May 12, 2006
Lax Power
Lacrosse has taken quite a beating the media over the last month or so, but while Duke's canceled season is making all of the headlines, the rest of country is still playing. The NCAA tournament begins this weekend, and the ACC looks to have a good showing with the #1 and #2 seeds, Virginia and Maryland.
The Cavaliers are undefeated and are the strong favorites to win it all - which would be a third title for coach Dom Starsia. One example of just how good the Cavaliers are - they have played the aforementioned #2 Terrapins twice this season and beat them by a combined 16 goals. Virginia also dispatched perennial powers Johns Hopkins and Syracuse by 6 and 5 goals. Their only close game was a 7-6 win over Princeton.
Go Cavs!
Comments
WAHOOWA! Dave -- As an alumnus, I have been following the UVA lacrosse team for several years now, though I know very little about the sport. I have a question, though -- I don't seem to remember there being any lacrosse at UVA when I was there (early 90's). Is it a new sport there? If so, their rise to power is all the more impressive.
Go Hoos!
Matt
Go Hoos!
Matt
| Matt wrote: |
| WAHOOWA! Dave -- As an alumnus, I have been following the UVA lacrosse team for several years now, though I know very little about the sport. I have a question, though -- I don't seem to remember there being any lacrosse at UVA when I was there (early 90's). Is it a new sport there? If so, their rise to power is all the more impressive.
Go Hoos! Matt |
No, they've had a team for decades. I think they won their first NCAA title in the mid 70s. Back when I was a wee lad, I went to the UVA lax camp every summer. Good time. The coach then was Jim Adams, who did a good job, but Dom Starsia has taken them to a new level.
Lacrosse really is a great game. Fun to play and fun to watch. I actually got to pick up a stick and throw last weekend for the first time in years. It felt great! It's like riding a bike; it comes right back. I have to say that the new sticks are mighty nice too. They have perfect pockets, which is something we had to work for when I was playing.
Looks like you beat me to the punch... I've been meaning to send a few comments.
ACC bylaws say there must be four teams to have a conference tournament in any sport. A special exemption was granted this year because things were already set up, and UVa took a bye before trouncing MD after the Terps had a suprisingly tough time with UNC. Let's hope Duke doesn't drop the hammer on the program. BTW, wonder why BC doesn't have a lacrosse program? A casualty of Title IX perhaps?
The only Duke player who didn't have to give DNA was a reserve goalie who is African American and a legacy--his dad (a high school teacher--but obviously not an econ major--how long does it take to amortize the cost of a Duke education on a teacher's salary?) played there. On a lighter note, can you imagine lacrosse at some of the other ACC schools? Virginia Tech? FSU? Miami?
Lacrosse at UVa goes way back--Al Groh played when he was a student. And going further back, Jim Brown, noted running back and anger management expert, played lacrosse at Syracuse. Reportedly, their offense consisted of him cradling the ball and blowing past the opposition to deliver a cannon shot at the cringing goalie.
I grew up in western NC, and didn't see my first lacrosse game until the early 80s. I was stationed in Norfolk and drove around until I found a bar with this TV channel called ESPN so I could watch UNC play for their first national championship. The thing that struck me was "This would be a great sport for normal sized kids." Hopefully, there will be a day when public schools in southeastern VA will follow the lead of some of the northern VA counterparts and make it an interscholastic sport.
Let's hope the Cavs pound the papists tomorrow!
ACC bylaws say there must be four teams to have a conference tournament in any sport. A special exemption was granted this year because things were already set up, and UVa took a bye before trouncing MD after the Terps had a suprisingly tough time with UNC. Let's hope Duke doesn't drop the hammer on the program. BTW, wonder why BC doesn't have a lacrosse program? A casualty of Title IX perhaps?
The only Duke player who didn't have to give DNA was a reserve goalie who is African American and a legacy--his dad (a high school teacher--but obviously not an econ major--how long does it take to amortize the cost of a Duke education on a teacher's salary?) played there. On a lighter note, can you imagine lacrosse at some of the other ACC schools? Virginia Tech? FSU? Miami?
Lacrosse at UVa goes way back--Al Groh played when he was a student. And going further back, Jim Brown, noted running back and anger management expert, played lacrosse at Syracuse. Reportedly, their offense consisted of him cradling the ball and blowing past the opposition to deliver a cannon shot at the cringing goalie.
I grew up in western NC, and didn't see my first lacrosse game until the early 80s. I was stationed in Norfolk and drove around until I found a bar with this TV channel called ESPN so I could watch UNC play for their first national championship. The thing that struck me was "This would be a great sport for normal sized kids." Hopefully, there will be a day when public schools in southeastern VA will follow the lead of some of the northern VA counterparts and make it an interscholastic sport.
Let's hope the Cavs pound the papists tomorrow!
It is a bit surprising that BC doesn't have a team. Now that I think about it though, I'm not sure lax is big in Boston. Obviously it's very popular in New York and New Jersey, but I don't know about Boston.
It does suck that the ACC has only four varsity lacrosse teams. Pretty much every school does have a club team (and in fact, NC State had a varsity team long ago). While I was reading up about Virginia's season, I came across a story about how Virginia Tech's club team won the regional championship, beating Florida State in the finals.
There are two main problems with creating varsity teams - money and Title IX (which are actually nearly the same problem). Lacrosse has a pretty big roster and all that equipment, so it's not cheap. And with Title IX, it's very difficult to add big men's sports, so a school would pretty much have to add both men's and women's teams, but even that would only be possible if the school were already Title IX compliant, and I think most athletic departments still fall a bit short on that. It's really too bad, because it's such a great sport. There is a reason why nearly every university in the country - not just on the East Coast - has a club team or two.
Just in my own relatively short career of club lacrosse, I played against teams from Mizzou, Illinois, Texas A&M, Arizona, Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Eastern Illinois, Kentucky, Sewannee, Rhodes, Vanderbilt, Alabama and NC State and probably others that I'm forgetting. And that was over ten years ago (damn, has it been that long?)
It does suck that the ACC has only four varsity lacrosse teams. Pretty much every school does have a club team (and in fact, NC State had a varsity team long ago). While I was reading up about Virginia's season, I came across a story about how Virginia Tech's club team won the regional championship, beating Florida State in the finals.
There are two main problems with creating varsity teams - money and Title IX (which are actually nearly the same problem). Lacrosse has a pretty big roster and all that equipment, so it's not cheap. And with Title IX, it's very difficult to add big men's sports, so a school would pretty much have to add both men's and women's teams, but even that would only be possible if the school were already Title IX compliant, and I think most athletic departments still fall a bit short on that. It's really too bad, because it's such a great sport. There is a reason why nearly every university in the country - not just on the East Coast - has a club team or two.
Just in my own relatively short career of club lacrosse, I played against teams from Mizzou, Illinois, Texas A&M, Arizona, Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Eastern Illinois, Kentucky, Sewannee, Rhodes, Vanderbilt, Alabama and NC State and probably others that I'm forgetting. And that was over ten years ago (damn, has it been that long?)
I'll say first and foremost: Congrats to UVA on an undefeated season ... not an easy task these days.
That being said, I wouldn't exactly classify them as "strong favorites to win it all". One of the favorites, absolutely ... but not "strong favorites". They're playing very good offensive ball and have beaten the top teams they've played, but uncharacteristically, did NOT play all the top teams this season. They're strength of schedule is only #10(http://www.laxpower.com/update06/binmen/rating01.php) ... unheard of for the lax elite (SU, Hop, Princeton, UVA) to have that low an SOS.
You point out wins vs. Maryland, Hop and SU:
Maryland has played very well (early) this year (win over Dook), but has also been very inconsistent ... they lost to BUCKNELL and NAVY!!
Hop just wasn't that good (for Hop) this year ... sorry. They also lost three starters to injury (two before the UVA game, if memory serves).
Cuse: this one's waaay too easy to pick apart. This weekend will tell the story, and you know it will be a good one, as it always is ... but UVA fans who have followed the game this season gotta' be a little worried.
UVA won that game by 5, as you said, but it was 20-15 dude!! On March 4th ... 2nd game of the season for SU ... starting a freshman goalie ... two first-year starters on defense. SU had already lost a senior starter from their first midfield going into that game. First year faceoff man as well.
Bottom line: SU is a #5 team that NOBODY wanted to face coming into this thing. Just ask Petro!!
As I said, gonna' be another great SU/UVA matchup ... both teams are on top of their game right now.
That being said, I wouldn't exactly classify them as "strong favorites to win it all". One of the favorites, absolutely ... but not "strong favorites". They're playing very good offensive ball and have beaten the top teams they've played, but uncharacteristically, did NOT play all the top teams this season. They're strength of schedule is only #10(http://www.laxpower.com/update06/binmen/rating01.php) ... unheard of for the lax elite (SU, Hop, Princeton, UVA) to have that low an SOS.
You point out wins vs. Maryland, Hop and SU:
Maryland has played very well (early) this year (win over Dook), but has also been very inconsistent ... they lost to BUCKNELL and NAVY!!
Hop just wasn't that good (for Hop) this year ... sorry. They also lost three starters to injury (two before the UVA game, if memory serves).
Cuse: this one's waaay too easy to pick apart. This weekend will tell the story, and you know it will be a good one, as it always is ... but UVA fans who have followed the game this season gotta' be a little worried.
UVA won that game by 5, as you said, but it was 20-15 dude!! On March 4th ... 2nd game of the season for SU ... starting a freshman goalie ... two first-year starters on defense. SU had already lost a senior starter from their first midfield going into that game. First year faceoff man as well.
Bottom line: SU is a #5 team that NOBODY wanted to face coming into this thing. Just ask Petro!!
As I said, gonna' be another great SU/UVA matchup ... both teams are on top of their game right now.
Yeah, I'm looking forward that that game this weekend. It seems like every year, there's some combination of Syracuse/Princeton/Virginia playing each other either in the semis or finals. I don't expect it to be an easy game for Virginia, but you have to be impressed by them putting up 20 on Georgetown this weekend!
I was hoping to get a lax update post up. I still plan to.
Virginia's schedule took a hit this year with the collapse of Duke's season. The Blue Devils were #2 when they went down and UVA would probably have played them twice.
I was hoping to get a lax update post up. I still plan to.
Virginia's schedule took a hit this year with the collapse of Duke's season. The Blue Devils were #2 when they went down and UVA would probably have played them twice.
The dookie situation absolutely hurt UVA's SOS. Dook was #1 in the initial poll, although the early loss to Maryland knocked them down.
I gotta' give UVA due credit for posting 20 goals, but I gotta' say, G'town's defensive game-plan was freekin bizarre!! There seemed to be no slide package whatsoever ... they allowed UVA to bottle things up in the middle, then they'd pop out for a wide-open 15 yarder. They never made an adjustment until mid-way through the third, when they looked like they just gave up ... meanwhile, UVA just got more and more confident and started scoring at will. Strange game.
UMass is the surprise of the tourney. I figured Hofstra would go down, but really thought Cornell had a chance to make a run in this tournament.
'Cuse/UVA winner wins it all!!
I gotta' give UVA due credit for posting 20 goals, but I gotta' say, G'town's defensive game-plan was freekin bizarre!! There seemed to be no slide package whatsoever ... they allowed UVA to bottle things up in the middle, then they'd pop out for a wide-open 15 yarder. They never made an adjustment until mid-way through the third, when they looked like they just gave up ... meanwhile, UVA just got more and more confident and started scoring at will. Strange game.
UMass is the surprise of the tourney. I figured Hofstra would go down, but really thought Cornell had a chance to make a run in this tournament.
'Cuse/UVA winner wins it all!!
| MarkG (GO CUSE LAX!!) wrote: |
| 'Cuse/UVA winner wins it all!! |
I'm with you there.
Forgot to add to your reference to the NC State program yesterday: They actually dropped lacrosse after the '82 season. But they still lay claim, at least partially, to two of the top D-1 records. If I remember correctly, the all-time leading goal scorer went to State in the mid 70's ... don't recall his name.
The all-time leading assists and points man (for D-1) is Tim Nelson, who played at State in '82 and then transferred when they dropped the program to ... where else ... Syracuse!
The all-time leading assists and points man (for D-1) is Tim Nelson, who played at State in '82 and then transferred when they dropped the program to ... where else ... Syracuse!
| MarkG (GO CUSE LAX!!) wrote: |
| Forgot to add to your reference to the NC State program yesterday: They actually dropped lacrosse after the '82 season. But they still lay claim, at least partially, to two of the top D-1 records. If I remember correctly, the all-time leading goal scorer went to State in the mid 70's ... don't recall his name.
The all-time leading assists and points man (for D-1) is Tim Nelson, who played at State in '82 and then transferred when they dropped the program to ... where else ... Syracuse! |
Now that I didn't know. Mark, dropping the knowledge!
Speaking of goal-scoring transfers to Syracuse, this weekend should be interesting for Joe Yevoli, the traitor who was an All-American at UVA before transfering for his final season at Syracuse. He had a big game last weekend against Hopkins.
I graduated HS in '84, then hung around Syracuse for a year before going into the Air Force, so I watched Nelson play during his 3 years up there. Remember him playing with a guy named Greg Tarbell ... dude's name still comes up in conversations around who has/had the hardest shot in college lacrosse. I guy I grew up with in Baldwinsville, Kevin Sheehan, was also a 4-year starter on defense during those years.
Yeah, Yevoli has really come into the offensive fold up there this year. But don't forget about Kenney. They both headed up there for grad school and each had a year of eligibility left going into the season: Yevoli due to breaking his back while at UVA, and Kenney quit his senior year to focus on academics.
http://www.syracuse.com/orangelacrosse/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1148029985144470.xml&coll=1
Posted by Dave at May 12, 2006 11:02 AM
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Yeah, Yevoli has really come into the offensive fold up there this year. But don't forget about Kenney. They both headed up there for grad school and each had a year of eligibility left going into the season: Yevoli due to breaking his back while at UVA, and Kenney quit his senior year to focus on academics.
http://www.syracuse.com/orangelacrosse/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1148029985144470.xml&coll=1
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