It's NCAA Tourney time - MAYHEM!

Intro

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of In the Creest with Danny and Kevin, a coast-to-coast discussion of D2 Men's Lacrosse. I'm your co-host, Kevin Stenton, and with me as always is Mr. Urbanity himself, Danny Moran.

SPEAKER_03 0:25

Hey Danny, you kill me with these. Oh my lord. I don't know where you go to get them, but they're pretty funny. Kevin, I'm doing great. How are you doing tonight in Northern Virginia?

SPEAKER_02 0:36

I'm doing well. I'm on the road right now, though, in Denver, Colorado, as we record, which is always uh fun being on the road for work, but glad to try to get this out and try to put this out uh before the games start for the NCA tournament on Wednesday.

SPEAKER_03 0:50

Yeah, exciting, exciting. This is the best time of year, man. I love this. I love it. It was a great weekend of lacrosse, too.

SPEAKER_02 0:57

It was

Week in Review

SPEAKER_02 0:58

some great conference championships. So let's just get right into them. You know, interesting thing, there weren't a lot of close games. There seemed to be most of the most teams that won kind of dominated in a way, you know, and they they showed yeah, it was kind of surprising. There weren't it was like each each team that won got up and stayed up, kind of handled handled their business, right?

SPEAKER_03 1:25

Yeah, yeah, I agree with you.

SPEAKER_02 1:28

Let's just start off. The first one, let's start out with uh Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Armac.

SPEAKER_03 1:32

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:34

Played Saturday night. So before that, to get in the finals, Colorado Mesa beat CSU Pueblo 17 to 10, and Westminster really took care of business with Adam State 19 to 2. So here it is again, just like last year, Colorado Mesa versus Westminster. And as you remember, last year, Colorado Mesa beat Westminster a week before the tournament. Exactly. This year, Westminster beat Colorado Mesa a week before the tournament.

SPEAKER_03 2:05

Irony at its best.

SPEAKER_02 2:07

Last year, Westminster took its revenge out and won the conference championship.

SPEAKER_03 2:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:13

This year, like you just said, Colorado Mesa took it to Westminster and beat them 16 to 10 in the final. Now they had a one-day turnaround, too, like we talked about. I don't know how these guys do it, but that's a quick turnaround.

SPEAKER_03 2:29

Yeah, that stinks, I think, for both teams, honestly.

SPEAKER_02 2:32

Yeah, and I, you know, to be honest, this is one of these games, like a few of those we're gonna talk about. Uh Mesa jumped out to a 6-3 lead after one. They were sniping some goals from outside, and it seemed to me that Westminster's D just was not getting sticks on hands, they were not disrupting, they had hands free to make these goals. Now, they started to change that, but it was almost too late. So by half, it was it was 10 to 3 at half, and Mesa had dominated on ground balls and shots in the first half, and Westminster had zero goals in the second quarter.

SPEAKER_03 3:08

Yeah, man, Colorado Mesa took care of business. They're a good team.

SPEAKER_02 3:12

They're yeah, so Westminster won the second half seven to six, but the first half made the difference, and it was a 16 to 10 final. I'll tell you once again, those shots and the ground balls tell the story. Colorado Mesa with 54 shots to Westminster's 29. That's a huge difference. Oh, yeah, big ground balls 43 to 20.

SPEAKER_03 3:33

It's domination. It's domination.

SPEAKER_02 3:36

It's just the dominating control the possessions when they had it. So gotta shout out some guys. Carson Schwank from Colorado Mesa, four goals, one assist. JJ Brummet with three goals, James Stanke, two goals, two assists, and Drew Eichelman with four ground balls and two caused turnovers. That's a good game. That's a good game for those boys. Now, Westminster and Doning Odin Kranz had three goals and one assist. And Gabe Mine and Eastern Albert had two goals apiece, but I think it really came down to Colorado Mesa played a little bit better defense and obviously held possession more because they got more ground balls, and that's why they had more shots.

SPEAKER_03 4:16

Yeah, they dominated, and you know what? They won, they won the RMAC, and there they are, the 22, 2022 RMAC champs. Yeah, Colorado Mesa. Hey, they're ranked, and they're ranked number 18 in the country. So they had a solid year. I think the only thing that really hurt them was that early trip to the east coast, you know, and that might have hurt one of the their chances a little bit. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 4:40

And the same thing with Westminster, too. But I'll tell you what, both teams are continue to build and they'll continue to come out east and play those games.

SPEAKER_03 4:50

Well, yeah, yes, yes, absolutely. Because they know they have to come out here if they want to, you know, if they have aspirations for national championships and getting into the NCAA tournament, those teams out west have to come out east. But the east teams have to come out west. I feel like Colorado Mesa is on the short end of the stick a little bit because they do a lot of traveling. Whereas the east teams aren't traveling out there too often. Yeah, they've teams have got to reciprocate. Yeah, I think so. It's only it's only right, you know. Hey, Colorado Mesa, we're on your side, kids. We're on your side.

SPEAKER_02 5:27

And Westminster for both of them so far out.

SPEAKER_03 5:30

Yeah, have some good home games in the future. But hey, congratulations to you know, Colorado Mesa on a on a good season, and they finished the year ranked 18th. And and our Mac our Mac champs.

SPEAKER_02 5:43

There you go. And here's another uh tournament that this was it for them in the Peach Belt, just like it was last year. These boys are playing for the championship. All right, I'm eating crow, you know. You well, so am I, because I said I said Uah, and you said lander, yeah, and who's still at the end of the day at the top of the mountain? Montevallo.

SPEAKER_03 6:11

Yeah, and I was surprised, you know. I to be honest with you, I was surprised to see Montevallo get into the championship. I didn't think they'd get past Lander, to be honest with you.

SPEAKER_02 6:22

Well, it's funny. Let's start with that game a little bit. They beat him 12-8, they beat Lander 12-8, and it was a mirror image of the regular season game. Montevallo scored six unanswered in the second to go up six to two, and there's the margin right there. It's a four-goal margin. It's exactly what happened to Montevallo against Lander in the regular season. Yeah, and then the other game in the other in the semis, just gotta touch upon this. I don't know if you watch this game. Great game. Uah against Flagler. Uah way ahead. Flagler was down 11 to 3 after three, and they score six to make it 11-9, and they hit a couple of pipes at the end of the game. Really? Wow, cool. And then Alabama Huntsville scored in an open net goal because they were they were pressing them.

SPEAKER_03 7:11

Yeah, they took them, took uh took the goalie out. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, so good game.

SPEAKER_02 7:16

Yeah, so let's get to the final game. Alabama Huntsville versus Montevallo. Alabama Huntsville strikes first, and their goalie, Zach Welsh, was standing on his head early in the first quarter, but then Montevallo started to come back, and they get a few three unanswered, and it becomes four-two after one. Yeah. And what I saw, Danny, you tell me I saw too many mistakes by Alabama Huntsville in the second quarter, uh, missed passes, turnovers, and then it was eight, three and a half.

SPEAKER_03 7:53

Yeah, exactly. You know, that that might have been the difference in the game right there, that second quarter for Alabama Huntsville. They did, they just played sloppy, they couldn't, they just couldn't put it together. And you know what? Montevallo was playing pretty well, I thought. Yeah, you know, I I thought they looked good. You know, they looked good, they were moving the ball really well.

SPEAKER_02 8:11

Yeah, as a matter of fact, I I have a note here that it didn't look like the dodging was working for either team in the first half, that they had to get goals on passing, and that's what Montevallo did. Yeah, they had some they were passing the rock, and that's how they got their scores because they couldn't beat their matchups one-on-one on dodges.

SPEAKER_03 8:33

Yeah, Kevin, good things happen when you move the ball, man. Yeah, good things happen. The defense moves, and then all of a sudden somebody's open. And when you get a team, like you said, they they were trying to dodge and it wasn't working. And then you start to, you know, hey, off ball picks and get and getting the get the rock moving around, and you you're gonna find you're gonna find easy open goals after that. And that's exactly what happened with Montevala. Again, that second quarter for Alabama Huntsville, they just kind of threw it away again. Bad passes, sloppy, just sloppy ball.

SPEAKER_02 9:05

Yeah, and they they scored first in the second half, which is what they needed to do, come out quick. But Montevallo just never gave up, and they they scored the next two, and it's just tough. You've got to be able to beat them on D, and Uah could not produce their own run.

SPEAKER_03 9:22

Yeah, you know, and they like I said, they were moving the ball, Montevallo. And yeah, you know, Cordell Primus had four, Jackson Newfield had three, and Jack Morris had two. But when you're moving the ball, stuff like this happens. They had six other goal scorers. They had six others tallied a goal.

SPEAKER_02 9:41

Right, and and Jackson Newvel Newfeld also had an assist, and Traven Trevain Hunter had one goal and three assists. So you can see where they started moving the ball.

SPEAKER_03 9:52

Yeah, and on for Alabama Huntsville, Reed Vander, you know, he had a good game too. Jake Schram had three assists. Yeah, you know, he's a good player, you know, and they had seven different players score a goal, so that's pretty crazy, you know. Like that these two teams have players that can play.

SPEAKER_02 10:09

Yeah, so exactly. And so here you come the Falcons, back-to-back champions. But you have to give credit to Alabama Huntsville as well. They were five and oh in conference in the regular season, and we talk about the parity in this in this conference. It's tough to beat a team two times in a row. Look at Lander and Montevallo. Yeah, can be done. Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 10:35

Yeah, yeah, yeah, 100%.

SPEAKER_02 10:38

So hats off to Coach Lang and his team for back-to-back teams.

SPEAKER_03 10:43

Yeah, and I'll tell you what I wanted to mention. I want to Kyle Little in in goal had 15 saves for Montevallo. He had a good game, yeah. He did. So I wanted to give him a shout-out because he played really well. You know what? Like you said, congratulations, Peach Belt guys. Uh Montevallo. Hey, Peach Belt, keep doing what you're doing. It's great, it's great lacrosse.

SPEAKER_02 11:05

So, Dan, we were getting tagged in Instagram on Montevallo's tailgate before the game. Is is that so? Oh, yeah. And if you look, if you looked at that crowd, that was a good crowd, just like last year.

SPEAKER_03 11:20

Yeah, remember last year we couldn't we couldn't see the crowd, but you could hear them. You know, you could tell it was a lot of people.

SPEAKER_02 11:27

So you're the same thing this year. If you I had a note that the mic and where they were broadcasting from was on the same side as the players, and the players from the whistle were in it, all the guys on the sidelines. That's what I love about the Peach Belt tournament. It it's just awesome.

SPEAKER_03 11:45

No doubt, no doubt. It's an exciting, really, it really is an exciting conference for division two, no doubt.

SPEAKER_02 11:52

Okay, so let's move on. You want to go to the NE10?

SPEAKER_03 11:57

Oh, you want to go to the NE10?

SPEAKER_02 11:59

Yeah, let's do it.

SPEAKER_03 12:01

Oh man, what a game, what a game for a Delphi.

SPEAKER_02 12:06

Yeah, my gosh. So let's start off just uh re recap in the semifinals. Le Moyne beats St. A's 15 to 11. Right, and a Delphi handles Bentley 15 to 10. So both games are on the close. The difference, I think, was that Bentley had it close after one, six-five to a Delphi, but then a Delphi opened it up, right? So you're thinking, yeah, I'm thinking Lemoyne maybe after their loss to a Delphi is starting to come back, but when you can hold Lemoyne to three out of the four quarters, zero goals, I have that as a big note crazy.

SPEAKER_03 12:47

The defense for a Delphi. Unbelievable, yeah, man. Hunter Mason, Thomas Calgano, Nick Paris, these guys were getting after it. Kevin, they dominated Lemoyne. They dominated Le Moine. How do you three goose eggs in the scoring column for Lemoyne in quarters? That that's unbelievable. Unbelievable. A Delphi completely dominated the game. They caused nine turnovers, like the defense was a Delphi's defense, Kevin. They are legit. Yeah. Yeah. And you know what? They do great at the face-off, and then they got studs all over the field on offense, man. Like they're really, really good.

SPEAKER_02 13:41

I mean, yeah, they now the weather, it was horrendous. Weather helps the defense, but it's even on both sides. And when you win nine to two, you're doing something a little bit more. And they hold Le Moine. I still can't get over Le Moine only scoring two goals.

SPEAKER_03 13:58

Yeah, I mean, it's very impressive. It's my it's mind-boggling, but you know what? I've watched the Delphi play a couple of games this year, you know, and two in person. And um that defense, when you see them live, Kevin, when you see them in person, like, wow, this defense is pretty good. I mean, yeah, but their offense is great. Like I said, we've talked about it a million times. I I'm laughing at myself because we in the beginning of this pro, when we started the podcast, we didn't we didn't talk about it Delphi that much. And this year, there we we can't get enough of them. They're just a phenomenal team to watch. They're well coached, they're deep. Hey, James Hall, a Massapequa kid from right not too far from here. And Massapequa High School is a big lacrosse high school in New York, man. They're they're phenomenal every year. And Brian Haransky had two goals. So Hall had two goals. And guess what? Haransky went to high school. Massapequa. Yep. There's a straight line. Hotline. There's a hotline from Massapequa into a Delphi. And then you had Kyle Steinbach, right? Where did he go to high school? Garden City. Yeah. All right. Another top-notch high school across program in the country. And then, you know, Siazzo and Passion and their stud Dignowski Nowski only had one. You got to see this kid playing live, man. Doknowski is unbelievable. He's a big boy. You know who he reminds me of? He reminds me a little bit of the kid from LR Dickinson last year. He's got that kind of size, got that kind of size, got got that quick first step to shoot with either hand. He's lethal from any part of the, you know, he he's lethal from any part of the field. He can dodge, he can rip. He's so a Delphi, like not much to say, man. They just uh dominated a really good Lemoyne Dolph team.

SPEAKER_02 15:56

Yeah, that's it. Congratulations to a Delphi.

SPEAKER_03 15:59

Yeah, the Panthers lead in the NCAAs. They are gonna be tough, man. They are going to be tough.

SPEAKER_02 16:06

Okay, let's move on to the GMAC. Okay. Mercyhurst beats Walsh 20 to 11 the semifinal, and Seton Hill easily takes care of Lake Erie 23-2. Now, this is the rematch. Mercyhurst beat Seton Hill in regular season. Seton Hill was gonna have none of that this time around. They win 14 to 10.

SPEAKER_03 16:31

I well, last week on the podcast, Kev, we talked about it. You and I both said we we were gonna give the edge to Mercy Hurst, but we also did say that Seton Hill had what it took to do it. And we both discussed it, and we said they're deep enough and they're playing well enough right now. Because again, in the beginning of the season, they didn't play well. And they'll you know what, they'll tell you that.

SPEAKER_02 16:58

They'll tell you now they're playing really, really good ball, really good ball, and they had extra incentive. They needed this win for any chance at the NCAAs.

SPEAKER_03 17:10

If if they won't had any chance, they needed it. It was a must win for the grips, but that was uh it was a pretty good game, but I felt like the grips dominated. I I felt like Mercy Hurst couldn't get over that, you know.

SPEAKER_02 17:26

I just they well that same thing. Cill comes out fast and they put their foot on the gas and they go 3-0 to lead in the first five minutes.

SPEAKER_03 17:36

Yeah, they jumped out to that quick three-go lead.

SPEAKER_02 17:39

Yep, and that's what I wrote a note. It's shocking first half so far to me because they were firing on all cylinders. Now, Mercyhurst comes back and they make it close, it's like 7-5. Yeah, halftime score. But just like we talked about with the CMU game and with the with the Montevallo game and Alabama Huntsville, they just could Mercyhurst could not just not get over that hump. Seton Hill wouldn't let them.

SPEAKER_03 18:11

Yeah, like um, I was expecting. Well, you know what? They made a push, the Lakers to push, they made a push in the third, they brought it within 9-8.

SPEAKER_02 18:19

Yeah, yeah, very close. That was a crazy third quarter because uh Seton Hill was up nine-five.

SPEAKER_03 18:26

But again, as I'll but I was I was watching that game, Kevin, like high candy. You know, I talk about eye candy a lot. You can tell by body language, and just by the way the team was moving. Mercyhurst, I felt like they were on their heels, they were pushing too hard, and they were just nothing was working for them.

SPEAKER_02 18:47

Well, here's the other thing: those three goals to make it nine-eight were all scored in about a minute, and they were transition goals where they could not win was six on six, right? And that's where Seton Hill made the difference.

SPEAKER_03 19:02

Yeah, yeah. I agree with you. You know, Zach Easterbrooks, he's a really good player for Seton Hill, man. He had four goals. Elaine Harrich had three, McGarraty Harper had three, and our man, big Kevin Mo, between the pikes had eight 18 saves. That's that's that's not a bad day in between the pies. And you know what? Imagine what Kevin Moe was thinking going into that game, because on the other side of that is Miles Hamm and Ethan Landemore, who are two of the most prolific scores. When you know you have two of the top five scores in all of Division II on the other side, that's gonna amp you up. You gotta be amped up for that. You know it's coming, you know they're gonna be firing balls. And Kevin just, you know, he sack that big body in between the pipes and he made save after save. So he was a big part of that game as well.

SPEAKER_02 19:55

Without a doubt, it was a it was a good game. Seton Hill proved why they're in the NCA tournament. Yeah, like I said, it was a you know, and how if you do not give up, if you do not give up with those early losses and you keep fighting, where you can get.

SPEAKER_03 20:13

Yeah, they they kept fighting all season, all season long. They never, hey, like um a couple of weeks ago, like I said, they they had Tampa, they were one goal down from Tampa with four minutes left in the game. Yeah, you know, they they were giving even in their losses, they were given teams a game. They weren't, I mean, they they were good, they were playing well. And I like I watched at least six games at least, yeah. Of that as, and they just got better and better and better with each game. I was like, wow, they're they're starting to look good now. So congratulations to the griffins, yeah. Yeah, that's awesome. Stephen Hill.

SPEAKER_02 20:52

Okay, we've got big big win, big win. We got one more to discuss, and that's the ECC tournament.

SPEAKER_03 21:00

Oh, mercy, mercy, me. Um, things ain't what they used to be. Let me tell you something. Mercy is wow, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:12

Pouring rain in this one, too. Pouring rain to begin with. Now it slowed down, and in fact, it may have even stopped by the end of the game. But tell you what, Tommy Umano, their goalie, he had some great saves early. Career day. Great saves.

SPEAKER_03 21:28

Career day.

SPEAKER_02 21:29

Yeah, they end up winning. I I think he was one of the differences. They win 15 to 10. And even though they had some great saves early, Frostburg starts off with a 3 1 lead, and then Mercy fights back. It's 3 3 after 1. And it's 6 6 at half. Yep. But then Mercy breaks out in the third, and and they go on a 7 2 run and they make it 13 8 after 3.

SPEAKER_03 21:57

Sometimes Mercy's like that call. already got kids a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 22:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:02

Sometimes they they let teams that maybe they should be smoking a little bit more. Because they're but they're clearly a better team. You know, when you see them live, like when you see them play, they're they're a very big, fast athletic team. And Frostburg. Frostburg's a good team too.

SPEAKER_02 22:21

They are they gave them a fight, especially that first half. They stayed in it. They played well. I think the difference in the second was the passing that the Mavs were doing. We talked about this earlier. And I got the Bobcats D moving and they ended up with several doorstep goals because they got the D moving.

SPEAKER_03 22:42

When you move the rock man it's how many times in high school did you hear the coach go move the ball move the ball and the kid holds on to the ball because good things happen when you move the ball. Right. And you know and then everybody chips in then everybody's getting a piece and then it's like okay who do you start? Who do you stop? Who do you stop? You got to try to stop walking you know Mercy's just loaded back there on offense. Their attack unit is pretty good. They're deep their deep their middies are really good. TJ Heider had four goals that kid had some weak man yeah he yeah he just like the last three or four games he's just been amazing. And then Dom Scorsha who's he's a stud. Yeah he's a stud. And Brady Kiernan he's another stud. Three goals five assists he's a stud man he's just a really really good player. And then Justin Goerdville four ground balls two cost turnovers defensive player of the year for ECC he is a true beast back there for the Mavericks and he's the anchor of that defense.

SPEAKER_02 23:48

I mean him and Armano but it really is and Tommy he kept them in the game the first half until the offense started clicking in the second he had 19 saves in the game yeah career career day for Tommy Armano back there in goal.

SPEAKER_03 24:04

Hey the Mercy Mavericks are very very good team Kevin they're really good we'll talk about that that's why they're ranked number one in the NCA tournament in the North yeah we'll get to it but but congratulations Maverick you did a great job hey they went 14 and one Kev and their only loss came to then number one Lemoyne by one goal they're one one goal away from a perfect season you know one goal that's pretty that's a pretty good season and we talked about them being on a mission and playing like that all year with everything that happened to them last year.

SPEAKER_02 24:45

So if you got to play mercy anybody better strap yourselves in because it's going to be a ballgame

Coach's Spotlight

SPEAKER_02 24:52

okay Danny let's move on to the coach's spotlight we have a coach tonight who's in his second year as a head coach and you can really see the improvements that he's made in his team over the past two years which is probably why he was named coach of the year in a conference that you and I love because of his its parody absolutely 100% so let's just welcome him in coach Connor Doyle of the University of Alabama Huntsville that's a mouthful chargers welcome coach how you doing thanks so much for taking the time with us tonight I know there's a lot going on you know graduations and stuff going on and uh we really appreciate you taking the time how you doing tonight absolutely absolutely thank you guys for having me on the uh the podcast here tonight have you heard the podcast I have heard a lot of the podcast I have been an avid follower for the last two years here so I was very enthusiastic to get on here tonight and be with you guys. All right that's awesome all right well you know we talked about it we love the peach belt but let's talk about the peach belt and let's talk about the championship this past week and this weekend I obviously had you winning the whole thing and we'll get to your record later but talk us through just how you felt about the game against Flagler which was a really interesting game and then going up against Montebalo.

SPEAKER_00 26:20

Just I'd like to get your insight into it yeah so I I think you know looking at it you know obviously 2020 hindsight you know with Flagler I mean they are an incredibly talented lacrosse program. They are they are you are talking about a program that has you know a number of guys that really challenge you especially on their their offensive end. You know they've got guys that I'm sitting there scheming for game planning for and you know really trying to work around our guys to see matchups and they create a lot of problems on the offensive end. And then you look at their depth and they're not a normal first year program. They are a first year program that you know they've got guys that are seniors they've got guys that are juniors they've got guys that have you know been there and played in you know some bigger games going through their you know their club program you know and so it was not a typical first year program and we looked at them as you know a veteran program you know going into that game and um you know I still think you know they've got a lot of you know learning to do as a program um you know just being in those big game moments and it was the first time you know them being in the the conference tournament um but I I think they did an incredible job that coaching staff with coach Duncan um and you know getting those guys ready for those games and and listen they made an incredible run on us at the end of the game and you know I mean it just showed you know what they have as a part of that team you know the talent um you know schematically what they were doing offensively and defensively I mean they they did an incredible job um and they really challenged us you know in that in that semifinal game yeah and let's go to the the championship matchup rematch really from the championship a year ago and it seemed to Danny and me that really one of the differences was the second quarter just a little bit of sloppy play other than that you guys played pretty even with them what were your what what are your thoughts yeah I think uh you know looking at the game obviously a little you know looking back at it you know I I see all the goods all the bads out of it but uh you know I I think when I look back at it I see a a veteran Montevallo squad um I I see a team that has been there has the guys that you know have been around the block and you know they played at that level um you know during the championship game and right where you know we are a very young program and as as far as our guys that are on the team right now we are very young um and where we made mistakes they didn't and when you're in a championship game you can't make those mistakes yeah and if you expect to win in those big moments um you got to play like a champion and I I think you know Montevallo played at that level uh a little bit more than we did um but you know I I also take that in stride you know I think that's a great thing for our young guys to learn um and uh uh although we might not win the game you know I think you learn more from a loss than you do from a win so sure uh you know I'm really hoping that our guys you know learn from those moments and you know saw the mistakes that we made uh and we can really grow from that well it sounds like really it looks like from your record last year to this year last year was six and eight overall and three and three in conference pretty good this year 10 and 7 five and oh in conference and that is not easy to do in the peach it's not easy to do in any conference but when you talk about the matchups and as like you just said you're a young your second year trying to change the program and build upon it so that is is quite an improvement how do you look at it especially in the what we talk about the parody in this conference and what you're trying to build yeah so I I think with our our conference with the Peach Belt you have you know some teams that are very close. You know when you look at you know ourselves Montevalo Lander Flagler I think is is going to be a force you know in years to come you know you look at those teams and I think we're very close at the top so with our guys my biggest thing was changing our culture to not accept mediocrity and to not be okay with just making it buy you know day by day uh and just going through the motions and hey we're gonna come out to practice we're gonna go to class you know what are you doing extra of you know are you gonna be that that game changer you know are you gonna be that guy that's different from everybody else and so we we really challenge our guys you know day in and day out to to be a little bit different. And we're we haven't been a program that's been successful. You know we've been a very 500 team going maybe a little bit below 500. And so you know we really challenged our guys to say hey you know if you want to be that over 500 team like you have to do the things to get you there. And you know we provided the the uh the outlets to get there and you know to say hey this is what you need to do. And so I think that you know really went a long way and I I think it comes down to our our senior leadership you know our captains and they pushed our team you know every day to to get better um and to not just be okay with with mediocrity. And you know when you have that kind of push it makes my job a little bit easier you know to to go in and say hey guys like here's practice you know let's get going let's get everything rolling our captains push you know our younger guys you know when you have 30 out of 45 you know of our guys are underclassmen you need that senior push you know and so those guys were a huge you know piece to what we did this year to going five and oh in conference uh and you know to to accomplishing what we did this year those guys were a massive piece you know so also on the coaching side we've got you know large input on that but it comes down to those guys also having the push as well and and and a great improvement i mean what you're doing is trending upwards now how many seniors are you losing this year so i i feel like i should keep this on the secret you know because you know we might have some fifth year guys um but we're losing about about losing about six guys okay so overall not not a large senior class you know that's uh matriculating but um you know we we've got some guys that you know we're definitely gonna feel um you know the loss of um and we're gonna need some guys you know of the the younger grades to to really step up well you know when you go into championship games and you play games like that the kids are gonna get better they're just gonna improve they like you said they're gonna learn from that loss and now it's about doing that edge work you know what are they gonna do that's gonna give them the edge and I think what you got going on right there at Alabama Huntsville is a really really positive thing.

SPEAKER_03 33:30

Would you agree?

SPEAKER_00 33:32

I would definitely agree I would definitely agree and I I think what we accomplished this year was great. You know obviously you know losing our championship game obviously that leaves a little bit of a sting you know but I think that's something where you know I think that leaves a little chip on our guys' shoulders you know and it's something to work for um it's something we've never accomplished as a program although we accomplished a lot you know a lot of firsts this year uh for our program we still have a lot of growing to do um and that's what you know I'm excited for you know I I see the growth in our program and you know my two years here um you know and I'm excited for for year three and so on. So I I think there's a lot of a lot more growth to do you know in future years. Yeah so let's talk about that really quickly I mean you talk about some of the stats one that just blew my mind was you have 10 players with double digit goals this season and then if you go down the list of players on offense and defense that you mean their their their stats are great Brody Phillips Jake Schramm Reed Vender Colin Galinsky Joseph Stuber Alex Dorencott those were the building foundation and you you almost said the question I want to ask you which is what are you looking forward to in year three based on that foundation man i'm I'm excited for a lot uh it it was an unbelievable year for our guys this year but I think what we have ingrained into our guys is the blue collar mentality that you have to have in this game and Danny I know being from Long Island that's like ingrained into you guys really you know and and so like that's what I want to drill into our guys and we have been a team this year that just does not stop fighting and and we are a team that I mean listen we were we've been in games where we've been down 10 to two and we could have easily given up and you know we ended up coming back in those games and although we may not win all those games it's it's the fight in the guys that you see and that is what really builds a program and and to see that in our guys like that's what's ingrained in us uh and that's what I'm really excited about. That's not something that I can really teach our guys like that's something that they have to feel they have to have the emotion for and you know that is something that our guys really pick up on and really feed off of each other for and that makes us an exciting team something that you know you won't ever you know bit us out. You know you're just gonna say hey this team is gonna be here they're gonna fight you no matter what and that's the team that I'm proud you know to coach. And that's something that you know these guys they they do day in and day out. So it it makes me extremely happy and that's what I'm I'm definitely most excited for you know for next year is to to come back with this group of fighters you know and and listen not a lot of people know about us here at Uah and like we want to make noise here you know we want to you know have lacrosse here in Alabama that not a lot of people think that uh that it's even a sport here. So you know we want to bring that up and and grow that here.

SPEAKER_03 36:45

You know last year when you were in the championship Kevin and I discussed the championship game we both watched the game and I was like this is one hell of a game.

SPEAKER_00 36:55

This is like as good as it gets in lacrosse and here it is a first year conference with young programs playing ridiculously great lacrosse but you know what was even more great was the crowd that was at these games like it seems like the university is really embracing the lacrosse team huh they are they are and and in all honesty not a lot of people know what lacrosse is down here yet like we we struggle for commentators and you know getting people on the live stream because they don't know the rules territory man yeah it really is um but listen this this is a sport that has completely engulfed the state i mean you're talking about growth at an unbelievable you know rate right now and you know for us you know we've got a lot of our student body out you know this year at our our championship game last year at Montevallo it was an unbelievable following so people love this sport people are coming out to it since neither of you know Montevallo or ourselves have football this is the closest thing to it so you know if they want to see contact sport this is what they come out for.

SPEAKER_02 38:05

So exactly that's awesome hey the other thing I want to point out coach and we said this earlier on the podcast in this game this year the broadcasting was done close to the benches and I had trouble hearing the announcers because of your players and how much they and they weren't they were just excited and so is my when you talk about fight you heard the fight in them yeah and that is just awesome the crowd and your team and the Montevallo team two teams from Alabama oh by the way in the Peach Belt Championship you gotta love it and coach we really appreciate you coming on we really are looking forward to see you Uah play more in the next year and the years to come because you're a fighting scrappy team right now you are going to be a phenomenal team in the future I just know it the way you guys are playing so really appreciate you coming on.

SPEAKER_00 39:01

Yeah thank you guys for having me and and thank you for for everything that you do you know with In the crease I mean I think this has been awesome for D2 lacrosse you know getting the word out you know to a lot of different people and I listen weekly so you know uh I I hope to hear a lot more of the Peach Belt which you guys have done awesome with uh seeing the we love the Peach Belt man we really love the Peach Belt we just think there's so much parody in the peach belt the fact that it's a new conference and and division two growing it's growing it's growing and we're adding teams and and players are players that might not have been able to go to college maybe and play are getting the opportunity now to go and play because of conferences like the Peach Belt.

SPEAKER_03 39:44

And look at like you said we talked about flagler early what what a job coach did has Duncan's done there. And I just for him to get to where he is in his first year just makes the Peach Belt even more interesting. And you know what people do know about Alabama Huntsville they do now they're getting the the word is getting out there they're getting out there coach you've been a great guest tonight we really appreciate it much continued success for you guys and uh definitely gonna get you back on the on the show. Awesome thank you guys

Games to Watch

SPEAKER_03 40:18

all right Danny we're down to crunch time now it's the NCAA tournament we're recording this on Monday right now and they just came out with the bracket on the selection show last night so how about you just run down the seedings let's start in the north okay in the north um I thought that this team was going to get the number one seed and they did and they deserve it. And uh number one seed in the north region is Mercy Mass. Again 14 and one in the season your only loss a one goal loss to uh Lemoyne who was then number one and let me tell you something they beat up a really good Adelphi team I mean they took it to them. So it's uh Mercy's at the the number one seed uh the number two seed in the North is the Delphi Panthers and Kevin they're as good as anybody in the country that's whoever plays a Delphi that's gonna be they're deep deep as hell in midfield their attack unit is very lethal and their defense is very very very good. So a Delphi at the number two spot the number three spot in the north goes to the LeMonts okay so they drop it they're not used to being there.

SPEAKER_02 41:50

No I was gonna say if I thought about it if we talked about this early in the season and you told me that they'd be the number three seed in the north I wouldn't have believed it.

SPEAKER_03 42:02

Neither would I but neither would I mercy and a Delphi deserve to be where they're at absolutely a hundred percent I totally agree with the committee where where that's at right now. In the fourth uh the fourth spot number four seed it's uh Mercyhurst Lakers they're not used to being down there in the fourth spot either they're used to being having to play early yeah yeah so you know they're used to having to buy themselves and now they got to play in the first round um the number five seed surprised me man it surprised me I thought they'd be six I thought they may be six I didn't know if they'd get in I just just based on early stuff but this is Eden Hill Griffiths with that big win over Mercyhurst got them into the tournament you know that was a big win for them and you know it this is it's just amazing to me that they got in and at the sixth spot St.

SPEAKER_02 43:06

Anselms I was wondering on that because Wilmington was at six St.

SPEAKER_03 43:13

A's was actually ahead of them and Seton Hill was seven or eight yeah but St and A's strength is scheduled their first five games were like you know all ranked the squads they're like they played a really really tough schedule St. A's so you know hats off to St. A's for getting themselves in there I really I think that's great. So uh Mercy at the one now the four and five will get together in the first round and that means Mercy Hurst who just lost is Seton Hill in the in the GMAC conference championship gets to host Seton Hill third time this season at Saxon Stadium

SPEAKER_02 44:00

It's the rubber match. And I will tell you, it's one and one, as I just said. Both games, Seton Hill came out fast. Yep. The Lakers have to figure out how to slow them down at the beginning. And not the the first game they won, 1816, they had to come back. They couldn't come back in the game two. Game three, if they can keep them down, so they're not they're not down by three, four, five goals, and it's an even match, that could put them over the top and they could win it.

SPEAKER_03 44:35

You know, Ceton Hill's playing with a lot of confidence right now, Kevin. They're playing with a lot of confidence right now.

SPEAKER_02 44:43

That's gonna all these games, all these games, I'm telling you right now, in my head, I'm I'm saying pick them. I go down each one of them like it's a pick'em.

SPEAKER_03 44:51

It's a pick them. It's a pick'em game. They're all great games. So who do you think? Yeah, I think it's a pick'em. I do at this point, at this juncture, it's a pick'em. Yeah. You know, I think Mercy Hearst got got the edge close to their strength of schedule. You know, that was that was it. Maybe because they're out of conference schedule. They played teams like Wingate and stuff like that. So they're they're they're out of conference schedule is pretty tough. That might have been the only reason why they're at the four and Seton Hill's not at the four. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 45:24

How about the Le Moyne St. A's game on Wednesday?

SPEAKER_03 45:27

Yes, but Lemoyne hosts, so they're home. And it's it's a big, it's a big thing to be home, you know, especially at tournament time in Syracuse, where lacrosse is like right below hockey. You know, it's it's gonna be a Saint A's is gonna have an uphill battle.

SPEAKER_02 45:49

They there, so the first game was a 7-5 loss this season in in the NE10 championship in the semifinals, Lemoyne beat him 15-11. So Saint A's needs to have their D hold them. Like they did in the 7-5 game. The 7-5 game, I think, was closer than the 15-11 game. So if they can hold Le Moyne, you know, St.

SPEAKER_03 46:14

A's might have this attitude. Well, hey, maybe Lemoyne's not really who Lemoyne is anymore. You know, maybe they're going out with that attitude, with that mindset. Because, you know, CNA's got a lot of really, really good players on that team. And one of the best goalies in Division II, lacrosse. So I think if CNA's plays a real good game, especially on defense, they got a box chance, they got a fighter's chance.

SPEAKER_02 46:47

They do. They do. I think it's gonna be a good game. So I love these matchups, the first round. Love these matchups. Mercy Hearst, whoever wins between Mercy Hurst and Seton Hill has to face Mercy, and then Lemoyne Saint-A winner goes against a Delphi.

SPEAKER_03 47:02

I'm gonna give the edge to Lemoyne, though, on this one. I think that they have, I think that the offense have to be a little bit shocked of what what happened in the last couple of weeks with them. I don't think they yeah, you know, I just don't think that they expected that. No, and you know, St.

SPEAKER_02 47:21

A's and they want a Delphi again. I can guarantee it. Who Lemoyne? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 47:29

You better watch out what you ask for. I know. But they're gonna want it for the wrong thing. Not that St.

SPEAKER_02 47:37

A's won't, St. Ansome will. They they want to be there too. So yeah, but but let me tell you something.

SPEAKER_03 47:48

They're going to the final four, bro. They're going to the final four. They're going to the final four. And I think they have I think they have a legitimate, legitimate chance of going to the national championship. Yep. I really, really do. That's how good they are. And you know, if it turns out we're a Delphi meets mercy again, that's gonna be some game. Yeah, yeah. That's gonna be some game. We know what happened last year.

SPEAKER_02 48:21

That's what's so crazy. These are all so good. Let's let's talk about the South.

SPEAKER_03 48:25

Okay, all right. So, number one seed in the South, absolutely 100%, no doubt about it. Hands down, put the stamp on it, put the fork in it. The Tampa Spall. Dude, 18-0. They've been smoking everybody that comes near them, you know. They had a couple of close games. Faritech took them into overtime, Seton Hill gave them a game. They've been in some close games. Hey, Tampa. They always close out. Like Mercy does. They close out, even in the close ones, they close them out. Is Tampa beatable? Yeah, they are, but you're gonna have to play a really good game. Yep. You're gonna have to play a really, really good game against Tampa. And to go into Tampa is not the easiest thing to do. Okay, it's not not an easy thing to do, but they deserve where they're at. They're number one in the country, they're 18-0. They've beaten everybody on their schedule. They are clearly the best team in the country or top two. Top two. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I, you know, I think Mercy's good too, man. Like, that's how good I think Mercy is. Okay. But I'll I I digress.

SPEAKER_02 49:41

You digress. Come on, man. We we can't have this go an hour and a half, dude. Come on.

SPEAKER_03 49:47

This the number two seed is limestone, okay, and they deserve it. They deserve that spot. They do. They're a really good team. I think they were upset by Lenore Ryan. That was an upset. That was an upset. And I don't think that that can will happen again.

SPEAKER_02 50:01

And to LR for beating him. But that yeah.

SPEAKER_03 50:06

No doubt. No doubt. And uh number three spot in the South goes to Lindenwood. And yeah. And you know what? That's that was that's a pretty good pick. I, you know, yeah, I think it could they beat Undy.

SPEAKER_02 50:21

Right. And then Undy lost to Limestone. Yes. And so there's the difference.

SPEAKER_03 50:26

There's the doubt. So Lindenwood goes to that third spot, and Undy, you know, also out of the same conference, has been balling out all year. They're gonna get they're gonna take the fourth um the uh the fifth spot. So that's interesting in itself.

SPEAKER_02 50:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 50:46

But um, so the the fourth spot was will be LR. LR.

SPEAKER_02 50:52

Right. And and that that totally makes sense to me, too.

SPEAKER_03 50:58

No, I I don't know, man. You know, maybe that one loss early in the season for them, but made a difference. I think they're a better team than Lindenwood. That's just my opinion. I just think they're a better team.

SPEAKER_02 51:10

I think if those two played each other, so yeah, but I think that maybe it's close, but if you look at records, Undy beat LR, Lindenwood beats Undy. I don't know if it's as simple as that, but my simple mind goes to that. And so you're right.

SPEAKER_03 51:28

It it's it's a it could be a toss-up, but so yep, you got so so you got number one, Tampa, number two, limestone, number three, Lindenwood, number four, LR, number five spot, U Indy. And the number six spot, I'm gonna tell you right now, um, I was in shock. I didn't think I didn't think they were gonna get in.

SPEAKER_02 51:54

Yeah, we talked about this last week. We both thought it'd be Florida Southern. Wingate was in the sixth spot at that time, and they remained there.

SPEAKER_03 52:02

Yes, um, the Wingate Bulldogs make it to their third NCAA in a row.

SPEAKER_02 52:08

Congratulations to them.

SPEAKER_03 52:10

Yeah, you know, the Bulldogs had they they have a tough schedule, Kev. They did.

SPEAKER_02 52:15

I think that was one of the differences. I think Limestone beating U Indy kept that win against Limestone, kept their strength of schedule strong enough that they went in.

SPEAKER_03 52:27

They were close. I think that with you U Indy losing twice in a week, and one of them being to Limestone, who who limestone and U Indy scheduled that game after the conference tournament. Yeah. So they were like the only team that played a non-conference game after the tournaments were over. It was kind of smart on both sides to kind of get each other ready for the tournament playing against right. But you know, limestone beat Undy. Now, so you have a wing gate team that beat limestone, and their other signature win was Mercyhurst. Then they have to play in the SAC, which is the tough, the top one, if not the toughest conference. So the all the RPI is there at the SAC alone. You know, the win over Mercyhurst, the win over Limestone. Hey, they lost to Anderson. If they didn't have that Anderson loss, if they would have won that Anderson game, Wingate probably be at the three spot.

SPEAKER_02 53:28

Could be. Could be. So you see what one game does? Right.

SPEAKER_03 53:32

That loss was a big loss to them. You know, you know, and and if and if Florida Southern somehow would have knocked off Tampa, Wingate wouldn't have got it. Exactly, exactly, exactly. So so you got Tampa number one in the South, number two, limestone, number three, Lindenwood, number four, LR, number five, UIndy, and number six, Wingate pulls out.

SPEAKER_02 53:57

So let's talk matchups for Wednesday. Lenore Ryan versus UIndy at LR. UIndy beats LR 12-11 at Lenore Ryan, but it was the first game of the season.

SPEAKER_03 54:13

Yeah. LR's tough in between the bricks there in Hickory, man. They're they're they're a really good home team. They're gonna be tough to beat at home. They are.

SPEAKER_02 54:23

I think it's gonna come down to D. D for it's gonna come down to the defense. I think defense counts.

SPEAKER_03 54:30

Now, Noah Johnson has stood on his head in between the pipes the last two games, the wingate game and the limestone game. Let me tell you something. Wingate was getting shots off left and right. They just couldn't get him past Noah Johnson. Couldn't get him past him. Same thing with Limestone. Can Noah Johnson and that defense that's led by Victor Powell, can they sustain that one more time against a good, fast UND team with some Canadians and box lacrosse players, and the best scoring defense in the country at UND?

SPEAKER_02 55:15

It's gonna be interesting. It will be. It'll be a great game. Let's talk Linenwood wing gate. Now, this is at Linenwood. They haven't played each other. I don't know if they've won the last time they played each other. This is interesting to me. This is attack versus attack. You've got the all-Americans of Will Greco, Bobby Patton, Adam Vadovnik. Will Greco being the offensive player of the year for the sack going against Pat Kashock, the player of the year in the GLVC, Cam Smith and Pete Covington in their attack. So that's going to be an amazing matchup. Not that they're playing against each other, but to watch those two attacks go against the defense. I think one of the differences could be Lynn Wood's goalie, Kyle Aberg, who's the goalie of the year in the GLVC.

SPEAKER_03 56:09

Well, you know, Tim Boyle and the and the Bulldogs are singing, I'm gonna Kansas City, Kansas City. Here I come.

SPEAKER_02 56:18

It's really St. Louis, though, so but it's close. That's all right.

SPEAKER_03 56:23

But uh I don't know, man. I like Wingate in this game. I do. I think they got nothing to lose. They're like, hey, don't we're lucky, we're lucky we're here and we get to be here. Let's show them what the Bulldogs are about. Hey, that attack unit is lethal at Wingate. Lethal. They outshot LR in this in this in the conference torn game. So Wingate's gonna get their shots off.

SPEAKER_02 56:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 56:58

Can that young defense hold all the things? Guys like Matt. Yep. Now you got two real seasoned defensive minis there at Wingate. Right. Two very seasoned guys. They've been there before, they've got championships under their belt, they've got NCAA tournaments under the belt. Been there, done that, seen that. They're seasoned. Um, they're not going to be worried, they're just gonna go out and play. And we had we had them both on our podcast, and Mr. Lomuler said he loves to hit Sack. If you looked at the SAC tournament, that by far was the most physical tournament. Those teams got more physical than anybody, any any other tournament game that I watched. So can Lyndonwood deal with the physicality of Wingate Bulldogs because they're gonna be physical, yeah, and and that could be the difference. You know what? And and Linden and Wingate's gotta win face-offs, they gotta win face-offs, they've been struggling, but they did work.

SPEAKER_02 58:04

Yeah, they've gotta keep it close. They don't have to win more than 50%. They they have to get at least 40.

SPEAKER_03 58:10

They get around 40 percent, and and get good, consistent play. You know, wingate's been splitting time between the two goalies all year.

SPEAKER_02 58:19

Yeah, and I sophomore, I assume they're gonna do the same thing. I don't see the change in that.

SPEAKER_03 58:23

Why would they change that now? They the the sophomore Casey Carlson out of Ocean High, uh Oceanside High School here in Long Island and transfer John Capone is that a John Capone, John Capone. Yeah, he comes in in the second half, and if the wing can get consistent play out of the goalies and out of the face-off guys, I think they can beat Lyndonwood.

SPEAKER_02 58:49

Well, and that's why I pointed it out. I mean, Lyndonwood's goalie is always consistent. He I haven't seen it. Kyle Abert is just really, really good. And I I think Wingate needs that kind of consistency out of their goalies, and they've done that this year. It's not like they haven't, they can do it. I think these games, like I told you, up and down the the north and the south region, these these games are gonna be great.

SPEAKER_03 59:18

Yeah, so you know, the winner of you of UNDLR gets to face Tampa, yeah. That's that's gonna be a tough, tough road.

SPEAKER_02 59:27

Yeah, you know, and same thing, uh Lynn Wood Wingate going against Limestone.

SPEAKER_03 59:32

Yep, and Wingate's gonna say, Well, we've already beat Limestone, they're gonna say that to themselves, you know that. Yeah, so they don't know. If if they were to beat Lindenwood, they're not gonna go in scared against Limestone. They've already played them in a big game in that Crown Classic there. So um, it's been a great, great 2022 season. There's been so much to talk about, so many great teams, so many great games, so many great players that have just done amazing this year. And we've been lucky enough to get some of them on. Uh, some of the best players in the country have come on our show and talked about their game and their their team and their university and and their parents and their brothers and sisters. And this has been a great, great season. And this is what it's all about right now, this tournament.

Player's Spotlight

SPEAKER_02 1:00:27

Okay, Danny, you know what time it is. It's time to move on to the player spotlight. My favorite part, Kev. My favorite part. I know, and uh, are you ready to talk defense? Yeah, man. We talked last week uh about goalie play, and you know I love offense because my son plays offense, but when you see good defense, I think it stands out even more than good offense. Defense wins championships, Kevin. Yeah, yep, and we have a player tonight who exemplifies that. Last year, third team All American, second team all region, first team all ECC. So this year, just to follow that up, he decided to play so well and become the ECC defensive player of the year. Yeah, he's kick ass. Yeah, let's welcome him in, Justin Gerdville from Mercy.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:27

How you guys doing tonight? Justin Gerdville, long pole from the Mercy Mavs. Dude, you are bawling out. The mercy Mavs are one hell of a team. I got to watch you play at the Delphi game. I was there a lot. That was some game. Tell us about that game.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:46

Oh, I mean, going into that game, we were all excited. You know, we were going off our um three-game home win streak, and you know, we were looking at Adelphi, you know, like this is the game. We're we're all excited. Marking our calendars and all that stuff. Um, you know, that was under the lights, you know. It was kind of, you know, it was not it was not bad. It was kind of warm out. Um, we were all we were all so excited. Um, going through that game at the end when you know the clock was winding down, everyone's getting rowdy. This is our fans were our fans were all out there, you know. It felt like a new game for us. I was sitting with them. Sitting in the mercy crowd. It was it was crazy, it was an experience, you know. And when that clock finally hit zero, and you know, that how it turned out, it was it was just oh my god, it was crazy.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:34

It was a great game to be at. It was a fun game to watch. Two really, really good teams going at it. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:40

That team, I mean, a team they just beat Le Moine twice, and that's Le Moines a good team, and they I mean, Adelphi just yeah, they want to help a team.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:50

Yeah, they're really, really good. Their defense is very good too.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:54

Yeah, so let's just circle back a little bit on you and what you've done this year and your stats. 41 ground balls and 18 cost turnovers. Do you track that, or is it more about what you're trying to do for the team?

SPEAKER_01 1:03:10

I mean, I have to say, yeah, I do track it because it's like it's like I love it. I love it, it's a sense of accomplishment, you know? Absolutely. Me and my dad make bets sometimes in the games, like what am I gonna get this week, you know? Um, so that you know, it's kind of uh it's like uh entices me to do well, you know. Like money monetary bets, like money, like yeah, a little bit of money, yeah. You know, just did you ever have to pay your pops? No, so if I've actually been lucky, he's actually nice enough to put it one way. So I either I do it, he pays me, or I you know, I don't lose money.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:46

All right, Mr. G doing the right thing.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:49

That's great, Justin. So did you always play defense? Is that what you've always gravitated towards?

SPEAKER_01 1:03:55

Yes, yeah. I used to be uh down low though before I came to Mercy. Um, and now when I got here, Karassi was like, you know, we see something in you, and he brought me right back up top, and I, you know, it's been over ever since.

unknown 1:04:08

Wow.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:09

So let's talk about that then. What's it like to play at Mercy?

SPEAKER_01 1:04:14

I'd say it's it's fun, you know, it's competitive. Every day I practice, you know, I go there and where it's gonna be, you know, we're gonna go to work, you know, but it's also gonna be fun. Um, you know, when I when coming in as a freshman, you know, did I realize that we were gonna be, you know, as good as we were? No. But you know, it really opened my eyes to like how um like the team is and how hardworking they are and how just how much they want to win, you know.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:41

I tell you, I've heard nothing but we we have we've had coach Levine on, but prior to having Coach Levine on, I have heard nothing but great things about how the players love him. Tell me more about Coach Levine. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:56

I mean, I think if you ask anybody on our team, they would not they will have everything to say about him is gonna be good. Everything. There's not gonna be one bad thing about him. Um like at practice, he just brings this funk to him. You know, it's it's so it's so hard to explain because his personality is just so out there and you know he's real with you. You know, you're not getting you know a fake Geordie or you know, a fake coach. It's he's real, you know. When he's saying, he really means and he he's doing it for you.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:23

That's that's really phenomenal. That's that's that's a that's a coach you want to play for, you know. That's a coach you want to play for. I want to talk about last year a little bit. Um, guys got the uh rug pulled out from under you. Um at in the NCAA tournaments. You weren't allowed to continue on. You had that game against Mercyhurst scheduled. And looks like you might get that chance again this year.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:51

Who knows? They're both uh those those two teams, C and Hill and Mercy Hearst, they're both great teams. Yes, you know it's up in the air.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:57

Yes, we've been talking about how well Ceton Hill. Has been playing lately, but let me tell you something about mercy. You guys are one goal short of a perfect season. One goal short of a perfect season. I've watched you guys play probably six or seven times this year and in person once. And I'm impressed. And I remember coming back on and talking to Kevin before we started our podcast and telling him, Mercy's for real, man. I think you guys literally have a legitimate shot at a national championship. I really do. What do you think?

SPEAKER_01 1:06:38

What what do you I mean it's it's a given, you know. I always I'm always optimistic, you know. Uh yeah. I, you know, I that's what we hope for. You know, that's what we that's our goal is. You know, in the weight room, we have our uh we have a board and it does our lifts and it says what we have to do, and it's on its national championship mentality. You know, we go into that lifts, we go into those lifts thinking we're gonna win a national championship.

SPEAKER_02 1:07:00

So I like that. I like that. So Danny touched upon it last year getting the the rug pulled out from underneath you, and he's also discussed it on the podcast several times about he thinks that you guys are playing because of that with a real chip on your shoulder. Do you guys do that? Is that something that that also carries with you to say, hey, we have that our run stolen from us, and so now we have extra motivation to get there this year?

SPEAKER_01 1:07:27

Oh, we're totally hungry. So I think when we think of back at that point at the end of the year, uh when we were getting those COVID tests popping positive and stuff like that, everyone's like, damn, you know, and I could say I was one of those people. I actually tested positive. Uh it was devastating. Yeah, I know me personally, when every time I step on that field, I'm you know, we're I'm playing for something, you know, we don't take anything for granted.

SPEAKER_02 1:07:51

Yeah, and it's funny because we last year, let's just go back to last year again, we were extra excited to watch you guys play Mercy Hearst, and then we couldn't see it, so we got really up this year. We couldn't see it. It got postponed again. Oh my gosh, we have a potential again, but you know, we'll see what what happens. I mean, I I'm sure for you it doesn't matter Mercy Hurst or Steaton Hill. You just want to get to that game and you want to ball out, right?

SPEAKER_01 1:08:20

Yes, I just want to I've never been in an NCAA uh tournament yet. You know, that would be my first year because my freshman year got canceled again. Yeah um so I was very excited. I'm very excited this year. You know, I can't wait. Every every time I practice, we practice today. Everyone was you know excited. There, the the uh um the function energy, energy, yes, tech energy high energy.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:41

Does Coach have to keep you guys down, or is he letting you guys go? Oh, he lets he lets us go. He like see, I love that. I love that.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:48

Danny, you can't, it's so hard to tell that he's he's so energetic. Can you tell that that Justin's energetic? I want to just it comes through the screen at you. It's awesome.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:57

I know, I know. He's very excited.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:00

I'm very passionate about this sport.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:02

I love it. You showed it in the conference championship. You played big. What was that like to play in that conference championship?

SPEAKER_01 1:09:09

Oh, it I mean, I've been in one uh last year, and it it's the same feeling. It's the excitement is through the roof, through the roof. Um, I unfortunately was I was actually not feeling well in the in the first half of that game. So I was a little down, but uh no, it's it's just it's an incredible feeling, you know, it's it's unmatched, I would say.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:31

Very, very well put. Excellent, excellent. Um, like I said, Mercy has just been on a tear this year. I've said in several podcasts they're playing with a chip on their shoulder, they play fast, they play hard. Umfely, you know, there's studs all over the field, you know, it TJ and Brady and then Dominic, and there's some, you know, there's some good offensive players, but defense wins championships, kid. And you're anchoring quite the defense. And like what you guys were able to do against the Delphi was was pretty remarkable because we Delphi is very deep, especially at the midfield. You know, they're like the Chinese Army, they just keep coming in with fresh legs and fresh legs, fresh legs, and fresh legs, and fresh legs, and fresh legs. It just they know they don't stop, but you guys jumped all over them. And it was a pretty impressive win because that was that's an impressive team at Delphi. And I also believe that a Delphi has a legitimate chance at that national championship, too. So you got the edge, you guys got the edge a little bit, might be in their head, but I I digress.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:42

I think Danny, he's so pumped. I think it's time. Is it time? It's time for the firing line. I'm ready, bring it at me.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:53

Uh he's ready, he says, bring it on, lay it on me.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:57

Typical defenseman from Northport, typical, okay. He wants the contact. He wants the contact. Okay, Justin Gerdville. Mercy Mavs, you're in the firing line. Okay, a couple questions we're gonna hit you up with. First, the first sport you ever picked up? Football. Football. What position did you play? Did you play through high school too?

SPEAKER_01 1:11:20

I did, yeah. I was uh fullback and middle linebacker. Oh, see, tough middle linebacker.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:26

That I could have picked that one. Tough guys, I love the middle linebackers. Um, who'd you look up to in football? Who do you look up to like in that sport? Like somebody that you admired. I had throwing up playing football.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:40

Kind of cringy, but my older brother, my older brother Jimmy.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:43

Cringy. And tell us about Jimmy. What's up?

SPEAKER_01 1:11:46

What uh when he was in high school, man, that kid that kid was a stud. Like he was really yeah, he was um he unfortunately got hurt uh his senior year, but uh I played the same position as him. I wore his number for a couple of years. Very cool. But yeah, he was unstoppable. That's just one word, unstoppable.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:04

Awesome, awesome. That's awesome. All right, question number three PlayStation or Xbox?

SPEAKER_01 1:12:11

Uh I have to say PlayStation. Okay. Favorite pro athlete. Uh Marshawn Lynch.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:20

That's a good one. I love the way they ran. Yeah, I love the oh yeah, oh yeah, like a like a freight train. Um, favorite TV show.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:32

Yeah, that's a good one.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:33

There you go. All right, I'll get you with this one. Favorite actress. Ooh. That's tough. Um Megan Fox. No, Megan Fox. There you go. Might not be much of an actress, but she looks good, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:48

Transformers is a good movie, you know?

SPEAKER_03 1:12:51

Good for you. Runs or lifts? Oh, that's easy. Lifts. Uh, there you go. Okay, next question. Uh next question. Funniest guy on the team. Who's the funniest guy on the team?

SPEAKER_01 1:13:04

Hands down, Brady Kiernan. Brady Ciernan, really, huh? Hands down. Hands down.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:09

What why is he so funny? What does he do?

SPEAKER_01 1:13:11

It's just so natural to him. It just he just says funny stuff, you know, and he just a funny dude.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:17

You got is that the guy you want to sit next to on the bus on the bus rides? Oh, yeah. That's great. Okay. Next question: who's the best all-around athlete on the team?

SPEAKER_01 1:13:29

I I mean, I'd love to say myself, but um, it has to be Tyler Pay Tack, our short stick community.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:34

Yeah, what's either is he one of those guys that can just do everything? Everything.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:39

I mean, you can just, I mean, all of our short stick communities are athletes. You have to be an athlete to play that position. Um, but him, him in personal, like, it's just oh, no, no one shines his shoes, you know. Everything.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:51

That's that's that's great. All right, next question. We'll get off, we'll get off the sports stuff. What kind of music do you listen to?

SPEAKER_01 1:13:59

Oh, I like the hard rock. You like the hard rock? Yeah, like what? Well, who do you like? Oof, um, let's see. Uh Metallica, you know, ACTC, you know, uh rock as well. Um Disturbed. Okay. But I can get into a little uh rap, you know, post-valone, a little, you know, something like that. All right, okay, all right, good.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:24

So what was the last song you listened to on your iPod or your uh whatever, your phone or it had to be uh it was actually Tennessee whiskey.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:34

I was listening to really listening to him in the car on the way home.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:37

Yes, little Chris Stapleton kind of just you know, decompress after practice.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:41

I mean, it was a nice day out. I finished laundry, you know, on my way home.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:44

There you go. Mom and dad, I think growing up. He's growing up, he's decompressing with country music after practice. Good stuff, Justin. Okay, best impression of Coach Levine.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:01

Um now, uh what he says, or how like how would you want to do like anywhere you want?

SPEAKER_03 1:15:07

If you could if you can imitate him, it'd be great, you know. So give us your best impression of Coach Levine.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:14

So I can I'm not really good at impressions, but I'll give you something he does, something really funny he does. Um, so Geordie's, you know, he's he's he's funny, he's a funny guy. And whenever we see like our trainer or our announcer, his name's Kyle, um, anywhere on the field, he just starts screaming his name. You know, he brings us together, he's like, bring it in, bring it in. And then he goes, he screams his name. He screams Kyle, and then we all say it. Our trainer, Billy, and we all scream, and it goes on for like five minutes.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:42

Okay, that's kind of cool, man. I like that. You know, Coach Levine sounds like a really cool guy. Uh, you know, I really I'd like to actually meet him and like talk with him. All right, last question, Justin. What's your plans after graduation?

SPEAKER_01 1:15:59

So I'm a major in criminal justice at Mercy. So I'm thinking of being a police officer. Um minor in Homeland Security. So wherever that could take me, you know, we'll flow with it.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:12

Well, I wish you the best of luck. Justin, you've been a great guest tonight on In the Crease. Um, we love what Mercy's been doing. We've been following the team uh really closely. Um, what you've been able to do on the field, just yourself, has been nothing short of phenomenal. Um, I continued success, young man. I wish you the best of luck in the tournament. I like I said, I really think you have a legitimate, legitimate shot at getting to that national title. I really do, and I wish you the best of luck.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:45

Thank

Final Thoughts

SPEAKER_01 1:16:46

you.

SPEAKER_02 1:16:46

You know, Danny, a real shame that we had to have a player on that just does not show his enthusiasm for the game of lacrosse.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:53

Yeah, that stinks. We got to get more enthusiastic players, I think, Kevin.

SPEAKER_02 1:16:58

I don't know if it's gonna show through his voice, but if you could see his expression and how much he was smiling when he was talking about the game and his position, it was awesome.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:09

Yeah, and he and he was in his gaming chair and he he didn't sit still for a second. He was moving left and right. You know, he's a very excited kid. He's excited to be where he is. You know, Mercy got the rug pulled out from them last year. You know, here's a kid who's been working hard for two years, and you know, he was one of the kids that got COVID last year when they had to do that, you know, and he said how bad he felt. He was devastated by it, you know, and and it but Coach Levine does a really good job of recruiting not only great players, but good kids. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:17:43

And to be honest, you said it earlier in the podcast. We've just had great players, great kids on, and he just's just another one of them. So we wish him luck. And I tell you what, Danny, this week NCA tournament, it doesn't get any better. I can't wait to watch the game. Starts tomorrow.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:02

Yeah, me too. I'm I'm excited. And um, I think the committee's got it right. I do, you know, I really do. I think, you know, I know that Florida Southern people aren't a little happy right now. I saw some grumblings on on social media this morning and last night. And you know what? They have legitimate they do. They have a legitimate beef, but I think that U Indy losing twice was the difference um of with Wingate getting in because they beat limestone. Yeah. And I I think I think that was the difference. And and this Florida Southern, you guys were right there. You were right there. It it could have gone your way. You know what? Fall out next year. You got the team, you got the coach, you got the squad, you got the fan base. You can give it a good shot next year, you'll be right there.

SPEAKER_02 1:18:51

Yep. And so for this week, Danny, I think that's a wrap. It's a wrap, Kevin.