Game Time - A look back at week 6 and a preview of Week 7 of the 2024 season

Intro

SPEAKER_01 0:09

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Crease with Danny and Kevin, a coast-to-coast discussion of deep two men's lacrosse. I'm your co-host, Kevin Sentrum, and with me as always is our yon weary traveler, Danny Moran. Hey, Danny.

SPEAKER_00 0:27

Hey Kevin, how's it going in northern Virginia today? Oh my lord. What a what a what a weekend in Division II Lacrosse, huh?

SPEAKER_01 0:36

Yeah, so let's just let's just set the stage here, okay? So as we're recording, it's now Wednesday. We are totally off schedule for how we usually record. Yeah, that's my fault. We usually not totally. We already recorded, or I already recorded the player spotlight on Sunday, and you'll hear it again on the player's spotlight. You were gonna be on, you were gonna be home back from the Crown Classic in time. I was coming back from visiting my daughter, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. We were all set. And then your travels went south. You were south, and they went farther south because everything got canceled.

SPEAKER_00 1:15

They went down the drain. Yep. Um, woke up at around eight o'clock Sunday morning, looked at my phone, saw there were two emails. Uh, my flight back to New York was canceled, and then I was already rebooked for a flight on Monday. I was like, oh, hell no. So uh my friend's wife and myself went downstairs, got on the computer, started looking around, started calling up, trying to get any flight we could back out of Charlotte to New York that day. No luck. So there I was, kind of stuck. Poor me, huh? Yeah. So and uh, well, go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 1:49

Well, and then, but then, so we figured, okay, you'll get back Monday, we'll record Tuesday. We usually record Monday or Tuesday, and then I edit Wednesday, and then we post it, you know, I post it that Wednesday night, so it's ready to go Thursday morning. Right. However, your Monday flight wasn't that good.

SPEAKER_00 2:09

No, well, I got to the I got to the airport, and see that the flight that they rebooked me on was a one-stop layover. So it was going from Charlotte to Indiana, and then from Indiana back to JFK. So the flight from Charlotte, we get on the flight, it's delayed like 40 minutes. We finally get on the plane, and the pilot gets on. He says, I'm sorry, folks, you're gonna be delayed. There's a small problem with the plane, we're waiting for maintenance. We'll come back in 10 minutes and let you know what's up. 10 minutes later, the pilot comes back on. Sorry, folks. Looks like it's gonna be another 10 or 15 minutes before we know. I'll come back on in 10 minutes. He comes back on in 10 minutes, he says, sorry, folks, we have to de-plane. So we get off the plane. So now there's like millions of people inside the gate, right? Right outside the gate. They were like, okay, this flight has been canceled. You all are rebooked on another flight. Now we're all scrambling to get to another flight, right? It's another gate. We get to the gate, we get we all we get on the plane, the plane's delayed for like an hour. I if I get on this plane, I might not make my my uh my connection from Indiana to JFK. So I get on the plane and I miss my connection into JFK at Indiana. So they send me back from Indiana, get on the plane, now back to to Washington, D.C. And then from Washington, D.C. up to New York. I had a way for two hours. So by the time I left my buddy's house in Charlotte, it was like 10 o'clock in the morning. And by the time I walked in my door, it was almost 11 p.m. at night. Crazy. But I did I did get to see Senator Lindsey Graham coming out of the bathroom on the same plane as I am. So you got that going for you on this travel. And Senator Tommy Toberville was on the plane as well, and he had like $20 payless shoes on. I was like, Jesus Christ, but all the money you senators make, can you buy a pair of decent shoes? Senator Graham looked dapper, you know. He had a nice haircut, he looked more sharp, all you know, dressed nice and sharp and pleated. And but it was an ordeal, but I got through it. I've never had to go through something like that before. I've been delayed, I've been canceled, but nothing, nothing like that.

SPEAKER_01 4:41

Yeah, I can tell you from my naval aviation days that when mechanics say it'll only be 10 minutes or only be an hour, you need at least triple that.

SPEAKER_00 4:51

Yeah, well, now I know. So, but you know what?

SPEAKER_03 4:55

It was a great week at Collins Lacrosse, and this week is my favorite part of the When I shise or smiling. Sure, it's like a morning spring.

SPEAKER_00 5:16

It's St. Patrick's Day here in New York. It's going to be a beautiful, beautiful day on Sunday. It'll be a great day for a parade and a great day to be Irish. So my favorite part. Always reminds me of my grandfather, St. Patrick's Day. Uh, he was a retired NY NYPD detective, marched in over 35 parades. Joe Moran, he was my man. He was my he was my hero growing up, my grandfather. So whenever I hear the pipes, when I hear Irish highs, when I hear Danny Boy, I always think of my grandfather. So this one's for you, grandpa.

SPEAKER_01 5:50

That's right. That's right. So should we just get right into it after that great tribute

Top 10 Roundup

SPEAKER_01 5:56

and do the top 10 roundup? Sure.

SPEAKER_00 6:00

This week. All right, folks, what a week in Division II lacrosse, but almost six out of the top 10 teams played each other this week. Number one, Lenore Ryan lost to Limestone 10-9 in a thriller of a game. Number two, Rollins beat Adelphi 14-12. Number three, Limestone beat LR 10-9. Number four, Tampa beat Wingate 11-10 in double overtime at the Crown Classic in one of the best games I've seen in a long, long time, Kevin. Uh, number five, Adelphi lost to Rollins, like we just said. Number six, U Indy lost to Newberry 14-9. And that Newberry win popped them up from number 10 to all the way to up to number six in the rankings this year, this week, Kevin. Uh number seven, Wingate lost to Tampa. Number eight, Bentley. Their last game was March 1st against St. A's. They beat them 13-11. And they played Frostburg today and won. So Bentley, you know, a couple couple good games this week. Uh, number nine, Mercy beat number 11, Seton Hill and a 13-11 close one. The Mavs like those teams when they keep it close. They are the cardiac kids of Division II this year. And number uh 10, Newberry, the Wolves, beat Undy 14-9. Like I said, that moved them up all the way up to number six. And that's your

Week in Review

SPEAKER_00 8:06

own. Now, Kev, just a couple of other scores of note this week. Um, Bridgeport beat Franklin Pierce, 8-7. Number 17, Florida Southern uh was over number 20, Lander, 15-10. I was interested in that game because it was a top 20 matchup. AIC's three-game gauntlet that we spoke about last week. Didn't go the way AIC wanted. They lost two out of the three. They lost to Post 11-7. They were very competitive in that game. Yeah. They lost to RW 17-13. They were very competitive in that game as well. And they beat Deuville 18-5. So the Yellow Jackets right now sit at 4-2, man.

SPEAKER_01 8:43

So let's let's talk about that really quickly. They closed the gap from last year when they played Post. They did not play Roberts Wesley in last year. But when you take a team like Roberts Wesley and only lose by four, and you only lose by four to post, they're improving. They're like you said, now four and two. I went back to look in the records. I think this could be the most wins in program history for a season for them, at least back to 2015. I try to go back past that in their history, and the page went load, but up until 2015, they had never won four games in one season.

SPEAKER_00 9:21

Well, they're the Yellow Jackets are playing well so far this year, and it's been fun to keep an eye on them. Yeah. Uh, real quick, number 11, Pace put a spanking on Chestnut Hill, 12-3. And St. Leo beat a spunky flaggler team uh 12 to 8. So those are just some other scores of note that happened this weekend as well, Cap.

SPEAKER_01 9:41

I love it. I love it. Let's that's a great primer as we go into the weekend review and talking more specifically on some games. And you hit upon it in your top 10 roundup, Danny. There were basically, I would say, two instant classics. And then I would say, here's the other thing to point out. You hit the nail on the head with one of your predictions. Phenomenal. But then we have to eat crow for a couple other games. Yeah, well, we're used to eating crow. Yeah, that's right. Nothing. You might just say that. We don't even floss anymore. I just leave it right in. It tastes good.

SPEAKER_00 10:18

It's starting to taste good now.

SPEAKER_01 10:20

Where do you want to start? Do you want to start with uh our game of the week, or do you want to start with where you were at the crown classic?

SPEAKER_00 10:26

We can start with the crown if you want to start with the crown. Sure.

SPEAKER_01 10:30

So let me let me set the stage because I'm gonna give you most of the time and I'll probably throw some things in here. The main thing I want to point out is you were at the game. I was up with my family uh visiting my daughter, like I said, and I based on what we were doing, I actually got to watch the game, but it was on my phone. There's no commentary, it's on a you know how many inch screen. I can see the action, I can kind of see what's going on, but I can't really get a lot. I couldn't get the feel for it. I can get a lot of feel for the game, the big picture, but you were there, so why don't you start off? Well, Kev, where's my where's my notes? Okay, well, let me let me talk, let me get it started for you. Tell me if you agree. I first say that it really started off as a really good defensive battle. And I think the score kind of uh dictated that. Both teams used to score in well over 10 goals, and it was an 11-10 win in the end. I'll tell you the other thing I saw. I think Wingate's defense for at least the first half, if not most of the game, was reminded me of watching night carrier operations on a carrier. Everyone knows where they need to be. They communicate, they slide and recover, and they don't have to, they just know where they have to be, and they did that so well for most of the game. Now, when you play a team like Tampa, you're not always gonna be perfect in that, and Tampa uh capitalized it on a few times. And the last thing I'll say, and I'll turn it over to you, is I thought Wingate owned the middle of the field because of their ride and their defense in the middle of the field for most of the game again until maybe that fourth quarter and definitely the second overtime.

SPEAKER_00 12:19

Oh, well, there's you're right on all those accounts. Um gotta set the stage too. First of all, it was a little cool. It was in the 50s and it was pouring rain. Pouring. We were sitting in the stands in the pouring rain. They don't let umbrellas into the stadium. So everybody was soaked. If you had a poncho, if you were smart enough to bring a poncho, that was it, because everybody else was just soaked. Um, it was a good crowd. I gotta give a shout out to the Crown Classic people. They really put it together quite a day. Yeah you know, there were some great games in that day, you know. Uh Hopkins played Stony Brook Women, uh, Jacksonville played high point men, and then the end of the night was Syracuse Hopkins, which drew a lot of people. It was a really good day. But in the Tampa Wingate game, let me tell you something. Every kid on that field played his ass off. Every kid on both teams on both sides of the ball. The energy was electric from those teams. These kids were getting after it, Kev. There was a lot of cause turnovers, there was a lot of a lot of wreaking havoc, and that wingate defense really started off strong.

SPEAKER_03 13:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:38

They they were calling turnovers, they were forcing Tampa into bad passes, they were forcing them into bad through. Um, wingate got on the board first. Um Tampa answered right back, and it was like a back and forth battle. Both goalies, Kev, both goalies played insane. Insane. Both goalies. Yeah. Um where Wingate struggled was at the dot. Yep. Only six for 26 at the dot. That's one of my notes.

SPEAKER_01 14:15

That was the glaring stat to me.

SPEAKER_00 14:18

But but the defense of Wingate was so stout, they made it really difficult for Tampa to clear the ball. To capitalize on that. Yeah. I'll tell you, you know, Tampa Tampa's a great team, man. They're great. They got some great players, great coaching, just insane. Um, Wingate was winning 5'2 at halftime. Yep. And then put up another two, and they were winning 7-7-3 after three. I was like, wow, I wasn't expecting that. And then Mr. Canyon Birch to Tampa had himself a day. He had a game. He had himself a day.

SPEAKER_01 14:55

Here's the other thing I'd say, you just point that out. They uh wingate got up by four. There was seven three and eight-four. That was the the the biggest gap. And all I kept thinking to myself is I was waiting for Tampa to make a run. And I'm not saying that uh, I'm not saying that against Wingate. I'm saying those teams are so evenly matched. Wingate didn't really have a run run, but they they had enough, they scored a few and then they just widened it to that. But I kept on thinking, I haven't seen Tampa really put it on. Now I th and sure enough, in the fourth quarter, that's where it happened.

SPEAKER_00 15:30

It was a great game, man. Like that Matthew Beto, Willie Greco matchup. It was a matchup in itself. It was a game within the game, you know, and I thought Beto did a great job. He held Willie Greco scoreless. I think he only had one goal, one goal, maybe one assist. He had one goal, two assists. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:47

That's that's that's a that's a win for Matthew Beto.

SPEAKER_00 15:51

Yeah, that's a light game for Willie Greco. Yeah. Um, I thought that both teams are so well coached, man. Like just not a lot of mistakes, not a lot of mental mistakes. It was just physical. They were getting after it. Um, I thought the refs a little bit called a little tight. There was some, you know, there were some penalties. I thought, ah, you know, this is a big game. You got to let these guys play a little bit. You know, the egregious fouls you got to call, but yeah, those inadvertent pushes or something like that. Come on, man. Like, you got to let these boys play. But at the end of the game, I mean, it it could have been anybody's game. Uh Wingate hit a few posts. I mean, it was so close. It was, it was a one possession for either team. It was that's how close it was. It was amazing. But I can't tell you that the electricity that was coming off the field from these kids, and there was a good crowd there, and the Tampa people are great, man. They root for their Spartans. They're very just just it was just a great crowd. That the Wingate crowd was in droves. They came in, they had a large contingent. Tampa had a pretty nice large contingent, and everybody got along. There was nobody throwing snowballs and and and cans of beer at each other. It wasn't like that at all. It was just really good game like that. Um, Canyon Birch, six goals, man. You know, he just had himself again.

SPEAKER_01 17:15

Six goals, one assist.

SPEAKER_00 17:17

Yeah, Owen Miller with two, five for Bashaw. Nick.

SPEAKER_01 17:21

Come on, three ground balls and two cost turnovers for Tampa. And like you said, uh Luke Mercaldo, their goalie, 11 saves, 10 goals against. You match that against Sully, who had, I think he had 12 saves, 11 goals against. I mean, they were they were playing lights out. Then look at Wingate, Jackson Grant with four goals. Danny Riley, five assists. I wrote this. I did not, like I said, I couldn't see who was scoring and who was assisting. I couldn't see numbers.

unknown 17:49

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 17:50

I did not think I would ever see a game stat like that for Danny Riley, who who does assist, but usually he's got more goals than assists. And that kind of tells you what he's doing for this team this year and playing great team ball.

SPEAKER_00 18:04

Yeah, I've been saying that for the last couple of weeks. He's been really playing a total team game. He really has. But I think the big, the big, big stat that stands out is uh Alex Poma for 20 for 26 at the dot to Tampa. He was really, really good. I agree. So, you know, it was um, you know, that six Tampa Tampa scored six goals in the fourth cav. They were just pouring it on. It was just it was a good game. It wasn't like Wingate did anything wrong. It was just like Tampa was playing good, you know. They were able to get shots off. They were just, you know, running the two men. They were, they were, they were initiating from X. They were initiating from the top, they were initiating from the side. Like they really did everything they could offensively. It was a it was a really, really good game. So now we're tied up. Well, actually, it was it was 9-9 with two minutes left when Joey Moran scored one and put him up 10-9. It was like a minute and two seconds or something like that left in the game. And everybody's screaming, one more minute, one more minute, just gotta hold on. And then the tamper like, come on, we got a minute. It was like, it was intense. And so now we go into overtime and big, pretty big face-off, right? And wingate was getting destroyed all day at the dot. Well, guess what? That was one of the only that they won. The only face-off that they won post most of the day was in the first OT. Wingate turned it over. Yeah, they turned it over. Tampa took it down and shot. It was blocked. Carnage for Wingate picked up the ground ball. Moran took a shot. It was saved by Mercavo. I mean, it was a big save, too. Tampa turned it over on the clear attempt, and Wingate picked it up and tried to shoot it again, but it was the end of the first OT. So each team got a shot off, and each team made a good save, you know. And then the second overtime, Tampa won the face-off. Now that was a big face-off again. You know, Tampa won that face-off, uh, passed to Milani. Milani took the shot. Sullivan made an amazing save. Yeah. Because it was a doorstep save. And he just he made huge saves all day. Uh Wingate was successful on the clear. Then Dom Rotora from Tampa caused uh Carnage to turn the ball over. And Birch buried the biscuit to seal the win. So it was a one-possession game. It could have gone either way. It was a great game. And you know what? That's the way the ball bounces in Division II. But Kevin, it's one of the better games I've been to in a long time. It was a good game. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:51

Yeah. And here's another good game. Good game. Another one I think could have gone either way, and that's Limestone, Lenore Ryan. You know, the same thing.

SPEAKER_00 21:01

I say the same different of a game, though. A little bit different. It was a good way of playing out.

SPEAKER_01 21:07

Right, because Limestone, well, it was different in how the scoring went, but it still went with runs, right? So Limestone gets up 5-0 with 629 left, and I wrote a note. Never would have expected that. But you know that LR is not going to lay down. And they get it back to 5-2 at half. Then there's kind of a back and forth, two goals by Lenore Ryan, two goals by Limestone to make it 7-4. But then Lenore Ryan scores the next three to tie it at 7-7 after three.

SPEAKER_00 21:41

Yeah, Lenore Ryan scored seven out of the next like eight, nine goals. Yeah. You know. But that first half was uh really interesting. I I was ri First time I really saw Limestone play, like I really sat down and watched him play. Um I was so impressed with guess what? Their defense. Yeah, their defense was great in that first half. You know, Limestone's known for their offense, you know, for years. They've always had Canadians and, you know, some transfers that come in and can shoot the shit out of the ball. But man, I'm going to tell you something. I was really impressed with Limestone's defense. You know, who's those guys? Beachley's back there. Oh my God. They, if if a limestone, if a Laura Ryan player was coming down an alley and he got to that five and five spot, Limestone came with a quick, hard slide. I mean, they made it really difficult for LR to get anything down the alley. I mean, they were doubling the ball. If you went to roll back, they were doubling and knocking the ball out. They were really aggressive on defense, limestone, and fast. Like I couldn't believe how fast they were. And then to recover and get back to your spot. Yeah. I mean, they I was that.

SPEAKER_01 22:57

Well, so when that's what I saw that the way the limestone played is the way I saw Wingate play that first half in their game, too. Both defenses where they would recover quickly and nowhere to be on when they recover. And they would slide at the right time, not slide early all the time. Sometimes they looked like they did slide early, but it was because of who the player was.

SPEAKER_00 23:15

How many times did Limestone knock the ball out of LR's stick when they were taking shots? I mean, a lot.

SPEAKER_01 23:23

They got sticks on sticks so that the ball was not going towards net. And the opposite thing, a little bit with limestone in that first, especially the first quarter, they got some goals on tough contested shots, but they were going in for him, like just dropping in. They were still contested.

SPEAKER_00 24:04

No, they were knocking the ball out. And anytime Lenore Ryan went to shoot, there was an active stick on sticks on hands. They were forcing the ball to go wide. They were forcing the ball to go high. They were knocking the ball back down. The refs in this game let these boys play. There were some big hits in this game. Yes. There was a couple of times when they stopped play to let the trainers on the field to take these guys off because they were these guys were going at it. I looked at the stat line after this game, and I was kind of surprised that LR outshot them 44 to 29.

SPEAKER_01 24:38

Well, if you look at it too, though, Danny, it's it's inside. It really was in the second half. It was pretty even the first half. Second half, Lenore Ryan outshot limestone 28 to 11. Now remember, they're down. Right? And so they put on the pressure to do that. And shots on goal. It looked pretty close. Uh LR had 18, the Saints 15. But in the second half, Lenore Ryan had 12 shots on goal to limestone 7, which is kind of funny when you think that Limestone Limestone scored three goals in a minute and a half and held Lenore Ryan scoreless over the game's last nine minutes to win the game. That'll tell you what their not only what their defense did, but what their goalie Shane O'Leary did.

SPEAKER_00 25:25

Yeah, yeah, I was it was quite the I was really, like I said, I'm always used to limestone being a great offensive team. You know, and good, and you know, decent defense, you know, solid defense. But you know, they put up big points, and it's tough to get 17, 18 goals in a game against a team like Limestone. But man, Zach Terry, that kid, man, is it is there not he'll shoot it, he shoots it like a golf shot, he shoots it like he's fishing, he shoots it like from any angle, from his knee, from his toe, sidearm, overhand, lefty, righty. It doesn't matter to him. He's if he's got a second to let his hands free and rip it, he does. He's strong, he's got a low center of gravity, he's got big legs, he's strong lower body, he's fast as hell. He's a tough, he's a tough, tough guard, man. Yeah. And and he's got like what, 30, 30 goals already, something like that this season already.

SPEAKER_01 26:27

Three against Lenore Ryan. Jason Tomford he had two goals. Like we talked about Shane O'Leary in the goal, nine saves, nine goals against, 50%, which is what you need because you look at what LR did. Tommy Aguilar had three goals. Cam Magalotti had one goal, one assist, and then they kind of spread the wealth. Rob Pensabeni, five saves, ten goals against. And like I said, I don't think that's all against Rob.

SPEAKER_00 26:51

No, but you know what? I don't think Rob had the best game and goal either. I don't think so. I think there was one or two that he'd like to get back. Kevin, I'm gonna be really honest with you. Um, you know, I never played this game, and you know that. And I I see what I see. I've been around the game a long time, three boys in Division II, all of that, blah, blah, blah. Um, I felt that LR played a little tight offensively. I felt that they weren't loose and free like they usually are, especially in that first half. And when they went down like four or five, nothing, they did not play well offensively. I just felt that they were forcing balls a little bit, forcing passes a little bit. Some were going over the heads. They just, they just weren't, you know, they just felt that they're a little tight. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01 27:43

I I saw it more because of the limestone defense that that was happening, not that they were tight. And then they were they made they had to press a little bit more in the second half. I think Limestone's defense created, and maybe you're right, maybe they created them to be a little more rushed. But we talked about this before. Limestone last year against Wingate in the sack tournament. They it was a fast and frenetic first half. I mean, it was fast-paced, it was a track meet, and that's what limestone wants, my opinion. I haven't asked Coach Storyer that, but that's what the the I think they like.

SPEAKER_00 28:23

Yeah, I mean, uh it was just, I thought it was a pretty damn good game. I mean, it could have gone either way at the end. Great. Limestone was, you know, limestone was losing all game. They didn't tie it up till what, the end of the third quarter?

SPEAKER_01 28:38

No, uh, Lenore Ryan was losing all game. Yeah, I mean, I mean Lenore. Yeah, until they tore it, tied it up in the third quarter, yeah, 7-7.

SPEAKER_00 28:45

So yeah, you know, like, and then they then they took the lead and it was like, oh my god, here they are. They were up nine-seven. Here come the Bears, right? And then they went up two goals, and then Zach Terry scored one, then Tom 40 scored one, and it was Terry again.

SPEAKER_01 28:59

That was all in a minute and a half.

SPEAKER_00 29:01

Yeah, and it was like right back. I was very impressed with Tom Forty. He had a solid game, he's got a nice size, that kid. Yeah, and you know what? Plays the game right, plays the game well, doesn't try to do too much. You know what? He he gets doubled, he passes the ball. You know what? I just he goes for ground balls, he's a good disher. He's he's a solid, all-around, really good player. Tom Forty's good, man. I agree, I agree. So he had two goals, right? So I thought he played real well. McGarry, Shakiran, Lamaro, Rogers, Nate Cinez, all added one. Timmy Ladner, who's one of the best face-off guys in the country right now, went for 10-21. There was a good matchup at the uh at the dot between him and Matt Mancini. Uh Lando went 10 for 21, and Mancini went 11 for 20, is basically even.

SPEAKER_01 29:51

Yep. You know, Tim Ladner had the, I think, had it at the beginning, the first half had a little bit more, and then it started even out uh as the game went on.

SPEAKER_00 29:59

And like I said, uh, you know, LR outshot him 44 to 29. They outshot him on goal 18 to 15. Uh the turnovers were even, 24 to each. Um limestone was 17 for 20 on the clears. Uh Lenore Ryan was 18 for 22. Each team had 41 ground balls. Um on the extra man, limestone was one for three, and LR was two for five. I just you don't get much better than that, man. No, no. You know, that game was just that those two games right there were just insanely great. Yeah. And I'm telling you, those four teams, I think, I even though Wingate's at eight, I still think they're better than eight. I think they're better than that.

SPEAKER_01 30:47

Well, we'll see. They've got other chances like doing one tonight against Newberry, who's at six. Let's move on. Uh, because we're already at uh freaking half hour after two games. So let's move on.

SPEAKER_00 30:57

All right, come on, we're moving on. We'll be fine.

SPEAKER_01 31:00

Adelphi Rollins, another great game. This was a great battle. I kind of got into it late. Uh, Rollins pulls it out 14-12. 7-5 with three minutes left in the half, and this is kind of where I catch into it. Shahi Kachadorian makes a great save and quickly outlets for an unsettled transition goal to make it 7-6 at half. And then they make it 7-7 when they win the face-off and immediately score in the third. I mean, it was a pretty good back-to-back game. It was 10-9, a Delphi after three. And then once again, it was kind of going back and forth. The Panthers held a two-goal lead in the fourth quarter, but weren't we're not unable to protect it. Rollins closed the game on a 4-0 run and won 14-12.

SPEAKER_00 31:51

Yeah, I mean, I I Rollins, it was cold up there in uh in Garfield. It was nasty weather.

SPEAKER_01 31:57

It was very windy.

SPEAKER_00 31:59

Really windy. It looked cold. I mean, even the refs had hats and gloves on and stuff in that game. All the coaches had winter jackets and winter hats. I was wondering if Rollins was going to be able to kind of handle that being a Florida team and coming up to the cold, but they handled it real well. They're very good. Uh Grant Hansen had three, Johnstone had three, Mikey Berkman had two, William Metz had two, Justin, uh, you know, Justin White. There was a bunch of guys that were.

SPEAKER_01 32:26

Zach Johnstone had three. Did you say that? Uh yeah. Yeah, and then and Grant Hansen had one assist. Mikey Bergman had two assists to go with his two goals. A Delphi, Kyle Lewis, great game, four goals. Logan Tucker did his usual thing, three goals, one assist. Brian Herensky, two goals. It was a it was a pretty close game. It was a very close game. It was a it was a great battle. I think Shahe in the last two minutes had a couple of key saves to seal seal the deal.

SPEAKER_00 32:57

I and I believe that Dylan Renner kept him in the game as well. Oh, yeah. I mean, I mean, I think Dylan Renner, what he's been doing for a Delphine, they better buy him a car when he graduates because he's doing so good for that team. He's really keeping them in games. Because I'm not so I'm not so I'm not so crazy about a Delphi right now. There's something missing. Even though they're playing good games and they're playing tight, uh there's something about them that's just not the same from last year. I don't know what it is. I can't put it on, I can't put my finger on it. Yeah. You know, I but man, Dylan Renner, it seems like they're leaning on Dylan Renner a lot to do a lot.

SPEAKER_01 33:42

Well, here's the other thing I'd point out with that, Danny. Their schedule this year out of conference is 10 times harder than it was last year.

SPEAKER_00 33:50

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:51

Yeah. So what may that do for them in the end? It actually may help them. You may you may be right. All right, let's move on. Let's move on. Let's talk about a game on Friday. Colorado Mesa, who was at 15 at the time against Maryville, who was at 16. They played at Lewis. I s I swear, Danny, every time I watch it at Lewis, the wind is howling. It's a kind of a barren background where the field is, you know, so you kind of feel like you are in the Midwest. Like you should see cornfields ready to go. You know, it's always seemed to be overcast and rainy. I mean, it was pouring rain in this game again. And I turned into it late. It was near the end of the first half, and Maryville was already up 7-3 at half. I will tell you something, Danny. Maryville just moves the ball so well, and they are patient. And they just they waited until they got Colorado Masons D moving, until they saw an opening, and then the ball was in the back of the net. Yeah, they're good, Maryville. I think they're very good. It was 10-5 after three, Danny, and then they were then there were some runs. It was so before that, before the third, it was 10-3 Saints, and then Saints going to run to make it 10-6. The Mavs, I mean the Mavs going to run and make it 10-6, and then the Saints going to run and make it 12-6. So I'm thinking to myself, okay, the Mavs have to hold off the next run, and they need a long run themselves. But by the time they started to do it, they made it 12-7 with five minutes left. They didn't have enough runway to have that long run, and the game ends up being 12-8 in favor of Maryville.

SPEAKER_00 35:48

Yeah, I was uh interested in that game. You know, I you know, Mesa's a really good team, but I just think that proves that Maryville's really this year.

SPEAKER_01 35:58

We so talked about it, and here we say here's the legit this year. Keystat shots, Colorado Mesa 43. They're usually in the 40s always. Maryville only 33. Shots on goal, Colorado Mesa 20 to Maryville's 19. The Saints were just much more efficient on offense.

SPEAKER_00 36:18

Yeah, Maryville, like I said, man, they're they're a team to be reckoned with. I think they're legit.

SPEAKER_01 36:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:24

I think that if they keep playing the way they're playing, they got a legitimate chance to get into the NCAAs, man.

SPEAKER_01 36:31

Get this. And we usually talk about Meryville's offense being going through Clayton Surrett and Raid Ousre, Reed Ousre, and Zach Baker. They were not a factor. In effect, I don't think Zach Baker played. Ben Mickett, a freshman, five goals, one assist. All right. Justin Simonson, a sophomore, four goals and one assist. Wow. Then you got guys like Cody Cornier, two ground balls, two cost turnovers. Dylan Radke, 12 saves, eight goals against. He's having a great season, too. Yes. I mean, it was it was almost textbook for them against another good team. A little bit about them when they just beat out Lynn. I thought they would beat him by more. I didn't see that game. But they came back strong in this one.

SPEAKER_00 37:20

Yeah, it was a bit that was a big game for them. And I think that again, with that win, that proves the legitimacy of the Maryville Saints. And like I just said, if they can keep it up and do well in conference and keep going the way they're going, they're gonna have a legitimate shot at the NCAAs.

SPEAKER_01 37:37

Totally agree. Totally agree. All right, another one you talked about in the top 10 was Newberry UI. Newberry beats them 14-9. And what's even more amazing, UIndy controlled the first quarter, had the lead four to two, and then UI shut out in the second. And so it's 5-4 at half. Newberry was, they were having some turnover mistakes, but they followed up any turnover, most a lot of turnovers, not everyone, but a lot of them, with great trail checks to get the ball back more than once. So they were trying to correct, I mean, they were correcting their mistakes on the fly by playing good defense. Their stick handling, Newberry stick handling and passing, really impressive in that game. Once again, their their movements seemed to be confusing the UND in this game. And they were up 9-5 with 641 left. It was 11-7 after three. 641 left in the third quarter. So it was 11-7 after three. Then Newberry doubles up UND, 6-3 in that quarter. They're just scoring goals. They were scoring goals in every way possible. Ball movement, dodging to beat their man, rebound goals, coast to coast, Brockstrong, coast to coast. Yeah. I mean, every way you talk about it with what Tampa did on where they were setting up. Sort of the same way with the Wolves. You know, they they scored four in a row to go up 14-7 in the fourth with four minutes to go.

SPEAKER_00 39:09

And there's just no way you're going to be able to come back from that. Hey, if you remember when we did our conference previews, I spoke highly of Newberry. I was like, this is a team to really watch this year. Their attack unit is lethal. What is what's their numbers on EMO? They're almost at 100%. They were like, I think I thought I saw a stat. I thought I saw a stat last week of there were like 22 of 23 at the EMO.

SPEAKER_01 39:35

Yeah, they were talking about in the game. They're very, very high. And in fact, they they were saying the one thing that Coach Nick Cotter really prides himself in is that EMO, and they show it.

SPEAKER_00 39:46

Yeah. Yeah, you don't want to be in the box against them, and Wingate's got them tonight. That's going to be a showdown. Number eight versus number six, that's going to be a showdown. And it's a conference game. So I know Coach Cotter wants to beat his former coach, Tim Boyle. You know, Cotter played for Tim Boyle. Yeah. So I know that deep down he would love to beat Coach Boyle. So I know that that Wolf team is going to be going to be howling tonight. Yeah. They're going to be howling. So that should be a good game to watch, actually.

SPEAKER_01 40:22

Any other games you want to?

SPEAKER_00 40:24

No, that's about it. I mean, as far as like again, D2 this past week was one of the better weeks that since we started this podcast that I can I can remember that. I agree. I'd agree.

SPEAKER_01 40:37

You look at Mercy, Seaton Hill, Mercy, like you said, Cardiac Kids winning 13-11. I didn't get to watch the game. You didn't either. Once again, very, very close. Stats were very close. You know.

SPEAKER_00 40:50

And watch, watch out for pace. Pace is 4-0 right now. They're off to a hot start.

SPEAKER_01 40:56

And then you look at what St. A's did against Mercyhurst, beating them 18 to 10. I mean, they owned that game. From start to finish. They owned that game.

SPEAKER_00 41:04

Mercyhurst is not, they're missing something this year. They're not the same later.

SPEAKER_01 41:08

I told you that's where I put them. Why I put them in the top 20 where I did. I would, I just, there's enough, they had enough loss and enough with the new coach, meaning they have to get used to the new terminology, what the coach wants to put in. It just takes some time. We'll see where they are at the end of the season.

SPEAKER_00 41:25

You know what though, though, those kids are good. I mean, it's about execution. It's about execution. And they're just not executing that great right now. It just I feel bad for the Lakers. I'm not used to seeing the Lakers like this. You know? Yeah. They're usually one of the top three, four teams in the country year after year. Yeah. And this year, hey, you know what? It won't be long before Coach Gets back up to par. But but St. A's looked good offensively, man. Oh, and defensively. And they got they got all they got all Americans back there on defense. So they're they're a good squad. St. A's is that that that quiet kind of team that just comes and knocks the snot out of you. And then gets back on the bus and goes home. I like what Coach does up there with St. A's. They're good.

Ganes to Watch this Week

SPEAKER_01 42:21

All right. Let's move on to games to watch this week. What do you have on your plate, Danny?

SPEAKER_00 42:29

Okay, since you know, we're talking about Maryville, um, they just played Colorado Mason. Now they're gonna play a tough Westminster team. Westminster has been pretty tough. I'd like to see if Maryville beats Westminster, which I think they will, but by the way they're playing, then then Maryville's gotta be gotta be held as a legit team. You know, I think they already are. Yeah, I see what you're saying, though. You know what I'm saying? At this, you know, if they beat Westminster, they're on track to like having a really good season. Because then they're gonna in conference, I think they're they're the best team in conference.

SPEAKER_01 43:08

They are. I want to see, I can't wait for the Maryville U Indie game. I that would be some game, but I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 43:16

I I don't know if Undy's the same U Indy that I'm used to seeing either.

SPEAKER_01 43:21

We said the same thing in the top 20, so that you know, top 20 review.

SPEAKER_00 43:24

So they're hanging in there, they're hanging in there. They're good, they're good, but I don't know if they're the same as they were. What about you? You got any games to watch?

SPEAKER_01 43:34

I do. I have a few. I've got an interesting one, Alabama Huntsville, Emy Riddle on Saturday. And the reason why I say that is a couple things. Both teams are at 500. Alabama Huntsville is at four and four.

SPEAKER_00 43:48

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 43:48

They just played uh William Jewell and beat them but lost to Rockhurst, and then Emory Riddle is three and three. And this is two teams, both with new hot head coaches this year. Year Coach Jez for Emory Riddle and Coach Fry for Alabama Huntsville. I think this will be a really good game.

SPEAKER_00 44:07

Yeah, it's a big game for both teams, actually. You know, and uh I don't know. I like Jez and Emery Riddle in this one. What say you, Kev?

SPEAKER_01 44:19

I it's interesting if I would have said Emory Riddle a week ago, but since Emory Riddle just lost and I thought they were gonna win that game, I'm still gonna go with Emory Riddle. It's at Alabama Huntsville, though. Yeah, yep. So we could be eating Crow again.

SPEAKER_00 44:36

That's true. It could be. All right, who else you got? Um, I think that Lewis Mercyhurst game coming up is a big game for Mercy Hurst. That's a biggie for Mercy Hurst.

SPEAKER_01 44:48

It is, and it's actually a big one for Lewis because Lewis hasn't been where they've been before.

SPEAKER_00 44:53

Yeah, they've been really inconsistent, Lewis. I'm surprised. I picked them to be do so much better in the beginning of the year.

SPEAKER_01 44:59

Now, get this though. What's interesting is they just lost to Colorado Mesa on Saturday, but before that, they were five and oh since losing to Meryville. So they're not that far off. And they they're gonna this one, if they can beat Mercyhurst, really sets them up for confidence going into their conference play. Yeah, and how does Mercyhurst play after St. Anselm?

SPEAKER_00 45:28

Good question. That's great. It's how do they bounce back? You know, that's part of this the NCAA game and the game of lacrosse. See how they bounce back after a tough loss. Battle of the new games, the new teams, Malone and Tiffin go at it this week.

SPEAKER_01 45:43

Yeah, Malone last year and then Tiffin uh this year. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 45:47

That should be kind of a good game. Both game, both teams kind of like new to Division II and making their marks and trying to trying to just scrape up W's and that should be a that should be a good game.

SPEAKER_01 45:58

Tiffin has not been playing bad. They've had they've had a few wins. Malone as well. Let's see where they go. I've got another one. St. Michael's against Southern New Hampshire. Both of these teams want to get into the NE-10 tourney. Yeah. St. Michael's right now is at 3-1. They beat Diouville Hannily, but they lost to Roberts Wesley and by four. Southern New Hampshire, interestingly, is only one and three. But they've lost and had close games against Maly and Catawa, and they just lost to Mount Olive. They had a tough South region schedule for themselves. These two know each other. So if you look at records, you would think, oh, St. Mike's is gonna pull it away. I don't think so. I think this is gonna be a battle.

SPEAKER_00 46:48

And like you said, that this with Lemoyne being out of the N now, it opens up a spot. Which one of these teams are gonna make it? Is it gonna be Southern New Hampshire? Is it gonna be a St. Mike's, a St. Rose, one of those, one of those teams to sneak in and get into the tournament? So that's a good pick, Kev. I like that pick a lot. And we have two top 10 matchups this week as well. We have uh Undy Rollins.

SPEAKER_01 47:17

Yeah. Now that's gonna be interesting, like we just talked about with Undy. You would think that Rollins coming off and and Undy just losing as well and Rollins winning. That Rollins, I'm picking Rollins, but I don't know if it's gonna be a blowout. I don't think so.

SPEAKER_00 47:39

Well, you know, Rollins, Rollins looks very good, man. They're deep, they're deep, their defense is good, their offense is really, really good. And they got Catchadurian between the goals, man. He's he's a he's a he's a he's a stopper, man. He's a brick wall back there. Yeah, so as long as long as like Berkman and Grant and those guys are healthy and Catchadurian's in goal, I think Rollins is gonna be a tough out, man. So I like Rollins in that game.

SPEAKER_01 48:07

The other game, Danny, that I've got, and only and there's a couple of personal reasons for it. Well, actually, there's one personal reason for it, and then I'm so I have to make up the other reasons why it's a good game. No, it will be a good game, and that's next Wednesday on the 20th of March. It's Frostburg against Wilmington. Why? It's at home with field, and I'm gonna try to go to the game. Oh, cool. I have it on my list. That's awesome. Uh, it's a night game. Frostburg uh just lost to Bentley, and then they play St. Thomas Aquinas. So I assume they're gonna be about four and two when they go into that game. Wilmington will probably, they're at one and two right now. They play Bridgeport this weekend. Assume they'll win that game, so they'll be two and two. Once again, I don't think records say what it's gonna be. I think this is gonna be a close game, and I think it'll be a good one. And it's at homewood. You can't find a Wednesday night.

SPEAKER_00 49:01

No, that's great. Also, next Tuesday, Florida Southern and Colorado Mesa. So, I mean, Florida Southern's been playing great. This could be a big game for them if they could beat Colorado Mesa, Florida Southern will move up and start start making that you know, that run at that NCAA.

SPEAKER_01 49:24

And Colorado Mesa is doing their usual East Coast swing, and they have to play Tampa on Saturday before they go and play play uh Florida Southern on Tuesday.

SPEAKER_00 49:34

Yeah, but they better buck, they better buckle up. That's tough. They better strap themselves in. They're in for two tough games when they come to Florida. Yeah. Two toughies. They could go 0-2. That's possible. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 50:29

All right, Danny. You talked about it the other top ten matchup of the week. Bentley against a Delphi at Bentley. At Bentley. Bentley beat a Delphi twice last year. But a Delphi closed finally closed them out in the first round. Bentley just beat Frostburg. We talked about that earlier. A Delphi just lost to Rollins. Yeah. And then you've got the goalie matchup, Dylan Renner against Jackson Tinsley. Jackson Tinsley's been playing really well, but is he at the level of Dylan Renner? I don't think so. I think a Delphi has an advantage. But then Bentley has Cam Bottolomeo. Right. And they could have an advantage in that face-off.

SPEAKER_00 51:13

And a Delphi's been struggling big time at the dot. Big time. I'm I'm in shock because last year they did so well at the at the dot, you know, and this this year they're struggling. They're sending multiple players out there. They're sending phogos, they're sending short stick D-mittis, they're sending long polls, they're sending LSMs out there, they're sending everybody out there. They're probably gonna put Dylan Renner out there pretty soon. Yeah, I'll tell you, man, I'm so impressed with Dylan Renner. I can't I can't tell you enough. I am this kid is good, man. I in my eyes, right now, he's gotta be the the goalie uh of division two right now, just the way he's playing and keeping his team in it. Because I don't think uh as good as a Delphi is, I just don't think they're uh uh they're cooking yet, and Dylan is just keeping them in games. That's so is this the game?

SPEAKER_01 52:11

Is this the game that they start cooking? Who do you think in this game?

SPEAKER_00 52:15

You know, I this is a pick'em for me, Kev. This is a tough one. I just I I'm gonna have to give the edge to a Delphi a little bit. But I wouldn't surprise people.

SPEAKER_01 52:28

I think it's a pick'em game. I tell you, I'm going the opposite way and saying Bentley. Mainly because of momentum, but that's a little scary because I wouldn't want to play a Delphi after they lost a game. But is that Bentley? That's why it's such a pick'em. But we'll do this way. I'll go Bentley, you go to Delphi. One of us will be right, one of us will be E Pro.

SPEAKER_00 52:52

Yeah, that's our game of the week. That should be that should be a good one, man.

PLayer's Spotlight

SPEAKER_00 52:57

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SPEAKER_01 54:07

All right, time to get back to the player spotlight. Little unconventional this week. We are recording this segment on Sunday night because our usual Monday and Tuesday evening slots conflict with West Coast lacrosse practice. We thought we had this all figured out, doing it at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, which would allow me to get back from my daughter's college and Danny, who went to the Crown Classic to be able to get back as well. And obviously on the West Coast, it's only 5 p.m. there. So it worked out really well on a Sunday. Unfortunately, Danny had a little bit of a journey woe and travel woes, and this flight got canceled. So I am flying solo tonight with our guest. And I guess I'll just have to try and muddle through. Interestingly, this player has been on a journey himself. Grew up in Germany, played at the University of Vermont, and now has switched coast to get to the West Coast, going to D2 lacrosse, and it's Pear and his Alters, attackman for the Dominican University Penguins. Hey Pear, how are you doing?

SPEAKER_02 55:19

I'm good. How are you? Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_01 55:21

Oh, it's great to have you on. How are things on the West Coast tonight? Things are good, man.

SPEAKER_02 55:26

It's beautiful days always. Nice and nice, pretty area.

SPEAKER_01 55:31

What I have to ask. Well, let me ask you this. You you live in Germany, or do you still go home when you're not in school?

SPEAKER_02 55:40

Yeah, I um I was I was at home for Christmas. I spent a good chunk of time there. Where in Germany do you live? Um I I grew up in Frankfurt, Germany. Okay. My family is from Hamburg, Germany, like around Lübeck. So I now my mom and dad live in Lübeck, which is north of Hamburg, and um that's where I go visit. And then when I visit, I try and like go to Frankfurt so I can see my old team, my friends.

SPEAKER_01 56:07

That's awesome. Why don't we just start off with that? Tell me about your lacrosse journey. How did you get started playing in Germany? And how does a Germ a player from Germany get recruited to play in the United States?

SPEAKER_02 56:20

Um so I have uh my my mom's American, my dad's German. We grew up all over um the world. Spent some time in in Albania, Montenegro, and Germany, and then also a couple years in around DC. And when I was uh pretty young, I was visiting my grandparents around Rhode Island, and they had like a small summer camp at St. Mike's, I believe it's St. Mike's St. George's. One of the one one of the schools over there, and that's when I first saw the game, and I first picked up like a fiddle stick or a little stick with us. And then I'd I'd do that whenever we go visit my grandparents. And um then we moved out to um Mablook, Germany, which is about an hour north of Lunfood. And that was my third grade, and then my my mom and I were exploring the town, and we saw a guy walking around with a long pole, stop the car, and like where where do you play? I didn't know they had the bronze out here. He was uh he was super pumped that he was an expat, and uh he said like they're just building their youth team right now, like I should totally come to practice. So I'd I'd show up to practice there, there'd be sometimes sometimes he'd be there alone, sometimes there'd be like five guys there.

SPEAKER_01 57:42

It was it was very and how old were you at this point? How old were you then?

SPEAKER_02 57:48

This was during my third grade.

SPEAKER_01 57:50

Wow, so you actually started pretty young even.

SPEAKER_02 57:53

Yeah, I still I still got into the game pretty young. So then like practices where we could, and then YouTube and just going out hitting the wall, shooting was a huge part of just developing as a player. And then come high school, uh we uh we moved out to Frankfurt and then I started playing with the team there who was a bit more developed. I had a more developed youth team, more developed men's team, and then played with them for the the youth team there one year and then played with the men's team since I was when you when you're sixteen, you're allowed to play up with the men. So then I started playing with them for yeah, for the rest of my high school days, and then played tournaments all through Europe as much as I could, anywhere, tried to Prague and the Czech Republic is a great place to play box and took any opportunity I could to get over there, played yeah, tournaments in in the Netherlands, Belgium, like and all over the place. Wow for like all my weekends.

SPEAKER_01 59:01

So so was that did you play any other sports growing up in in Germany or is lacrosse the main one for you? It was it was lacrosse. It just so it it was it it got in your soul immediately.

SPEAKER_02 59:13

Yeah, I loved it. I was I was I was completely obsessed.

SPEAKER_01 59:17

How much is it growing, that sport growing in in Germany now?

SPEAKER_02 59:22

It's it's growing for sure. I mean European Boxer Cross Championships in 22. We finished second place, which was the highest finish we've ever had. Wow. We finished 11th in the World Games with you know, putting up competitive games against good teams. And I mean, we like our national team both we're we're all German, like everyone speaks German. There's no Americans that like have a grandparent that's that's German that comes and plays really. It's all it's all guys that either grew up playing there, grew up and left, or spent so much time in the leagues there, or it's it's it's a full German team. So I think the national team speaks to the growth of the game a lot. But I mean from what I've heard, because I'm a little bit removed from the current scene at the moment.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:15

Right.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:15

But going back, I I pick I try and pick up as much as I can. Um is that COVID really hurt the game there. Yeah. I mean and it really took its toll on like the smaller teams that were popping up left and right that then either disappeared, dispersed. Some teams have to now like combine from two different areas and play together and so there's that, but I I mean it's on it's on the bounce back.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:41

COVID obviously set a lot of things back, but I mean Do you do you think the fact that it's gonna be in the Olympics in 2028 was is gonna help it grow in in Europe as well?

SPEAKER_02 1:00:52

I think so. I think I mean like any kid's dream is to play in the Olympics and having this as an option to do it, and especially that it is um I guess more of like a niche sport. Especially there, that it it can open opportunities for young. I think especially the U19 national team right now, and those boys, I think they're getting I think they're really excited because they would be in kind of the perfect age.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:21

Oh, for the right, yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:24

So I think in that age group it's gonna be huge, and I I expect, I mean, every single young kid we have come up to play with the men is is getting better and better than the last generation, so it's it's the youth work throughout the years in Germany, I think, is really paying off.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:40

And what is more popular there, or is it about the same between box and field lacrosse?

SPEAKER_02 1:01:47

Um the field league is I think bigger and more popular in the sense, but box is really starting to take off in Germany. It's like the Czechs, the Finns, those guys are kind of like the box hubs in Europe. But uh the Germans are are growing too. Like we're that's it's growing a lot. A lot of guys go over to the Czech Republic a lot to play, and um the box league in Germany is growing. Now they have like a full league, a German championship, and more and more teams that want to play. So I think it's it's definitely on its way because I mean it's it shows in any good player like it makes sense to play bars.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:30

That's so exciting to hear. I'm I'm really excited to see where that goes. I I think, and tell me if I'm wrong, because the sixes format is going to be in the Olympics, I think that allows, like you said, maybe because of COVID, a lot of towns had to like combine, but when you only need to have you know eight, nine players on a team for for rotation and whatnot, sixes can help spur the growth as well.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:01

I think so. I think I think sixes could definitely spur the growth, especially just with the reduced roster sizes. And then, I mean, you don't need to buy long poles, you don't really have the special disposition. Right. And um I think I mean I think I've I work at a lacrosse shop in California, and I've I've talked with with my my manager too a bunch, and he he said the same thing that um sixes. I think I'm I'm totally with him. Here is that I think it's so good for kids.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:27

That's what I was gonna play. And then go to the version of the game, right? Yeah. You start them young, like you said, second, third, even probably through fifth grade. I think my son, when he started, he was in a U11 team, and in our local area for rec, U11 players couldn't use long poles. You had to be all short stick. Now it was full field, and it wasn't till you got to U-13 that you could go to long poles. But I think even smaller uh teams where at you know 11 and younger, you know, it's easier to control the the kids on a on a team because you know, kids at that age, they their attention span isn't as long, and the games go quicker and they all get more time to play. I just think it's a great way to grow it.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:20

Yeah, I think so too. And and all the kids are getting R reps, D reps, they're learning the transition game. It's it's it's all kind of basic fundamental across, and I think it would translate a lot for for kids growing up, for growing nations, and I mean I I think it's definitely great for development.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:40

Yeah, so now let's get back to you. How did you get recruited to play in the United States? Was uh uh just a corollary question, because your mom is American, were you always thinking of trying to go to school in the United States, or was that just an afterthought?

SPEAKER_02 1:04:55

Um, it would it was an afterthought. I mean, I was in I was in Germany. Tuition's obviously a lot um easier in Europe, but um high school came around and I started playing a bunch of lacrosse. I I would I I went to a tournament in the Czech Republic and played with this American guy and he was uh he was bringing up like if I really wanted to to go play in the US I could probably find a school and then asked him about the recruiting process and how it works. I knew nothing about it and he was saying like just a program, so I I wrote up a big email one day and sent the emails out to God, like as as many schools as I could. I picked up because then I I built up this dream to to get on a division one roster in my head. So I I I just sent out I found like the list of schools, found their coach's emails and sent out like there must have been at least at least thirty emails to division one schools and then I I got some got some answers back. It was done to talk to some some programs and then Found Vermont and had an amazing time over there with those coaches and amazing coaching staff, amazing time. Great place. And then my six-year-old around and um found a wonderful option to get an MBA in a in a year at Dominican. And one of the coaches there is German. And I I played with him in 2015, actually. Oh really? Yeah, he's a German guy from Berlin. And um we we both played together in a tournament, in a box tournament in Canada in 2015, a Dominican German team.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:37

Oh so that's how you got out to Dominican all the way on the West Coast. What do you what do you see the difference between the West Coast and New England?

SPEAKER_02 1:06:49

Um sheer size of the West. Everything is everything is pretty grand. Like just the views are massive and big and and pretty breathtaking. I mean I I do love the northeast too. I just like smaller, gritty, um beautiful. Like I I I love the seasons personally.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:14

Well, and and Vermont, I I grew up in New England myself. I grew up in Massachusetts. So I had a one of my best friends in high school went to the University of Vermont and it's beautiful, beautiful in that state. So but you're right, it's it's different size mountains when you go out west than they are on the east coast. It's completely different.

SPEAKER_02 1:07:32

And like I I drive over the Golden Gate Bridge a bunch, and like just every single time I drive over it, it's pretty like Oh, it's beautiful. It's it's so pretty. It is all stunning. So I'm I mean, I definitely don't have any views to complain about. We have Mount Tan right there, we get to see it from the field. We're like surrounded by greenery, and it's it's all it's really pretty over there.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:55

Yeah. So what is it like to be on a team that is back in the NCAA in D2 for their first year?

SPEAKER_02 1:08:03

Um, it's pretty cool. I mean, I I'd I I love it. Honestly, I think it's I think it's really dope that they're making the jump again. I mean, back in the day, the Dominican team was pretty successful in D2.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:18

And um it's it's cool that we're bringing it back and that we get to be. And I'm I'm honestly part of the year of the change and flip the culture back to uh a D2 culture, be a part of that, working with the guys, and then just obviously every like changing, going up a division comes with growing pains. Yeah, but that was to be uh expected. But as long as we can like put the right precedence in and then set up the team for success in the future with these younger kids coming in, and I think it's it's it's it's on we're we're definitely on the right path.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:59

Yeah, so and what do you think your contribution or how do you see your contribution? Because you played at a D1 school and a very good program, University of Vermont, is helping this program in its transition.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:13

Well, what's helping is just knowing what what needs to be put into a team to put the script on. He he brought with him a huge culture change, and he was un like un undoubtedly like he was he was very successful with what he did there. He won a uh first conference championship for the team. He went back to back when he did it, he um won the first uh NCAA tournament game for Vermont. I mean, he's he's done so much, and it all starts with the the culture he instilled on the team and how receptive all the guys were. So I think it's kind of being a part of that, and then just bringing a lot of what I learned there and trying to kind of bring that culture over and and just know knowing what you need to put in like in the fall and in the spring, every practice, every conditioning, every lift, the like kind of the intensity and effort you need to bring into that to have success in the season.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:16

That's great. That's great. And so far, I mean, you have 22 goals and eight assists. That's not too shabby. How does that feel to be able to contribute in the in the Pang's first year in NCA D2?

SPEAKER_02 1:10:30

Um, it feels good. I mean, I got I got good guys around me. I great guys that give me good love. We have a lot of guys stepping up left and right too for us getting points, and uh I don't know I'm I'm pumped to help out as much as I can. I want to see success for this program and I want to see them grow to be a hub for lacrosse on the west coast.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:49

I I love it. I think Dominican and Concordia are just the beginning on the far west coast to help grow it, especially now that in another year there can be automatic qualifiers for conferences, right? So I think and I we talked to Coach Sammy about that, we talked to Coach Foss about that, we had him on the show. What is it like to play for Coach Sammy?

SPEAKER_02 1:11:15

It's nice. I think he does a he does a good job of he's a really nice guy and does a good job of of reading the team and kind of like with the good relationships he has with all these players. He has a he does a really good job at like diffusing situations or making things happen because he's got such a good read on his players uh at like a personal basis.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:39

That's great. That's great. I was very impressed by him and just his his work ethic as well. I mean, what he's done there to get his team to division NCA division two by basically starting a women's team and raising money for them because he knew that was the route for the men, just phenomenal. But what's also interesting about I think about Dominican this year is being an independent, which means your schedule has a lot of flexibility, a lot of different teams. What have you thought about the variety of teams you've played, the you the schedule and the travel that you've been able to do this year for the team already in in probably the first you know third of the of the season?

SPEAKER_02 1:12:21

I mean it's cool. I mean, we still have some some trips. We we go to Utah pretty next weekend, and then we end up going back to SoCal again. But I mean being on the I personally like it. Being on the road is awesome. It's a good time to be close to the team. Everyone's in close quarters, everyone's hanging out. I think it does a really good job of like team building in that sense because no one can go home and hang out by themselves, everyone's in the same hotel, and every you know, guys are hanging out together in the pool, and it's just you're you're building these bonds, and that's what's also gonna help develop a better, closer culture, and this this whole like feeling for the team, playing for the guys around you, and and wanting to like sacrifice for them, and I think all this travel has helped, especially just like just everyone's in close quarters all the time. And we got a long way to go, so like you're you're you're talking to people and stuff too. So that's that's nice. And I I I personally like playing against we we played against the powerhouses on the west with Mesa, and now we get to now we get to see like really good Midwest Lacrosse. And I I don't believe I don't believe we we got to see any East Coast teams this year, but I think that's probably gonna come in years to come. So I think it's just cool to play against the different brands of lacrosse throughout the country.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:43

That's what I was gonna, and then you you hit the nail on the head, being able to see you know your schedule, and you Colorado Mason and Westminster do it all the time, and they had to do it before just to be in recognition to get into the NCAAs, right? Play a lot of teams on the East Coast or play the tough teams in the Midwest and the GLVC. You guys, because you're an independent, you know, Coach Sammy, I think, has built a really, really cool schedule for your first year to see the breadth, I think, of Division II across the different conferences before you have to settle in in a few years for the RMAC.

SPEAKER_02 1:14:22

Yeah, I agree with that. I think I think it was really good. We got we've we've definitely been tested. We definitely have seen what what the top lacrosse in the west looks like, and um I think that's huge for years to come, especially especially these young guys like on the team that we're talking about that are being nothing but receptive to this culture change and now see that how much you probably need to like how much needs to go into it early to set yourself up for success in the spring. So I think I think these next couple years are gonna be huge. I think this year's still gonna be great. I think we're we're developing every single time we step on the field, and so it's it's it's growth, and that's really all you can ask for.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:07

That's right. I mean, we've Danny and I talk about this about all new teams coming in. Now, Concordia and Dominican have a little bit of a leg up because you were club teams before, so they you came with good rosters, but you're playing against different competition. And and I found it interesting what you said is, and I'm curious for like my last question is playing this tough competition, you guys are two and six right now. Um, and I'm sure it's something that also isn't what you're not used to being at Vermont and usually having winning records. Are the are the losses just solidifying and having the guys buy in more of what kind of work they've got to do to get to the level of being like a Colorado Mesa, like a Westminster and the Armac, or you know, like you played Quincy and Davenport and teams like that where you saw how they play. Does it say like we we know the gap we have to be in and we know how how to close it and we're ready to do that? Is that what you're building?

SPEAKER_02 1:16:09

Yeah, I think it's it's I mean, if you're not taking anything from the losses, it's it's a complete waste of time. But I think that's kind of what we're seeing. It's it was it was an eye-opener to one needs to to to the gap that needs to be filled, and and what has to happen in that. It's it's it's not the same. And like you you you gotta work that much harder, and the wins are gonna feel that much better one when you actually do bridge these gaps. So I think I think we have been able to take a lot out of it. Obviously, not how you wanna start a season or be in the middle of a season, but um it's uh it's a first year out of a jumping division, and history usually tells us that it's it's really hard, and and it shows that in in most records for for teams that that make these jumps, so it's it's a growth year. I think the the mindset has been for growth and setting the team up for success in future years, especially being a part of the conference next year, and like obviously Rob wanting to push to to to see the playoffs and in the championship in in May or something, just to this has been a great year at cementing what what what the new standard has to be and and what what we have to do to achieve what we what we plan to in the future.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:37

So well said. I I just want to thank you, Pear, for coming on. I think you being the player you are and where you have been, not only from Vermont, but probably also internationally, being able to show your teammates and talk to your teammates and show them on the field what needs to do what you need to do to get there to be an elite program is really helping build that foundation for your team. So I want to thank you so much for joining me tonight. It's been great. I know Danny sends his best. He wishes he could be on this instead of being stuck somewhere trying to find a flight home. But uh it's it's been great having you on. Thanks so much for coming on in the crease.

SPEAKER_02 1:18:16

Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it.

SHout Outs

SPEAKER_01 1:18:19

All right, here we go, Danny. Time for shout-outs. What you got?

SPEAKER_00 1:18:26

To my girl, my new girl, Jill Keesey, limestone mom of Kyle Keesey. She had to remind everybody in the entire country that I was wrong in the limestone mom.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:39

Me too.

SPEAKER_00 1:18:39

She called me out too. So, Jill, I'm eating crow. Hold on.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:48

Like I said, I haven't even pulled up yet. There's some stuck right in there. I think you got a little wing stuck in my teeth.

SPEAKER_00 1:18:53

Hey, you know what though? She's a Long Island girl, so she's all right in my book.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:58

Danny, I have no problem with tell people telling us we're wrong.

SPEAKER_00 1:19:02

No, we urge, we actually urge people to tell us we're wrong. That's even when we're even when we're right. So big shout out to Jill Keesey. Her son Kyle's a great player. Yeah, he's at limestone, he's kicking butt down there. And and shout out to you, Jill, and thanks for calling us out. We'll we'll keep us honest. We'll remember that at Christmas time.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:25

Okay, here's here's one I've got. I'm shouting out, shout out to Dylan Healed a post. 100 career goals, and that's the first one in program history. Oh, that's great.

SPEAKER_00 1:19:40

That's great. That's a good shout out. I like that. No, that's the only shout out. I only had a shout out for Jill Keesey. Okay, that we should have saved that to last, but that was a good one.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:50

I like it. So I got two others. Okay, good. You have to shout out Canyon Birch of Tampa. Yeah, he played well. You have to scored both the game time and game winning goal in double overtime. Every goal from Birch, who had six goals, seemed to come at the moment his team needed it most. Yep. His first goal stopped a 4-0 run from Wingate. His second halted a two-goal wing gate run. He star his started a four-goal Tampa run, and it goes on and on. It he just a great, great shout out for him. He deserved it. What a game he had. Yeah, he played very well. And the last shout out is to Finn Zebarth of William Jewell, their goalie. You said it correctly. I did. 20 saves against Alabama Huntsville. 20 saves. They still lost 12.9, but his pipe attending kept them in that game. 20 saves, 12 goals against 62.5%. Career high. And oh, by the way, career high for him. Yeah. And oh, I'm pretty sure it was. And then, oh, by the way, William Jewell now, because of their most recent win against Adam State. New program at four and three.

SPEAKER_00 1:21:07

It's amazing. That's crazy. That's phenomenal. Keep it up, William Jewel. Keep it up. Keep plugging. That's right. Um, one more. Uh, we've got to give a shout out to laxjobs.us or smile.

SPEAKER_01 1:21:21

Just read my mind.

SPEAKER_00 1:21:22

Um, go on if you're looking for a job in lacrosse, or if you're uh want to coach in lacrosse, or if you have a job offer to offer somebody in lacrosse, go to laxjobs.us, sign up. It's absolutely free. Get your name or your job out there to hundreds of qualified either employers or or people looking to find work. So big shout out to laxjobs.us.

SPEAKER_01 1:21:46

Yeah, I would just add one other thing is uh what I think is great about that, and because it's free, is that laxjobs.us is building the lacrosse community through connections of jobs and employers. Yep. Just an amazing thing.

SPEAKER_00 1:22:04

Yeah. And my last shout out is to all the listeners, man. Um, so many people are DMing us and becoming engaged with the show. And uh I saw some people down telling them, like, hey, you're the podcast guy. That's the podcast guy. It was pretty funny. And um asking me what I thought about certain things. I'm like, I don't know what I'm talking about. I'm just up there faking it, man. They're like, no, you know. I was like, I don't, I really don't. But um, hey, to all the listeners, thank you so much for listening and and shouting out to us and and giving us information and and and to people like Jill who call in and Melody who who give us stuff and just like it's been a great run with these people who listen, and it's just been it's been nice to engage with these people. It really are, and they feel comfortable engaging with us.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:58

I would say that's more than half the joy. It's probably 75% of the joy of doing this podcast is the interaction. We got a DM from a dad who listened, the whole family listened to it. Who listened to our player spotlight with Vincent with Vincent and said it was so inspirational because their son, who's in high school, is going through the same thing as ultra to colitis as well. And so when you can do and just make that one connection is to me, it makes this podcast valuable to me when we can do something like that. And we get that back, we get that feedback from from our listeners.

SPEAKER_00 1:23:47

And you know what's crazy? We don't even we're not even thinking about that when we do it. We're just like, hey, this is a player that's important. It's kind of interesting what he's going through. And we and we and we let him tell the story. We're not journalists in any way, shape, or form, but we let them tell a story. And to have that story touch people that we don't even know, Kev, and that they and they engage with us and say, hey, what a great story, my son, blah, blah, blah, going through it. So, you know, uh, we have that effect a little bit. And that's that's that's one positive thing I can say.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:21

Well, and I think that just goes to I go back to when you say thanking the fans. That's what it's all about. It's them listening and interacting with us. Um, it has just been phenomenal. And and getting that kind of feedback really it warms my heart when I hear that we can we can have that kind of impact in a little way. Me as well. It warms my heart as well. And with that, Danny, for this week, that's a wrap.

SPEAKER_00 1:24:48

Kev, we gotta get some Irish music on. What's going on? It's not coming on. It's always something. It's always something. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all the Irish and all those that wish they were.

SPEAKER_01 1:25:03

Right back at you from Mr. Ostenstrom to Mr. Moran. That's a wrap up.