest analyst, Mr. Bradley Dunn.

SPEAKER_00 2:42

Hey guys, I appreciate that. That means a lot. I'm so excited to be back on with you guys. It's it's been a couple of years, but you know, I'm uh you know an avid, avid fan of you guys, and I love uh love the podcast. Look forward to every Thursday when it rolls out. So honored, very honored to be back on with you guys.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

Oh, we're excited to have you, coach, without a doubt. Like you said, it's been a while. You were like our fifth ever interview on the podcast, first Conference Carolina coach we had on. So catch us up a little bit. Let the fans know what you've been doing. I know they know at Lees McCrae, but you I know you left for a little bit, but I think you know you're back at Lees McCrae, as Danny was saying.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

Yeah, that's right. I um I am fortunate enough to uh to be brought back into the to the fold here in in Banner Elk. Um I uh am currently in the role of assistant athletic director and director of compliance. Um so I get to oversee all of our varsity and club sports. Um with my banking background, I kind of handle the finances, but I also do all the uh all the the dirty work, all the compliance work to to get these uh young men and young women eligible and keep them eligible and make sure they're going to class and and meeting the GPA requirements and all the all this the the back end work that most people don't see, but you know, I love it. I love it. I took a passion to it when I was the head coach, and uh it was just a tremendous fit and a great opportunity for me to get back in uh back in old Bobcat land.

SPEAKER_04 4:18

I'm excited for you. I'm excited for the Bobcats because when you let when you came on the first time, coach, I gotta admit, we were pretty, we were pretty pumped, Kevin and I, after it was like, wow, what a great guy. You know, he he offered us to come and stay at his parents' Airbnb and all this stuff going on. And I was like, wow, the passion, your the background was all green and gold in your back. I was it was it was uh pretty impressive, Coach. And I'm so glad that you came on tonight. And uh we're gonna talk about some G2 ball and DT games this week.

SPEAKER_00 4:51

I love it. I love it. Let's get to

Week in Review

SPEAKER_00 4:53

it.

SPEAKER_01 4:53

All right, well, let's get into the week in review. I'll start off with my first note. I think several teams this week were flexing their muscles in this first week of the season. What do you think, coach?

SPEAKER_00 5:07

Yeah, yeah, I would uh I would completely agree with that. Some of these uh some of these numbers that you uh that you're looking at when you're scrolling through, I mean, there are some high octane offenses and in division two, which is you know, as a former defensive guy, it kind of makes me cringe a little bit, but as a fan, man, it's it's fun to watch them uh, as Danny likes to say, put the biscuit in the basket.

SPEAKER_04 5:31

That's right, man. That's right.

SPEAKER_01 5:34

All right, well, let's get started. Um, we'll go down the list I have it. If there's any other games you guys want to talk about, let's do it. The first that we talked about last week was Anderson versus Young Harris. This was one that I thought, you know, I had Young Harris as a as a dark horse, thought maybe they could do something. This is Anderson, they flexed their muscles. The final was 27 to 4, and it was 7-1 after one. I mean, young Harris just could not match up with this team.

SPEAKER_00 6:04

Yeah, you know, um as a uh obviously as a Conference Carolina homer, and you know, young Harris being fairly new to our conference here. I was I was hoping we'd uh hoping we'd show a little bit well, but I'll tell you what, uh Coach uh Coach uh Al down there in uh Anderson is he's got a bumping. He has it bumping. I remember when he first got hired and reached out to me. We uh we tried to get a scrimmage set up and we just couldn't couldn't figure out the dates. But um I tremendous respect for what uh what he's building down there. Um I mean you're looking over some of these 19 different goal scorers, um Ryan Bitterman and Matt Morganroth, both with three. Um Braden Bushnow, a kid that uh comes from the Myrtle Beach area, hanging two on him. Um and I know you uh the big question was who's gonna be their goalie? And you know, it looks like their grad transfer uh Nate Pepe from uh from BSC D3 down in uh where's that uh Alabama really stepped in and showed really, really well. So um, and then of course their tradition of of hot of a great face-off play. Um Aiden Dixon, AJ Rush. I mean, just uh if you're playing make it take it, you know, what are you gonna do? What are you gonna do? So, you know, kudos to the Trojans. Um completely agree with you. I think Young Harris still is doing uh is gonna do amazing things this year. Um you just never know. You never know what you're walking into first game of the year. Nobody really has any film out there. Um, so you're kind of you're kind of shooting in the dark and and hoping that you've prepared well. And and I know that the uh the mountain lions are gonna they're gonna write the shit. They're gonna learn from this one, and they're still gonna be they're gonna be right there at the end.

SPEAKER_04 7:54

Well, for young Harris, Coleman Connolly had two goals. He had a good game. He was out there, you know, out there balling and trying to put that biscuit in the basket for young Harris, but they were just completely overwhelmed in this game. Just it's we just were not ready for Anderson. You know what was um interesting? The freshman, uh Brody Deutsch, one goal, five assists in this first game. That's a great game for a freshman. You know where he's from, Kev? Where? Wellington, North Carolina. So and Anderson big over uh young Harris, 27-4.

SPEAKER_01 8:29

Yeah, I'll tell you the team stats, I think, told it for me. Shot differential. Anderson had 56, Young Harris 26. Faceoffs. You talked about it, coach. Anderson with 25 to young Harris nine, and then ground balls were 55 to 26 in Anderson's favor. I mean, that just tells the story right there of how how they just dominated the whole game. Yeah. All right, let's move on. This was our game of the week, Danny. Florida Southern versus Limestone. It ended up not as close as we thought. 14-8 with limestone in the victory column. This was a battle in the first half, but limestone really opened it up in the second, and the mox really had no answer. You know, as expected, I think Mikey Simone played well. Jacob Chiz did great. The names that you would kind of see, but Limestone just had too much firepower and strong D, especially in the third quarter, to kind of like just ice it.

SPEAKER_04 9:36

Yeah, Chiz Chiz did pretty well that they thought 15 for 24 for 63 percent, but that's not all everything sometimes, you know what I mean, when you play in a team like Limestone. Um I thought, you know, honestly, to be to be honest with you, I didn't think either team played a clean game.

SPEAKER_01 9:56

No, I agree.

SPEAKER_04 9:58

You know, I think it's those first game, a lot, you know, some unforced errors and some turnovers, maybe trying to get to a double team and getting the ball knocked out, and just maybe not playing as sharp as you'd like to play. I think both teams would would probably say we could we could play better.

SPEAKER_01 10:15

Yeah, I agree. I don't know, Coach, what you saw, but I saw a lot of it interesting, it kind of flipped. Like I saw a lot of sloppy passing by limestone in the first quarter and into the second quarter. They seem to kind of settle that down. And then the mocks in the second half were were having the kind of the sloppy game.

SPEAKER_00 10:34

Yeah, yeah, it was kind of interesting how how they sort of flip-flopped, like you said. Um, I mean, uh Limestone's just one of those programs that if they're having a bad day, they can write the ship real easily. You know, they they're just so uber talented that you know it just takes that one little, you know, whether it's a a timeout speech by Coach Storrier or or what have you, um, you know, they can write the ship real quick. And um, I I think you saw that in the second half. Um, you know, stat that stood out to me the clears, you know, limestone 26 for 27. I mean, you would expect that. Florida Southern, um, 17 for 23. Uh Coach Ward, you know, that's something that he takes he he's the boys through the work to uh to clean up those stats because you know he's in uh again situations and yeah, the other thing that I saw in this was man up, Florida Southern went 0 for 4, which made a little bit of a difference from them, too.

SPEAKER_01 11:40

I think you're right with the clears coach. That also was an issue. And they tried to come back at the end, you know, they got it to 14-8 with 254 less, but that you just that's tough to close. Six goals in in three minutes is practically impossible. So you got like limestone. Go ahead, Dan.

SPEAKER_04 11:58

It was the it was the third quarter, really, because limestone just outscored him five nothing. It was a really close game for three quarters.

SPEAKER_01 12:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 12:06

One quarter where limestone went, you know, five, you know, outscored him five zips. So that was the big difference. And like Coach Dunn said, they're uber talented, man. There's you know, kids for days at limestone and they're well coached. And I I have them as my number one, Kev, you know, and there's a reason for that. But I think again, I don't think each team played a clean game, you know. I think both coaches would tell you that.

SPEAKER_01 12:35

Yeah, I agree. And but you know, you look at it and you talked about it. They and so did Coach, right? They've they're just so deep. And you look at the scoring. Mike McGarry with three goals, three assists, Zach Terry with three goals, one assist. Austin Lamero had four goals, no assists. He I think he had a hat trick in like the first quarter, or very close to that.

SPEAKER_04 12:56

Good.

SPEAKER_01 12:56

Yeah. Carter Korzinski had four goals, and then their new goalie, Colin Selters, 16 saves. And then on the other on the defensive side, Ryan Morrison, four ground balls, one cost turnover, and Dylan Witt with three ground balls, one cause turnover. That's a total team effort there.

SPEAKER_00 13:14

I was just gonna say, I mean, that's that's that's limestone in a nutshell right there. You know, that's why they you know they've won fat uh five national titles, you know. I mean, end to end, they you know, they don't have very many holes. They never have, and they and then they never will. And um, you know, I know they're coming up, they got a big one here uh this Friday against UND, where they're actually celebrating their uh their 25th, uh, well, it's the 25th anniversary of their first national title, that 2000 team. Um, and that I tell you what, you know, I didn't play that year. I saw the remnants of that uh the following year uh when I started at Lise McRae. Um 2000 team was averaging 19 goals a game and only giving up six. I mean, you want to talk about just dominant, you know, and that's that's the foundation of that program, you know, and they've been doing it ever since. So um kudos to those uh to those 2000 national champions. Uh and I know they're gonna have a great time down in uh down in Gaffney this uh this Friday watching uh watching this this year's team host UND.

SPEAKER_04 14:22

Yeah, uh Devin Spoker's on that team. He was on the podcast, and uh he told me he's going down. We're gonna have him as a guest analyst later on in the season. Hey, but you know what? Florida Southern's a good team, man.

SPEAKER_01 14:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 14:34

They're a good squad, you know, and they're deep too. Uh Braden Robe shot had two, Nolan Ty had two, Jacob Chiz even had one, ran on start, you know. So they got players there. And you know what? Florida Southern's in for another game next week because Wingate travels, Wingate travels down there to face him. So and uh Wingate might be looking for a little revenge for that one goal loss from last year that most probably kept him out the end at NCAAs. So yeah, I exactly should be interesting.

SPEAKER_01 15:05

Yeah, all right, let's move on. The next one I had on my list, Danny. I don't know if you saw any of this. I watched a little bit of it. Coker versus Lander. They win 20-4, Danny. It was eight, three at half, lander. You say, okay, you know, maybe Coker has a chance. Look at they were playing at Coker. We talked about this, Danny. I thought this game was gonna be close. It was all lander in the second half. Total domination. 8-3 at half, final score 20-4. They held him to one goal in that whole second half. I think the key stat with this one was extra man. Lander went six for eight. Coker only went one for six. Now, even if they got all that six, they wouldn't make up that time. But you can just imagine, first of all, eight chances at it, and you get six of them, that just kind of deflates your your team all the time, you know. Oh yeah. So, you know, it it was just amazing. And then like the production, the offensive production, Zane Dalpy, three goals, four assists, Carter Wilcox, six goals, two assists. Yeah. I mean, uh, it was just crazy. I don't coach, did you get to watch any of that game or see it?

SPEAKER_00 16:23

Or I I I was following the uh the updates, watching the uh the stats on that one. Um, and man, oh man, like you said, that first half, okay, eight three at half. That's you know, we're still in it. And then you know, just to jump out, I think it was seven-one in the third quarter and five-nothing in the third. I mean, Lander just kicked it into gear. They absolutely kicked it into gear. I think they shook off their bus legs, you know, from traveling all the way across the state. And oh man, they whoo, those bear cats can uh they can put it on you and they can put it on you hard.

SPEAKER_01 16:58

You know, Danny, we were wondering what they would look like with all their kind of a different look, right? I mean, we talked about Zane Delphi, he's probably the one we know from last year, but the heels seem to not even have missed a beat.

SPEAKER_04 17:12

Well, it's early. It's early. It's early. I'm not put throwing all my eggs into any baskets just yet. I want to see more of these teams. A lot of these teams have a lot of turnover, you know. So we gotta see where they're going. And then uh so we know that landers are a good team, I mean. Yeah, and they've been good the last three years. They've really been a great team, you know. They're they're ranked, and uh let's go. We'll see what happens next week, though.

SPEAKER_01 17:43

I yeah, I agree. I agree. Okay, let's move on. This was kind of this was a new team against a fairly new team. Virginia State against Emery and Henry. Virginia State pulls it out at 14 to 6, and Danny, it kind of went the way you and I thought it would, and we talked about it, right? First of all, you both we both thought Virginia State would win. They came out pretty quickly. They scored the first five goals before Dakota Hawkins scores the first goal ever for the Wasps to make it five to one.

SPEAKER_05 18:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:19

So good for him. He had two goals on the day, which is awesome. But Dakota Hawkins in the record books for Emory and Henry. Once again, another game, 7-4 at half with Virginia State up. So Emory and Henry was hanging with them in the in that first half. But like we thought like we wondered, did would they have the legs and the depth? I mean, they had a they have a small team about 18 to 20. Virginia State has about 30, and that's where it started to fall apart. Virginia State outscores Emory Henry 4-0 in the third, and that really closed it out. Let me call Amy Laughlin have four goals, two assists.

SPEAKER_04 18:59

There you go. He's one of the kids I told you to watch for this year.

SPEAKER_01 19:03

Yeah, yeah, he had a game. Uh get this. Donovan Elmore, two goals, two assists, four ground balls, one cost turnover. That's a game. Yeah. He's a big dude. I I do not remember him from last year, but I saw him on the on the screen, and I'm like, man, that guy is big. So yeah, they had a great game. I'll tell you, the other thing was the Wasps goalie, Mason Buttery. He had some really nice saves for his first game. He had 15 saves on the day for a 52% save percentage, Danny. Pretty good. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 19:41

He faced a lot of shots, though, I bet.

SPEAKER_01 19:43

Did you catch any of that game, Coach?

SPEAKER_00 19:45

Yeah, Mason did uh Mason did a great job in that game. Um, you know, in starting a program, uh, you know, small numbers, having consistency in the uh in the cage. Just it's absolutely huge. You know. Um they have a they have a few more, uh, 18 versus you know, my first year at Lees McRae when we only had 12. But I was fortunate enough to have you know a rock solid keeper who had you know seasoned lacrosse player who you know was able to keep his head. And you know, you guys know how much even when the ball's on the other end of the field in the offensive zone, that goalie is still staying engaged and you know, talking to his defense and um having having a solid keeper um that can make up for you know a little bit of the uh a little bit of the leg issues that you might run into, you know, keeping the keeping the boys fired up. But um, you know, Coach Ripple's gonna do some some great things there at Emran Henry. Beautiful facility. I know you guys talked to him when you had him on the pod um a while back. And you know, I drive up and down 81 frequently and you know, driving right past it, seeing, you know, seeing it get built. It's it's it's going to be a tremendous, tremendous facility. Um and I I think you know, give them give them some time, give them some time to build a build a quality program. Obviously, they're in the they're in the SAC. So, you know, I give a little bit of a gauntlet to deal with year in and year out. But I tell you what, you know, I love seeing the love seeing the game grow in in Southwest Virginia. That's where I got my head start, uh, or my first start as a as a coach, um, actually in uh in old Dakota Hawkins uh hometown of Salem. Um that's where I I first started coaching, so it was great seeing uh a little Southwest love there, Southwest Virginia love. Um so kudos to him. But yeah, got a got a uh got my eye on Coach Ruppel down there at Emory and Henry or up there from us, um, because I think he's gonna do some really good things.

SPEAKER_01 21:46

I agree. I agree with you. I I do too. I you know, it was for your first game ever in division two as an NCAA uh varsity team to be at halftime and only be down. Three goals. That's pretty damn good. So and uh I think one of the things that uh you know was the difference, and I it's just you know, they're young. They they it was the shots. Totals those shot totals kind of tell the story. It was 49 to 28 in favor of Virginia State. And that will tell you that you know, they're they're a young team that's still trying to to get their chemistry together, so they had some turnovers. They, you know, the the defense for uh Virginia State was a little more stout, um, be able to stop them from being able to shoot. Like obviously, like I said, a lot of turnovers. But it was a good game to watch, and it was good to see Virginia State in their second second season really start to to gel themselves as a program. So it was it was a great game to watch. Now, let's turn to Danny, the game that you thought was gonna be the barn burner. Meryville against Lenore Ryan. I was right. You were right, and I was right. I said that I know I had Maryville at 10 and Lenore Ryan at nine in my top 20. And I asked last week, would this be as close as I thought? Was I a soothsayer or a knucklehead? And luckily, I'm looking more like a soothsayer than a knucklehead, at least on this game.

SPEAKER_04 23:27

Coach, did you watch this game, Coach?

SPEAKER_00 23:30

I I got again another one I got I got pieces of. Um, you know, them playing out right outside of Nashville over there, um, in the in the central time zone kind of kind of threw me off for a second. But no, you know, I anytime you get an opportunity to watch uh Coach Paradine and the LR Bears, I mean, you have to that's must-see TV. Um, I mean, such a strong, strong program. And um, I know the big talk last week amongst you guys was the 32 new uh new players uh for LR, but I tell you what, you know, some of the some of the old faces stood up and Donovan Powell, Evan Voss, Robert Walker. I mean, these are yeah, these are guys that are that are bears through and through. And you know, they uh they led the uh they led that program to a heck of a heck of a win. Anytime you get an overtime, especially week one, I mean, that just that just gets the juices flowing for the uh for the season as a whole.

unknown 24:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:27

Yeah, 13-12 final. Go ahead, Danny. Oh, go ahead. Go ahead, go. Yeah, 13-12 final in overtime. It was 7-5 at half, and then Lenore Ryan goes up by 2, 9-5, and the Saints come storming back and tie it 9-9. They go ahead 10-9 with 1259 left, and then it was just back and forth, like you called it, Danny. It was a true barn burner. These teams unbelievable hustle on both sides, and you know, great checking. It was just it was kind of a scrappy game. I mean, they were going after each other, it was aggressive.

SPEAKER_04 25:08

Yeah, I I did watch this game, Kev. I asked you for the link. I was looking all over for it. I couldn't find it. Finally, you gave me the link, so I watched it again. First game of the season, and you know, in those first one or two games, I don't think teams play as cleanly as they like. Yeah, I don't think LR played a clean game, and I don't think Maryville played a clean game. I think they're both better teams, but that was a great matchup. They matched up well size, speed, athleticism, type of players, type of ball. Maryville likes to move the ball, and you know, you know, LR, they just they just move the ball all over the place. Um good defense on both teams. I felt Meryville's D played really well for pressing out and forcing guys to make decisions early. Um, I felt that I think I felt that LR was like forcing some shots early in the shot clock when they, you know, maybe one more, one more, one more. Maybe get that better look. Um I noticed that, you know, just for some reason, anytime a ball hits a pipe in a Lenore line game, it always winds up with a Lenore line stick at the end. That rebound always winds up in a ball stick. It's amazing. It's like a the ball's a magnet. So there was a couple of uh couple of pipes, you know, that that fell into Lenore line's stick like like usual. But um pretty pretty kind of evenly matched game, if you ask me.

SPEAKER_01 26:51

Yeah, I totally agree. I totally agree. I mean I it was just uh you you said it right. It was Merryville, uh, in my opinion, is at uh a much higher level than they were a few years ago. When they can stand toe-to-toe with Lenore Ryan, and yeah, they you said it, coach, like we're looking at how how are they going to uh uh integrate 32 new players, and yet they're they're stalwarts, and you mentioned them, right? Powell, Voss, Walker for the Lenora Rhine Bears, and they come out and they are they they just balled out. And then you got Matthew Mancini, who was at 81% face-off wins for that game. And still Maryville stayed with them toe to toe. It was just a great game.

SPEAKER_00 27:36

Yeah, that was a that was uh that was a great lacrosse game. Um, it would not at all surprise me to see see these two matching up again and uh and maybe even a first round N CAA tournament game. I mean, yeah, what they're building there over in Maryville is something really, really special. Um just mark it down athletes all over the field.

SPEAKER_04 28:00

Absolutely, 100%. Yeah, we will mark that down. That we gotta mark that down, Coach Don is calling for uh Maryville OR in the in the NCAA first round. Oh, you know what? It wouldn't surprise me either.

SPEAKER_01 28:14

Nope, nope, it wouldn't.

SPEAKER_04 28:16

You know what? I just I think Maryville's a team that just they're IQ, they they they play the game right. You know what I mean? They don't make a lot of mistakes on the on, you know, they just don't make a lot of mistakes. They're just a well-coached team. Kids can play. Again, I don't think either team played a super clean game. You know, there were some errand passes here and there that normally either team probably wouldn't make. And but again, it's those first game, those first game jitters, getting uh getting the bugs out, working the box for the first time in a real game, you know, getting guys in and out. So um I called a barn burner, and we got our first overtime game of the of the year.

SPEAKER_01 28:58

It's awesome. All right, let's move on to the night game at Flagler under the lights. I loved it. Flagler against Emory Riddle. Flagler pulls it out 13-8. This was another game where there were some unforced errors by the Eagles in the first, but they kept it close at first. It was tied to two, and then Flagler just went on a run. 10 unanswered goals to make it uh 12-2 and then it was 12-3 at half because uh Emmy Riddle got one goal. I'll tell you, Flagler, they were sniping from the outside in that first half until they actually uh Coach Jez uh changed goalies. He had Carter Grosinger in there, he got uh 10 goals against, they put in Reed Kerr. He had a little bit better night. I think their defense kind of stabilized a little bit better in the second half and played a little bit better. They did not even have the ball that much on offense in that first half because of a lot of their unforced errors and and missed passes that you know in the middle of the field where Flagler would get the ball back and then they'd score, and then Flagler could get um the face off. So it was just a tough first half uh for Emory Riddle. They kind of pulled it through in the second half and start them, they went on a five-goal run. But the problem is you know, Flagler only scored one in the second half, but Emory Riddle did not could not do what Flagler did, which was score in bunches. They scored methodically in that second half, but that was just way too much to uh to make up. And and in the end, it was 13-8 game.

SPEAKER_00 30:54

Yeah, this one was uh, you know, Coach Duncan down there at uh down there at Flagler. Uh he's uh he's a beauty. I mean, he is just he's such a great coach, such a great mind to the game. Um to see to see him match up against Coach Jez, who's a a legend, a legend of Division II Lacrosse. Man, this was this was an exciting matchup. Um you know the first half, the first half, you're looking at, you know, total shots, Flagler was 29 to Emory Riddles nine. Um you know, they just they came out fast, but whether it's being on their home turf, you know, their home run in front of in front of the uh in front of their fans at night, you know, maybe a little extra juice there, got them rolling. But like you said, that uh that 10-goal run, those are those are hard to come back from. That's hard to come back from. But you know, kudos to uh kudos to the uh Emory Riddle Eagles. You know, they you know they fought hard, um, still still punching there in the uh fourth quarter. Um put up 17 shots in the fourth quarter. So, you know, as as a fellow coach, I'm looking at that as you know, hey, you know what? These guys are never gonna give up. They're never gonna give up. They're gonna keep punching. And um, yeah, I think they're gonna again, they're gonna do great things. They're gonna do great things down there in Daytona. And um, you know, I think the South is is very, very lucky to have uh two coaches of this caliber.

SPEAKER_04 32:22

I would 100% agree with that. And you know what? Emily Riddle outscored Flagler five to one in the second half. Yeah, so like as a coach, you're saying, well, okay, all right, we had a little bit of a letdown in that you know, that little 10-score run between the first and second period. But hey, in that second half, we showed up, you know, held them to one goal. They gotta be happy about that. So again, I think Coach Duncan's a great coach. I I have Flagler in my top, well, I didn't have him in my top 20, but they could be, you know, they really could be this year. I think they're gonna get ranked this year. That's that's I think they are.

SPEAKER_01 33:02

I agree. I agree. They they played like it in that first half, they just came out ablazing. All right, those are the games I had on my list. I know we have not talked about Danny, the game that you actually saw in person. Do you want to kind of kick us off with that one?

SPEAKER_04 33:18

Got to see Coach John Grant Jr. and uh his initiation into Division II and came down to Wingate. And uh, I felt bad for Coach. I really did. I really did. The team has only been uh halfway decimated because of Hurricane Haleen. Um they've only had like really eight practices that they could get out on the field and play. They've had a couple of injuries. Kevin, I felt bad for them. I really did. And and and I'll I'll say one thing, they played their asses off. They never gave up. And Coach should be happy about that because they were still fighting for ground balls and still going out in checks and just playing off, you know. But it looked pretty good, man. I mean, it's wingate. They're deep, they're strong, they're fast, they're talented, you know. It was uh just a tough day for Coach Grant, you know. Well, we talked about he was gonna face something like that. But you know what? I honestly felt bad. I was like, man, I know the pedigree that this man has, and I know he wants to hit the trail blazing, and you know, and he's just been hit with right hook and uppercuts ever since he got to to to uh Louis McCray. So I mean smaller after I think they only trust 22 or 23. Um, you know, it's tough to go against a team like Wingate with that kind of numbers, but again, they were coached, you know, for every minute of every quarter of that game, they were coached. You know, and they did some good things, man. They got they got winged to get, you know, but they had a couple of man-ups, you know, and then and and they had a couple of kids that put the biscuit in the basket for Reeves McRae, but again, small roster, lot going on up there, you know, in Banner Elk. So Wingate looked good, you know. I just don't have to say much about it, except I really felt bad for Coach. I really did.

SPEAKER_01 35:23

Coach, I'm sure you watched the game.

SPEAKER_00 35:25

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. This is uh Yeah. Um listen, you know, we we knew what we were getting ourselves into, and I and I still say we because I feel like I'm still a part of it. Uh I love it. Yeah, running against, you know, running against the Bulldogs. And um I think this was this is one of those games, and and Coach Grant and I, you know, talked in in depth about this ever since he set his schedule of, you know, listen, these these are your benchmark games, these are the ones that set the precedent for what you want this program to be under your tutelage in one, two, three years from now. Um, so for you know, all of uh all of Coach Grant's freshmen that uh that were you know that he brought in and the ones that you know were might not have been recruited by him, but you know, our our freshmen on the roster now, you know, they got a taste. They got a taste, they got to see what you know a very talented Division II lacrosse team looks like live and in person. And I think those are those are invaluable. Um, those opportunities to to see that um in person is is is invaluable. And I can I can tell you, I right before we jumped on here, I I was sitting out watching, watching our practice, and you know, the boys are still buzzing. You know, there's no there's no heads down, there's no oh woe is me. I mean they're they're they're buzzing, they're ready. You know, I think they learned a lot from this, and they are they are fired up for uh for this coming Saturday when uh when we kick it off at home. So um I'm proud of I'm proud of the effort you know they they put in. They fought hard. They fought hard. It's just you know, sometimes it's uh it's hard to take a knife to a gun fight or a yeah, a knife to a gun fight, right?

SPEAKER_04 37:12

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Coach, like I said, I mean, I think they should hold their heads up high. They never gave up, they just kept fighting. I mean, it was the fourth quarter, they were down like a lot by that point, and they were still fighting for ground balls and checking hard and putting bodies on the ground. I mean, they were playing. So lot to look forward to in Lee's McCray, I think. I think the future's gonna be bright there.

SPEAKER_01 37:37

Yeah, yeah, I'd agree. I mean, that let's just give them time, see how they do. I'm sure we'll be talking about them, uh, their next game, and when we get to our games to watch this week. But I've got one thing before we get there, I want to throw at you guys. Um, I saw this come out from Southern Fried Lacks on social media, and it was comparing the Southern teams in the first week to a fried chicken menu rating. Okay, and I want to I'll I'll give you the definitions and the teams, and I want to know if you guys agree. Okay, you ready to go? All right, here we go. First uh menu rating is full plate, which defined as as advertised and as expected. Mm-mm. Good. The teams on this list are Limestone, Tampa, Lenore Rhine, Maryville, UND, and Wingate.

SPEAKER_04 38:32

I think that's all of those teams.

SPEAKER_01 38:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 38:36

Yeah, I guess I would.

SPEAKER_01 38:37

Yeah. Yeah. I saw a little of Tampa play against Florida Tech. Florida Tech, you know, was close to 5'4 at halftime. But I'll tell you, Danny and Coach, Tampa looks good. They are fast, they got a lot of speed like they usually do, and they they they rotate that ball, they spin that ball. So I would agree with all those. Okay, here's the next one. This is uh this menu item is called Pretty Sweet. Showed us something pretty tasty, is the definition. And the teams in this one are Anderson, Lander, Flagler, Belmont Abbey, Florida Southern, and North Greenville. I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 39:19

What do you think, Coach?

SPEAKER_00 39:22

Yeah, you know, I mean, I I think that's uh I think that's I think that's a good place to put those teams. You know, they're uh you got some staples in there. Belmont's always, you know, uh upper echelon in in the conference. And obviously what uh what Anderson did and um Lander, I mean, man, you know, that's yeah. Is that is that gonna be sustainable though? Is that gonna be sustainable throughout you know a 16-17 game season? So I wouldn't quite say mm-mm delicious, but uh man, that that that could be it could turn into something pretty sweet, I would say. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_04 39:57

Yeah, I agree, I agree, coach. Well said, well said.

SPEAKER_01 40:01

Okay, here's the next one. Another helpin. This is defined as climbing the ladder and putting pieces together. The teams in the air are Cataba, Montevallo, Emmanuel, Mars Hill, and Virginia State.

SPEAKER_04 40:16

Hmm. I don't know. What do you think, Coach?

SPEAKER_00 40:20

Yeah, I love uh I love seeing those uh the Trojans of Virginia State in that in that category. You know, give uh give them their uh give them their flowers, man. To come out and you know win their first game of the season, you know, how exciting that must be for a for a young program, a building program with their you know, with their roster growth and um you know their proximity to to hotbed areas, you know. I mean, they're really not that far from the you know the the DC Baltimore area, uh just a you know quick shot down 95. I mean, great things, great things could be built there. Um so I I'm glad they're getting their flowers for sure.

SPEAKER_04 41:02

Manual getting a little shout out in there too.

SPEAKER_01 41:05

Yeah, well, you know, they Monteval took care of them, but Manual did put up 15. They lost 24-15, but I don't remember the last time I saw Manuel put put up that many goals. Especially against the team against Montevallo.

SPEAKER_04 41:20

That's a good point, Cub.

SPEAKER_01 41:23

So, yeah, I think it's a pretty good list. I think I think uh Southern Fried Lacks has done a good job so far. Let's go to the next one. Side of beans defined as good, but needs something more. Teams here are Florida Tech, Emory Riddle, Lincoln Memorial, and Lise McCrae is in there, Coach. So what do you think about that?

SPEAKER_00 41:43

Yeah, um I you know I was impressed with Florida Tech, I'll be honest. Yeah, you know, um you know, Tampa and you know, Coach Clark down there, they're a machine. I mean, just an absolute machine. Um, so for you know, for Florida Tech to hang in there first game of the season, again, um, you know, I know they're conference opponents, so they they're pretty familiar with each other, but you you never, especially with a team like Tampa that loves to bring in uh transfers and um you never really know what you're getting yourself into. And for them to, you know, to I I I would say go toe-to-toe, you know, with with the big boy. Um, you know, I I I I don't know. I might I might be uh I might I might be bumping them up if it if I uh if I were making this list. But I like it. Yeah, I this is this is great. You know, Southern fried laxes, they're a hoot. And um, yeah, I I think this is this is a lot of fun. I think hopefully they'll they'll keep this rolling throughout the year. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:43

We got one more category for you. It's called Eat More Chicken. This one is defined as left a lot of meat on the bone. And the teams in this category are Coker, Young Harris, Chuan, Shorter, and Emory and Henry. I'll tell you right now, I don't like Emory and Henry in there because I don't think that's really fair. Like, yeah, they left a lot of meat on the bone, but they're a brand new program, just starting out. Like, give them a little bit of the bones together.

SPEAKER_04 43:11

They're just putting the bones together. Can't be much meat when the bones just got there, you know. So I disagree with that as well.

SPEAKER_01 43:23

Oh, but I I thought this list was really, really interesting. A lot of fun just to look at. Uh and pretty damn accurate, too, I would say.

Games to Watch

SPEAKER_01 45:01

Okay, now let's move on to the games to watch this next week. And I'm going to start off with our guest analyst, Danny, Coach Dunn, to be able to pick which game he's going to be watching. We do have a game that we've picked together for the game of the week, but these are the other games we're looking at. So start us off, Coach. What game are you going to be looking at?

SPEAKER_00 45:24

Well, I don't think it'll come as any surprise that I'm uh I'm looking right down the road here from me at my uh my Lee's McRae Bobcats hosting the uh Coca Cobras. Um two teams who are you know coming off uh some some tough losses um but are gonna be looking to to right the ship up here in uh up here in Banner Elk. Supposed to be a beautiful day, about about 50 degrees. And you know, that's we pray for days like that this time of year, uh up here in the mountains. So um I I think it's gonna be just a tremendous, tremendous game. Uh evenly, evenly matched. Um, you know, a lot of skill for for both programs, you know, on both sides of the of the field. There's gonna be there's gonna be a lot of talent out there. Um maybe not as you know the depth as some of the some of the big boys, but you know what, these these are the kind of games that that need to be scheduled, um, you know, to really to really see where you stand um in the south region. Um, you know, this is these are these are competition games. These aren't these aren't games that you know well you learn from every game, right? But these are these are the ones that say, okay, you know, we stack up. We stack up against against some of the other uh some of the other teams in in this region. So I'm I'm excited. I'm excited to uh to welcome Coach Grant to uh to Tape Field for his first ever home game. Um surprise, surprise, I'll be there. You know, of course I'll be there. Um I've signed up to be the you know the game supervisor for every lacrosse game. Um, because you know I'm gonna be there anyway. So very excited, very excited for this Saturday. Um I know we're you know, hopefully we're gonna get a little healthier. Um, you know, you got a couple banged up, banged up players, but it's gonna be a lot of fun. It's gonna be a lot of fun to see these guys uh take on take on Coker. And you know, I know uh it's a it's a little bit of a haul from uh Hartsville, South Carolina. Um I've made that trip a couple times um when I was the coach going from Banner out down to Hartsville. Um so I hope they uh hope they pack their warm clothes because I don't know if they get 70 or 50 degrees down there like we get up here, but um it's gonna be it's gonna be a great game. It's gonna be a great day, great day of lacrosse, and um I'm really, really looking forward to this game.

SPEAKER_01 47:47

Couldn't have said any better, coach. It was on my list, and I totally agree with you. You I have nothing else to add after that that great rundown. Danny, what games are you looking at? You got any on your list?

SPEAKER_04 47:57

Well, I think the Florida Tech, North Greenville, it's gonna be a pretty decent game Saturday, February 8th. I think that's you know, yep, a good game for both both squads. Um, like coach said, it's a competition game and gonna see where they stack up. And I think that's that's one of those games.

SPEAKER_01 48:16

Yeah, I mean, North Greenville coming off a win against Lincoln Memorial and Florida Tech trying to rebound from the the Tampa. I mean, they got they were in it the first half and then you know kind of got beat down a little bit. But like you said, coach, they're a good team. This will be a very tight match. This is gonna be a really good game. I agree with that, Danny.

SPEAKER_00 48:36

Yeah, I think that's gonna be a great game. Um down there in uh Florida Tech hosting hosting North Greenville. Um, you know, I know Coach Struss is gonna he's gonna have his boys ready. Um, you know, North Greenville is one of those, one of those really pesky teams. You know, you just never can you never can run away from them. Um, you know, so they're gonna be in it to the end, they're gonna scrap hard. Um, I I I definitely will have eyes on this one. Um it's at 11 o'clock in the morning, so you know, there's no reason not to, right? There's really not much else going on on a Saturday morning. So I'm excited. I'm really, really excited for that one. Love seeing the uh the interconference uh competition early in the season to see how the Conference Carolina stacks up against the sunshine. And um, let's get after it, man. It's gonna be it's gonna be a good one.

SPEAKER_01 49:26

Now I got one on Friday of the 7th of February, and that's Newberry against Lewis. This is the first game for both teams. Lewis has to turn around two days later to play Limestone. So are they looking ahead to limestone? Are they gonna uh you know focus on Newberry? What are they gonna do? I think this is gonna be a really good game.

SPEAKER_04 49:48

It's top 15 matchup cap. Newberry's number 14 in the country, new uh new uh uh Lewis is number 11. So uh it's got implications right out of the gate for both teams, right?

SPEAKER_01 50:01

Yeah, yeah, totally agree. All right, coach, what are you what other games are you looking at?

SPEAKER_00 50:06

Yeah, um, I I'm really interested in this this Belmont Abbey Rollins game. Um I think this one could be uh could really set uh set a bar for one of these teams. Um you know, Rollins were still trying to still trying to figure out, you know, what are they gonna be? Who are they gonna be? Um, you know, they had really high expectations last year, um, you know, going up to going up to Delphi and and knocking them off and you know, really riding that wave. Um, you know, and they haven't played a game yet. They haven't played a game yet. Yeah. Now they're coming up to uh up to North Carolina, um, beautiful Belmont, North Carolina, and um against uh uh you know a tenacious, tenacious Belmont Abbey. Uh Coach Barrett is just uh he is he is an amazing coach. Um what he can scheme up and um the way he recruits. I mean, I I have all so much respect for that man um and what he's built there at the Abbey. Um I think this one could uh could have some pretty pretty significant uh South region implications uh once we get towards the end of the year. I think this is could be one that people look back on and say, oh, you know, it started for them there, or man, that was a heck of a win for um whoever pulls this one out. I think it's gonna be I think it's gonna be a very close game. Um back and forth, you know, a lot of high energy, uh, get up and down. And um I'm excited. I'm excited for this one. Um three o'clock game. So right when uh right when the um the lines or excuse me, Liz McRae and and Coker uh wrap up, I'll be jumping on the uh the live feed of this one.

SPEAKER_04 51:52

I love it. Coach, I couldn't agree with you more. Belmont Abbey is a pesky, scrappy team, well coached. He like recruits the hell out of guys and Rollins, like you said, we don't know what they are, we don't know what they're gonna be this year. We really don't. They lost some key players. So I like that game. I think that's gonna be a good game. I like that. I totally agree.

SPEAKER_01 52:15

What do you like in it, Kev? So funny, like so Belmont Abbey convincing went over Mars Hill, but it was 7'5 at half. Is that because Mars Hill is, you know, like they said in the Southern fried chicken? Southern fried lax, these they're up there in the mm-mm, or close to the mm-mm good, or is it Belmont Abbey, you know, not playing up to their their levels? Probably a little bit of both in that. We talk about those first games, right? I'll tell you, on I say Rollins pulls this out.

SPEAKER_04 52:51

I think it's Rollins. I think Rollins pulls this out, but I think Belmont Abbey might get, you know, they can give them a game, you know that.

SPEAKER_01 52:59

Yeah, yeah, I agree. I you know I I agree with you. I think Rollins should win or will win this game, but I've been wrong many times. So we'll see. Balmanabe could take this easily. What other games are you looking at, Danny? You got any other on your list?

SPEAKER_04 53:14

Well, you know what? I've been just Dioubil put up 27 last week, Kev.

SPEAKER_05 53:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 53:22

It's the largest score in the history of the program. And we'll travel to Malone this week coming up. And I want to see what Dioubil does against Malone. These are two programs that have kind of been struggling, but you know what? To see, I was so excited to see Diouville throw 27 up there. So we're gonna play uh a formidable, formidable foe in Malone, and I'd like to see and we'll talk about those guys next week. We'll talk about this game.

SPEAKER_01 53:54

I I I agree with that. Malone actually what third season now, right? And they are close to a 500 team, Danny. So it's gonna be a match for Deuville, who has had more of those struggles. But if they're doing what they did, you know, in this past game, that's a totally new look that we've seen from Deuville. Any any thoughts on that, coach?

SPEAKER_00 54:17

Yeah, yeah, I I agree with uh I agree with Danny. Uh the uh the Saints up there in Diouville, man. That uh little bit of a shocker. A little bit of a shocker. Um you know, and you don't want to uh you don't want to categorize anybody in the preseason. Um, but man, that that is a heck of a heck of an output. You know, anytime you can uh any team can put up that many. I don't care who they are and who they're playing. Um that's uh that that'll turn your heads. That'll turn your heads. So uh it'll be uh it'll be interesting. Uh is was that just a um I don't want to call it a fluke, but you know, was is is that who they are? Are they just gonna be, you know, what we're just gonna hang as many points as we can and uh and ride the wave? Um we'll find out. We'll find out. The uh Malone, like you said, third year program. Um they've been strong since since inception. Um I got to I got to watch them. I remember their first year um was the year after uh I stepped away from the program and they came over to they came over to Lees McRae, and man, I was I was very impressed. I think they only had 18, 19 guys on the roster, but man, they played some good lacrosse. So um I'll be interested. Be really, really interested to see what uh what they put out on the field there. And um that one is in Ohio, correct? Yes.

SPEAKER_04 55:46

That's correct. That's correct. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 55:50

Yep. So I mean that's you know, you gotta you gotta think about the travel implications there. Um it always it can be difficult. It can be difficult sitting on a bus for that long, um, hiking it down to down to in the shadow of uh the football hall of fame. So yeah, that'll be uh that'll be a good one. A little one o'clock tilt there. That'll be that'll be a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_01 56:09

I agree. Okay, I've got one uh on Sunday. And it's I'm kind of doing this this team because you've got two games coming up. William Jewell against Chouan. William Jewell plays Lincoln Memorial on Friday in Harrigett, Tennessee, and then stays to play Chouan two days later. I think these two games we talked about, you talked about it, Coach, setting the stage for a team. William Jewell had a pretty good first year's first season ever last year. They win those two games, that sets them up in their season going forward.

SPEAKER_00 56:46

Absolutely. Absolutely. Um, you know, I think this is a tremendous scheduling uh choice by uh by the uh the Cardinal there. Um, you know, getting getting those back-to-back games, even with a single day rest. Um but again, it's two you know two programs that that they can be competitive with. Um, I think you know a great opportunity for them to to potentially come out of their you know their opening weekend with with two big wins. Um two big wins against you know uh conference carolinas and uh and sack opponents. Yeah, that can that can set the uh that can set the bar for the rest of the season, really get the get the juices flowing. So um definitely, definitely excited to see see what they do um this weekend on that that Friday Sunday.

SPEAKER_01 57:38

All right. So any others, Coach, on your list?

SPEAKER_00 57:42

Yeah, um, I think I think we gotta at least mention the uh the Florida Southern Wingate tilts. I mean, heck, after uh after last year's uh some would say shocking upsets um that coach ward pulled over uh over the Wingate Bulldogs, I think uh we could uh we could see a little uh little bloodbath, if you will. I think that's going to be a schlobber knocker of a lacrosse game. Those are two strong-willed programs who know who they are. Um uh wingate's depth is just amazing, but I I never, never, ever discount a uh a Marty Ward uh Marty Ward lacrosse team. Um, you know, I I I saw him play as a college player. Um, I mean he's just he's a general and and he will have his men ready. Um so yeah, I think there's uh you know that you know that those uh those Wingay Bulldogs have not forgotten. They have not forgotten, and they're gonna they're gonna be bringing it. They're gonna be bringing it. So I think that's one that um definitely you need to keep eyes on because that could be that could be a heck of a lacrosse game.

SPEAKER_01 58:54

Couldn't agree more. I couldn't agree more. I I agree with both of you. Look at Florida Southern, you know that team is not happy in how they they played against uh limestone and lost. Right? I said it last week, you said it this week, coach. I was shocked that Florida Southern beat Wingate last year, but they deserved that game. They outplayed Wingate last year. They can do it again. Now, Wingate coming in, you said it right. They haven't forgotten, I am pretty sure. And they're not gonna want it go. I think your word of bloodbath, and I don't mean that like they're gonna just start fighting, but I think just from the the intensity of the game is going to be there. It's gonna be a great matchup.

SPEAKER_00 59:42

Absolutely, absolutely. Yeah, I mean, just two tremendous head coaches, you know, Coach Boyle's been doing this a long, long time. He hasn't forgotten. I can guarantee that. He has not forgotten, and he wants he wants to uh he wants a little payback. He wants a little payback there. So yeah, that's gonna be that's gonna be a uh that's gonna be a great, great lacrosse game. I'm excited. I'm excited to uh to keep tabs on that one.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:08

Yeah. Tell you the history between these two teams, they they are pretty close in the history, and they've always been like pretty intense games. Like, yeah, I I remember going to Florida Southern one year when my middle son Sean was there, and that was just a game, man. And they beat us. And they beat they bootling that game. So um, I don't know, man. It's gonna be wingate looked good the other day. They looked good in fall, they look good in their scrimmages. They look good, man. I don't know what to say. I'm just being honest. I gotta look my eyes.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:50

Yeah, I think you know, obviously, a little bit different matchup than what they had against Lee's McCrae, but you know, you and I both saw him in the fall ball against a D1 team, and like you said, Danny, they keep moving the rock and sharing it like they have been. They're gonna be tough to beat. I I have to give the nod to Wingate, but once again they're in Florida Southern's field, they're turf. Could be their game.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:15

It's not gonna be easy for the Bulldogs, but I think I think they're gonna like you said, I think it's a revenge game from last year. I think that's the game that kept them out of the NCAA tournament last year. And uh I think that the Bulldogs feel that. And like Coach Dunn said, I mean, I think Coach Boyle has that deep in his memory and is allowing the team to remember that all week. So that's gonna be a good game. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:44

Okay, bullets and board type of game.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:46

Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:49

All right, Danny. Any others on your list?

SPEAKER_04 1:01:51

Oh, that's good, Kev. That's a hundred games.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:54

Yeah, I've got one game only because I got one more just to mention it, and it's on Wednesday, February 12th. First game of the season for both teams under the lights, and that's Holy Family versus UDC. Holy Family in their second season. We know what Coach Merritt's trying to do at UDC and building them up. That'll be a fun game. Good one. Tune in. It's a good Wednesday game. What else you gotta do? Like Coach said, what else are you gonna do at 11 a.m.? What else are you gonna do on a 7 p.m. on a Wednesday night? Well, probably a lot of things, but tune into the game.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:26

There you go. Yeah, that that one's gonna be fun. That one's gonna be fun. I hope uh I hope they turn out there for that for that UDC game, 7 o'clock under the nights on a uh Wednesday. Um, I definitely will be tuning in. I think that'll be uh that'll be a good one to watch.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:43

There's five games that day, that Wednesday. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:48

And they start at 1 p.m. and keep going.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:51

A couple of good ones, man. I like that. George and Quota Delphi playing that. Mount Olive, playing Virginia State. Virginia State adding Mount Olive to their schedule this year. That's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:03

Yeah, yeah.

Game of the Week

SPEAKER_01 1:03:46

Okay, guys, it's time though to turn to our game of the week. We've all decided, and I think this is a good one. Rockhurst versus Merryville. Coach, what do you think of this matchup?

SPEAKER_00 1:04:02

Yeah, um, I'm I'm excited for this one. You know, I love I love the Midwest lacrosse, you know, just uh you take the old football adage. These are all just they're corn fed country boys, you know, and I mean they just get after it out there. Yeah um, you know, Rockhurst, you know, coming off of a 14-10 win um up there at Quincy. Um, so they've uh they got one under their belt. Um Maryville, obviously, extremely talented uh lacrosse team going toe-to-toe with you know a perennial, you know, perennial favorite every year in LR. Um I think I think we are going to be it's going to be an amazing lacrosse game. I don't even know what superlatives to give this one. I think this is just going to be a a great, great lacrosse game on a uh Saturday afternoon in uh in the middle of our beautiful country.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:02

Coach so well said, so poignantly said. I mean, I couldn't have said it any better. It's gonna be a great game.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:08

I think two two really good teams, man. Yeah, two teams that know each other. And Danny, you and I both had Rockhurst in our top ten.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:20

I think they're good, man. I think they're gonna be good this year. I really do.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:23

You know, I I'd have to I based on what I said for my my rankings, I have to give Rockhurst the nod, and they're I think they're playing at Rockhurst. But I'll tell you, this is going to be uh like you said, coach, uh you can't give enough superlatives. These teams know each other. Uh they uh they play really, really well, great quality lacrosse, ding ding ding. And I think it's gonna be it it it deserves to be the game of the week this week. Absolutely, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:54

You know, the uh the uh GLVC is it Is quickly becoming a one of the stronger conferences in Division II lacrosse. Um it's a smaller conference, obviously. You know, this will be the first of two matchups um for these uh these guys, you know. So but like you said, they they know each other. Um I don't think there's gonna be anything hidden, you know, no, no surprises coming out. It's just gonna, you know, toe-to-toe, you know, line up across each other, and let's just get after it for 60 minutes. And um, yeah, I think it's going to be it's going to be a tremendous, tremendous lacrosse game, and and I'm excited. I'm excited to uh to see how this one, how this one shapes

Shout outs

SPEAKER_00 1:06:42

up.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:42

Now, I I can't believe this if I look at my clock. We've been going for over an hour, coach, but we're coming to the end. As you probably know, we close out with shout-outs. So I give you the first opportunity to shout out tonight. You have any?

SPEAKER_00 1:07:01

I appreciate that. Yeah, I do. I do. And this is uh, I'd just like to uh to give a shout out to everybody working behind the scenes of of Collegiate Athletics. Um, your athletic trainers, um, your compliance directors, you know. And it's not just because I am one now. Um, I think you could talk to any coach of any sport at any division, and they would say, you know, they couldn't do it without everybody behind the scenes. That goes for the parent booster clubs, that goes for, you know, the faculty athletic reps, you know, everybody like that. Um, the ones who, you know, don't get shouted out on game days, but if it wasn't for them, you know, these student athletes wouldn't be having the experience that they get to have. So, you know, shout out to all the uh all the back, you know, everybody in the behind the scenes making making this happen.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:55

Excellent.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:56

That's an awesome shout-out.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:58

Awesome shout-out. Well deserved. Danny, you got any shout-outs for this week? I know you're a traveling man.

SPEAKER_04 1:08:04

No shout-outs, Cup.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:06

Okay. Only because I've got a few because I'm the one that has the account, so I usually get the the DMs. Let me catch you up to speed, Danny, while you've been gone on. The first one. We got some fan mail through the Buzz Sprout platform this past week. This is what the fan mail said. First time D2 Dad. Thanks for getting me up to speed before the start of the season. I listened for three hours. It's great. Isn't that awesome? I would say this to whoever sent that fan mail out go back into Buzz Sprout and give us your email so we can respond to you. As you remember from last year, we have no, I cannot reply to those messages, and I would love to. So get back on and give us a shout out, or just give us your email, and I'd love to just connect with you. That's just awesome. That's awesome. Next shout out goes to associate head coach for Seton Hill, Chris Ilse. I hope I said his last name right. He messaged us, Danny, to set the record straight on their Instagram post about Inside Lacrosse poll. He said it wasn't Coach Novotny that posted it, it's him, and he doesn't want to lose his job. Get this though. I don't know if you saw that today. He made up for it by posting today. They saved the best poll for last in the crease and had your number, them at number six, and me at number three for Seton Hill.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:34

That's awesome. That's cool. That's so funny.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:38

Now I got one for our players, and I'll go back and see if Coach has any other shout-outs. Shout out to Caden Castle, Danny, offensive player of the week for Conference Carolinas. Five goals and two assists against Lincoln and Moses.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:50

Yeah, he had himself a game.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:52

We both said he would be a force for North uh Greenfield coming over from Wingate, and he showed up that first game.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:58

Absolutely. Good job, Caden.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:01

All right, coach, you got any other shout-outs?

SPEAKER_00 1:10:04

No, that's all I got, other than you know, shouting you two out. I mean, what a tremendous resource you guys are for division two, you know. We love our division, we love our game, and for you guys to to keep it at the forefront and you know sticking your neck out like this is just thank you. I you for for all of us, from all of us, please. Thank you, thank you, thank you for what you do, and uh we love it. Keep it going, and just know that whenever you want me back, I'm here for you.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:42

Thank you so much, Coach. Appreciate that, appreciate the kind words. It's fun, right, Kev?

SPEAKER_01 1:10:47

Yeah, I mean, I don't feel like we're sticking our neck out at all. We when we started this, we said that D2 does not get the love it deserves, and that's why we're doing it. And the the amount of support we get from the D2 lax community is overwhelming to us. So we we just ride with that every week, and you know, Danny and I are big mouths and two knuckleheads that just like to talk lacrosse together. Now we get to do it on a podcast. So to close out, I would say shout out to our sponsors, D2 Showcase and Shad Aromatic Coffee Lids and Cups, for their support this year. And then finally, Coach, shout out to you, our first guest analyst of the 2025 season. You killed it tonight. You killed it. Yes, you did.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:35

Thank you, guys. Thank you. Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:39

All right, Danny and Coach, for this episode, that's a wrap. That's a wrap, guys.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:47

That's a wrap, gentlemen.