Game Time - A look back at week 11 and a preview of Week 12 of the 2022 season

Intro

SPEAKER_01 0:11

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Crease with Danny and Kevin, a coast-to-coast discussion of D2 Men's La Cross. I'm your co-host, Kevin Stentrum, and with me as always is the Pied Piper of D2 Men's Lacrosse, Danny Moran. Hey Danny.

SPEAKER_03 0:32

The Pied Piper. Everyone follows what you say. Yeah. Hey, Kevin, how's it going in Northern Virginia tonight? I'm doing well. What's going on?

SPEAKER_01 0:41

It's going well. I tell you what, I was pumped after this weekend to talk week in review with you. I don't know where to start because there were so many

Week in Review

SPEAKER_01 0:51

crazy good games. I mean, yeah, there were some big good games.

SPEAKER_03 0:55

There were some exciting games for sure this weekend, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 0:58

I don't know. Do you start with the SSC beating each other up, or do you start with Bentley Pace thriller or other OT games? Which one do you want to start with?

SPEAKER_03 1:08

I whatever you feel is necessary. The Florida Southern, Florida Tech game was a good game.

SPEAKER_01 1:14

Let's let's talk about those first, then. Let's go there because as you know, we talked about last week. The first on the docket for Florida Southern in this role was against Rollins. They're both three and one, I think, in the conference, right below right below Tampa. Florida Southern comes in against Rollins, and I think they basically owned Rollins three out of the four quarters. And they end up winning 16-11. Kevin Hurwitz, Max Freestone were a huge difference. Horowitz throughout the game had 24 of 31 face-offs, Freestone with 11 saves. Now the other goalie had Patrick Thomas for Rollins had 12 saves, so he had a good game too. But it seemed like Max seemed to have some real critical ones in the first half. So they go up 9-4 at half. Florida Scother did not score in the third. And so Rollins got within two. And I'm thinking, hmm, can they come back? No, they get outscored 7-4 in the fourth. And Florida Southern pulls away.

SPEAKER_03 2:20

Yeah, Florida Southern's a good team, man. They've been balling out all year. They've been playing good games, tight games. You know, they beat number one Lemoyne. They're ranked number 14 in the country. I mean, they're doing that. That's a good team.

SPEAKER_01 2:32

Yeah. So then you turn around and you say, okay, they they played Rollins uh on a Wednesday. They have to turn around on Saturday, play Florida Tech. Now, Rollins beat Florida Tech. So you say, oh, maybe Florida Southern has the advantage here. We've talked about this all season. How this conference is going to start beating each other up. So what happens in this game? Florida Tech, senior day for Florida Tech. And they pull out the win in overtime 14-13. Yeah, that was a good game.

SPEAKER_03 3:07

You know what? Florida Tech kind of owned the game for a while. It like they were winning face-offs. They were just they were just kind of you know winning, winning those little battles in the beginning. Um, you know, Zach Roggs Rosgoni had three and two, Colin Stewart had three and one for Florida Tech. Yeah, and Florida Southern, the same guy, Sean Nolan, had himself a game five and one. Yeah. And Jeff At Jeff Atlas is a solid player. He continues to just put biscuits in the baskets and assist. And even six other players scored for Florida Southern. Florida Tech led 4-1 after the first. And get this, Kev, they outshot the mocks 23-9 in the first quarter.

SPEAKER_01 3:48

Well, it's even crazier. You're right.

SPEAKER_03 3:51

Had the ball the whole time, but it was 7-4.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

Yeah, and their defense helped with that too because Florida Southern scored six in the first quarter against Rollins. And against Florida Tech, like you just said, they scored one.

SPEAKER_03 4:07

Yeah, it was kind of crazy. You know, 7-4 at half at Florida Tech. And then what happens? Florida Southern comes out in the third and scored six goals in the third. But two quick scores by Tech in a fourth let game of 12-10 lead. So this game was starting to go back and forth a little bit after those. After Florida Southern scored those six goals, all of a sudden Florida Tech was on their heels a little bit. So you saw this change in momentum, and you heard the crowd getting into it. And then Florida Southern answered with a two-goal run to tie it at 12-12. You know, it was crazy. And um, you know, T Roxani fouled the back of the net after a huge face-off win for tech. That was a huge face-off win for tech.

SPEAKER_01 4:55

Even even unmore unbelievable for Zach was first of all, he set the program record with that goal for hat tricks in the season. Yeah. Second of all, you talked about he had three goals, two sets, but he also had 10 ground balls and one cost turnover. And he's an attackman.

SPEAKER_03 5:14

Yeah, he's he had himself a game, man. He he's a really good player. You know, Florida Tech's ranked number 13 now, or or did they move up now? Today, today they came out, right? Yeah, they did. Hang on, one second. So yeah, and you know what? For Florida Tech, Sam Balch. He had five ground balls and three cause turnovers, and and John Holzman had 18 saves.

SPEAKER_01 5:39

Yeah, before he had a great game. So Florida Tech is ranked 12th by USILA. Then comes Rollins at 13, and Florida Southerners 14. So they've just been flip-flop. You have to give kudos kudos. You have to give kudos to the Florida Tech team after what happened in December and the adversity that they had to go through with their coach being let go. A new coach doesn't come in the first few games. Their assistants are playing, they get a new coach. Yeah, they could have shut down after all that turmoil.

SPEAKER_03 6:11

Yeah. And they did 100% outstanding for Florida Tech underneath all you know those circumstances without a coach and all that going on, right? Just before the Christmas and holiday and kids learning by email and stuff like that, that their coach was gone. And one of the yeah, isn't the coach's son on the team? Yeah, the old coach, yes. You know, yeah. So that was a crazy way to start the season for Florida Tech. But you know what? They're ending it up pretty good. And they put themselves in a real good position in that Sunshine State conference tournament now.

SPEAKER_01 6:45

Second, right, ranked second now in the conference, coming up. One of my games in games to watch is obviously Florida Tech Rollins again for the conference game, which is next.

SPEAKER_03 6:56

Right now, now, Kevin, you and I talked about Florida Southern pretty much all year. People were asking us, why are you talking about Florida Southern? And there was a reason that they're a good team. But Florida Tech did some really, really good stuff. They outshot Florida Southern 60 to 40, 51 to 47 in the ground balls. But check this out Florida Southern whiffed on six extra man opportunities. They whiffed big, big, big zero in the extra man opportunity uh category. And that was huge. That that was a huge thing, I think, for Florida Southern. They had their opportunities to put that game away and couldn't. So Florida Tech with a big win, 14-13 in overtime, and like we just said, puts him in real good position in that Sunshine State conference tournament.

SPEAKER_01 7:52

It sure does. So let's back up now to a game that was last Wednesday and talk about Wingate, Lenore Ryan. Yeah, that was a big game. It's a big game in the conference. It was to see who was going to be stay up at number one in the conference standings, and Lenore Ryan wins at 10-5 fairly convincingly. And I personally think, Danny, it all came down to face-offs and man up.

SPEAKER_03 8:22

Yeah, you know, um, wingate struggles at face-off. You know, they look to get those 50-50s a lot. You know, Coach Boyle told us that they were trending downward in that. They've, you know, they did well in some games and then not so well in other games. But I think that was a big thing. You know what, Kevin? In big games, you need the ball. You need the ball. Yeah, yeah. And yeah, and face-offs is really, really important, really important. Um, I think that's one thing that's kind of hurt the Bulldogs a little bit this year in some games. Uh, in particular, that Anderson game. Yep. When Cam Weeks was just on fire. You know, if Wingate had somebody to, you know, to answer or to counter that, that might have been a different game. But that Anderson game, that Anderson loss was a big loss for Wingate. There was a conference loss, and Anderson's been getting beat up a little bit. You know, Queens just beat him, Limestone beat him, right? Other other teams are beating Anderson. So that loss for Wingate really hurts. But this game, Lenore Ryan's defense was phenomenal, Cap.

SPEAKER_01 9:25

Yeah. Oh, they were great. Uh, they were great. I personally think that both defenses played really well. I think six on six play was even. Go back to face-offs, wingate only won 33. And then talk about extra man opportunities. Lenore Ryan was four for nine, and they and Lenore Ryan shut out Wingate. And one of the things they started doing in the in the second half was shutting off Willie Greco. And Wingate didn't seem to have a they seemed confused on what to do once he was shut off.

SPEAKER_03 10:02

You know, they they didn't have an answer because the you know Lenore Ryan's defense was playing really well. When you hold Wingate to two goals in the second half of a game, that's that's defense. You're you're playing defense, okay? You're exactly right. So, you know, if you look at Wingate's numbers, a lot of it's from the attack, and they don't get a whole lot of numbers from the midfield. And, you know, if you ask me, when plan A doesn't work, you got to go to plan B. And it didn't look like the Bulldogs had a plan B. They need better play. Listen, Wingate is out looking in right now for the NCAA tournament, if you ask me. Yes. Um, do they have a chance? They might have a chance, but they'd have to win out. And they need to do much better in face-offs, and they need much better midfield play. They need middies to step up. When the attackmen, you know, are not getting the job done. The middies have to step up. And I think that's what hurt uh Wingate as well. But you know, Joe Venazio and Tarl Nixon and Tommy Aguilar, Evan Foss, Noah Johnson had 10 saves. They're a good team, man. You know, it I thought Powell and Mason and Stark did their D's and their LSMs were just outstanding. They were picking up ground, they won the ground ball war, they won the shots on goal war. Lenore Ryan did. They just they just beat him up. They beat Wingate.

SPEAKER_01 11:26

Yep. Yep. It was a total team win for Lenore Ryan. So let's move on. Let's talk about Wilmington Chestnut Hill. This was for the top of the CACC, and it was another another overtime game with Wilmington pulling it out 17-16. And Danny, our boy Gio Marino had the game-winning overtime goal. It was a back and forth game. Yeah, it was really exciting, but they had a lot of good play. Their whole attack line, all sophomores, each one of them had four goals each. Gio had four, Logan Stinson had four, and Jimmy Cava had four. So pretty impressive. Pretty impressive game. It was back and forth uh all the way, you know, until the end. Then uh Wilmington got up by about fours, 14 to 10. Uh, Chestnut Hill brought it back, and then Logan Stinson scored with 212 left. I thought they'd have the game, but the Griffins tie it with 40 seconds left. And then Gio Marino, our our man there, puts it in, puts it in the net for the win. Great game, great game.

SPEAKER_03 12:35

Big and another big win for Wilmington. Look at those guys making noise, huh? They're just, you know, slowly but surely just making noise, Wilmington. Good job, boys.

SPEAKER_01 12:45

Now let's talk about another overtime game that ended unbelievable. If there's a game that I could pick to say, if you want to watch lacrosse to see what lacrosse is and how exciting it can be, it would be the Pace Bentley game.

SPEAKER_03 13:03

Yeah, that was some game, man. That was some game. Uh number 11 Pace against Bentley, who's number 19, I think, in the country right now. Yeah. 18, they're up there. Um, 16-15 win for pace in overtime. Um, this I thought Bentley was controlling the game with multiple possessions in the first half. Um, but pace was able to score five goals in the second. Um, and and and brought it to 9-8. Bentley at half. Um, Pace's guys are pretty good, man. This kid, Anthony Caputo, had himself uh five goals and two assists. Yeah, and two assists. And and one goal that he had was a real, real big one in that exciting last couple of seconds. But uh Jake Ferris had three goals and four assists. Yeah, and that kid Kyle Casey, he just continues to put numbers up, you know, three and two. Again, he's always in the mix, Kyle Casey. Yep, and Tim Cairo had three and one. And how about the Ragu? 20 saves. Our man, Louis Ragusa, a career high, 20 saves in goal.

SPEAKER_01 14:13

Okay, and they were saying on the broadcast that his career high last time of 19 saves was against Bentley last year, and he beat it in this game.

SPEAKER_03 14:24

Yeah, yeah, it was a good game. Hey, Bentley's a good team, man. Um, Luke Jaber had three and three, and both Ryan Birch and Nathan Alviti had two and one, respectively. But you know what? I like their their guy in goal too, man. Keaton Rorick, he had a great game. He had some crazy saves, man. I mean, some really one, he stretched out. He looked like he looked like uh Van Biesbrook, or somebody on the ice with his legs all spread out and the ball right in between them and never crossed the line. It was a it was a really good save. But we scored.

SPEAKER_01 15:01

Yeah, we have to talk about how how Pace finally won the game because they were down by three goals with a minute left.

SPEAKER_03 15:12

Well, in the in the in this in the fourth quarter, Bentley scored four on answer and looked to me like they were headed towards the promised land with a huge, with a huge upset. And then ready for this in the third, in the two between this halfway through the third quarter through the end of the game, Pace outscored Bentley seven to two the rest of the way. All right. So Bentley had a three goal lead with 50 seconds left in the game. Okay, 50 seconds. And Bentley was controlling the face-offs all game. Yeah, pace struggled at face-off, they lost a lot of face-offs. So with 50 seconds left in the game and pace down three, they won a huge face-off. Pace won a huge face-off, and Caputo scored with 49 seconds. Yeah, brought it within a two-goal game. They won the next face-off, huge face-off, 54-50 going after it. Pace comes up with the ground ball, and Jake Varis scored with 23 seconds left. Okay. And then with only seven seconds left, Tim Cairo found Varis with a gorgeous pass to tie it. To tie it with seven seconds left. So Pace, who struggled at face off most of the game, won three huge face-offs in a row. And give the last 50 seconds.

SPEAKER_01 16:42

Give the credit, Chris Montezella of Pace, the third guy they had come in doing it. He won those, number 55. Right. Boom, boom, boom. You're like, boy, a time to get hot. That was the time to get hot.

SPEAKER_03 16:55

I mean, they scored three goals in in 50 seconds and he tied it up. And then, of course, in over time, Pace was able to put one in the biscuit and uh put the biscuit in the basket and come away with a win. Then it was a close game. It was a really, really entertaining game, Kev.

SPEAKER_01 17:12

It was great. It was fantastic. And like I said, if I could point to anyone who's never watched lacrosse before and tell them what it was like, I would say, watch this game. I've got two other notes that I we have, two other games I want to talk about quickly. First is Lake Erie Walsh. We talked about this. It's the Battle of Ohio. Lake Erie won 10-9. It was a really close game. Neither team getting more than a two-point advantage at any time. And I think the difference was in ground balls and face-offs. Lake Erie held it holding a 32-23 advantage on ground balls and an 18-4 on face-offs. But they they pull it out, they win. All had two goals for them on the night, and Lincoln Potter had had a record 11 saves. But it put Lake Erie at 2-2 in the conference, tied with Walsh. So they're three and four in the conference standings now because that game, if Lake Erie lost, they would have been one and three. Right. So they needed that game and they tied it up. It's a great game. And then the other one, Colorado Mesa Rockers. We talked about this. Colorado Mesa had to win, and they did it fairly easily 10-5. They could play very methodically. And why could they play methodically? Because Dylan Checkets, their face-off specialist, won 100% of the faceoffs. He went 17 for 17 that night.

SPEAKER_03 18:45

Yeah, he had a gum. He had a game. I watched I watched the first half of that game. I haven't seen Colorado and Mesa play all year. And I said, you know what? They're like kind of in the mix a little bit. They're in the talk. Um we spoke about him last week a little bit, but uh Trent Purnell with three and one, and Jake Brummett had three. And like you said, that you know, Mesa won 100% all 17 face-offs. That's huge. And they went for three three out of five on the extra man opportunities. They were pretty much in control of that whole game. But you know, Rockhurst is a solid squad. Um, Jake Vandermin had three, and Grant Brunswall had one and one, but Hayden Harris in between the pipes for Rockhurst had 19 saves. He had himself a game. He did.

Coach's Spotlight

SPEAKER_01 19:31

Okay, Danny, let's move on to our coach's spotlight. We last spoke with this coach back in early October, and at that time he was in the middle of fallball, prepping his team for another run at the Peach Belt Championship. He even said that he knew the other teams would be trying to topple them from the mountaintop, as you recall. I do so, but this season probably has not gone exactly the way he had hoped, but he still has his team in position to make a run at the conference championship. So let's just welcome him in, Coach Jason Lang of Montevallo. Hey coach.

SPEAKER_02 20:06

Hey guys, how are you?

unknown 20:08

We're good.

SPEAKER_03 20:08

Coach Lang, good to have you back. How you been?

SPEAKER_01 20:11

Thanks for having me, guys. Always good to talk to you. It's been a little bit of a while, and we're glad to bring you on and show some of that some love to the Peach Belt. Um, Danny and I have talked about it even this during the season. There's a lot of parody there. And you got two new teams in there, and we still think the peach belt is up and coming, especially with that parody, and you get to the conference tournament, it it's it's still a crapshoot, I think. How do you what do you think about that? And what do you think about where the peach belt is this year?

SPEAKER_02 20:42

Yeah, I mean, I I think um, you know, we the the conference as a whole has has gotten better. Um, I think with you know the addition of Flagler um and and Young Harris coming back, you know, definitely, you know, I think legitimizes our conference a little bit more. Um, you know, if you remember last year, we we everybody played each other twice home in a way. Yeah. And I know that that was, you know, a COVID thing as well, but you know, I think it's uh it's good now that that we're at six teams um and you know, we're considered uh, you know, a real conference, you know, in terms of NCA rules. You know, you gotta have six teams to be considered, you know, a recognized conference. So um, but on the other side of it, you know, I think uh the like Flagglers, you know, the I I don't know what their record is off the top of my head, but just kind of watching some of their games. We had some common opponents early. Um they got some guys and and they they can play for for a first year NCA team. Um, you know, Coach Duck and his staff are doing a really good job. And then, you know, obviously you have have Lander and Uah who have just continued, you know, to get better. Um, and it it's shown by you know the results. That they've had um you know up to this point in the season.

SPEAKER_01 22:05

Yeah, I'd agree with that. I think you're spot on. And let's just talk about your team within that. You know, you're six and seven now, one and two in conference, but I've watched several of your games. And although you're under 500, you could easily be over 500. Your game, some of your games were that close, and it may not even be in the final score. Like if you look at the game against Lander where they just got on top of you in one quarter, the rest of it was just back and forth. You just some of those you couldn't close, I guess. So give us an assessment of your season so far.

SPEAKER_02 22:41

Yeah, you know, I I think um uh up and down. Um, you know, a lot of a lot of peaks and and valleys, and and uh, you know, I think you know, early on, um, you know, we we started out pretty hot with with two two big wins. Um and you know, I think our our guys may have gotten a little complacent. Um and uh you know, we went down to Florida and uh didn't do so hot, you know, at St. Leo, and then you know, kind of still had that you know that hangover, if you will, on Sunday at Embry Riddle for the first half. Um and those were back-to-back games. Yeah, so we went Friday, Sunday there. Um and it was, you know, Uah was down there as well. So we kind of flip-flopped it, we flip-flopped the points. So they played Embry Riddle Friday and then St. Leo Sunday. Um, but I think you know, we we kind of let that St. Leo loss linger a little bit uh too long. Um, but the second half of the Emory Riddle game was was fantastic. I mean, I I think we we ended up winning the second half uh eight to four, if I remember correctly, but just wasn't enough. Um you know, I thought the the PBA game, we we really came together and and played quite well in that one. And um, you know, that's a really good team. Uh, you know, they they've they've upset some teams this year and been in a lot of close games as well. Um and then you, Indy, we were we were knocking on the door and and just didn't make enough plays to finish that one.

SPEAKER_03 24:10

You were in that game. You were in that game. Yeah, yeah, you guys were in that game.

SPEAKER_01 24:15

I actually think that game, what surprised me about that game, coach, was you were the first team that I think gave them a scare.

SPEAKER_02 24:23

Yeah, and and you know, I I think um, you know, part of you know, part of building and and you know, building a program and and uh is is you know under having your guys understand that that every every game matters. And you know, when when we're playing a team like U Indy, you know, our our guys are excited because Undie is nationally ranked and they're they've made the final four and they're in the NCAA tournament and all these other things. Um and we've been we've kind of have a history with them, and I think our guys were up for that one um for sure. And you know, we played well. Um, and and you know, unfortunately, you know, a couple of the ball, you know, it's a round ball, but it doesn't always bounce uh it bounce sideways sometimes, and and there were a few bounces that didn't go our way um in that one. Um but you know, I've told our guys every after every game, I mean, it's never for a lack of effort. You know, we always we always play hard, you know, we're always physical. Um, but when you're playing top-end teams, you know, it's if if you don't execute, you know, every time while playing as hard as you can, you know, you're not gonna, you're not gonna come out on top. And I think we're starting, you know, at least the the last few weeks, we're we're we've been we've been kind of changing up how we practice and and and focusing a little bit more on on playing hard while executing, um, and worrying a little bit more about ourselves. Um, and I think that's that that's that's helped us um you know in the last few weeks.

SPEAKER_01 26:00

That's a great segue because that another one of my questions, just actually how you are getting your team to go into the last two season games, the young Harrison flag of the two new additions and to try to finish strong. So is that what you're trying to do is is try to you know play hard but execute. What are you telling what are you telling your players to get them, you know, really into the groove for these last two games?

SPEAKER_02 26:26

Yeah, so actually it kind of goes back to to after the the loss at lander. You know, we you know we we had some meetings and and I had some older guys, you know, come into my office and um that you know they requested that you know we kind of get back to to competing at practice. Um, you know, in the spring, I think you know, myself, I think other coaches are, you know, could be guilty of this. You're so worried about the game plan and who you're playing and how they ride and clear and slide. You know, sometimes the you know, the competitive drills, um, you know, you kind of put those on the back burner. Um and you know, some older guys came in and said they wanted to get back to that. Um, so we have, and and I think there's there's been a definite change in our play um from you know the loss at lander, you know, moving forward from from that, um, from that Saturday there in South Carolina. Um and uh, you know, I I think now, you know, we're we're we're more we're shortening practices. So instead of going for for two hours, you know, we're we're kind of slimming it down to about 90 minute practices. Um, and you know, we we compete for everything. Like stick work, we've my assistant and I have come up with ways to make stick work drills competitive. And you know, first team to to 35 or 40 in a row without dropping a pass, that team wins, and the other team does a couple sprints or push-ups or sit-ups, and then you know, the you know, then we move on to the next drill. And you know, we we we teach, but we we make it competitive. Um, and and every drill, there's something on the line. And uh I think our guys have really taken to that and have kind of gotten back to um, you know, worrying about doing the right things and what we're coaching them to do, but also now you got to do it as hard as you can because nobody wants to do push-ups or or a couple sprints after after a drill.

SPEAKER_03 28:28

So yeah, yeah. So they're pushing hard for sure. Yeah. Um, you know what, coach, you've you've been in the games. I like you said, I'm looking at your record right now. It's been, you know, the end your schedule, a little up and down, like you said. Um, where do you did did the injury bug get to you? Sometimes you get, you know, you get a kid that gets an injury or two, and it might be a big thing, you know. How how was that for you this year?

SPEAKER_02 28:52

Yeah, I mean, we we definitely, you know, not not more than than anyone else. You know, I I think I think everybody, every program deals with with injuries. Um you know, I wouldn't say it's been uh it's been crippling. You know, I I I I love my team and my guys, and you know, if a guy gets hurt, we kind of have that that next next guy up mentality. Um, so there have been a few games where some guys have have been hurt and couldn't play, or you know, we we tried to we tried to play them and and uh you know they they just they weren't really able to to do what they normally do. But I think that's everybody this time of the year. You know, if you're if you're not injured this time of the year, I'd love to know what you're doing because I think uh I think everybody's kind of dealing with that a little bit.

SPEAKER_03 29:38

So yeah, they got they're all getting their bumps and bruises at this point of the year for sure. Hey coach, the peach belt, we like the peach belt because there's so much parity in the peach belt. Um, we we love it because it's a new conference, only in their second year. We loved it because that championship game last year was just so exciting. And leading into this year, I think that Peach Belt Conferenment is gonna be another really, really exciting tournament. And I think it's anybody's tournament right now. I really do. Uh would you agree with that?

SPEAKER_02 30:12

Yeah, I would. I would. I I think you know, you you got uh, you know, the the first piece is everybody, everybody makes it right. So um, you know, you definitely have the you know the the travel piece that you got to deal with on the you know, if you're playing in the quarterfinal round, um, you know, you could be traveling to St. Augustine, Florida, which is the furthest trip, you know, for a lot of us in the conference, or you could be coming to Monteval, Alabama, or you could be going up to the mountains of Georgia. Um, so I think that in itself plays uh a huge part in you know in the tournament. And uh, you know, I think all of all of the games have been, you know, somewhat close, um, you know, with with the top, you know, the the top three or four teams. Um, and I think it's gonna, it's gonna be a great, it's gonna be a great tournament. Great little cross uh is gonna be played. It's gonna be very entertaining to watch.

SPEAKER_01 31:14

I agree. Yeah, that's I'm glad you pointed that out, Danny coach. We've talked about that, and that's what I think makes it so fun. Come conference tournament. You know, there's some others you know in the sack and you know in the NE10 there's gonna be a couple of those teams. You see them, they're gonna be there at the end. This one's gonna be fun to watch, just like Danny said, is the the sixth seeded team. They could decide right then and there. This is we'll just turn the page. This is it's zero, zero. Let's go. Yep.

SPEAKER_03 31:47

Yeah, that's what makes D2 lacrosse exciting. And which makes the Peach Belt even more exciting. I it's just a really kind of interesting conference to me, you know. And and the addition of Flagler, you know, Flaggler's two and eleven. You wanted to know what their uh their record is. They're two and eleven. I predicted them to win two games, even as a first-year play, as a first-year team. You're exactly right. Coach Duncan does have some players there. I watched a couple of their games, they're all they're young as hell, and they're only gonna get better. So I see the Peach Belt just trending in the upward direction.

SPEAKER_02 32:25

Yeah, they gotta be the best two and eleven team I've ever seen. Um, because that those guys that they got some they got some guys, and you know, they're well coached.

SPEAKER_01 32:34

So yeah, and you get to play them senior day, that'll be fun.

SPEAKER_02 32:38

Yeah, yeah, I think it will be. You know, senior day is always like a a bittersweet day, but you know, it's it's good. Uh good to recognize the guys that that have been around, but you know, it's it's gonna be a game, you know. I'm um get gotta don't want to look too far ahead, you know, got got a big one.

SPEAKER_01 32:55

Young Harris first, without a doubt. Yeah. Hey coach, it's been awesome having you on again and getting to talk to you. We really appreciate you coming on as always. You're a great guest, and and we really appreciate the insight on on your season, your team, and the peach belt. It's just been great today.

SPEAKER_02 33:13

Kevin Danny, thank you guys, and and thank you for uh for all that you guys do for D2 Across. I think it's uh it's fantastic. And you know, you guys are doing an awesome job. And I have parents, uh, you know, when we're on the road, you know, our some of our Canadian parents have made a few comments about how they're listening to your podcast at work and looking forward to it every week. So you guys are are doing doing a really good job. Um, and it's it's awesome. It showcases you know the great lacrosse we have in division two, and and it's uh, you know, it's exciting and it's helping grow the game. So, you know, I know our conference really appreciates all the hard work and that you guys put into it. So thank you.

SPEAKER_03 33:56

Oh, thanks, Coach. We really appreciate those are really kind words, and we're gonna get you on again. Good luck for the rest of the season, guys. Tournaments coming up, got a big game coming up, and uh, you've been a great guest again and continued success. We'll we'll talk again, I'm sure. All right, guys. Thank you. Take care.

Games to Watch this Week

SPEAKER_01 34:15

Hey Danny, that was great having Coach Lang. We went back to back with Coach Lang's the past two weeks. Coach Jimmy Lang from Linenwood, and now Coach Jason Lang and Montevala, but it was great having Coach back on. So much fun to talk to.

SPEAKER_03 34:31

Yeah, Coach Lang is a real down-to-earth guy. I really, really like him. I could so see myself hanging, drinking beers and eating chicken wings and talking lacrosse. He's just a real down-to-earth guy, and I really like Coach Lang. I'm glad he came back on with us. And you know, his team is has little ups and downs this year, and you know, not having the big the year that he had last year. But again, that peach belt is wide open and you know, all six.

SPEAKER_01 34:57

See what he can do in the tournament.

SPEAKER_03 34:59

Yeah, man. All six teams get in, and you never know. You could have like that St. Mary's that we had in uh or St. Peter's, St. Peter's right that we had it in the NCAA in basketball, you know, somebody coming on the outside and making some noise. So Coach Lang's a great guy, and he's got a real good thing going down there in Montevallo. And uh Peach Belt's great, and look forward to that conference tournament.

SPEAKER_01 35:23

Exactly. So let's now switch focus to the games to watch this next week. I've got a few. There's a bunch of them. There are. There are. I'll start on Friday, this Friday, uh 22nd of April, and that's Barton against Mount Olive. Can Barton upset Mount Olive? Mount Olive is starting to play better ball, and they are now, after beating North Greenville, second place in the conference standings. They're gonna want to stay there, but Barton's gonna want to Mount Olive card.

SPEAKER_03 35:57

Absolutely 100%. Mount Olive has been playing well as of late, didn't start out the year that they want. You know, Coach Murphy's used to having a better year at Mount Olive, but you know what? As of late, they've been playing real well. And that game over North Greenville last week, that was a big win for Mount Olive. Yeah, North Greenville's been playing really well, and and it puts him in really, really good position for that that that tournament.

SPEAKER_01 36:22

Yeah. Now there's several games on Saturday, the 23rd. The first that I have on my list is the for the top of the ECC. Roberts Wesleyan against Mercy.

SPEAKER_03 36:38

Yeah. Mercy's a really good squad. Uh Kev. The Mavericks, they've been uh playing real well all year. They only have one loss. Um, they've been in some tight games, but they close them out. They find a way to close them out. And Roberts Wesleyan has been having a phenomenal season. And um this should be a barn burner of a game.

SPEAKER_01 37:04

And should be fun, should be a lot of fun. Mercy. I would give the nod to mercy, but geez, Roberts Wesley's been playing well.

SPEAKER_03 37:12

Exactly. They have. I would give the nod to mercy as well. Again, they've been starting out. Mercy starts their games out like really fast and seems to they take their foot off the gas a little bit and let teams back in, sort of. I don't think they have to do that. They can't do that against this Roberts Wesley. And they're gonna have to they're gonna have to keep their foot on the gas. And uh but I I agree with you. I I give the edge to Mercy. And the winner of that is you know gonna be the number one seed in the conference tournament.

SPEAKER_01 37:41

Yep, without a doubt. Okay, so this one, uh this next one is another critical conference game, critical, and that's Rollins against Florida Tech. We touched upon it uh a little bit in week in review, but both teams want this. This is the one that gets them back into second seed in the conference. Florida Tech is there right now, but if Rollins beats them, they have the edge.

SPEAKER_03 38:12

This is a huge game. Wow, what a what a year for the Sunshine State offering. What a what a great year for the conference there. These teams are really good and they're beating the crap out of each other. And this is another one that has huge implications. Again, if Rollins can pull this one off, I think I might give the edge to uh I don't know. I don't know. This might be a pick'em game for me.

SPEAKER_01 38:36

I think it is. I I was just about to say the same thing. We you could pick one, I could pick the other. The way it could go, it could go either way. Who's gonna show up? I think they're both gonna show up. It's just who ends up with the win. I it's a pick up. It's a pick.

SPEAKER_03 38:55

Uh, you know, um, getting possessions of goalie play. It's all gonna come into fruition on in that game. Florida Tech Rollins. That's a big, that's big game. And you know what? Who would have thunk? Who would have thunk in the beginning of the season that you know would be talking about Florida Southern and Rollins and Florida Tech and these teams? Because we didn't talk about them too much last year. No, you know, because they weren't in the they weren't in the mix, and this year they're all in the mix, and it's pretty it's been pretty good out of that Sunshine State conference for sure. Really cool to see.

SPEAKER_01 39:29

Two other games on Saturday, both out of conference, that are really kind of cool matchups. The first one, you indie Mercyhurst.

SPEAKER_03 39:39

Well, I don't, you know, uh this is these two teams are gonna get after it. It has national implications for both, even though it's an out-of-conference, out of region game, a loss is a loss and a win is a win. And um, both teams need the dub. Both teams need the dub. I I I'd have to say I might have to give the edge a little bit to Mercyhurst on this one.

SPEAKER_01 40:07

I agree, but I think Undy may need it more than Mercyhurst. And I say that only since uh they're in the GLVC. Mercyhurst are always a perennial powerhouse. U Indy's been there every year lately, last five years, they're always there. But uh I don't think like we talked about it, it's not the same as as Mercyhurst. I don't think and maybe it's just me as a as a fan that from a standpoint of getting the recognition. So Undy, this is good for their strength of schedule. Both of them really, yeah. Playing each other, but you indie wins it, it's one more marker to say we need to be in uh the NCAA tournament.

SPEAKER_03 40:56

Well, absolutely, they win that game, they're in. I yeah, to ask, you know, and then they have their conference tournament too, and they have won conference loss already, too, you indie, to Lindenwood. Yeah, so you know what? It's kind of like it kind of brings it all back together. It does. It does. It's an interesting, an interesting web, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 41:20

It's a conundrum, Danny. It's a conundrum.

SPEAKER_03 41:22

Yeah, it's a conundrum. Okay, the other for sure.

SPEAKER_01 41:25

The other out of conference, uh it's also out of region. Seton Hill against Tampa. What do you think about that game?

SPEAKER_03 41:34

Seton Hill better watch out. Yeah. Tampa, Tampa's badass at all positions. They're good. I mean, Tampa they're number one for a reason, Kev. They're a really, really good team. Um, deep at all positions. Uh Seton Hill, although playing well as of late, could they give could they be competitive against Tampa? Yes, I think they could be competitive, but I gotta give the edge to Tampa on this one.

SPEAKER_01 42:02

I do too, but these are two teams that I don't know how often they've even played each other or how much film they watch on each other because they're both different regions. Right. If you would ask me about Seton Hill playing them earlier in the season, I'd say it's it's gonna be a wash. They're just gonna you know, Seton Hill's gonna go down and go down by a lot because Seton Hill was not playing well, but they're playing better and better. They could do it, but I agree. Tampa is just so strong in every facet of the game. Right. It's gonna be it's a tough, tough uphill climb for Seton Hill in that game.

SPEAKER_03 42:39

You know, sometimes you know, when you got nothing to lose, like if a team like Seton Hill at the end of the season, all right, we're going against number one Tampa, we're ranked 18th or 19th or whatever it is, and they got nothing to lose. They're playing with house money, right? Right. Sometimes the team plays well when they when when they got that kind of going on. Hey, I got nothing to lose here. They play loose, they play free. They might take that shot that they might not take, and it might go in, you know, that type of thing. So again, I give the edge to Tampa, but I think I could see Seton Hill being competitive. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 43:15

Okay, one last game that's really next Tuesday, and it's a biggie. That's uh Lemoyne against the Delphi. What else do we have to say the granddaddy of them all in the granddaddy of them all?

SPEAKER_03 43:34

Yeah, this is that's gonna be that's gonna be one hell of a game. That might be one of the biggest games of the year. And it turns out to be the last game, right? Like the last game. Yeah. And in any 10, and it's got conference implications and national implications and everything involved. And we talked about Adelphi, how they're just playing loose and free, bunch of kids. Never played on that team before. They're just balling out, man. They're just playing really well. I could see, I could see a Delphi beating Le Moyne. I'm not saying it's gonna happen, not saying that. I'm saying I could see them winning that game.

SPEAKER_01 44:17

Yeah, like what Coach Purdy said, I when we asked him, do they have a chip on their shoulder? Are they playing to try to get back Le Moyne? He's like, none of the none of my players even remember that. They didn't play against Lemoyne last year when we lost three times to him. So that can help them, but I think sometimes having that chip helps too. We'll see. I both teams will be ready. This is the game. All eyes should be watching this game on Tuesday when it when it plays.

SPEAKER_03 44:46

I think most, I think most of Division II lacrosse will be watching that game.

SPEAKER_01 44:52

I would think so.

Players Spotlight

SPEAKER_01 44:55

Okay, moving on to the player spotlight, Danny.

SPEAKER_03 44:59

My favorite part, Kev, is my favorite.

SPEAKER_01 45:02

There we go. Yeah, there we go. Your favorite part. And it's interesting, Danny, because we are venturing into new territory here with something we have never done before. You know, so many of the players that have come on have talked about really about the team aspect of the game, and they give deference to other players on helping them. And so this week we decided to focus on a position which I think epitomizes what that teamwork needs to be, and that's the short stick D MIDI. And so this week we have the two starting D Midis for the Wingate Bulldogs. So let's welcome in Mark Tackard and AJ Low Mueller. Hey guys. Hey, how are you guys doing this?

SPEAKER_03 45:45

Defensive MIDI's. I like the D Midis, man. Big time. So we have Mark Tackard, uh fifth year, right? Fifth year senior out of uh New Jersey with us. And AJ Low Mueller, fifth year senior out of Long Island, not too far away from where I am. Yeah, he's actually a straight guy. He's only a tough year. Tough. Yeah, fourth year senior. Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize for that. Okay. So you you possibly could come back. You possibly could go back. That'd be great. Hey, you guys are playing really, really well. Um, you're you're bringing that that that senior veteran um gamesmanship and leadership to this very young wing gate defense. You guys have been part of the Wingate defense for all four years of you guys been there. And last year, you know, a bunch of all-Americans back there at pole, you know, with James Houston and you had Reese Orman and a couple other guys that were just outstanding. And this year, a young, young, you know, freshman, two freshmen of sophomore in there. I've been watching you guys run that defense. You guys have been become uh really really vocal on the defensive side, uh, especially at the limestone game. I saw you guys really getting vocal pointing, getting players into position. How does it feel to be in that position, to be a leadership with such a young defenseman uh back there up close? Mark, I'll start with you.

SPEAKER_05 47:21

Yeah, it's um it's a lot. It's a lot of work um getting these guys, you know, in the shape. Like you said, two freshmen, one sophomore, uh, no real play experience. So with us two and Mike up at top, you know, it's we don't we're facing up and they're looking, you know, forward. So it's kind of hard to see what's going on behind us. So just getting those guys into you know, talking more and the help of Coach Boyle and those guys getting the whole slide package down because you know, all where these people played high school ball, they might have played in the zone. So getting these guys, you know, man to man and talking more because high school to college, huge jump. And you could see in those first couple games, took those three a decent amount of time to figure out, you know, what to do and what you know what to say. And I can say for myself, I'm proud of all three of them and all of us that we've come together and you know we're we're we're doing pretty well right now. AJ?

SPEAKER_04 48:16

Yeah, like Mark said, um, you know, it was a rough start, you know, getting the defense together. Um, but like Mark said, like I love the way that they've grown over the year. Um, the way that, you know, we're still going up. Like each game we've gotten better defensively as a team. Um ball, those guys are outstanding defensively. You know, so obviously it was the off ball. They're young guys, they gotta learn. Um, but you know, they're they're they they're listeners, they want to learn, they want to get better. So, you know, they kind of help us out with it too. It's not just a one-way us telling them what to do the whole time.

SPEAKER_01 48:56

Yeah, that's that's great. I always think of your position as the first line of defense. You know, you can actually dictate how the opposing offense is going to be handled, where they're gonna go, depending on how that they bring down the ball. And it really takes not only on ball, but off-ball coordination, starting with you two at at that those positions. So AJ, talk me through what it takes to do that as a as a short stick D MIDI unit.

SPEAKER_04 49:28

Um, so you know, we have as our defense is um the way we kind of work is we have our spots that we want to put um the opposing team uh when they're dodging us. We have spots we want to put them in to make a slide easier if we need it. So not only is it on us to like, yes, we are the first line, but it also comes with you know having the trust in those young guys we were talking about before that they're gonna have our backs when they're behind us when we need it. Um, the good thing is obviously it's me and Mark's up there with the ledge. So we do have all that uh backside up top help from those guys communicating down low to the first slide, you know. Like we say, like you're free, like you're gonna go to those guys, telling them that you know, we got your guy, you can go help him now. So it's it's all about it all it all works back to one another because you know, the one slide he has to have my back, two slides gotta have his back, and you know, that's just what we say to one another in those situations.

SPEAKER_01 50:39

Yeah, so Mark, I I just gotta know honestly, does does AJ listen to you, or do you always constantly have to tell him, you know, just to stay uh focused?

SPEAKER_05 50:49

Yeah, uh AJ, you know, his mind wanders a lot. So uh but um no AJ's great. And uh we've been playing together for three years now, I think together. Yeah, about three. So it's kind of not even it's gotten to that point where we don't even have to talk to each other. It's yeah, like we know exactly what we're gonna do every time. So someone like that, it makes my job a lot easier.

SPEAKER_01 51:12

So yeah, that's what I would that's what I've seen. You know, there's more talk between you two and the the close defense than what you have to do between you two, and and obviously Mike, because you play with Mike for several years. I have to ask this question. I'm not sure, and you can tell me if I'm wrong, anyone really starts off as a D Midi. So, how did you get to this position?

SPEAKER_05 51:40

Yeah, so I was in LSM coming in freshman year, and me and Reese actually were splitting time up top, and um somebody got hurt, so we had uh just two, I think, at the time. So Coach Boyle switched me. He said it was temporary, but you know, lasted forever. So I can't blame him though. You know, um, it worked out so at the moment I you know nobody wants to be switched to that position, but uh it worked out really well, and uh yeah, so it's been going good since.

SPEAKER_01 52:15

Yeah, how about you, AJ?

SPEAKER_04 52:17

Um, pretty much very similar to Mark, um, except he was actually the guy that got hurt. Uh he pulled hamstring against, I think it was I remember that.

SPEAKER_03 52:28

I remember that.

SPEAKER_04 52:29

So Mark pulled his hamstring, and in the middle of the game, Coach Boyle comes over to me and he's like, When's the last time you had a short stick in your hand? I was like seventh grade when my dad moved me to poll, and he was like, All right, you're practicing it this week. And I was like, All right, and then every year since I've asked for the pullback and coach.

SPEAKER_03 52:51

I have asked as well, and you know, you just never happens, but well, guys, I'm gonna have to say something uh here, seeing that I've raised a D MIDI and I know what it's about. He uh led Long Island in goals in his senior year in offense and never saw the offensive side of the field at at his respective university. Um, it was funny, but um the D MIDI's uh usually are fast, athletic, physical, and they have attributes that maybe some of the other players don't like. Sometimes you get those players that just don't like being touched, they don't like the stick on them, they don't like the body on them. I watch you two guys, and you guys are. Oh, you love to body people up. You guys love putting bodies on bodies. Uh, Mr. Tackard might wind up in the box a couple of times a game, but you know what? I'll take it. I'll take that physicality. Um, where do you guys find that physicality? Do you think it's from? Did you either one of you guys play football? Mark?

SPEAKER_05 53:59

No, I swam my whole life, so it's a little weird.

SPEAKER_03 54:04

Okay, yeah, we'll get into that later. What about you, AJ? You played football?

SPEAKER_04 54:09

Yeah, I played football in high school.

SPEAKER_03 54:12

See, I find those football players usually don't mind the uh physicality, don't mind the body. And um, you guys do a really, really good job of being physical out there. But more importantly, I I want to go back to some of the big games like the Limestone game. But I just watched the both of you work in tandem, uh, pointing to each other, yelling out um things to each other, getting those guys into position. Um, it was really impressive to me. You know, Wingate's been a top-notch defense for the last six, seven years, like in a row now. Um, still a top five defense. How does Coach Boyle keep you guys in such great physical shape? Tell me, ask me how that happened.

SPEAKER_05 54:55

Um, it starts in practice. We we do a lot of offense-defense split and we we grind on each other. We go, we go, you know, really hard. We, you know, just dodging on each other, you know, doing ground balls where we'll roll one in. It's a five on five, whoever picks it up, he's out, and then it's a four-on-four. We do a lot of those where we just we go at each other, try to stay aggressive, and uh it works.

SPEAKER_01 55:20

The other thing I like, you Danny touched upon it, not only is your both of your physicality, but both of you can push transition. You do very well moving the ball onto the offensive side, and actually can shoot probably not as good as uh Danny's son, but you actually are are you guys are smart when you bring it over to the offensive side. I guess my question is what do you like better? Hitting or running transition? AJ?

SPEAKER_04 55:49

I gotta go with Hayden. Especially a clean hit when you don't get the flag thrown on you. I'll take that over and assist. And I know Coach Boyle is gonna let me hear it. But I gotta go with Hayden.

SPEAKER_05 56:06

How about you know that and then the mine's probably the offensive side push, just strictly because you know it's good when you're pushing it down and all, you know, and but then say, you know, we get stuffed or we get turned over, then you gotta, you know, get all the way back after you've already been fired from running that way. So there's a risk reward um with pushing transition, but you know, that's that's no doubt.

SPEAKER_01 56:33

Danny touched on this too, but I'm kind of interested. What's it like to play for a coach like Coach Boyle?

SPEAKER_05 56:41

Yeah, so I was committed under the old coach. Um, and I got the I came on a couple overnights here and I got to see, you know, how he coached the practice. And I see how Coach Boyle, you know, he talks to us and keeps the little things in check. And you know, we all wear the same stuff to everything, and just attention to detail oriented, and it really like it it uh pushes towards like everything else that we do, like schoolwork and you know, like how we treat other people around campus, holding doors for people, you know, just little stuff like that. And it makes us better men. So when we do leave this place eventually, you know, we're we'll uh we'll be able to stand on our two feet well and uh that correlates to lacrosse school anything. And uh that's what I like about him the best.

SPEAKER_01 57:30

How about you, AJ?

SPEAKER_04 57:32

Yeah, like Mark said, to go off mark there. Um my biggest thing with Coach Boyle is um you know he cares more about how you are as a person than how you are on the field. You could be the best looking lacrosse player in the world, but you know, if you're not holding yourself accountable with your academics, um anything other than lacrosse, then he doesn't care. Um, and that to me is really important because it's not just he's you're not just a lacrosse player on his team to him. You know, you're you're a part of the brother system, like we're all one big family. And like Mark said, he wants to make you more prepared for your future after you leave here, um, rather than just winning some lacrosse games.

SPEAKER_03 58:21

That's so interesting. I mean, a lot of people have nothing but great things to say about Ghost Boyle, and including other coaches that we've had on the podcast. Um, they all hold him in such high regard. Um, I personally think the world of him. I've met him a few times, and uh I really liked him uh very much. He was great on our podcast, and um you guys are phenomenal. Uh, I've watched you guys your entire career at Wingate, and I I have to say that I'm proud of you guys. I've watched you grow as lacrosse players, but more importantly, you're good men.

SPEAKER_05 59:00

Thank you. I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_01 59:02

And so, Danny, with that though, I mean, really to finish off their college career, they got to go under the firing round.

SPEAKER_03 59:10

They got to get into the firing line. All right. Ten questions, guys. I'll go with Mark first on the first question, real quick. Just tell us off the top of your head. First question, first answer that comes into your uh into your mind. But first of all, let's learn a little bit about you. Mark, what was the first sport you picked up?

SPEAKER_05 59:32

Uh, been swimming since I was six, I think.

SPEAKER_03 59:37

So swimming. Now, I grew up on the beach, so I've done a lot of swimming and surfing, and all my kids are like little, little fish in the water. So swimming's a great sport. It's a great way to keep in great shape, no doubt. Very cool. AJ, what was the first sport you picked up?

SPEAKER_04 59:57

Soccer, actually.

SPEAKER_03 59:59

Soccer, yeah. That's the way it is on Long Island. Everybody gets the cleats, they get the little shin pads, they're like four years old, five years old, and they go out and they run around with the the other rug rats. That's that's a big first sport here on Long Island soccer for sure. Mark, who's your favorite pro team?

SPEAKER_05 1:00:18

Probably the Eagles.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:20

All right, Philly, Philly. What about you, AJ?

SPEAKER_04 1:00:23

New York Jets.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:24

Oh, you poor man. Oh my lord, I feel for you. I feel for you, the Jet fans. Okay, Mark, who's your favorite pro athlete?

SPEAKER_05 1:00:37

Um, either be Michael Phelps or Tiger Woods, either one.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:43

Tiger? Okay, you're the first person who brought up a golfing uh analogy there for uh well.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:50

Look at two guys for individual sports and he started off in swimming. So now swimming's a team sport in a lot of ways when you do the relays, but there's a lot of individuality when you're up there in the water, so those are cool picks.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:03

AJ, who's your favorite pro athlete?

SPEAKER_04 1:01:06

I like Jamal Adams a lot. Yeah, Jets jersey when he was on the Jets. I was sad to see him go, but watching him come up and fill the hole, that was one of my favorites.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:16

Okay, Mark, Xbox or PlayStation? Xbox all day. AJ, same question.

SPEAKER_04 1:01:24

Um, I don't know what to say now because I was Xbox my whole life until now, so I think I gotta go.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:34

Oh, that's a little ribbon back and forth. Wait till you guys get to practice tomorrow. Okay, Mark, runs or lifts?

SPEAKER_05 1:01:42

Runs, not yeah, definitely runs with swim cardio. I'm not a runner.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:49

Not a runner, what he's not a runner. Meanwhile, he's running kids down all game long. What are you kidding me? So I guess you're going for lifts, huh, AJ? Okay, all right, Mark, who's the funniest guy on the team?

SPEAKER_05 1:02:07

Uh, number 33, Brody Baker, by far. Funniest kid I've ever met.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:11

What what makes Brody?

SPEAKER_05 1:02:13

He's the new guy, right? Isn't he? Or second year?

SPEAKER_03 1:02:16

Sophomore, yeah. Yeah, what makes him so funny?

SPEAKER_05 1:02:19

I don't think he he just because he doesn't try to be funny, it's just his natural personality that is just so funny. Just the things he says and does is just hilarious.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:30

Okay, very cool. AJ, I won't ask you that question. I'll ask you something different. Who's the most athletic guy on the team? The best all-around athlete, the guy that can play everything and do everything. John Natoli.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:42

I think Mark will agree with me. John Natoly, that that kid is just an absolute animal of an athlete. Are you sure it's not me? Well, yeah, other than Tackard. I can't John Natoly, that kid. I mean, he's all decade at Oceanside over there, Oceanside High School on Long Island.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:04

Yeah, yeah. I know I know Coach Blount very well. Okay, Mark. Who is the one guy on the team you would never let date your sister?

SPEAKER_05 1:03:18

Mark Cottage, by the way. I don't trust that guy as far as I throw him. AJ's cracking up.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:26

I'm gonna ask AJ the same question. Who's the one guy you wouldn't let date your sister?

SPEAKER_04 1:03:33

Oh, I feel like I would be better off saying who I would let date them because I don't I wouldn't want anyone. I think I'm going Willie Greco. He's the only one allowed to.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:44

Okay, all right, okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:46

Well, that will tell you the character of everyone on your team minus Willie.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:51

Yeah, all right. All right, Mark, give us your best impression of Coach Boyle.

SPEAKER_05 1:04:00

Uh oh, that's a hard one. There's so much. Um, there's so much, huh? Oh boy, I didn't know that. Uh like you want me to go through like a skit or something, or just you know, just give us an impression of him what he would do at a practice or something that stands out to you. During a game, probably be somebody doesn't two slide, and then he chucks his hat on the ground really hard and then goes on the on the crouch with the the hands over the eyes, and then you look over and you're like, Oh, I messed up.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:37

AJ, give us your best impression of coach.

SPEAKER_04 1:04:40

Yeah. Um, when you're coming going over to the box and you see him just walking towards you, what especially when you're coming from like the opposing team's side of the field, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:01

I I've seen I've seen him do that a couple of times for sure. I've heard, I've heard, and I don't know if this is true, I've just heard that you know it's gonna be a bad practice if you guys are on the field warming up and coach came down the hill without his hat on.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:19

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:19

If if he didn't have his hat on, you knew it was gonna be a rough practice. Is that true?

SPEAKER_05 1:05:24

That's the indicator, the no-hat.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:27

Okay. We have the secret, Danny. We have the secret.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:31

So so the information I got was was correct. That's pretty funny. All right, Mark, last question. What's your plans after graduation?

SPEAKER_05 1:05:40

Um, I got a job back home doing accounting um with Clifton Larson Allen. So I start in June.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:47

Excellent, excellent. In in Jersey or in New York?

SPEAKER_05 1:05:50

It's in Philadelphia.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:51

Ah, Philly. Okay, great, great. And AJ, what's your plan? You think you're gonna come back for that fifth year, or are you gonna look to go get some work? Or undecided yet.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:02

I'm thinking I'm gonna be working, um, going home, finding some work for a little bit, and then overall I want to get down by my sister somewhere in South Carolina and move over there.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:13

Right. Right.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:15

I'm really happy.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:16

Sounds great.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:17

Well, let me just put it right now. You guys were awesome to have on. It's always a little bit tougher when you've got more than one talking to, especially on a podcast. But we really appreciate you guys coming on and sharing your thoughts about your team and the position. I think Short Stick D Middy is a position that is not recognized enough for the hard work you guys put in. So we really loved having you on, and we wish you all the best for the rest of the season.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:46

Yeah, thank you guys very much. Thanks for having us. Yeah, thanks for having us.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:50

Mark Tackard and AJ Lil Mueller, uh Short Stick DMIDIS at Wingate Bulldogs. Uh, continued success, fellas. Thank you so much for coming on the show tonight. We really

Final Thoughts

SPEAKER_03 1:07:00

appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:01

Well, Danny, we we never did that before. Two players on at the same time, and it was fun having Mark and AJ on from Wingate.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:10

What a bunch of good kids they are. And and you could tell the love they have for each other. Yeah, these guys have been playing together for four or five years now, four years together, um, playing the same position. One side on one side of the field, the other guy on the other side of the field. They play for a great coach on a great defense. Um, but again, more importantly, they're just good kids. They come from good families, and are just I just like them to they're just really good kids.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:41

I I agree. So to close out though, Danny, you know, we're coming up on conference tournaments. We talked about the games to watch this next week. Well, right after that, the reason why we haven't talked about it is some of the conference tournaments start up around the 26th, 27th, 28th of April. And there's five of the ten conferences start next week, and that's the SAC, GLVC, Sunshine State, CACC, and Conference Carolinas. So we're getting into the thick of it. And it's also time when these games start the conference games start to have a factor in the NCA tournament. So break down for me what you see right now as you looked at the stacks. I think you went into lax power this past weekend of where you think they the regions stack up.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:38

Well, you know, this is the really important part of the year, Kev, like you just said, and you pointed out conference time, conference tournaments uh heat up. Um, all the teams that are doing well have kind of set themselves apart from the other teams. Uh went on lax power, started doing by the numbers a little bit. And I was just, you know, I came up with my own little list of teams that I think right now, as of today, uh, April, what is it, 17th? What it's the 18th today. 18th? Okay, I'm a day behind. Sorry. That happens this time of year up here. Um, yeah, so here we are on April 18th. And um, I was just doing my research and just doing some homework and came up with a a little list of what who I think in the regions right now, as we speak, would be getting into the tournament. Um, if you want, I could go into the south or the north. Let's start with the south, okay? Sure. Since Coach Volpe says we always uh always talk about the south, we'll start with the yeah, right. Volpe, we we're just gonna keep it with the flow.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:49

We may talk about the north. If he's lucky, we'll talk about the north afterwards.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:53

No, he's he's involved in the north for sure. Yeah, so in the south, in the south right now, at the number one, I have Tampa at 14-0. Um, they have two games left. They have the at Emory Riddle and at number 20, Seaton Hill. So they have two games left on their schedule. Um, right now I see them as the number one seed in the South region. Number two in the South region, I see right now Limestone Saints, uh, 13 and one, that one goal lost to Wingate. Yeah. Only blemish on their record. They've been really playing well. They've been on a mission, and they have one game, and it comes in a couple of weeks after their tournament. They scheduled a game with UIndy.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:40

Yeah, they haven't played Kataba too, I think. Uh that's right. They play Katawa.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:46

They play Kataba and then they have their tournament. Yep. Um, now the SAC, and then they have UI before regional and NCAA tournament games start. So that's interesting that they schedule that game after their conference tournament, but smart. Um I uh number three, I have uh Lenore Ryan, 11-3. They have one game left at Mars Hill, and then they start conference play. They host the uh SAC conference tournament this year. So they bring a lot of people, and when they're hosting in between the bricks there in Hickory, it's it's they're a tough time there at home. Yeah, no doubt. At four, right now, I have UIndy. Um 12-1. They have two games left, two big ones, actually. They host Mercyhurst, and then that game with limestone that we just spoke about. So crazy way to finish. Yeah, yeah. That could change for you, Indy. They could be in or out, they're kind of right there. My fifth team in, also out of the same conference, Lyndonwood. I think if they win out, they're in. They're 10 and 2. They have one game against Rockhurst, and then they have their tournament, conference tournament. And they already beat you Indy in conference play.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:07

Just like Coach Lang said, win and we're in. And I agree. They win out and they're in.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:14

So I got a couple of teams on the outside looking in, right on the bubble, Rollins at 11-2 with a big game against Florida Tech coming up. That game could mean something there. So my second team out looking in, Colorado Mesa. Okay, their numbers stack up. I just don't know. They're gonna need a little help, I think, getting in, but their numbers are there. They're 10 and 3. They have three games left against lower echelon opponents. So Colorado Mesa looking, looking in from the outside, they need help. Uh, my number three team, Florida Tech, looking out, uh, looking in from the outside at 10 and 4. And my number four team out of the south, Wingate at 10 and 3, looking in. I think Wingate would have to win out completely. And that means the conference tournament. Yeah. If Wingate wants to get back to that final four, and that's the South.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:12

Uh the North.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:15

Um, my number one team out of the North right now is the Delphi, Kevin. I just think this team is just right now playing as good as anybody else in the country. Uh, they sit at 10-0. They have three games left. They host Mercy. Um, then they travel to Bentley and then Lemoyne. Um all three games.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:35

They've got a lot of real estate left, but they just because they're undefeated, I think you have to put them there.

unknown 1:13:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:42

And they're playing, I mean, it's not just because they're undefeated, but they're they've been playing really well. And and the game next Tuesday against Le Moyne will be interesting.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:53

Yep, absolutely. Uh, number two, Lemoyne. The Dolphins uh 11 and 1, the defending uh NCAA champs. Um, they have three games left. They play St. Rose, and then they're at Franklin Pierce, and then they host the Delphi that last game. So that's gonna be that's gonna be a burn burner. That one right there. So uh number three out of the north, I have Mercyhurst, nine and two. Um number four, I have Mercy at nine and one. And I have a Delphi, Roberts Wesley, and a Frostburg all on the road. Wow. Okay, wow. So Mercy, Mercy's got a little tough road ahead of them. Um again, a Delphi, Roberts Wesley, and Frostburg all on the road. So let's see what Mercy can do. They've been playing really well. Um, only one loss all year. Um, they've been finding ways to win games, and let's see if they can continue that in and going forward. Uh, my last team out of the north right now is Pace at 10-2. Um, they still have to travel to St. A's and then they host St. Rose. So those are my top five out of the North: the Duffy, Le Moyne, Mercy, Hearst Mercy, and Pace. And a couple of teams outside looking in on the bubble, Seton Hill at 8 and 5. They have three games left, and they have Tampa on their schedule. So it's it's an uphill, it's an uphill battle for Seton Hill. Saint A's, uh, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:25

I think they gotta go far in the conference. They've got to go to the finals at least, I would think. It's not gonna be easy for them.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:34

No, they have an uphill battle, like you said. They're gonna have to win out in their conference tournament and make a lot of noise. My number three uh team out of the north, outside looking in, is Wilmington. You know, they're interesting. Yeah, yeah. I can see them, I can see them outside looking in, yeah. And you know, their numbers kind of are pretty good. And um, and that last team I have looking in is Roberts Wesley. And so those kind of teams, those they need a little help. Uh it looks like the regionals are starting to heat up a little bit, but this is the best time of year, Kev. I can't believe how fast it's gone. I can't believe it's tournament time already. You know, some teams a game, one game left, two games left, and it's it.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:20

I know. Yeah, the south obviously heats up first in the conference tournaments, followed by the north about a week later. It's gonna be a fun run the next few weeks, but I think for this week, that's a wrap. That's a wrap, go.