Game Time - A look back at week 4 and a preview of Week 5 of the 2022 season

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SPEAKER_02 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 lacrosse. I'm your co-host, Kevin Stenstrom, and with me as always is our perennial powerhouse of D2 Men's lacrosse knowledge, Danny Moran. How are you doing, Danny?

SPEAKER_03 0:30

Kevin, you you go into the deep into the to the books every time, but I appreciate all your uh your introductions. I really do appreciate it. I'm doing good today. How are you doing in northern Virginia?

SPEAKER_02 0:44

I'm doing well. I'm doing well. It's starting to warm up here. Let's hope it stays that way as we head into March.

SPEAKER_03 0:50

Yeah, not here. It's been cold. Oh my god. I'm so ready for a vacation. I am so ready.

SPEAKER_02 0:58

Well, why don't we just uh start talking about lacrosse then and go into the week in review? But before we start, I have to say something that the technology we have today is a blessing and a curse. It is such a blessing now that so many games are being streamed and you can watch them, right? But it's really at the same time for me, it's become a curse because now I'm like dependent on it, you know, and you can't get to a game enough you want to see. I've got a couple examples of that. So one is the Lewis Maryville game. I could not watch it live because I was watching all the games and I saw the score at the end, and it was that Lewis won 15-13. So I'm like, I've got to watch this game. So Saturday night, I'm trying to watch it and I'm watching it. I'm like, and this it's it's getting near the end of the game, and it we're only in the beginning of the third quarter. Sure enough, somewhere in the third quarter, there pops up a cue that says battery level low, replace battery. Like all of a sudden the camera went out. And I'm like, I and so and the score was 11 to 8 at the time, and Lewis was still down, and they came back in 115-13. So I'm like, I was bummed out, and I'm not even a fan of uh I'm not a parent or uh, you know, have someone in the game. I'm a fan, obviously, but I was like, wow, if that happened and I was watching the game, I'd be really bummed. And then my yeah, it was crazy. And then the other one was Colorado Mesa, I guess, went against Westminster. Couldn't watch it live. I was out yesterday. I come back and I start to watch the game, and I'm watching the game, it's like two to two, and then like I blink and it's eight to seven. And I'm like, wait a minute, did I fall asleep or something? So I roll back. No, it jumps from like somewhere in the first quarter to the third quarter in the replay, really. Oh boy, and it was like eight-seven, and and CMU was up, and um, and then I could watch the rest of the game, but I'm like, what I'm missing so much of this. That's why it's a crazy crazy, yeah. So I had to I had to just vent that for a second on on this podcast. I'm sure other people are feeling that thing, but uh science, that's right. Let's let's move on to the week in review. Let me start before we get into some of the critical games. One game that I have to give a shout out is obviously for Diouville playing their first D2 game against Felician. Yeah, good for them, good for them. It's not the way it ended for them. They lost 17 to 3, but we have to give a couple shout-outs. One to Nick Chalette, who scolded scored the first goal in program history to make it 3-1.

SPEAKER_03 3:47

Yeah, he's he'll be always in the record.

SPEAKER_02 3:49

That's right, he's always there, and then their goalie, Reese Eck, who was really, really good in the game, really stellar between the pipes. I think the only problem with uh Diouville right now is they've got to work on some of their fundamentals, got to protect the ball better, and they've got to work on their cleaning game. And I think the announcer for Felician said it best when he said the Saints are not playing bad D, they're just playing a lot of D.

SPEAKER_03 4:15

And that was the difference in the game. Yeah, well, you know, Diouville's all freshman, Kev, you know, and yeah, we had Coach Prince on, he knows what he's up against. But hey, congratulations! They got their first game under their belt. Yeah, they took a whooping. But you know what? These kids are gonna learn as they go on, they're gonna learn, and each game and each week they will get better, that's right, and better and better. And let's talk, let's talk four years from now. Exactly. These freshmen are our seniors and have a ton of games under their belt. I guarantee you they're gonna be a lot different game. That's right. Now they're gonna be able to get a resec. Yeah, going back to resec, sorry. 24 saves in his first game. Yeah, 24 saves. That might stay in the record books for a while. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 5:01

Not only that, he played a good game. They played their second game on on Sunday, and they they lost to Dominican. Now they doubled their number of goals, so they had six in that game. They lost, I think, 16 to 6 to Dominican. So Dominicans on the board with a win, and but Deuville's learning, and they're gonna continue to improve on based on what they do. I'm sure Coach Prince will exactly okay. So let's move on. The big game on my list that I was so excited to watch was Mercyhurst Le Moine. But we made a bit of an error last week when we talked on the podcast. We thought it was gonna be at Mercyhurst, but it was played in a neutral site in Rochester. Not only that, in a dome. So I I reached out to the coaches and they came back to me and said, Yeah, I don't think we're gonna, it's gonna be streamed because we're in a dome that's very tight, tough to do. So that was a bummer. Didn't even get to see it live. I was basically watching the game, watching live stats, and the game ended 10-9 with Lemoyne winning in the end.

SPEAKER_03 6:06

Well, it was a good game. It went back and forth. Okay, it was a game, game of runs between Lemoyne and Mercy Hurst. Uh, it was 6'5 at half. Yeah, so it was a game. It was a game. And then about midway through the third quarter, it was tied 7-7. You know, Mercy Hearst got a goal and tied at 7-7. But, you know, Le Moyne's good, man. You know, and uh Carter Collins had three goals and two assists. Ben McCreary had two goals, and Zach Pierce had two goals, and it was a little bit too much at the end. Uh Lemoyne went out to a two-goal lead. Mercy Hearst came back and brought it within one. Yeah. But but they had eight minutes of game time, and Mercy Hurst had their opportunities and just could not, just could not put a biscuit in the basket. And and and Lemoyne held on to win.

SPEAKER_02 7:06

Yeah, the the stats that I saw that kind of stood out to me were the shots, first of all. Le Moyne had 42 to Mercy Hurst 34.

unknown 7:16

Right.

SPEAKER_02 7:17

Enough of a difference.

SPEAKER_03 7:19

But it's not a whole huge difference.

SPEAKER_02 7:21

It isn't, you know. You know, with those two teams being so close. I mean, look that that's the difference. The stats were so close. These were the only stats that had a that much of a margin, even. That's what's ground balls, ground balls. Lemoyne had 30, Mercy Hearst had 20.

SPEAKER_03 7:39

And that probably was more of a that's big. Yeah, that's big. That's it, but that's a 10 uh differential. That's a slide, you know, 10 way, you know, 10 the other way. So yeah, you can't give Le Moine the ball 10 10 extra times, you know what I'm saying? Just you just can't do that. Hey, but give Mercy Hearst the credit, man, and give him a ball game.

SPEAKER_02 8:00

Oh, without a doubt, without a doubt. And interestingly, their two top scorers of the game, Ethan Landymore with three goals and Miles Hammond with two goals. Those are two Canadian players, both the D1 transfers from Hartford and Harvard, that our right our crack research team up north, Warren Saunders, pointed out to me weeks ago. So I kind of look out there, they're on the board every every week for Mercy Hearst. So and they're gonna be every week. Yep. Yep, yep. So that was a good team.

SPEAKER_03 8:28

Good for Le Moyne. Le Moyne's a tough team. You know that we saw them play two weeks ago, and Mercy Hearst is a tough team, too. I mean, the the those are two teams that are very well coached, studs all Americans on both sides of the field for both teams. I expect to see Mercy Hurst in the end of the season in the tournament. Yeah, yeah, I agree.

SPEAKER_02 8:50

How about uh limestone and Lindenwood?

SPEAKER_03 8:54

Yeah, number eight limestone over number 10 Lindenwood. 13-8 was the final score. Limestone goes to four and oh, Kev. Yeah, they are um no joke. They are a team to be reckoned with. You know, Gavin Kesseling had a big day on offense. He had uh four goals and two assists. But you know what? Joelie William Baxter had 18 saves, which was huge. That's huge, you know. And um, you know, it was 7-6 midway through the third. It was a game. It was a game, a game. Another one game with two two goal runs tied up, two goal runs. Limestone kept getting ahead, kept getting ahead, kept getting ahead.

SPEAKER_02 9:37

Yeah, they outscored Linden with four to one in the third, and that kind of broke it open a little bit more. So it ended uh at the end of the third, it was 11-6. So, and then you talk about ground balls. Till Linden once 40. Yeah, you know, and you know what?

SPEAKER_03 9:56

Limestone scored two quick man ups in that third quarter, too. Yeah to like give them that two-goal head. This is a team we've said uh once, if we said it once, we've said it a hundred times. You cannot put go in the box against limestone, they're just too good on man ups, and um, and then limestone went on a five-five-nothing run at the end and kind of sealed the deal. So Limestone's legit, you know. Yep, they're I I think they're a really good team. And we have Lindenwood news, right?

SPEAKER_02 10:27

We do. We'll get to that in D2 news of the week in a little bit. Okay, we'll talk about that separately. Um, well, let's get to it right now. D2, uh, the news, it's actually D2 and D1. Lindenwood announced last Wednesday that they're gonna go D1 starting, I think, this summer, which to me is a little bittersweet. I love Lennon Wood in D2 lacrosse. I love to watch them, they're great competition for anyone they play. But the the sweetness is they get to go to D1 and show the D1 teams what D2 teams are made of, and I think they'll do fine. They may have struggled first year or two, but I think they'll do fine.

SPEAKER_03 11:07

You know, Linda Wynn University, Kevin, all their all their teams are very good. Yeah, um, they they have athletes all over the place, and all their teams, the swim team, the golf team, the women's teams are they're all very, very good, you know. Uh national champs and and a couple of different sports. So Lyndon Woods gonna be making the big move. Yep, yep, and we'll miss them. We'll miss them in D2. We definitely will miss them like we miss Merrimack. Yep, exactly. And look at Merrimack after three or four years being in D1. They struggled the first year, second year was COVID year. Last year they got a little better.

SPEAKER_02 11:47

This year they're playing well. Yeah, they beat my alma mater holy cross this past weekend, but let's not talk D1 anymore. That's yeah, that's all that's all the time we have for D one.

SPEAKER_03 11:57

That's it. Back to D2.

SPEAKER_02 11:59

All right, how about you, Windy, Seaton Hill?

SPEAKER_03 12:03

Yeah, hey, you Windy's uh legit guys, you know, out there.

SPEAKER_02 12:07

We said this every week, and thank God we're best land.

SPEAKER_03 12:12

These guys are good, man. These guys are a good team, they're fast, they're they share the rock, you know. Every week it's somebody different, you know. And we have Brian Robin, he talked about how they share the rock that nobody cares who who's who's the number one guy as long as they get the W.

SPEAKER_02 12:29

Yeah, and they have eight different goal scores for the Hounds this week.

SPEAKER_03 12:33

Yeah, like and they're a good squad, Kev. They have to be reckoned with Seton Hill's no joke, and you indie kind of dominated that game.

SPEAKER_02 12:42

I mean, the score might not indicate that, but you know, well, it's what's even more interesting, and and Brian kind of pointed this out, right? Seton Hill scored the first five goals. Yeah, and then at half, what what is it? It's five five at half. So you indie doesn't give up, and they came back uh and they they played a great game. And you're right that after that, in that second half, it it was dominated by by Undy.

SPEAKER_03 13:11

And and look at Undy's defense. They um Seton Hills had five man up opportunities and couldn't couldn't score on them. So you gotta give the hats off to the defense when the defense is playing, you know, man down. It's not easy. And those guys have been playing hard to you know to stop five five man ups is pretty good. So defense and offense at U Indy is they're balanced. They are balanced. Yeah, they're good, man. They're good.

SPEAKER_02 13:40

Okay, I want to touch upon Mercy Wilmington, which was a close game in the end, eight, seven final. Wilmington came back at the end. It was three-two at half with with Mercy up at halftime. And then Mercy goes on a 5-0 run to make it to lead eight to three. And that was basically it. They were up eight, four with about two minutes left. So I'm watching the game. I'm like, okay, the Mavs, the Mavericks have this game. Oh no. Wilmington not did not give up, and they go on a three-goal tear before Mercy was able to close it out and win the game.

SPEAKER_03 14:17

Mercy's trying to get a little bit of that rust off, you know, but they're still good. They got a chip on their shoulder. It's gonna be tough to play against Mercy this year. I don't care what team it is. I think I think Mercy's got that chip on their shoulder. But hey, Wilmington's got a really good coach down there, and you know what? And they got a squad as well. That's right. And they showed the fight, they showed the fight in that game.

SPEAKER_02 14:42

Absolutely. Another one to touch on really quickly, and it's more about where the teams are going. But Rollins and Lynn, and I watched this game, it's 14-13 final. Rollins pulls it out. Rollins scored the first six goals to take an early lead, and then Lynn chipped away, and then it was kind of back and forth. But the really interesting thing with this one now is kind of where the teams stand. Rollins is now four and oh, while Lynn, who you and I thought would do very well in the Sunshine State Conference, has started 0-3.

SPEAKER_03 15:15

Yeah, yeah. You know, uh I don't know what to say about that. I mean, Rollins is just balling out right now. They're four and oh, and that's you know, that Sunshine State Conference.

SPEAKER_02 15:26

And um, you know, yeah, they talk about uh that's right, and talk about um just a fairly balanced team as well. Their top scores was Marshall Ellison with four goals, Bailey Pringle with four goals and two assists, and Justin Eisenhower on the other side of the ball with four ground balls and four cause turnovers. It's a good day defense. Yep, yeah, yep. Now, also I just want to touch upon CMU Westminster. Not so much 16-13 final CMU Colorado Mesa beats Westminster in the first RMAC uh conference game. I just have to say this was a fun, although a lot of it was cut out for me. What I got to watch was so much fun to watch. These teams come with speed, they cut well, they have aggressive D. There's good goalie play. It just turned out in the end that Colorado Mesa was able to, you know, just score a little bit more in the in the third to pull away because they scored three straight to make it 10-7, and that was kind of enough to get them over, you know. And you they had guys like AJ Switzer with four goals and one assist, James Stankey, two goals, five assists, and then Timothy McGuire on the defensive side with two ground balls and three cause turnovers. So it was a good, it was a fun game to watch. It was really was. And then, of course, Saint A's and Chestnut Hill. That went all that game I watched.

SPEAKER_03 16:52

Yeah, that game I watched. Their defense was phenomenal.

SPEAKER_02 16:57

They scored the first 11 goals, Saint A's. And I I didn't think Chestnut Hill looked that bad, but Saint A's to me just looked a step faster and a bit stronger, like you talked about on D.

SPEAKER_03 17:09

Chestnut Hill couldn't even get shots off in the first quarter. Their defense, you know, Saint A's defense was really, really good. They were very aggressive, they were very physical. They're right out of the gate, they were causing turnovers. They you know Chestnut Hill just struggled with St. A's. They're deep, they were getting sticks in lanes, knocking down passes, and then you got CJ in goal.

SPEAKER_02 17:33

Yeah, they started just where they left off last year.

SPEAKER_03 17:36

Yeah, they they looked pretty good to me.

SPEAKER_02 17:38

Yeah, they are a force to be reckoned with. We talked about you, Indy, and a few others, but uh that first game was eye-opening to me. They just have not lost a step whatsoever.

SPEAKER_03 17:47

Like I said, that defense was very, very good. That stood out to me right away. I was like, wow, this defense came to play today.

SPEAKER_02 17:55

Yeah, okay. I I just want to throw out a few more other notables that I kind of looked at as I looked at the games this week. First of all, Anderson, Anderson University started 0-2, and now after this weekend, they've gone on a four-game win streak. Yeah, that's pretty impressive for them.

SPEAKER_03 18:12

I watched, I watched Anderson the other day too. I want to see my boy Cam. I'm gonna see him do it. You know what? He started to get better towards the second quarter, and then by the third quarter, he had so much confidence, and he was just winning, yeah, yeah, winning face-off after face-off. He's scoring on face-offs. He looked good, he looked good.

SPEAKER_02 18:32

The other team I wanted to point out was St. Rose, who I watched their first game against Malloy, and they looked pretty sloppy in the first half, but they really seemed to come on in that second half against Malloy. And since then, they've cleaned a lot of things up, and now they've actually won more games than they did last year. They are now two and one, and they only won one game last year. Now, last year was all in conference, they've been playing out of conference, but they just beat Georgian Court, who's a good team 21-4.

SPEAKER_03 18:58

Yeah. Georgian Court's struggling right now.

SPEAKER_02 19:01

They are, they are so I'll really be excited to see St. Rose in in-conference play in the NE10. Yeah, I'm looking forward to that too. Okay, Danny, let's now move on to the coach's spotlight. And I tell you, I've had more people contact me asking me when we're going to have this coach on because of the program he runs. So I don't I don't think we should waste much more time to bring on Lemoyne's coach, Dan Sheehan. Hey coach, how are you doing?

SPEAKER_00 19:31

I'm great. I'm great. Thanks, uh, thanks

Coach's Spotlight

SPEAKER_00 19:34

for having us.

SPEAKER_03 19:35

Coach Dan Sheehan, an Irishman. I love the Irishman. I'm a Moran, and we got the Irish going on big time. Coach Dan Sheehan from the Lemoyne Dolphins, 25 years at Lemoyne. Coach, 90% of your games you've won. Almost 90%. That's outstanding. Multiple national championships, including three in a row in 06, 07, and 08, and multiple trips to the big game. Seven-time any 10 coach of the year. Um, coach, you are one-storied, respected coach out there. What you do with your teams is amazing year in, year out. And I equate you to Mike Sheshewski. Because these kids just, he's laughing.

SPEAKER_02 20:22

He's laughing for the fall. He's like, stop building me up. Just let me just ask a question, Danny.

SPEAKER_03 20:28

No, no, these kids line up to play for you, coach. What's your magic secret?

SPEAKER_00 20:35

Oh boy, um, you know, I think that's a that's a great question. Um, you know, I I I think I think we're we're super fortunate to be located on a map, um, you know, where we are in in upstate New York, central New York. Um, you know, that the talent uh that that I have access to just between my house and in Lemoyne College is um you know it's it's plentiful to say the least. Um, you know, but 25 years ago, we coach Rockwell took a chance on a young kid that really had no idea what he was doing, um, really had no ambitions to ever make a career out of college coaching. Um and yeah, I mean we uh we took our lumps in the beginning and and then I I made a decision that if I was gonna go down, I was gonna go down my way. And you know, uh I played I played for um Coach Masser and at West Genesee. And it was uh, you know, as if you if you had good stick skills and and a a high lacrosse IQ, then then he had a place for you. Uh and I just remember that formula obviously worked for for West Genesee. And and that's kind of what what we did. Um, you know, it didn't matter, short, tall, skinny, fat, uh, if they could play, if they could handle a stick. and and if they knew the game then um took some chances on some kids and um you know I think probably the we were we were recruiting kids that that were an easy no I'm not interested in Lemoine uh right right but back then it was sitting in the office until you know eleven o'clock at night making phone calls and you you know you hear you hear no once and you put them on the list to call them again next week.

SPEAKER_04 22:26

Right, right. Love it.

SPEAKER_00 22:27

And you get a you get a couple of those to stick and then you win a couple games that maybe you shouldn't have and um then maybe you make a tournament that you shouldn't have and um yeah one thing I guess is is led to the next yeah that's that's amazing coach to to hear that.

SPEAKER_02 22:45

And it's funny I think a lot of people would say you're the other team in Syracuse but watching your game I was saying this to Danny on the past podcast watching your game against Wingate I've watched your games streaming or on TV but it's the first time I saw your team with my own eyes live and it is masterful the way you guys move the ball you're so disciplined I don't think you're the other team I think you're the team in Syracuse yeah I I don't I don't I don't know if I agree with you if I agree with you there.

SPEAKER_00 23:22

You know it is it is nice sharing a sharing a city because there there's an awful lot of eyes on on the orange and blue and I think you know if you if you peek off to your peripheral um that's where maybe you tend to notice you know where where Le Moyne College is and where our lacrosse program is. But I appreciate the the kind words. You know I I think I'm I've been very fortunate the last couple of years to have some pretty mature uh teams um you know we've academically uh we've got some some fantastic programs along with graduate programs uh and I think it says something you know I always tell people I got a huge problem kids won't leave uh you know you you look at our sidelines and it just keeps going it almost wraps around the end line uh I think I think a lot of that is because the you know they they enjoy the family that they're in so much that that they uh that they just don't want to leave interesting yeah so now let's move on coach to your schedule for this year you you beat number two wingate but your first three games not to mention you rest your schedule really w in the NE10 but your first three games wingate then mercy hearst then mercy bing bang and boom those are three three good ones to start off with for sure I mean definitely get your team you know how do you set that up I mean those I mean wow your team's like coach what are you doing to us yeah well well first I I appreciate those three coaches um you know agreeing agreeing to play us out it's probably one of the most difficult parts of the job is is trying to find folks that uh you know that that want to get on the schedule um you know there's it in the as you as you both know in the world of division two lacrosse um you know uh every game is is a must win um yeah at least it has been up here in in the north yeah um you know with with no automatic qualifiers in division two you you need your resume um to be as as strong as it can and uh we do have a new uh a new uh criteria this year in in the NCA selection criteria for division two and um you know one of them it it's it's basically your uh you get quality win win points quality points for um you know wins like with teams above a 750 percentage uh at home you get points for um you get points for losses against uh teams with 750 so uh strength of schedule uh it was kind of a no-brainer for us uh right in in the wing gate game was was kind of a last minute ordeal uh we were we were looking for a game and just happened to throw it out there to to Timmy to see if he'd be interested uh in meeting halfway and and he jumped on it so um so yeah we we appreciate that yeah that was a fun game to watch i definitely enjoyed it i thought both teams played well um i felt that you guys exposed wingate's young defense a little bit early in the in that game they're young they got two freshmen and a sophomore back there at the close poll but they're they're quick they're athletic they're physical I think they they grew up in that second half that wingate defense and that's all because of you coach you grew that team up um and and and you know what that's what programs need that they need to play teams like you now let me ask you this what's it like to be the hunted all the time all the time it's like it's relentless you're the haunted yeah it's um you know I I I I have no idea if people will believe me or not but um you know we we said it in the last couple minutes of the game on on Sunday like we spend we spend so much time on us um you know we're we're so confident in in the things that we do on both ends of the field uh that that we spend boy probably nine you know we we obviously putting scouts in and and knowing personnel but um you know I I think have having been fortunate enough to play in NFL stadiums where the wingman on a face off closest to you can't hear a word that you're saying uh you know that that that those experiences have have taught me and we've tried to teach the kids that you know you fall back on your fundamentals. Right. And so we spend so so much time on us uh in doing and being the best version of ourself. Uh it's worrying about who's standing on the other sidelines and and what they're doing or what they're gonna do.

SPEAKER_02 28:24

Obviously you want to you want to be prepared but um you know I I think we do spend a lot of time on the fundamentals which which allows us to um feel pretty confident that regardless of of what's going on uh in the other team's huddle that you know we'll be able to deal with it right so going on that coach you kind of said it when we talked about the first three games and setting them up is it tough for you do a lot of teams just say uh we're just not ready to play against Lemoyne or is it more with the in-conference schedules you know NE10 being so big SAC being so big trying to get those games out of conference to play the teams that you want to play is it just more of a scheduling conflict that makes it tough trying to find the time that northern schools start a little bit later uh you know a week or two later for practice so then it's trying to line up how you're gonna do that makes it tough. I'm just curious from your perspective what the case is.

SPEAKER_00 29:22

Yeah well we we have a le uh we have 10 games scheduled for us um now with the departure of Merrimack. Yeah um you know and and so that doesn't leave a lot of room uh you know and and where you're on a map uh and and not having access to the carrier dome uh is as much as you know as if we owned it uh yeah that that can be that can be interesting you know I uh as a northern team you kind of sit up it to be in February and you say all right who's crazy enough to go play down in in Florida that that time of year when you know they've been practicing outside right uh in 70 degree weather and you're uh you're waiting for the plow guy to finish the field and you gotta take a you got to take a break to feel your fingers and toes halfway halfway through practice.

SPEAKER_03 30:13

So yeah it's it's it's definitely challenging and um you know and again I think it's it's that you know the must-win every single game scenario um because especially for us you know when we had to beat a Delphi three team three times last year I know I know I I've said it before I Delphi was the best team we played last year and we played them three times um had to beat them once in overtime so yeah yeah a Delphi coach purdy does a great job at a Delphi for sure so well well coach I thank you so much for coming on tonight and taking the time um the Lemoyne Dolphins you know year in and year out are just an amazing team to watch um all Americans on both sides of the field uh I'm an offensive kind of guy if I was to play I'd probably be a middy but uh I I kind of I'm attracted to goalies and defensemen for some reason like I just think that defense and what you do on defense is just um top notch from uh from A to Z what you do on defense and what you're able to do to like what you did to Dickerson in the second half of last year's uh championship game and you just the adjustments you make Nate Arnold is a beast in my eyes I watch him play and I'm like wow that kid man that kid is good so what you're doing is like I said you're like Mike Cheshevsky of the D2 lacrosse where all these kids are lining up to play for you and uh I wish you the best of luck and I really appreciate you coming on tonight.

SPEAKER_00 31:46

I appreciate you having me and appreciate the exposure for Division II.

SPEAKER_02 31:50

Yeah thanks Coach so that was a really fun interview with Coach Sheehan don't you think? Yeah coach sheehan from Lemoyne yeah you took him a second to warm up a little bit but once he warmed up it was good you know I like coach sheehan and he's been doing up there you know is he's just one once just one team one

Games to Watch this Week

SPEAKER_02 32:15

year after another after another after another reload reload reload no it was good of course we interviewed him just so everyone knows we recorded him a week ago when we also did Ben McCreary and that's why he did not have the Mercyhurst win yet that we just discussed right so I'd point that out but I'm so glad that we finally got him on because now people can get off my back of not having coach sheehan on that's what I would say so you're ready to get talk about games coming up this next week and which ones we're gonna watch we got some really good ones to watch this week Kevin you know what seems like every week since week one there's been some really great matchups yeah yeah without at least three good you know good matchups so where do you want to start well I think we'd have to start with uh the mercy mavs hosting Lemoyne I think that's gonna be a game two top five teams again yep two top fives uh Lemoyne has to travel to mercy and I don't think traveling bothers Lemoyne too much I think now they're very comfortable with being on the road and doing what they have to do but Mercy's a good squad and we keep talking about that chip on their shoulder and I think you know I'm sure that Coach Levine wasn't too thrilled with the Wilmington game.

SPEAKER_03 33:41

I'm sure they want to clean some things up and uh that's exactly what I was going to say even with St.

SPEAKER_02 33:45

Rose, you know that was an 11-8 game it looks to me like they have to clean up some of their mistakes and turnovers you know they only have 12 of 17 in clears when they played against Wilmington.

SPEAKER_03 33:56

But if they do that which I'm sure they'll be ready this is the big game for them right yeah well they're gonna you know mercy's gonna face a really good defense two all American short stick D middle he's there a couple all Americans on the offensive side of the ball so mercy mercy's gonna be in for a ball game it's not gonna be easy but you know what I think I think they have what it takes to beat Lemoyne it'll be a good game it'll be a good game and then Saturday night there's a matchup of sack teams limestone and wingate they're playing in the crown classic which is really cool so that's in Charlotte four different games that day two women's two men's I think there's a D1 women's a D2 women's a D1 men's and then the last game is limestone wingate at 6 30 p.m yeah yeah yeah I heard there was like 25000 tickets sold or something like that like that's crazy for you know you're gonna have a division two in a big game but you know what limestone and wingate limestone's in the SAC now wingate took care of them pretty good last year limestone's had the edge big time over wingate over the years uh wingate got a little bit of revenge last year and and let's see what happens this year with the Bulldogs if they can uh get a big win against a really good limestone team at the Crown Classic how cool is that how cool for how cool for the kids at Wingate get to play at Johns Hopkins at at homewood field and then play in the Crown Classic to start you know SAC play I think that's pretty awesome.

SPEAKER_02 35:38

Yeah that's awesome and in the way I look at this right now I think it comes down to who plays better D again if you look at limestone with Consoletti and Kesslerling and then you look at Wingate with Greco, Padden and Vadovnik yeah who's gonna shut down whom?

SPEAKER_03 35:55

It's gonna be a great game I think it's a pick'em game I agree I agree it's gonna be that close okay Danny the next game on my list to watch is on Saturday again Lake Erie against Lewis the storm Lake Erie's been playing good lately uh Kev. They're competitive they're two and two I think right now actually they're one and two yeah that was a big game there last week against Frostburg and and they they won they beat a ranked opponent you know and again Lake Erie's been competitive in the last couple of games and that's a big that's a big win for Lake Erie to beat Frostburg.

SPEAKER_02 36:35

And now they've got coach Baruzy and Lewis coming in yeah exactly they now they are one and two they lost to Undy and Maryville and then came back and beat Frostburg State Lewis just took down Maryville in a thriller so I think this is going to be a close game Lake Erie is playing really well they played both those teams that are really good tight and they beat a Frostburg team that was ranked at the time yep and beat them 1411 so it's gonna be a really good game.

SPEAKER_03 37:08

Yeah I think it's gonna be a really good game.

SPEAKER_02 37:10

I think that's gonna be one of the better games to watch yeah this week it'll be fun to watch now I go a little bit beyond uh Saturday I'm looking at Monday for Florida Southern against Lindenwood this is a big game for both squads that's why I have it on my list.

SPEAKER_03 37:31

Yep for both squads okay a loss for either squad could send the season into the wrong way if you understand what I'm saying. Yeah Florida Southern is on a roll they scored 22 more goals this past weekend yeah but here's what's interesting about that game Flagler kept it close in the first half it was 6'4 at the end of the first half but then Florida Southern just shut them down and they scored 16 more goals and held Flagler to zero so in four games what does Florida Southern have close to 70 goals eight seven over 70 goals over 70 goals so now here comes in Lindenwood who's gonna have to shut the that shooting machine down yeah and Lindenwood's coming off you know what a lot going on with Lindenwood just announced they're going to D1 lost that game last week and now they're gonna be on the road and it's that's a big game for them they can can they bounce back and with all with all that distraction and all that stuff going on can Lyndon Wood bounce back because Florida Southern Florida Southern is a good squad we keep that that that team keeps keeps shining to me each week something about Florida Southern just says to me that's a good team well I gotta watch them oop they beat another one that's right they beat another one that's right I'm with you 100% on that one. That's a big game for both squads a win a win for Florida Southern is a big win and that propels them into the top 15 it's got to exactly who else do you have on your list well you know frostburg hosts Tampa. So you know we talked about Frostburg they lost that first game out of the gate you know with uh Lake Erie so now they got Tampa coming in Tampa's been really really good so you know could could Frostburg start out 0-2 you know it's possible it is i i I would I would say it would be it's gonna be tough for them to beat Tampa it's I think it's gonna be tough for anybody to beat Tampa. Exactly to be honest with you that they look that good to me yeah limestone is you know trending up Tampa is trending U Indy is trending Florida Southern is trending Wingate was off this week so but they play a ranked opponent next week right and then number six a Delphi gets underway with two two games this week and I have to give a shout out to my nephew Thomas Galgano named captain for a Delphi one of the captain congratulations that's awesome I'm very happy about Thomas uh getting that he's got a game home Wednesday versus Georgian court I'm definitely going to the game and another little shout out Kev Thomas's youngest brother my nephew Luke just committed uh D1 University of Delaware is going to be a blue hand so both my nephews are doing great in lacrosse and I'm loving it. I had to give him that shout out congratulations Luke and congratulations Thomas I'm proud of you I really am now on to the player spotlight my favorite it's my favorite part Kev.

SPEAKER_01 41:19

Yeah it's mine too you know we've spoken to a lot of coaches that have started their programs over the last few episodes and ask them what it's like to do that how it was to build the program build the culture we've never done on the player side

Players' Spotlight

SPEAKER_01 41:36

but tonight we get to get that player's perspective because we bring in uh a Deweil Saints player to tell us what it's like Leon Adams from Dewville Saints hey Leon how you doing I'm good how are you doing we're doing thanks for coming on in the crease tonight we really appreciate you guys thank you for having me yeah so let's get right into it yeah get let's get into it let's get into it tell us what it's like to play in the first ever D2 game for Deuville last Friday night first ever game well of course it was my first ever collegiate experience so it's a double nerve wracking huh what it was a double first for the school and first for you yeah so it was a little nerve wracking coming out of the field and then I like really hit in my head that this is the first ever game of program history when we were about to take the field and our coach is like this is this is it this is year one it all starts right now and I was like man he's right like this is our first ever game like we're making history right now it was just an incredible experience that is really really cool so what drew you to to come to a school like Deuville and be part of this and start this program um you know it's it's out east I'm from Wisconsin from the United Nation of Wisconsin and uh I just wanted to get out east a little bit more start play some more competitive lacrosse and once I got this offer from De Uville and just where it is coaches telling me that year one program I was like all right I'm ready to take on the challenges I'm here for it that was phenomenal usually a young man doesn't want to take on that challenge you know coming right out of high school what made you say that what made you what was it inside of you that said hey man I want to do this so when I first started playing lacrosse actually it was in the fifth grade and uh that was the first year of their program. So I was kind of used to it and then I I got to high school and uh I I switched teams and um they were we were notoriously the best team kind of like a losing team and uh you know I was just kind To use to that adversity that I had to challenge on the field, I was I was just ready for it. I felt prepared. I felt like I knew what was going to happen. I knew what I was getting myself into, and I was just ready to work hard, be a leader.

SPEAKER_02 44:14

That's awesome. You know, I'm retired from the Navy, and in the Navy, they have something called a plank owner, which is what you are for your team, all the guys on your team this year. So when a plank owner basically means when they commission a new ship, right? It's all the guys that are part of that crew. You sail that ship for the first time, you're the one going into battle together for the first time, and you're the one that sets that whole standard for that ship forever, how long it stays in commissioned in the United States Navy. You and your teammates are doing the same thing for the Deuville program this year. That's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_01 44:56

It is a really awesome experience. And we even have a little decal on top of our helmets. It says year one. And every time I look at it, I just remember this is our year one, man.

SPEAKER_02 45:07

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 45:08

I'm gonna have to look for that decal. What position do you play, Leon? I play defense, uh, a little bit of LSM too. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_02 45:17

Looks like you start off on the wing and face off, and then you do you head down to close D then? Yeah. And so did you play defense your whole time when you started lacrosse? What do you mean to be a defender versus playing on the offense? That's what I want to know.

SPEAKER_01 45:33

When I first started, I was a goalie, actually. And then obviously I didn't go well, so I switched to attack for a little bit, and uh during the winter seasons, we'll play box lacrosse over there. So I was just kind of used to kind of having the ball, but I just fell in love with hitting people, man.

SPEAKER_03 45:53

So uh good for you. I love that physical stuff, and uh because I'm from Long Island, and and Long Island brings that physical game, you know. So that's pretty cool that you coming from Wisconsin have that kind of same attitude. That's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_01 46:06

Yeah, so that's why I chose defense.

SPEAKER_02 46:09

That's awesome. Can you share a little bit more on your background now? Uh uh, you said you're part of the Oneida Nation. Is that correct? Did I say that correctly?

SPEAKER_01 46:16

Yeah. Um, growing up, I guess, over on Oneida, we're always kind of taught to play for those who can't. You know, my coach, when we first started, really young, fifth grade, our coach put it into perspective for us that there is many people out there that can't even walk. They they look at lacrosse and they wish that they could just do it. So he doesn't want us to take for granted running, walking. He wants us to really appreciate this game and what we play for and who we play for. And um, I just carried those values all throughout middle school, even because I played for that same Oneida team throughout middle school. And I got to high school and I played for uh my first two years, freshman sophomore year, I played for uh a Green Bay team because that's where O'Neita's close to is Green Bay. And then my senior year, I was able to go back and play with Oneida. And just all throughout that time, I just kept those beliefs and always played for those who cannot. And when I got to college, you know, I've always been around those guys in high school and been around that culture. So when I got out here, I knew I kind of wanted to help that type of culture and bring that out here and really have people appreciate the game of lacrosse I do because it just makes me play with a whole different meaning, makes me play with my full heart. It's interesting. I love it.

SPEAKER_02 47:35

Yeah, that is that is awesome. Coach Prince pointed out to me when we were talking that he considers you a big cultural leader of the team. Is that what you did cherishing the game that you get to play that for others that can't? Is that part of what the culture you're bringing to this team?

SPEAKER_01 47:53

Yeah. So I wanted to really bring that to these guys because once I learned that myself, I realized that I'm playing this game a lot harder once I have those good thoughts in my head and who I'm playing for. So I really wanted these guys to just find why they play, I guess. So I kind of helped guide a few guys in that direction and really make them think on who they play for, you know, whether it's their sisters, brothers at home, or if they know a family member that wishes they could play lacrosse, something like that.

SPEAKER_02 48:25

That's awesome. I think what that does is that kind of brings the joy in the game back. You can have tough days, right? You can have tough games where you are down and you should be down. I mean, you can't always have good days, but if you can always bring it back to something like you are trying to preach to your team, you get back to the positive side of why you're there. Yeah, and you get to play this game.

SPEAKER_03 48:49

The Native American has brought the spirituality part into the game that maybe a lot of players don't really understand so much. You know, I think uh the spirituality part of lacrosse is something that sets, I believe, this game apart from others. Would you believe that? Would you agree with that?

SPEAKER_01 49:10

100%. I I definitely believe that. I think not a lot of people really understand it. Because in my first two years of high school, when I said I played for that Green Bay team, I had a few teammates that were just like, yeah, I play lacrosse just to just hit people. That's it. That's the only reason I play lacrosse. And I've heard that multiple times throughout lacrosse. People just love him, people. But when it really comes down to it for me, I just love to play for those who cannot and just really cherish this game and appreciate it as much as I can. It's very admirable.

SPEAKER_03 49:43

I I I have nothing more to say except that's it's a great message. It's so admirable of you. And such a young man coming right out of high school, freshman in college. I mean, to come from a young man, you know, like that is just really, really special, Leon. Really cool stuff.

SPEAKER_02 49:59

Thank you. That really is. And I don't know where else to go with this except to put you under the pressure of the firing round with Danny Moran. All right. I I think I'm up for it.

SPEAKER_03 50:11

All right. So from the United of Wisconsin. Question number one. What was the first sport you picked up?

SPEAKER_01 50:23

I want to say t-ball or football.

SPEAKER_03 50:27

Okay, okay. Now, who'd you so what's your favorite sport other than lacrosse? Basketball. Basketball. Who's your favorite uh pro athlete?

SPEAKER_01 50:39

In basketball? In pro athlete. Gonna be a basketball player, it's Derek Rose. I looked up Derek Rose all my life.

SPEAKER_03 50:48

I'm a Knicks fan, and he's on my Knicks, but he just had his just had his foot, had surgery on his foot, so he's out for a couple. Yeah, D Rose is a good player. I love the way he plays. That's an excellent uh so PlayStation or Xbox? I'm an Xbox guy. Okay. Runs or lifts? Lifts 100%. We had Ben McCreary from Le Moine on last week. He said runs. Yeah. Lifts. All right, Leon. Here you go. Here's one of your teammates. You're gonna have to call out one of your teammates. Who's the funniest guy on the team? Trent.

SPEAKER_01 51:26

Uh Trent is just a great guy to have on the team. He's definitely that guy that, you know, sitting on the bus, real quiet, we're all tired. He'll just be cracking jokes. And you can't help but laugh. I love it.

SPEAKER_02 51:39

Okay, what position does Trent play?

SPEAKER_01 51:42

Trent also plays uh defense and a little bit of LSM, too.

SPEAKER_02 51:45

There we go.

SPEAKER_03 51:45

Uh Trent got the shout-out for the funniest guy on the team. All right, here's here's the moment where you're gonna get some hate mail. Ready? All right. Who's the best all-around athlete on the squad? Athlete? Yep. All around athlete.

SPEAKER_01 52:14

I'll I'll go with safe Ben, say myself. Okay, all right, Ben.

SPEAKER_03 52:24

What kind of music do you listen to?

SPEAKER_01 52:27

Music is all over the place for me, but main two, definitely hip hop and rock music.

SPEAKER_03 52:33

Okay, so what was the last song you listened to?

SPEAKER_01 52:37

Last song I listened to. Man, I don't even know. It was ice cube. It was ice cube for sure. I was listening to some ice cube.

SPEAKER_03 52:52

All right, ready for this one? You gotta give us right now your best impression of Coach Prince.

SPEAKER_01 53:00

Oh, we uh I gotta get myself ready. Okay, gotta get my gut ready for this one. It's always like red, red. What is that?

SPEAKER_03 53:16

Okay, all right, cool. And what's your personal goals? If you set any personal goals for yourself, either academically or athletically, have you set any personal goals for yourself this year?

SPEAKER_01 53:31

Um, obviously, throughout high school, like my first years, I wasn't like the best studier. So in college, I'm I'm working on studying and getting a lot better with that. And uh just athletics. I just want to be stronger and faster than the next guy.

SPEAKER_03 53:46

There you go. Well, Leon, you did great in the firing round. Thank you. You're amazing. He was calm and cool and collected. He's a he's a he's a winner, Kevin.

SPEAKER_02 53:55

Yeah, well, he's our first freshman, and he he got through that pretty damn well, I have to say. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 54:01

Uh very admirable for a young man right out of high school in his first year, his first collegiate game under his belt, and uh in a first-year program with a really great coach. I mean, we had Coach Prince on, and I'm telling you, we loved him. He is a great coach. I was like, Coach, I feel like dressing up for you right now. I mean, he was really, really good. So, Leon, I wish you all the best of the luck for the rest of the season. We're gonna be watching, and uh hopefully we get you back on the show and we'll talk again. What do you say? I'd love to do that.

SPEAKER_01 54:34

I had a good time. Okay, good. I'm glad thanks, Leon. All right, you guys have a good one.

SPEAKER_02 54:40

What can you say about Leon Adams? Here's a kid who's a freshman coming from Wisconsin to Buffalo, starting a whole new team, and he thrives in the adversity.

SPEAKER_03 54:57

And the culture and the spirituality of the game of lacrosse, he brings a lot to the table

Final Thoughts

SPEAKER_03 55:03

for a young man. I was very impressed with Leon. First of all, like you said, a freshman, so he's still relatively young, just played his first collegiate game. He said he was that he was nervous, yeah, which is great, which is yeah, most kids wouldn't have now. I was ready, you know. They wouldn't tell you, you know. He admitted he was nervous, you know, and he plays LSM and he plays some close, and he loves Coach Prince like we do. And uh, I was really happy to have Leon on. He was a really good guest. And mom and dad, be proud of your son Leon. He's he was phenomenal tonight.

SPEAKER_02 55:40

The thing that's impressive is you have a team all of freshmen, and you need someone to step up and be a leader. And Coach Prince said that to me in an email as we were talking, getting ready for this podcast episode. But Leon said it when he said, I brought that from high school to here about you know, loving the game and playing it for others who can't. Just phenomenal. Absolutely. So before we go though, one other thing. Did you see your boy from Marshall, Zach Kerrigan's goal against Emmanuel? I did not. You have to look it up. It was a no-look fadeaway between the leg goal that Mars Hill is posted on Twitter, obviously, on Instagram, in the crease was tagged on Instagram for it. That's how I saw it the first time. It has gone viral enough that US lacrosse magazine picked it up and showed the Mars Hill tweet on their dialed-in article that they do daily. Right, right, right. The caption read, I am at a loss for words.

SPEAKER_03 56:53

Well, I gave Zach a shout out a couple of weeks ago because he's just been bawling, bawling out that kid. Coach Turner has a good one there down in Mars Hill. That's right. Congratulations, Zach. Keep balling it, kid.

SPEAKER_02 57:08

Yeah, pretty cool to see the goal, and really cool to see that it's was mentioned in U.S. lacrosse magazine. And it's division two, Kevin. Division two. Of course, you and I, Danny, are never at a loss for words when we're spreading the news of D2 lacrosse. That's right. That's right. So with that, Danny, it's a wrap.

SPEAKER_03 57:30

That's a wrap, Kevin.