Game Time - A look back at week 9 and a preview of Week 10 of the 2022 season

Intro

SPEAKER_00 0:12

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Crease with Danny and Kevin, a coast-to-coast discussion of D2 Men's Lacrosse. I'm your co-host, Kevin Stenstrom, and with me as always is the man with the true bona feet of D2 lacrosse knowledge, Danny Moran. Hey Danny. He's bona fide.

SPEAKER_01 0:35

Kevin Stenstrom, I'm doing well tonight. How are you doing in Northern Virginia this evening?

SPEAKER_00 0:40

I'm doing well. Rainy here, not good, but uh we're we're muddling through. Um April showers.

SPEAKER_01 0:48

April showers bring those Mayflowers.

SPEAKER_00 0:50

Let's hope I'd rather it just be sunny and warm, but we can't get there that quickly. Me too, kid.

Week in Review

SPEAKER_00 0:57

Okay, so why don't we just start off with the week in review and why don't we start with the game that wasn't? I'll tell you Mercy Mercyhurst. I swear they're snake bit.

SPEAKER_01 1:09

Oh boy, I know what's up, what's up with these two teams? They can't get it, they can't get it on.

SPEAKER_00 1:14

I know they played you know regular season last year. Go in. We've talked about that. They got postponed because of COVID in the NCAA tournament. Yeah. And I think the same sort of bitum this year. Um, that's what I'm hearing. I didn't see it on either of their um press releases that what it was due to, but I heard through other people that it may have been due to due to some COVID issues, which is just a damn shame that they can't play.

SPEAKER_01 1:42

I had heard the same thing. Um, yes, it is it is a shame that they can't play. I mean, that's that's one game I think that not only Mercy, but Mercy Hurst was looking forward to playing. Without a doubt. And and I think the rest of the country would kind of be a little interested into seeing uh the outcome of that game. I mean, it has a lot of implications, both uh nationally and all kinds of things. So um, unfortunately, that game will not be rescheduled. So yeah, they just it's a it's a PPD, a postponed game, and it's a shame because that's that's a game that the country needs to see.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

Yeah, that was the the big one. There were a couple others that were postponed De Uville against Frostburg and St. Lou against uh uh Palm Beach Atlantic. That one was for weather. So a few that did not, but the big one that you know, and you and I both said it. That was the game you and I are both turning tuning into without a doubt, and just a shame that they couldn't play. And we'll just have to watch other games, and maybe we'll see them again, you know, in the NCA tournament.

SPEAKER_01 2:44

And hopefully uh they get through it unscathed this time because I think both of them are gonna wind up in the tournament. If you ask you, I would think so. I would think the way it's looking now. I would say that they probably will both be uh in there at the end, so maybe they'll play each other this year. Yeah, we're waiting. We're just waiting. I'd love to see that game. I'd love to see that game.

SPEAKER_00 3:07

Okay, so I want to talk about a couple of St. Anselm games in a row that I got to watch. The first was last Wednesday, Wilmington against St. A's. Wilmington pulls it out with a 17-14 final. Now they played at a neutral site, they played at Springfield College, which was kind of interesting, but this was a huge win for the Wildcats. It was their first win over a ranked team in program history. Yep. And we said on the podcast that they needed to win this to kind of stay in the conversation for tournament, you know, NCA tournament and be in that conversation. And what what happens? They beat St. A's, and now they are in the top 20 of the USILA poll, sitting there at number 20.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

Yeah, big one for Wilmington obviously. That's a good St. Anslem's team. We've been talking about them for a couple of weeks now, Gev. And Wilmington, you know, they they they gave them a ball game. And now the 17-14 game, Wilmington is uh forced to be reckoned with, I think. They have two big wins in a row now, Wilmington.

SPEAKER_00 4:14

Yep, yep. And what's interesting in that game, it was four-four after the first quarter, and then Wilmington scored five unanswered goals. And the way I saw it, it was all due to two things. It was due to their strong defense causing turnovers or getting turnovers, and then they would quickly transition and score on unsettled. Like literally, every goal was like that. They just moved it quickly out of defense to offense, boom, score. And they happened fairly rapidly, several of them, and that was really the difference. And then you've got uh Giovanna Marino scoring nine goals in that game, a another program record. Giovanno balling out, kid. Yeah, and Jake Herman had five assists. So they had some guys that were, you know, obviously, we've talked about this against other other games. You have to almost have a perfect game against some of these when you are the underdog, and that's what they did. Saint A's once again tries to come back, they score a few, and it looks like they're okay. Now, now Saint A's is on a roll. No, Wilmington wouldn't allow it. They played a really great game.

SPEAKER_01 5:22

Interesting. Because Saint A's is a good squad. I haven't seen Wilmington play yet this year. I I have to I have to guess.

SPEAKER_00 5:29

You should go back and watch that game. It was a it was a good game to watch. I've seen Wilmington, I think I saw them when they played Mercy, and you know, the once again that was a game where Mercy seemed to have under control, but they didn't quit. And then that game ended up 8-7. So they are a team that one, you don't want to give them the lead, and two, you they're they're just dangerous. They're just dangerous. So fun to they're in the top, they're in top 20 and they're six and three now. Yep. So then the second game was happened uh on Saturday, and that's when Saint A's played Bentley. That was a 14-13 final with St. A's coming up on top. Saint A's in a lot of close games, boy. They're calling out kids. That was a great game. That was a great game to watch. I mean, the way both teams moved the ball, it really to me did not seem like there were even a lot of mistakes. It was a game where you had to either win on defense or win on offense, and that's how you did it. Bentley even won practically all of the stat categories shots, faceoff, extra man opportunities, ground balls. But the stat they didn't win was the final score.

unknown 6:40

Yeah. St.

SPEAKER_01 6:41

A's goes to four and three now. Bentley is five and two. But um, you know, that kid, Sean Tomashewski and Jake Robinson had three goals apiece for St. A's. The Larson boys again, uh Larson Wells and Jack Andrews had two apiece. CJ Hart, one of the best in the business, 22 saves. Yeah. And for Bentley, Clay Musman had himself a game, two and two, and Luke Jaber had three and one. But get this, seven more different players scored for Bentley. They had nine different players put the biscuit in the basket. That's a good game, man. Yeah, Keith Warwick in the golf, but Bentley played.

SPEAKER_00 7:20

Oh, he played. He played an awesome game. I mean, the goalie play was was phenomenal. It was an interesting game because it was 10-6 at half. Uh and then Bentley scored another goal in the first nine seconds to go up by five. But then they did not score again until there was 1054 left in the game. Hawks outscored the Falcons eight to three in the second half. But what's interesting was you think, okay, now just you just see that St. A's is is ahead. The Hawks are have got it. It went back and forth. Bentley scored in the fourth, they went up 12-11. St. A's scores two to take the lead finally for the first time in the fourth. Bentley ties it with two minutes left. Two minutes left, and you're like, okay, this is probably going overtime. No, no, no. Nick Larson for the Hawks delivers the dagger blow with eight seconds left in the game with a low to high shot. That was just a stinger. Right. Stinger. Yeah. It's another one of those games where you really didn't want to see someone lose because it was that close.

SPEAKER_01 8:23

Yeah, we've I've watched St. A's like we keep talking about this team. I mean, they're they're a really good squad. And uh they they've they've run into a couple of good teams and lost by one here, two there, and three there, but they got a good squad. I think St. A's is gonna be in the mix at the end if they can keep it together.

SPEAKER_00 8:43

Yeah, they got some work to do now with uh some of those losses. Now Wilmington was not a conference loss, so that helps them at least in their conference tournament, but they're gonna have to keep it moving. There's gonna be a lot of people of teams like Bentley that's gonna want to come after uh, you know, and be in the conversation for conference tournament and and NCA tournament. How about uh Tampa Rollins?

SPEAKER_01 9:12

Well, I didn't get to watch that game because I was actually in my sick bed on Saturday with a little bit of the chills, and I just put put myself in the couch and said, Okay, I'm gonna watch some college lacrosse today, and wound up watching a lot of the inside of my eyelids, Kev. I slept most of the day, and I went to put the Tampa Rollins game back on on the on-demand, and guess what? It's not there, so I can't watch that game. So tell me about it, please.

SPEAKER_00 9:43

Okay, so game between the two top-ranked teams began with the off the first face-off with Rollins netting goal just seconds in. The Spartans answered though, with Owen Miller scoring right after that. So we kind of went back and forth. Then there was a long weather delay. I think it was 5'3 when it went into weather delay, and by the half, it was 9-6. But basically, that that three-goal delta would remain until the fourth. When Rollins came within two to make it 12-10. And here's the amazing thing. I think this was the real turning point. They had there was a Tampa had a penalty, two penalties. So Rollins is up with a two-man advantage with about four minutes left. Down two. Down two. So you figure if they can score when they're within one, now they've got the mentum going. Yeah, Tampa wouldn't have it. Tampa wouldn't have it. Their D and Blake Ulmer shuts them down. And then shortly after that penalty, those two penalties were gone, Tampa scores to put it up by three again. And I think that was it. I think that almost broke the will of Rollins. Not that you saw that in the players, but it's you get to only like about three minutes left, and it's a three-goal difference, and they had their chance, and they just couldn't close the door on it.

SPEAKER_01 11:11

Hey, Rollins is a really good team. They were undefeated. These were the battles of the undefeated in the South, uh, the Sunshine State Conference. So we knew it was going to be a competitive game. Um, you know, Tampa's number one for a reason. They're they're a really, really good squad. Luke McEnaney had himself a day, four and two, Colin White with three and one, Owen Miller two, Blake Homer. He continues to shine in goal, you know, nine saves. Hey, Rollins, the guys played pretty good, man. Gent with three, Jack Johnstone with two, Bailey Pringle with two. I mean, they they were competitive. Rollins is not a team that's going to lay down against Tampa. And they lost against the number one team in the country. Nothing to hang your heads at. Boys, you you played hard. Yep. You know what? But Tampa led in pretty much all the categories. Kev, you know, 41 to 29 on shots, 32 to 18 on the ground balls, and 20 to 9 on the face-offs. Yeah, I saw that. Those are pretty big numbers to try to overcome when you're playing number one.

SPEAKER_00 12:13

And it's tough when you are down by three most of the game, and you're also not winning the face-offs to try to come back. And also it's other categories. It really was. It's funny you say that. If you look at stats, it looked like it was dominated by Tampa the whole game. But it was a close game because it was always just that three goal delta for so long. You know what I'm saying? So it was it was evenly matched. You just couldn't get to that, couldn't get over the hump there.

SPEAKER_01 12:42

Right, right. But you know, you're talking about ground balls, 32 to 18 is a lot. Yeah, that's giving you that's giving your team more chances, and you just can't do that against number one. So no, you know, Rollins, you know, tip your hat to Rollins. They're there's continue to be a good team. They're ranked number 10 or 12. What are they ranked? Uh they were ranked 11. I haven't. Yeah, they're right there, 10 or 11, somewhere. So they're continuing to play well. I think that we're gonna see more of Rollins and Tampa in the uh Sunshine State Conference tournament. I think we'll see the it'll be interesting.

SPEAKER_00 13:16

Them, uh Florida Southern and Florida Tech. I think all of those four um are gonna be battling it out for the rest of the year.

SPEAKER_01 13:23

Yeah, that should be interesting. That Sunshine State conference is starting to heat up a little bit. No pun intended.

SPEAKER_00 13:29

Yeah, all right. So we did talk about a peach belt match. First game for conference play for both of them. That was Lander and Montevallo, and Lander comes up with a big win 17-11.

SPEAKER_01 13:43

Yeah, Sam Lander goes to eight and four, and Montevallo drops to four and six.

SPEAKER_00 13:49

Last year's peach belt uh champs. Yeah, they and Lander starts off their conference play beating last year's champ. So it's interesting because it was four three after one. Lander went on a five-one run in the second, and that was basically the difference. If you look at the scores on the other two quarters, they were basically even, and so it's not like Montevala played bad. Lander had a really good run in the second, and they just held held their own throughout.

SPEAKER_01 14:23

Yeah, Carter Wilcox seven and two, a nine-point game for that young man. What a great game! Queen Ingalls with three and two, Adam Mather with three and one, and Drew Wilson with three for Lander. Those boys had themselves a game, yeah, Kevin. Yeah, and on uh Montevallo's side, kind of Frederick with four and one, Scott Fiat one with four assists. I love guys that throw the dime. I love the assist guys. Uh Thomas Vason with two and one, and Nick Cavalier with two goals. Um, goalies and for lander, they they split goalie time. They did two goalies, they had Liam McKay and Nick Page, and they had 14 saves between the two of them. So Lander, Kevin. I'm gonna ask you, did do we have a new big dog in the Peach Belt conference?

SPEAKER_00 15:10

I think we may. We talked about this a little bit uh last week when they're gonna play Montevallo, and that we thought that Lander would give them a game, and and it'll be really interesting now to see Lander play Uah, Alabama Huntsville, uh in conference play. Coming up, it'll just be it'll be. I think I think that could be the the deciding point of who comes out uh number one going into the tournament.

SPEAKER_01 15:36

Yeah, and uh good good for lander. I mean, eight and eight and four right now, and I don't think anybody would have expected that, Kevin.

SPEAKER_00 15:43

Do you I don't know. I'll tell you, I remember when we talked to the coach, you know, we're doing the conference preview, and I had seen them play in uh fallball, and I was very impressed by their speed and how they moved the ball, and it's it's starting to come to fruition. I don't know if I would have said they would be eight and four at this point, but good for them. And okay, all right. Okay, what other games did you uh did you want to talk about?

SPEAKER_01 16:08

Well, the only other game that I had really was Seton Hill Frostburg. That was a good game, a 12-11 game. Seton Hill came out on top. Seton Hill's playing good, and Kevin, they didn't start out so good, but they're starting to play ball again, and they're they're getting themselves, they got themselves back into the rankings and where they're used to being. They're used to being in a ranked team. Um, they're playing very good. Uh Andy Davis had two and two. Jeremy Sforzo had three, Lane Harrich had three, and goalie Josh Miller had 15 saves for Seton Hill. Um, just a great game for for the boys. Uh Frostburg, they're struggling a little bit, Kev, this year. They're struggling. Uh Owen McCallum and Chase Ball Calter, each with two apiece for Frostburg, and Kevin Ruther had 20 saves on 32 shots in goal for Frostburg. So he had a great game in goal, but just Seton Hill was just a little too much for them.

SPEAKER_00 17:06

Yeah, once again, just like last year, they were close games, and this year it was also Seton Hill, like you said, I agree. They're starting to come on. The where they started off was not great. Frostburg is looks like they're in almost every game. They just can't get the W.

SPEAKER_01 17:24

Yeah, can't close out. Yeah, they're in games, but they just can't close out. Very, very competitive team playing competitive ball, just having trouble closing them out.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

Right. I've got one shout out though, and that's the flagler because they won their first game in program history against young Harris. Yeah, congratulations. It's awesome. So, congrats to Coach Duncan and his team. That's that's phenomenal.

SPEAKER_01 17:48

Bunch of freshmen and sophomores were partying that night. I don't care what you say, they were partying. Don't what a no, don't, what a no.

SPEAKER_00 17:56

I know nothing.

SPEAKER_01 17:59

You know they were. I don't care. Hey, congratulations, Flagler. You guys, you know, you've been yeah, we knew that you were gonna take your lumps. We knew that you were gonna take your lumps. I actually predicted you to have at least one or two more at this point, but I'm glad you guys got the dub. Congratulations.

Coach's Spotlight

SPEAKER_00 18:16

Okay, Danny, as we move into our coach's spotlight, I don't think you know the power that you wield. As you remember, last week you stated that you would love to have an Adelphi coach and maybe a player like their LSM Sean McGovern to come on. And just like that, presto, we not only have a player, but we have a coach a week later coming on. We are very lucky, coach. Yeah, we we have a twofer tonight, a twofer, a Delphi coach, a Delphi player in both of our spotlights. So, what's interesting about a Delphi, and when I looked at it last year, they always seem to be able to reload. You know, we talked about this in the preview. I saw what their roster was last year, and I saw that they had a lot of guys leaving. And I always knew they had depth on their team, but you always kind of wonder how that chemistry is going to go and how they're gonna play. And now they're seven and oh. So I'm really interested to get his perspective on that. So why don't we just bring him in, Coach Gordon Purdy of Adelphi? Hey coach, how you doing?

SPEAKER_04 19:21

Uh, couldn't be better. It's great to be here.

SPEAKER_01 19:24

Uh Coach Purdy from Adelphi, thanks so much for taking the time of your busy schedule to be with uh the two knuckleheads from In the Crease podcast tonight. We really appreciate it. Oh, that's my pleasure.

SPEAKER_00 19:35

So let's start off with that, Coach. Who I just said in the introduction there, you always seem to be able to not only have depth in your teams, but even when you lose players, that next year, you seem to be able to, even though you have maybe some transfers like you do this year, you're able to build that chemistry and still keep your team at such a high level. How do you do that year in and year out?

SPEAKER_04 19:58

Uh, I think it's, you know, I certainly believe that our university has really helped um, you know, us here in the lacrosse program and and really in the athletic program really support athletics. And so we've, you know, we've got great facilities. We have a great um, you know, opportunity to get a great education here at Adelphi. And so the drawer is okay, I'm gonna possibly, you know, specifically this year, look to come back home. Uh, family is everything. And I went away and maybe didn't love it and COVID hit. And I just want to come back home, connect with family, and play lacrosse. And I think we did a great job of finding players that you know really wanted to play some lacrosse challenge for a championship. And and uh I think that's really why we have sort of found some success this year. I I looked at our roster in our last game. We had two returning players that had really one player that started last year on our roster that started last week. That's incredible.

SPEAKER_00 21:16

Wow, that's amazing. Uh, that's like I said, when we did the conference preview, I said it looked like they need to reload not only a lot of times you see teams they have to reload on one side of the field, and they've still got players coming back. You know, it's either offense or defense. Yours was like, okay, you've got a smattering on all sides, but you've got to build it all over again. And watching your games, you're seven and oh, and you're five and oh in the conference.

SPEAKER_04 21:40

There wasn't one defensive player on the field that started last year in our last game, starting. Not a face-off, not a goalie, not a starting defense.

SPEAKER_01 21:50

Yeah, that is that's remarkable. That's remarkable. I you know, I I saw the first game of the season and I was like, I don't think any of those defenders ever played before. I was like, Looking through rosters and like looking, I was like, these guys are all new. I was like, wow, that's pretty impressive, coach.

SPEAKER_04 22:06

Um we have D1, D2, and D3 transfers. We're not afraid to play D1, D2, or D three. We've played a D3 regular season game, and you know, I think we don't mind mixing it up with anybody. We just love the cross here at Adel Phi.

SPEAKER_00 22:23

Well, it shows in your play, and it and and some of your players, like we're gonna get to talk to to Sean McGovern. I just want to step back and I want to ask you this. So last year you lost three games the whole year to one team. And then that seemed to keep you out of the NCAA tournament, which if you really look at it and you look at those games, it's the team that won everything. Let's not worry about last year, but was that kind of a a chip on the shoulder for your team, for your players? Um, or do you use that for motivation, or you just kind of push that away and say, we can let's just start new and let's it's a new year? Right.

SPEAKER_04 23:04

There's not many players that you know that would be really the connection, and we've we've felt that before. I mean, when was the last time Lemoyne lost a game? You come back to 2019. So uh, you know, with that said, there's not a lot of players that can tap into that one team that beat us and kept us out. There's just not. Okay. So, you know, what I've found over time is that players come back and they have these learning opportunities, which is those, you know, sometimes you can learn more from a loss than a win. We don't have that experience because these guys haven't lost. We didn't lose in the fall. And so um, you know, we're we're really challenged right now to see how good are we. I uh, you know, tomorrow's gonna be a big challenge for us. Yeah, you know, uh the scoreboard says one thing, but our performance says another. And I'm thinking we're yet to play our best lacrosse. And you know, we've had some challenges along the way where we haven't played well, we've won games, and probably, you know, they were closer than they should have been. Um, with that said, you know, we we need to start playing better team lacrosse. And I think in setting up, I you know, I think we were one of the latest teams in division one, two, and three to play a game this year, and that was because we knew we had to get as much practice in as we could. You know, our first game wasn't until March. By that time, teams were playing four and five games down south.

SPEAKER_00 24:39

Yeah, yeah. They're they're into the fifth game easily. They started playing in the January, and and you're so right. I mean, pace tomorrow is gonna be a tough game, and then you still have the the last three games of your season, you know, Mercy, Bentley, and then Lemoine. Wow, I that's all I can say is like you you're you've got to be able to peek right at the end, don't you think?

SPEAKER_04 25:03

Yeah, no, you've you've got those games circled, and I've got those three games prior to those circled, including tomorrow's, because you know, as I sort of re you know, said to you, it's really not about them, it's really about us. And every practice we get is an opportunity for us to actually play and play better. Uh, and I mean it, you know, we haven't played great with cross yet. And our players know that, and I think we're striving for that perfect game, and we're not there yet. So, in terms of teaching opportunities, we're getting that in practice. Um, you know, we're going to to have a good game to tomorrow with pace, and they're a challenge for us. Um, you know, I think we're going to match up well with them, but you know, we've got our uh we've got to really win the battle we're in at every position we're playing. And, you know, the the opportunities in front of us, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_01 26:01

You know, your defense is impressive. Um, your D midis, uh, you know, your LSMs, uh everything you got is clicking on defense. So the choices you made with these young men that that you did that that are new, uh it's really working. I mean, Sean McGovern is just having a heck of a year. That's he's a hell of a player, and your D middies are just doing great. But offensively, you've got middies for days. You just keep bringing in the middies, coach. Where do you find all these midfielders?

SPEAKER_04 26:31

Right. Well, yeah, our midfielders are deep, and you're writing talking about our defense. Our defense is strong, uh, not as strong as, you know, I think that what we're what you're watching tomorrow is the number one defense and the number two defense in the country going head to head. Um, pace giving up six and a half goals, and I think we're right behind them with seven. So, you know, it's going to be a defensive battle. Uh, they've got some solid offensive players. Uh, we have some, you know, I've often said to scout our team is really tricky because the coaches that are scouting us probably would have to know more than I do about our team to write everything down. And we're still learning about some of our players on offense. We didn't get our full squad together until March 8th. You know, we had our issues with injuries. Wow. We had our issues through, you know, two players not being eligible uh and didn't play at all until really the first practice that we had as a squad was March 8th this year.

SPEAKER_01 27:38

Wow, wow. That's that's that's unbelievable.

SPEAKER_04 27:42

Yeah, yeah, it is uh a little tricky for us. Um so with that said, you know, it's uh it's a great year thus far. Um, our players are having a lot of fun. They don't feel a lot of the pressure at this point because you know, this is the first time for many of them that are here. And so it's a real joy to be able to work with this crew. This is a special team.

SPEAKER_00 28:07

Yeah, coach, maybe that's the secret right there. If they don't have feel the pressure because they don't know the way you've always battled against pace or what's happened against Lemoyne, maybe they go in and they're they don't they don't have the nerves that way.

SPEAKER_01 28:21

Yeah, they're just gonna play Panther ball, you know. They're not yeah, they're just gonna play loose and free. And they're not they're not thinking about what happened last year, they're not thinking about a ground ball that they lost last year. They're they're thinking about, hey, I wasn't part of that. This is a whole new thing. Let's let's get after it.

SPEAKER_04 28:36

Yeah, both of you sort of hit that on the head there, and and that's very true. Uh, you know, that said, we you know, that's where we seem to be making some mistakes that we've sort of cleaned up last year. So as a coach, I'm going back to didn't we go over all this last year? And no, we didn't because there's a new squad for us. So it's been a really interesting year to coach. Um, you know, that team I had last year graduating, 17 guys. Wow, many of them played on my son's club team that that I coached maybe for three years before they got here. So just imagine you know, McDougal and and um, you know, yeah. And and you, you know, you've got Tolman, and you've got, you know, there was five or six, you had Ozzy, and that's five or six players that actually that I coached for maybe eight years.

SPEAKER_01 29:32

Wow.

SPEAKER_04 29:32

They weren't listening too much in those last two years or so because they've heard it all before.

SPEAKER_00 29:38

So you need a new stick, you need a new stick, coach.

SPEAKER_04 29:41

Yeah, well, the difference this year is these guys haven't heard it. So yeah, for me, it's like a new year in an opportunity to coach a crew that just wants to be here and wants to live up to that adult tradition of you know being the most successful division two program in the country, winning more championships than any other division two team. And um, yeah, it's a it's a challenge that they've taken on and and they enjoy it.

SPEAKER_01 30:09

Now, how are you enjoying it though? Are you enjoying it? Are you having fun or are you like, oh god, we got to work on this, oh god, we got to work on that. Yeah, you're playing really well, coach. You guys don't play well.

SPEAKER_04 30:22

I I think when you choose to be a coach, and you know, you sort of opened up saying you've got an adult physi player, you've got an adult coach. You know, I was that adulthi player as well. So I sort of go back to my 80s and look back and you know, coming from Australia and literally leaving, leaving Australia thinking I'm coming back in a month, um, back in 1986. I'm not sure you guys heard that story. I got to JFK Airport after the world championships. And instead of getting on the plane to go from Australia, you know, back from JFK to to Melbourne, Australia, I turned to my coaching staff. I said, guys, I'm not going back. I'm going to find a scholarship. And not knowing anything about USA lacrosse, I went into New York City Library and said uh to them, guys, I'm looking for a lacrosse scholarship, a field, or you know, what's going on here. Only to find out, I go back to Long Island and you know met up with a Tom Flatley who had coached here at the Delphi in 85, and he offered, you know, to meet Paul Doherty, and I met him, and they offered a scholarship right there and then. So that's a somewhat crazy story to think that I'm still, you know, here and you know that uh, but but I also rely on that information that I knew nothing about really college lacrosse. That's sort of why these kids are coming in, as I said, division one, two, and three, not knowing a lot about Adele Phi, they're in that same boat. Let's just go play, have fun, learn and play the best lacrosse that we can. And the coaching here is tremendous this year. And I think it's I think it's got a lot to do with the people we recruited to Adelphi.

SPEAKER_01 32:10

Let's talk about your coaching staff too. You've got quite the staff there. Let's talk about some of your assistants. Danny Gill, Coach Kat, yeah, and Coach Volpe, of course. Let's talk about those guys. Tell me about them.

SPEAKER_04 32:24

So Danny Gill um was an awesome player. He went to Nassau and came here and he played with us back in in the, you know, when we were in a championship, um, knocking on the door for another championship. But uh, so Danny and I, we've been in the trenches together, and he's got that, you know, that player-coach relationship that we had is now grown into a coach-coach relationship. And that's special for me. And I, you know, I think every time he gets on the field, he's ready to give me a hug.

SPEAKER_01 32:53

I like I like Dan a lot. He's a really nice young man.

SPEAKER_04 32:56

He he is. So, with that said, he's you know, it's great to have him on board. Um, and Coach Bope being a goalie for us, also, uh, you know, he understands tradition and the importance of you know how important it is to succeed and and and win, you know, to win. And so he's come and working with our defense now, as I said, number two in the country, and he's done a remarkable job. You know, I come in and he's sitting on my computer, and you know, he's got two screens going and he's got his notebook and he's got his iPad, and he's really done a great job in educating the uh players in what their roles are for the next game. Um, and that's a you know, he's also working with our goalies, which is he's just done an incredible job. And, you know, as good as one goalie is, our other goalie came in and made seven saves in a quarter, which was outstanding too. So, you know, he's doing a great job with our goalies. And then we got Kat, who, you know, the the blessing of having a coach like Coach Kat, who spent 17 years as a head coach at our local, you know, college in Malloy, he's bringing that 17 years of experience of starting a program to Adolphi with a rich tradition, a rich history. And I I don't know of many people that have as much passion as Coach Kat does to one help a kid on the field and to uh believe in them to to help them win. You know, he just wills that um opportunity for each kid. And I think players love to play for Coach Kat because of what he brings and how much he brings. And for those who are sitting in the back of the stands, they'll hear that often.

SPEAKER_01 34:47

Yeah, my my youngest played for True Blue. So there's the Danny Gill and the Coach Kat, you know, connection. And I always thought Coach Kat was pretty excitable, but he was remarkably quiet that day at St. A's, the St. A's game. Maybe it was just the weather or something, but he's very quiet that day.

SPEAKER_04 35:04

Well, so historically, Kat's worked with our um, he's worked with our defense, and now he's taken on that offensive role, uh, you know, to coach the O. So I think that's a different mentality than the defense. And I think he's adapted to that and done a great job adapting. And I, you know, he I don't think he's gonna be that screamer shouter that he was on defense calling out plays. Right now, you know, he's the the cheerleader, and and the the coaching's done on the sideline in practice, and it's a performance out there during game day when players is really just focusrating everything he's been teaching them all week.

SPEAKER_00 35:44

That's a great rundown coach. We've rarely been able to get that kind of insight and all the assistance, and maybe we that's to our detriment that we're not asking the other head coaches as much. I know that Danny's got a little bit of a connection, which makes it even more special. But I'll tell you what, this has been an awesome, awesome segment. We really loved having you. I'm so excited to then get Sean on and and finish off the twofer and have a Delphi on this next uh next episode. So thanks, coach, for joining us tonight.

SPEAKER_04 36:15

Well, thanks for having us. And uh, you know, we really appreciate all your doing, and I'm glad I'm glad the uh you did start it and it's gonna be circled on uh the calendar to listen. It's awesome. Thank

Games to Watch this Week

SPEAKER_04 36:29

you.

SPEAKER_00 36:29

All right, Danny, let's move on to games to watch this week. My list is really conference matchup after conference matchup.

SPEAKER_01 36:39

Well, they're all in conference pretty much now at this point.

SPEAKER_00 36:43

Yeah, there's a couple, as you'll see. Actually, Adult Eye has some coming in between, but you're right, it's basically conference play. But there's some good ones. There's some good ones. Peach Belt next Saturday, Alabama Huntsville against Monte Valo. We just talked about Montevalo, and they are 0-1 in conference. Uah is one and oh. Montevallo needs this if they want us to get near the the one of the top seedings for their tournament, and they probably need it just to see how they they get into the tournament that sells for the Peach Belt.

SPEAKER_01 37:17

I agree. I agree. That should be a decent game. And uh again, seedings are all at stake now. Tournaments are right around the corner. There's only a couple more games left for the guys down south, you know. So they got a couple more weeks left before the conference tournaments begin. So, yeah, these these games are important to these to these to these squads.

SPEAKER_00 37:40

So speaking of the South, the other another one on Saturday is Tampa against Florida Southern. Tampa took care of Rollins, Florida Southern, though, beat the big dog Lemoyne. And can they slay another dragon? They got what it takes, you know.

SPEAKER_01 38:02

They got what it takes, but it's gonna take a total team effort like it did against Le Moine. Yep, it's going to take you know, winning at the face-off, and Florida Southern has that guy who can do that. You can do that. But Tampa's got a really strong defense, and they have Blake Omer in goal. And don't forget, they got some pretty nifty scores too, Tampa.

SPEAKER_00 38:25

So and they've got plenty of scores, as we've seen in several games, you know, nine, seven different scores scoring in these games. I know so they're you shut down one or two, they've got three or four more that can that can play. They're both two and oh in conference play. So that's also kind of neat to see. But this is really a good Sunshine State matchup.

SPEAKER_01 38:50

Yeah, that Sunshine State conference is starting to heat up. That that should be a really good matchup. Um I'm looking forward to that one as well.

SPEAKER_00 38:57

Yeah, now another one on Saturday is Seton Hill against Mercyhurst. Yeah, I like Mercyhurst in this one. So Mercyhurst is 2-0 in conference. Seton Hill is 3-0 after this weekend. Mercyhurst, we said didn't play against Mercy. They're playing right now against Walsh. And uh they're up pretty handily. Um, I'm just looking at right now, it's in the fourth, it's 18-8. So they're gonna be 3-0 in conference when they go meet uh Seton Hill. So this is the top of the conference, as it was last year, and it's it's it's gonna be this year as they meet each other.

SPEAKER_01 39:40

Yeah, it's an important game for both, but no Mercy Mercy Hurst. I like Mercy Hurst in this game. I just I just think they have a little bit more than what Seton Hill has in the tank right now.

SPEAKER_00 39:51

I would agree with you. I think that Mercy Hurst has been a lot more consistent than Seton Hill this year. I agree. And I and you know, Coach Ryan is gonna have well, both both coaches are gonna have their teams ready to go. This is gonna be big for both of them. Absolutely. Yeah, yeah. Another one up north is the CACC, probably the two top dogs now, and that's Wilmington against Chestnut Hill.

SPEAKER_01 40:18

Yeah, the C that's starting to heat up too now, Cub.

SPEAKER_00 40:22

Yeah, now that game's Wednesday. That's actually Wednesday on April 13th. So they both have a couple games before that. Chestnut Hill has gonna play Dominican and post. They're one and oh in conference prior to that. Wilmington, you know, we just saw it. They they beat St. A's, they uh just beat Georgian court. They have to play Felician and Dominican prior to that. They're two and oh in conference right now. So they're both undefeated in conference. I'm assuming they both will be undefeated in conference when they meet. And it should be uh it should be for the top dog going in for the CACC tournament. Yeah, it should be a good one. What else do you have on your list?

SPEAKER_01 41:05

Well, one game we actually talked about last week that's coming up this week is number four Adelphi against number 10 Pace. I think that's a game to watch, definitely. I know we we touched on it a little bit last week, but um Delphi, one of the best teams in the country. Uh, and Pace, these two teams, they do not like each other, Kevin. They go at each other, they they go at it. Okay, these this is a conference foe. They don't like each other, they want to eat each other's throats, okay? And it's a New York thing, and these two teams are going to be going at it. I think that is the real number one.

SPEAKER_00 41:46

To me, I think that's going to be the top game to watch, in my opinion. Yeah. Now, by the time this podcast comes out, we will the results will probably be out, and and I'm sure people will be able to judge if we're right, but I guarantee it is going to be a tough game.

SPEAKER_01 42:05

Yes, I I expect this to be very physical game. Um, both two really two very good teams. You know, it's the top 10 matchup, Kev. It's division two, it's the end of the season. Everybody's pretty much warmed up, and and all the parts are oiled, and yeah, and everybody's gotten a lot of run, and they've worked their offense and they've worked the kinks out on defense, and and and now these teams, the top teams are starting to separate themselves from the others, and these two teams are top teams, and these are the games you want to watch.

SPEAKER_00 42:40

Exactly. I've got a few others too that really are uh a week away. They're on Wednesday, April 13th. One first one, a big E, and that's Wingate against Lenore Ryan. Yeah, talk about a rivalry. There, it's gonna right now. Both are sitting at the top at six and one in conference play. Both have games this weekend prior to that game, but this is gonna be the uh uh the one to really watch and see who goes to two losses in conference play.

SPEAKER_01 43:12

Yeah, it's a big game in conference. You know, we haven't spoken about Wingate lately, you know. We're just you know, and then I I look back and I kind of equate them to like Mercy Hurst a little bit. They're just kind of they're there, circling, circling like sharks. They're there. Yeah, big wins, 19 to 2, 18 to 5, kind of quietly smacking the crap out of people. After that, that upset loss from Anderson. Wingate's been on a tear. Right. I don't know, I don't know if the country has noticed that, you know, and they've been quiet about it. We've we haven't spoken a lot about wingate this this year. We did in the beginning of the season, they played Lemoyne at at Johns Hopkins.

SPEAKER_00 43:56

We talked about them playing Mercy Hearst. They had a really tough schedule to begin with. We haven't talked about them that much. You know, now obviously the games they played after Anderson, you expected them to win, but I think they came out with a little bit extra fire, knowing what transpired against Anderson. And, you know, they've got two tough games. They've got Newberry this weekend and Lenore Ryan. Obviously, Lenore Ryan's the the bigger matchup. Not that they have, but they cannot, cannot rest their laurels and think that Newberry's a one game.

SPEAKER_01 44:30

No, Newberry, Newberry gave Lenore Ryan a good game last.

SPEAKER_00 44:34

A very good game. They they lost by 12 against limestone, but we know how good Limestone is.

SPEAKER_01 44:39

Limestone is as good as anybody in the country, Kevin. Hands down. Okay. I put them against anybody in the country right now. But Wingate, again, we haven't really spoken about them that much, but kind of equate them to Mercyhurst. We haven't really spoken about Mercyhurst a lot, but there they are. Yeah. Quietly smacking the crap out of teams.

unknown 45:03

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 45:04

And they're they're they're they're good teams. So just because we haven't spoken about them doesn't mean they went away. Now that that SAC conference, we all know how important that conference is. It's a big conference with 10 teams like the NE10. Every game is important. There's no, there's maybe one or two kind of teams that are not so good. Everybody else is like a mediocre and up team and could beat each other on any given day. As you see when Kataba beats Anderson and Anderson beats Wingate. And you know, like those, these they beat up each other. They beat each other up that conference. So that Lenore Ryan wingate game will be a barn burner for sure. And it's at Wingate. And so they don't have to go in between the bricks up in Hickory. Yeah. And you know, Lenore Ryan, they carry well. They their fans carry well. And they're loud and they're boisterous. So I think it's in Wingate's favor to have that game at home. And uh if you're a fan of really good college lacrosse and a fan of rivalries, that's a game to watch.

SPEAKER_00 46:18

I've got two others. Yeah. Florida Southern Rollins next Wednesday, and that's Florida Southern going from Tampa on the weekend to then play Rollins. Another key Sunshine State matchup.

SPEAKER_01 46:33

Yeah, and Florida Southern's a great team. We've been talking about them, and we were lucky enough to have Kevin Howitz on the podcast last week, and what a great young man he was. I was so impressed with him. I was telling guys to work. I was like, you gotta listen to this kid. We just gotta listen to him. He was such a such a just wise beyond his years, but I really like the way Florida Southern plays. I watched them play two or three times already now, Kev. They're a very good team. That's a very good conference. That one's gonna be a great matchup.

SPEAKER_00 47:01

No doubt. No doubt. And then finally, it's Lake Erie against Walsh. And I say this because when we had Coach Scarch on and they beat them last year to take the Battle of Ohio in the GMAC, I told them I have to put this on my calendar because it is just that. Throw the records out. This all has to do with pride and being the Ohio champion for those. Yeah, no doubt. Yeah, and they'll go at it for sure. No doubt.

Player's Spotlight

SPEAKER_00 47:27

Okay, Danny, moving on to the player spotlight. My favorite part, Kat. I know, I know. Well, the player we have this week, his accomplishments are stunning. He is a stud on the field and in the classroom. Just listen to this USA LaCrosse magazine and USALA preseason All-American this year. USA LaCrosse Magazine All-American 2021. USILA All-American 2021 and 2019. Any 10 all-conference first team 2019 and 2021. USILA North All Region First Team 2021. Any 10 academic honor roll fall of 18, spring of 20, fall of 20, spring of 21. The list goes on and on.

SPEAKER_01 48:21

My lord, that's amazing. That's such that's amazing. That's called quality lacrosse, my friend.

SPEAKER_00 48:30

That is that is so. Why don't we just welcome it in Sean McGovern, LSM for the Delphi Panthers?

SPEAKER_03 48:36

Hey Sean, how you guys doing?

SPEAKER_00 48:39

We're doing great.

SPEAKER_01 48:40

We're doing great. So happy to have you on. Sean McGovern, the Irishman from the Delphi, the Panthers LSM. Dude, I saw you play against St. A's. And as soon as I got home, I rung Kevin up and I said, Kevin, we got to get this kid on. You were a beast on that field. Um, you're one of the better LSMs I've ever seen. I've seen some good ones in my day, but you are definitely one of the better LSMs. Coach Purdy is damn lucky to have you on that team and representing so well in so many categories. Let me ask you something. How the hell do you do it?

SPEAKER_03 49:20

I don't know. I mean, I'm just lucky enough to play for such a good program, such good coaches. Um, all the guys that I play with. And I mean, the coaches kind of let me have my freedom. They kind of let me just roam around the field, be loose, whether it's picking off passes, taking the ball away from people, pushing transitions. So I think I just kind of capitalized on those opportunities of kind of just playing loose and having fun.

SPEAKER_00 49:48

So when did you first start playing lacrosse and how did you gravitate to LSM?

SPEAKER_03 49:55

So I started playing lacrosse, I would say, in kindergarten. And the reason because that, um, I have a brother who is three years older than me. So he was on the elementary school team, like the third grade team. And my dad was the coach, and he actually ended up playing. My dad, my brother was played at Belmont Abbey, and he was a captain at Belmont Abbey as well. And I was always an offensive midfielder up until eighth grade, and then just kind of wanted to put a pole in my hands, kind of switch things up. And ever since then, it's been the best decision I ever made.

SPEAKER_00 50:31

So, what age uh up there in Long Island can you switch and put a pole in your hand? It's before eighth grade or is it around eighth grade? I'm just I'm assuming it's before eighth grade, but it's um sixth grade.

SPEAKER_03 50:43

Okay, because middle middle school, school, middle school uh sports start seventh grade. So your last year of youth will cross the sixth grade, so that's when kids can start playing with polls.

SPEAKER_00 50:53

It it took you a couple of years to say, hmm. Yeah, let me try this out. And you haven't you haven't gone back after that.

SPEAKER_03 51:00

Nope, not once. Best decision I ever made.

SPEAKER_00 51:03

I'll tell you what, it's it's a great decision for Delphi.

SPEAKER_01 51:07

Yep. No, I watched you play, man. I just like your stick skills and your awareness. Um, but that that's kind of stuff that the stick skills comes with playing for so long. The awareness comes from being around the game, but your aggressiveness that comes from within you. You're an aggressive guy out there, man. You you get your sticks and leans, you're you're in people's mugs, you're you're sucking up ground balls. Where does that intensity come from? Because it didn't stop the whole game, man. Like that game against St. A's was a really, really great game. And your intensity was there from the very first second till the very last second. Where do you find that intensity from?

SPEAKER_03 51:54

I mean, it just it just comes from within. I mean, just the desire to win. Um, I can also give a lot of credit to uh Coach Kat and Coach Volpe. They're those type of personalities that are kind of in your face, not gonna take anything from anyone. So they kind of pre-game, they're getting in our face, letting it telling us what we need to do, and they get me ready to run through a brick wall. So that definitely plays a huge role in it.

SPEAKER_01 52:17

Um, my youngest played for true blue. So yeah, so did I. Oh, you did play true blue. Awesome. Awesome.

SPEAKER_03 52:24

Coach Cat was my uh true blue coach.

SPEAKER_01 52:26

Okay, coach Coach Steve Bence was my son's coach, and and Danny Gill was the defensive coach over there, and Danny Gill's with you guys now. Um, that true blue Massapiqua connection, they really bring a lot of good kids into a Delphi. Coach Kat has an amazing recruiting central there and Massapiqua there, and he's getting a lot of good kids to come to Delphi. How do you deal with Coach Kat? You you like like you said, he can he can be uh uh let's see, excitable, uh I'll say.

SPEAKER_03 52:57

Yeah. No, he's he's awesome. I mean, he's definitely got a personality, he's one of a kind, but he's great. He everybody loves him. Like I said, he can get us to run through a brick wall no matter who we play each and every game.

SPEAKER_00 53:12

Yeah, it's it's funny that you talk about, and Danny talked about your play as an LSM and that he's seen other good LSMs, and they don't get any kind of recognition as you know, say the goalie or certainly offensive players. But I'll tell you, when you have a really, really good LSM that can stand out, and like Danny said, I've seen a few, but when you've got one at your caliber, it makes a difference between winning and losing sometimes. Would you agree with that? I mean, how I mean, the it it's one of those positions that can be silent in a game unless you're really watching what they do. And like your coaches, Coach Volpe told me, he's like, yeah, he just is a ground ball magnet. That makes such a difference in a game.

SPEAKER_03 54:03

Yeah, I'd say, I mean, like they say, ground balls wins games, and that's one of my roles being on the wing is on the face-off. But yeah, I mean, the LSM can do so many different things, whether it's picking up ground balls, taking away the number one midi, pushing transition. And in my case, I like to jump into the offense and kind of make my presence known there. So that's three phases of the game that I can be impactful. And like I said, if an LSM is good enough and they can impact those three aspects of the game, then I think that's more valuable than anything, honestly.

SPEAKER_00 54:36

Yeah, I tend to agree with you. Let's switch really quickly to your team. Your guys are playing great. You're 7-0, you're 5-0 in conference, you have a big game tomorrow night uh against Pace. How are you guys feeling about the rest of conference play? Because then at the end of the conference, you've got kind of an out-of-conference game with Mercy, then you go Bentley and then Lemoyne. So, how are you guys feeling so far? And and do you feel like you're kind of getting that stepping stone to get ready for those last three games?

SPEAKER_03 55:10

Yeah, I mean, we're feeling confident. I mean, can't ask for a better start than 7-0, but some of those wins weren't exactly what we wanted them to be in like such a dominating fashion, but every time we step out of the field, we're trying to get better. And like you said, we're coming down like the home stretch here, kind of the gauntlet of our season. So, I mean, we're confident, just got to work to take it, not look ahead and kind of just take things game by game, focus on pace tomorrow, and then just kind of worry about who's next on the calendar, and that's it. Can't look ahead, just kind of go day by day, game by game.

SPEAKER_01 55:46

Yeah, you know, I saw a couple of those games. I know what you're talking about. That maybe that that Connecticut, that D3 game, you know. Hey, you know what? When you're a Delphi, you have you have a you have a target on your back, and you gotta realize that these teams are gonna come after you with their best shot, you know. So an 8-6 win is as good as an 18-6 win, if you catch my drip. You understand? A W is a W at the end of the day, especially within conference and all of that kind of stuff. So, yes, you might have been in a couple of tight games, but you're closing them out. You're closing them out, and that's the sign of a good team. Kevin and I last year, we really didn't talk about Adelphi that much on the podcast. And coming into this year, you know what? My nephew was on the team, and he transferred over from Binghamton. And instant, I have an instant interest now because I have a family member on the team. So now I'm watching the games more intently, more analytically, if you could, you know, understand what I'm saying. And then I got to watch you guys play it, and I said, Okay, they're legit. Coach Bolpey after the Saint A's game when the skies opened up. Remember, the skies opened up and the hail came down and there's lightning. Bolpe put his arm around me. He's like, How come you guys talk about the South so much? Uh well, guess what? We've been talking about a Delphi for the last two weeks since that. All right, because you guys have been you guys have really been balling out and definitely one of the top top teams in the country, no doubt. But you got a few ahead of you still, you know. You got Lamorg and you got pace. Pace the top 10 matchup. When you got a top 10 matchup, you got to bring, you got to bring the A game. And I'm sure Pace is gonna be looking again. You're a Delphi, number four in the country. You're gonna have that target on your back. I bet that those are the kinds of games that you just love to play in. Am I wrong? Am I right?

SPEAKER_03 57:39

No, absolutely. These these games get me so jacked up. I mean, I mean, pace. Pace, I would argue, is outside of Lemoyne, is probably our biggest rival.

SPEAKER_00 57:49

So I mean Coach Mariano agrees. Yeah, he told us on the podcast.

SPEAKER_03 57:55

So, I mean, just lining up against them, it's always a good game. They're really good. We're really good. So it's just like tomorrow's gonna be a rainy day, it's gonna be chippy, it's gonna be a slug fest. It always is. So I'm excited for it.

SPEAKER_00 58:09

I can't wait now. You're getting me all excited here to watch the game. I I can't wait.

SPEAKER_03 58:14

Yeah, it's gonna be a good one for sure. No doubt.

SPEAKER_00 58:17

In fact, he's got me so psyched. I I don't think we can talk about anything else. I think it's his turn in the firing round, Danny.

SPEAKER_01 58:25

Firing round. Okay. Ten questions, real quick. Give me the first top out, first answer off the top of your head. Nothing crazy, just go with the flow and see what happens. All right, Sean McGovern, the Irishman, the LSM from Rocky Point, the Delphi stud. He's in the firing round. What was the first sport you picked up?

SPEAKER_03 58:48

La Crosse.

SPEAKER_01 58:51

Should have known better, right? Let me ask you something. Who's your favorite pro athlete?

SPEAKER_03 58:58

Eli Manning and DJ LeMayhu of the Yankees.

SPEAKER_00 59:02

Very interesting picks.

SPEAKER_03 59:04

Yep. The machine in DJ LeMayu. And Eli Manning the goat. He's the goat.

SPEAKER_00 59:11

The goat. We're not gonna talk about Bright Brady.

SPEAKER_03 59:15

No, knocked him off two times.

SPEAKER_01 59:17

Not not even Omahu. He did knock him off two times. You're right. Not even Peyton. Omaha, Omaha. Hey, they got lucky that both times. Both catches were lucky. That's hot. No, no, I love Eli. How could you not love Vot? All right. Next question: PlayStation or Xbox?

SPEAKER_03 59:35

I'm actually not a big video game guy, but if I had to pick, I kind of want an a PS5. So I'll go PlayStation.

SPEAKER_01 59:42

Okay, good. Um, what kind of music do you listen to?

SPEAKER_03 59:46

Rock. Rock all the way.

SPEAKER_01 59:48

All right. Give me an example.

SPEAKER_03 59:51

Big Zeppelin guy, Stones, Tool, Soundgarden, Alice and Jill. Really? Yeah. Big rock guy.

SPEAKER_01 59:59

Wow. Okay. Uh, I'm a drummer and John Bonham was my first idol, man. So I'm a big Zeppelin guy. Listen to a lot of Zeppelin. Uh, my actually, right to my right is my beautiful drum set. I'll have to show it to you sometime. Hold on, see if you can see it. You see it?

SPEAKER_03 1:00:15

Yeah, there you go. She's a beauty.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:19

They're beautiful, actually. I play them as much as I can. So, what was the last song you listened to then?

SPEAKER_03 1:00:26

Let me think. Um oh, on the way over here, on the way over to practice this afternoon. Uh, Sunshine of Your Love by Cream.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:35

Wow, now that's an old soul right there. Yeah, that's an old soul. Okay. Um, runs or lifts?

SPEAKER_03 1:00:45

Runs 100%. My dad was my dad wasn't a marathon runner, so it's been instilled in me. I like your dad.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:52

I've done 12 marathons, so yeah, he's been up there too.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:56

Okay, next. Who's the funniest guy on the team?

SPEAKER_03 1:01:01

Without a doubt, Brian Jokers.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:04

Why? What's what makes Brian so funny?

SPEAKER_03 1:01:06

He does great impressions. Honestly, I could I could just see him being on SNL. Honestly, that's his type of personality.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:13

On SNL, yeah. That's great. All right, let me ask you this: who's the best all-around athlete on the team? You know, that one kid that's just like, holy crap, everything he does is like, holy shit.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:29

Can I change it to a group of people?

SPEAKER_01 1:01:32

Oh right, okay. We'll let you know. Brian Hoyter's a good player, too, man. He's a good yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:47

But if I had if I had to single out one person, I'd probably say Jack Hip Shin. Stub football player at night, good at basketball. He's all around, really solid athlete.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:58

I love those kids. I love those kids that can play multiple athlete, you know, multiple sports. Well, okay, here's my one of my favorite ones. Who's the one kid on the team you would never let date your sister? Oh god.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:13

Whoever I pick is gonna hate me for this one. Uh, I'd probably say Connor Malley.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:24

All right. I'll we won't go into that. Connor probably knows already.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:30

He probably does.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:31

All right, give us your best impression of Coach Burdy. Oh, this is gonna be good because of his accent.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:40

Probably say it's a great day to be a panthe.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:47

He says that hold on, you gotta say it one more time.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:54

It's a great day to be a panther.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:57

That's perfect. That's awesome. I love it. What last question, Sean? What's your plan after graduation?

SPEAKER_03 1:03:07

Um, so right now I'm student teaching, and I would like to be a uh high school history teacher and uh hopefully coach varsity lacrosse as well.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:18

Oh, wow, you got your plan set. That's a good plan. That's a good plan. That's what my uh my middle son does. He's teaching right now and coaching varsity lacrosse, but he's doing it down south, man, in the warm weather. So he's really loving it.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:33

Yeah, I bet I bet.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:35

And if I could give you any advice, find a job down south where it's nice and warm, kid.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:42

You know, it's cold up here.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:44

Yeah, it is cold, man. Hey, Sean McGovern, you've you've been a great guest tonight. You're a really phenomenal player. Um, last year, Wingate University had a player, um Reese. What was his last name? Orman. Um, he was the national LSM player of the year last year out of Wingate. And prior to me seeing him play, I hadn't seen too many LSMs with that kind of gift until I saw you um against that St. A's. I strongly think that you have a good shot at being that LSM national player of the year. If you keep doing what you're doing, Sean, and keep playing the way you're playing. And just, you know, you're you you play the game with such an intensity, your IQ, you're just you're just everywhere you're supposed to be. You're always in the right spot. And I can't thank you enough for coming on the show tonight. You've been a great guest. Wish you nothing but success for the rest of the season. And um that's about all I got, Kev. What a great young man.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:56

Yep. Thanks, Sean. Thanks for coming on. I can't say anything else. Danny covered it. We really appreciate you coming on. We wish you the best of luck the rest of the season.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:03

Well, thank you guys. It was an honor to be on. Really had a good time. Um, love what you guys are doing, giving us D2 guys a little bit of a shout out. So it's awesome. Thanks for having

Final Thoughts

SPEAKER_03 1:05:15

me on.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:16

All right, Danny. That was a lot of fun. A lot of fun today going through games, talking about games we're gonna watch, having Coach Purdy on and Sean McGovern. It was a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:29

Tonight was an excellent podcast. A lot of Panther talk tonight.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:32

Yeah, a lot of Panther talk. It was it was a lot of fun. I think though, uh, we need to turn in our final thoughts for this week on uh a tough subject, and that's uh mental health uh and suicide. As we've seen this past week, um, a player from Binghamton, Robert Martin, passed away from suicide. Um, he was a uh a Senior or fifth-year player for them. And fifth-year goalie. Fifth-year goalie who passed away, uh, took his own life. And it's so tough to see, especially in someone so young, but it's tough to see anytime. And things like CJ Hart's head game project that he started reminds me of how important discussing this is and and talking about it and helping people that could be in that sort of situation.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:28

Kevin, we don't talk about the subject of mental health in sports very often. I think sports gives you that kind of bravado macho. Hey, I'm a tough guy, I'm a sports guy. I can take things, I can be tough, I can take it on the head, I can take it. You know, it's not how hard you get hit, it's how many times you get up, that type of thing. It's it's kind of ingrained in our system. But you know what? The subject of mental health is is truly a serious subject. And with our young children today, um, I lost a cousin last year to suicide, a young man. Um so my nephew went to school at Binghamton and played with this young man. So it hits home a little bit. And for parents out there who might have kids that are maybe dealing with some subjects that are difficult to deal with on a mental aspect, go seek the help that you need. Go talk to somebody. Find out what CJ's project is all about. Don't be afraid to tell somebody what you're feeling. Hey, it doesn't have to be your coach, it doesn't have to be your mom or your dad. But talk to somebody and let them know, hey, I'm feeling like this, man, or I'm not feeling that way. You know, it's tough in sports. Again, we're we we talk about lacrosse and we know how what a physical and and tough game it is. And we don't talk about those subjects very much. And I'm glad that we're taking the time now to talk about a subject that's tough. My heart goes out to this kid's family and his friends and his school and his teammates and everybody who who grew up with this young man and and knows this young man. I saw videos of him just recently smiling and laughing and having a good time like a kid should have, like a kid should be. But today he's not with us, and and that hurts me. And again, if there's somebody out there that feels that maybe something's not right, take the time to find the time and tell somebody.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:52

Yeah, I couldn't have said it better, Danny. I think it's important to realize you know, being depressed or having uh challenges mentally is not a weakness. As we get to know about this more and more, it's something that's more common than any of us would like to realize. And so to reach out for help or to acknowledge that you have a challenge, that you have an issue, that you have pain, just acknowledging that with someone is so important. And I think we are getting to the point where it's not a stigma anymore, and that is what's so critical. People need the help, and it's not anyone's fault. Just like when you were a kid and you needed someone to help tie your shoes. Well, sometimes people need help when they're depressed or they're feeling down, or they're feeling out of sorts. It's it's more of a common issue than I think most people know. And I think we just need to realize that, and we all need to be cognizant of that. And I think, and I hope and I pray that people who are in that situation, young people, people our age, don't look at it as a weakness, but look at it as hey, I'll just ask for help. I could I couldn't agree with you more, Kevin. So with that, Danny, there's nothing else I think I think we've said we want to say, and that's a wrap. That's a wrap.