Week two of college lacrosse didn’t bring as high a percentage of upsets, but we still had them, and we also had a slew of games that required sudden death and lacrosse fans all over the world saw that it was good.
#18 Syracuse – 12
#9 Maryland – 15
Maryland jumped out to a quick 3 goal lead within the first 3 minutes of the game thanks to Luke Wierman winning early faceoffs and Syracuse turning the ball over early and often. Syracuse was able to tie things up at 3’s with 11:41 left in the 2nd quarter off a Luke Rhoa goal, but Maryland quickly answered back, jumping out to a 7-3 lead and never really looked back from there.
The story of this game was easy to read. Luke Wierman absolutely destroyed Syracuse at the dot going 24 of 31 with 12 groundballs and an assist. The possession discrepancy was too much for Syracuse to overcome.
Wireman’s dominance at the dot led to Maryland holding a 33 to 21 “shots on goal” advantage. Credit Will Mark, the Syracuse goaltender, for Keeping Syracuse in the game as he stopped 55% of the shots he faced on the day.
Credit the Maryland defense for doing just enough to protect backup goaltender Teddy Dolan who struggled making just 9 saves vs 12 goals against. When Syracuse was able to get the ball, they were able to score, but every time they would get the game back to within 2 goals, Maryland would answer, once again thanks to Wierman’s dominance.
Keys In Maryland Win: Beyond Wierman which was the real difference maker, Maryland did a great job early in the game attacking Syracuse’s short sticks on offense. Maryland came at Syracuse aggressively and the Orange defense looked flustered with shorties getting roasted all over the place and the defense constantly having to slide and shift around to try and keep pace. That resulted in Maryland’s first three goals and allowed Maryland to get the lead back right after Syracuse tied things up.
For Maryland: Daniel Kelly (4g, 2a), Jack Koras (3g, 1a), Kyle Long (2g, 2a), Luke Wierman (22-31 faceoffs, 12gbs, 1a), Ajax Zappitello (3 caused turnovers, 4gbs)
For Syracuse: Jackson Birtwistle (3g), Owen Hiltz (1g, 2a), Joey Spallina (1g, 1a held to just 5 shots by Brett Makar), Will Mark (18 saves vs 15 goals against)
In the end, this doesn’t look too bad for either team. Maryland was able to pull out the win thanks to Wierman’s efforts and Syracuse was able to keep pace despite putting a bunch of kids on the field and getting merked at the dot.
Up Next: Syracuse has North Carolina at the Dome, and I’ll be there, Maryland has Princeton at home.
#10 Penn – 9
#12 Georgetown – 7
I’m not sure how many people out there on the interwebs thought we’d see Georgetown start the season 0-2. I certainly didn’t. I figured they’d beat Hopkins in the opener and Penn would maybe give them trouble in this one. But now the Hoyas are sitting at 0-2 on the season and things get no easier for them with #3 Notre Dame next weekend and #4 Princeton the weekend after. If Gtown isn’t careful, they could be lookin gat 1-3, or worse, 0-4 if they can’t get their offensive shit together.
First off, holding Penn to 9 goals is a solid outing for the Georgetown defense. Penn took a 2-0 lead early off a Sam Handley goal with 5:29 left in the first. Tucker Dordevic would answer for Georgetown about 3 minutes later making it 2-1 Penn, and Dordevic would score again with 11:27 left in the second tying things up at 3’s.
But that would be as close to sniffing out a lead as the Hoyas would get as Penn would score the games next 4 goals, taking a 7-3 lead off a Cam Rubin goal assisted by Dylan Gergar.
Dordevic would manage to get the Hoyas back to within a goal by scoring with 50 seconds left in the game, making it 8-7 but Ben Smith scored the dagger, a man up goal assisted by Sam Handley with just 23 seconds left on the game clock.
Keys in Penn Win: For the second weekend in a row, Georgetown was bested by a hot goaltender. Emmet Carrol stopped 18 of the 25 shots he faced on the day giving up just 7 goals. An incredible outing. Hopkins Tim Marcille stopped 16 shots against the Hoyas last weekend. Finishing the rock has become a problem for Georgetown as they struggle to gel offensively with a bunch of guys that didn’t play together last season.
For Penn: Cam Rubin (4g), Dylan Gergar (1g, 2a), Sam Handley (1g, 1a), Ethan Till (3 caused turnovers), Chris Arceri (11 of 22 faceoffs), Emmet Carrol (18 saves, 7 goals against)
For Georgetown: Brian Minicus (1g, 3a), Tucker Dordevic (3g), Graham Bundy Jr. (1g, 1a)
Great sign for Penn on a day that saw many Ivy League teams struggle. They come out and beat a very good Georgetown team all over the field on Saturday. They beat the Hoyas at the faceoff dot, their goalie played out of his mind and they scored more goals than their opponent. For Georgetown, they need to figure out how to find some flow offensively if they want to avoid starting 0-4.
Up Next: Georgetown has a brutal draw next in Notre Dame, but it’s at least at home and Penn will host Duke.
#6 Johns Hopkins – 8
#11 Loyola – 13
Loyola handled Johns Hopkins on Saturday thanks to a total team effort on offense and a defense that only allowed Hopkins 11 shots on cage over the first 3 quarters of the game. The 13-8 final gives an impression this game was closer than it actually was as Loyola had a 11-3 lead going into the 4th quarter.
Greyhounds keeper Luke Staudt had another big game with 10 saves. Staudt only gave up 5 goals in 55 minutes of play as backup Freeman Whitaker let up 3 goals in the final 5 minutes of play. Staudt played incredible against Maryland a week ago. I said that Loyola couldn’t keep depending on Staudt as they did against Maryland, but so far so good. Loyola is sitting at 2-0.
Keys in Loyola’s win: Loyola is putting it all together and getting a full team effort so far in their first two games. They had 9 guys score at least 1 point in their win over then #2 Maryland last weekend. This weekend against Hopkins they saw 13 different players register at least 1 point.
Cam Wyers was huge for the Greyhounds defense forcing 3 turnovers, but teammates Payton Rezanka and Matt Hughes each caused 2 of their own. In all, the Loyola defense forced 13 turnovers making it very difficult for Hopkins to get anything going all game long.
For Loyola: Matthew Minicus, Evan James, Seth Higgins (2g, 1a), Cam Wyers (3 caused turnovers, 3gbs), Payton Rezanka (2 caused turnovers, 3gbs, 1a), Luke Staudt (10 saves, 5 goals against)
For Johns Hopkins: Brendan Grimes, Matt Collison, Garrett Degnon (2g), Logan Callahan (12 of 21 faceoffs, 9gbs)
So maybe the Hopkins is back crows jumped the gun a little bit, BUT TO BE CERTAIN, they aren’t losing games to chumps. Hopkins is a much improved lacrosse team in my opinion and is still going to be a tough draw every week. But Loyola has really impressed thus far in a season that most expected them to need some times to figure things out offensively. Credit their defense and their two beastly defensive midfielders Peyton Rezanka and Mustang Sally for holding down the fort out top and making life easy for their defense and new starting keeper Staudt.
Next Up: Loyola travels to Rutgers, Hopkins takes on Utah at Homewood
#8 Rutgers – 13
Army – 14
This was one of many back and forth games that came right down to the wire that was played on Saturday. At points in this game Army held a 4-1 lead before allowing Rutgers to battle back and take a 6-5 lead. Army then scored the games next 5 goals taking a 10-6 lead and both teams went back and forth over the next handful of minutes with Rutgers squeaking back into it.
After Rutgers tied things up at 12, Will Coletti won the ensuing faceoff and took it to the house giving Army a 13-12 lead with 8:49 to play in the 4th quarter.
Just over 3 minutes later, Rutgers Ross Scott shook the shit out of his man at X and scored tying things up at 13’s.
Army forced a turnover at around the 4 minute mark and that resulted in transition going back the other way and Paul Johnson scored the game winner for the Black Knights with 3:54 remaining in the game off a feed by defenseman AJ Pilate. Pilate was credited with the assist, but in reality Johnson caught the ball outside the box, ran through a defender and stuck it high with his left. Probably wasn’t an assist, but who am I to try and steal points from a long pole.
Ross Scott would get the final shot of the game for Rutgers and it would go off the post with just 10 seconds left and AJ Pilate won the run out to the end line giving Army the ball. That was all she wrote. Pilate had a hell of a game. Didn’t factor a ton in the stat line, but had some huge plays when Army needed them.
Keys to Army win: Army faceoff man Will Coletti won 19 of 30 draws and scored the 13th goal of the game giving Army a 1 goal lead late.
For Army: Reese Burek (5g, 1a), Gunnar Fellows & Jacob Morin (2g, 1a), AJ Pilate (2 caused turnovers, 3 gbs, 1a)
For Rutgers: Ross Scott (5g, 1a), Jack Aimone (2g, 2a), Brian Cameron (3g)
Great sign for the Black Knights as there were question marks surrounding the Army offense. It was assumed Reese Burek would be the guy to step up and so far he has putting up 8 goals and 2 assists in Army’s first two games.
Next Up: Army hosts Wagner, Rutgers hosts Loyola
#17 Harvard – 21
#1 Virginia – 25
Virginia held a 20-8 lead at the half but allowed Harvard to score 9 of the games last 10 goals enroute to a 25-21 win at home on Saturday. I haven’t seen anything official yet, but I imagine this has to be one of the highest scoring games in Division I lacrosse history as the over was hit by halftime.
Don’t let that decent margin fool you though. The Cavs were up 9-0 just 8 minutes into this game and it was never close even as they took their foot off the gas late.
For Virginia: Connor Shellenberger (3g, 7a), Xander Dickson (5g), Payton Cormier (3g, 1a), Thomas McConvey (2g, 2a), Petey LaSalla (20 of 32 faceoffs, 10gbs, 2g), Cade Saustad (2 caused turnovers, 1gb)
For Harvard: Sam King (7g, 1a), Andrew Perry (4g, 2a), Owen Gaffney (5g, 1a), Chase Yager (3 caused turnovers, 3 gbs)
Easy win for the Cavs, but credit to Harvard for not giving up and for taking advantage of UVA letting up a bit at the end. There is no way that the Cavs wanted this blowout to turn into a 4 goal game by the end, so that’s not a terrible sign for Harvard even if they did some of their damage against UVA’s depth.
#2 Cornell – 12
UAlbany – 10
Albany was able to tie things up 9’s against Cornell with 9:22 left in the 4th quarter, a man up goal by Silas Richmond, but Cornell would go on to score the next 3 goals, take a 12-9 lead late before winning by a score of 12-10.
Albany took a 4-2 lead thanks to a Graydon Hogg goal with 2:10 left in the 1st quarter, but CJ Kirst would take over and score the games next 3 goals getting Cornell the lead again and although Albany would manage to tie the game up on a couple of occasions, Cornell would eventually pull away.
Tommy Heller struggled badly in cage for Albany making just 5 saves while letting up 12 goals. Granted, Cornell had a fair amount of solid looks that you couldn’t pin on Heller, but you’d hope your goalie could help out his defense a little bit more than he did in a close game.
For Cornell: CJ Kirst (6g), JJ Lombardi (2g), Gavin Adler (2 caused turnovers, 3 gbs), Chayse Ierlan (10 saves vs 10 goals against).
For Albany: Jack Pucci (1g, 2a), TJ Sheehan (1g, 1a), Silas Richmond & Graydon Hogg (2g)
Not a bad showing at all for Albany against their in-state rival. Cornell struggled a bit defensively early but eventually settled in. Not surprising given this was their 1st game and Albany’s 2nd.
Next Up: Cornell has Lehigh at home, Albany hosts Drexel
Boston University – 16 (OT)
Bryant – 15
Bryant took a 14-11 lead with 9:27 to play in the 4th quarter off a Aidan Goltz man up goal assisted by Connor McMahon.
Boston U. would storm back scoring 4 goals over just under a 2 minute span. Vince D’Alto scored the first goal of the run and dished to Louis Perfetto for the last giving the Terriers a 1 goal lead with 6:28 left to play.
Bryant scored 33 seconds later to knot things up at 15’s and overtime was on by the games end.
Thomas Niedringhaus scored the game winner handing Boston U. the victory. Matt Hilburn assisted.
Key in Boston U. win: Conor Calderone won 20 of 32 draws and picked up 7 groundballs and that bought BU 12 extra shots. The Terrier defense forced 15 turnovers on the day which was important because Garber struggled with just 11 saves vs 26 shots.
For BU: Vince D’Alto (3g, 3a), Thomas Niedringhaus (4g), Trey Brown & Patrick Morrison (4 caused turnovers, 10 gbs combined)
For Bryant: Jack Longsinger (7g), Aidan Goltz (3g, 2a)
Both teams now sit at 1-1. Boston U. needed this bounce back win after a disappointing loss to Vermont.
Next Up: Boston U. is at UMass and Bryant is at Quinnipiac.
Vermont – 14 (OT)
Utah – 13
Vermont and Utah rocked a game of runs that saw Vermont hold a slight edge through most of the game, but Utah never gave up and continually battled from 2 to 3 goals down to tie things up and force overtime by the end.
Vermont took a 12-9 lead on a Hayden Fruhing goal with 8:41 left in the 4th quarter. Utah had tied things up just under 2 minutes before that and Vermont scored a quick 3 goal flurry over a 1 minute and 10 second span to take a 3 goal lead.
But Utah wasn’t done. They scored the games next 4 goals and took a 13-12 lead with 4:14 left in the game off a Koa Todd goal. At this point Utah had all the momentum.
But with 27 seconds left in the game, Brock Haley scored on a dish from James Basile knotting things up at 13’s and that forced overtime where Haley would score again, this time from Nick Alviti giving the Catamounts the road win.
Keys in Vermont’s win: Tommy Burke was once again a monster winning 25 of 31 draws with 14 groundballs. Burke continues to be the reason Vermont has been in every game. He’s off to an incredible start.
For Vermont: David Closterman (4g, 1a), Brock Haley & James Basile (2g, 2a), Tommy Burke (25 of 31 faceoffs, 14 gbs)
For Utah: Jordan Hyde (3g), Ryan Stines (2g), Colin Lenskold (20 saves vs 14 goals against)
Michigan – 11
Hofstra – 10
Michigan and Hofstra had a classic back and forth matchup on Saturday that saw Jacob Jackson scoring his 4th goal of the game for Michigan with 51 seconds left giving the Wolverines the win over the Pride.
Jackson finished the game with 4 goals and a helper off just 6 shots. Shane Carr struggled yet again in net for Michigan making just 2 saves vs 5 goals against and it looks like he found his way to the bench while Hunter Taylor came on in relief and stopped 10 shots vs just 5 goals against. So Michigan may have a new goalie moving forward. Mac Gates was tough in cage for Hofstra making 15 saves of his own.
Monmouth – 9
#4 Princeton – 22
Princeton handled business in their season opener against Monmouth. Alexander Vardaro put up 5 goals and 2 assists, Braedon Saris went for 3 goals and 3 helpers and Coulter Mackesy for 4 goals and 2 assists in the Tigers easy win.
Monmouth actually had a pretty solid showing in terms of “fighting” but Princeton was too much to handle in terms of scoring efficiency.
Griffen Rakower got the start in cage for the Tigers and stopped 6 of the 9 shots he faced.
Next Up: Princeton has Manhattan at home (Manhattan beat Navy yesterday), and Monmouth will host NJIT
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