2014 NCAA Lacrosse Open Thread
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Kaneyoufeelit
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FUCK YEAH BRYANT
FDNYIrish1
ARE YOU SUPPORTIVE OF THESE ONESIES???
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Congratulations to Bryant and Coach Mike Pressler. One of the true good guys in the game. Perfectly executed game plan.
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So I finally got done watching the Albany/Loyola game and here are my thoughts relative to what I've seen from both the Great Danes and Irish recently:
-While Kelly had a huge statistical game in goal, it was largely a product of great defense and bad shooting from Harvard. What Kelly is doing much better is his body positioning... he's matching sticks much better and aggressively stepping to the ball with his body. He's still not making a ton of great stick saves and is vulnerable to high heat/changing levels. He also gives up a TON of rebounds and rarely catches the ball clean. Unlike Harvard -- who sucks -- Albany is not going to tip their shots or place the ball poorly. That worries me.
-I think Nick Ossello needs to be given full run of the faceoff X against Albany. He's a great two-way midfielder capable of instance offense as well as defense. I think going with Ossello over O'Connor might be worth 1-3 goals. It's not that O'Connor played bad against Harvard... he actually did great... he's just not the same all-around lacrosse player after the draw as Ossello.
-Notre Dame playing fast and loose = a lot of offense. Probably could've gotten to 16 or 17 goals with some better focus. We're absolutely clicking right now, and how Albany likes to play feeds directly into what we're doing. The only way we don't put up a boatload of goals is if we have an inaccurate shooting day.
-Delving a little bit deeper, Albany did not play good defense on Loyola. Loyola just shot the ball horribly and made bad decisions on how to attack the Great Danes. In general, their game plan sucked on both sides of the ball.
-It's really clear that there is no way Albany is going to be able to stop our transition game if we push it. There is no one that can run with Jack Near, and in early offense their close D does not mark well 1v1. The question is whether we want to do that, because a bad turnover is a sure goal the other way. The Thompsons are unreal.
-Speaking of the Thompsons... I'm not sure how you defend them, but it definitely isn't what Loyola did. Holy hell was that a bad gameplan. Lyle Thompson feeds the ball better with people draped all over him than anyone I've ever seen. He's deceptively strong and absorbs contact phenomenally... honestly, he plays a lot like Kavanagh just better. That's terrifying. Ty and Miles aren't slouches either... especially Miles who is basically the most ideal finisher you can have at attack due to his full range of skills. Think of how effective John Scioscia is off-ball... then give him a brother who is the best passer in the game who he has played with his whole life... and then also give Scioscia the ability to get his own shot. It's pure insanity.
-I think you play the Thompsons how ND played Pannell and Crotty years ago. Lock the crease guy (usually Miles) and give a very early adjacent slide to the ball carrier. Second slide to the adjacent so the player (usually a middy) has to move the ball to the backside or take a contested or low angle shot. Live with whatever happens with the ball on the backside as the defense rotates. One thing that is certain is that you CANNOT leave the crease guy open even for a half second, and you also CANNOT let a Thompson just carry the ball top side uncontested.
-Looking at when Albany has struggled this year the common theme is them loosing a lot of 50/50 balls and the time of possession battle. They go fast on O, so if they turn it over (or aren't winning faceoffs) you can really abuse their defense. So really, it seems like this will be a game of runs where you can only hope to contain their offense while hopefully our offense gets to 15+.
-While Kelly had a huge statistical game in goal, it was largely a product of great defense and bad shooting from Harvard. What Kelly is doing much better is his body positioning... he's matching sticks much better and aggressively stepping to the ball with his body. He's still not making a ton of great stick saves and is vulnerable to high heat/changing levels. He also gives up a TON of rebounds and rarely catches the ball clean. Unlike Harvard -- who sucks -- Albany is not going to tip their shots or place the ball poorly. That worries me.
-I think Nick Ossello needs to be given full run of the faceoff X against Albany. He's a great two-way midfielder capable of instance offense as well as defense. I think going with Ossello over O'Connor might be worth 1-3 goals. It's not that O'Connor played bad against Harvard... he actually did great... he's just not the same all-around lacrosse player after the draw as Ossello.
-Notre Dame playing fast and loose = a lot of offense. Probably could've gotten to 16 or 17 goals with some better focus. We're absolutely clicking right now, and how Albany likes to play feeds directly into what we're doing. The only way we don't put up a boatload of goals is if we have an inaccurate shooting day.
-Delving a little bit deeper, Albany did not play good defense on Loyola. Loyola just shot the ball horribly and made bad decisions on how to attack the Great Danes. In general, their game plan sucked on both sides of the ball.
-It's really clear that there is no way Albany is going to be able to stop our transition game if we push it. There is no one that can run with Jack Near, and in early offense their close D does not mark well 1v1. The question is whether we want to do that, because a bad turnover is a sure goal the other way. The Thompsons are unreal.
-Speaking of the Thompsons... I'm not sure how you defend them, but it definitely isn't what Loyola did. Holy hell was that a bad gameplan. Lyle Thompson feeds the ball better with people draped all over him than anyone I've ever seen. He's deceptively strong and absorbs contact phenomenally... honestly, he plays a lot like Kavanagh just better. That's terrifying. Ty and Miles aren't slouches either... especially Miles who is basically the most ideal finisher you can have at attack due to his full range of skills. Think of how effective John Scioscia is off-ball... then give him a brother who is the best passer in the game who he has played with his whole life... and then also give Scioscia the ability to get his own shot. It's pure insanity.
-I think you play the Thompsons how ND played Pannell and Crotty years ago. Lock the crease guy (usually Miles) and give a very early adjacent slide to the ball carrier. Second slide to the adjacent so the player (usually a middy) has to move the ball to the backside or take a contested or low angle shot. Live with whatever happens with the ball on the backside as the defense rotates. One thing that is certain is that you CANNOT leave the crease guy open even for a half second, and you also CANNOT let a Thompson just carry the ball top side uncontested.
-Looking at when Albany has struggled this year the common theme is them loosing a lot of 50/50 balls and the time of possession battle. They go fast on O, so if they turn it over (or aren't winning faceoffs) you can really abuse their defense. So really, it seems like this will be a game of runs where you can only hope to contain their offense while hopefully our offense gets to 15+.
Thanks LAX. As always GREAT write up!
I totally agree with you with Osello. I thought Oconnor did fine yesterday but he just makes too many mistakes even if he does get the face. I really believe this is where the game is going to be won or lost. They must control possession to win this game so hopefully whoever they decide to play dominates the X!
I've seen Albany play this year and they are crazy. They do love to try and score quickly, be aggressive, and totally crowd the crease. I would really like to see ND play some physical ball and push them back. They are prone to making some turnovers so hopefully ND has a good plan of attack to force them into mistakes.
I totally agree with you with Osello. I thought Oconnor did fine yesterday but he just makes too many mistakes even if he does get the face. I really believe this is where the game is going to be won or lost. They must control possession to win this game so hopefully whoever they decide to play dominates the X!
I've seen Albany play this year and they are crazy. They do love to try and score quickly, be aggressive, and totally crowd the crease. I would really like to see ND play some physical ball and push them back. They are prone to making some turnovers so hopefully ND has a good plan of attack to force them into mistakes.
BIG day today. I'll be truthful, I just don't feel good about the game today. Can ND dominate the X? Can ND control possession and be accurate on their shots? Can ND implement a good defensive game plan and limit the Thompsons? Can Kelly continue to play well? Can ND clear with the Thompsons riding?
I HATE to say it, but I am calling for Albany 13-11.
I have two boys who are both CONVINCED ND pulls it out by 3 though. Hopefully they will be rubbing it in my face by the end of the day!
I HATE to say it, but I am calling for Albany 13-11.
I have two boys who are both CONVINCED ND pulls it out by 3 though. Hopefully they will be rubbing it in my face by the end of the day!
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3 hours until what looks like the barn burner of all barn burners. I really don't feel great about the game today because Albany has all the intangibles and is getting all of the hype. I kind of miss the days of ND being the loveable underdog.
The appetizer should be a boring, slow game between the Terps and Bulldogs at noon. Let's go Bryant.
The appetizer should be a boring, slow game between the Terps and Bulldogs at noon. Let's go Bryant.
Uhhh...
blueNDgold44
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Score?
Sherm Sticky
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13-13
Sherm Sticky
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Yes goal game over!
Sherm Sticky
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Hats off to Albany
loomis41973
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Epic
Irish Insanity
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Wait, we won? I stopped following when we looked hopeless. Fuck
It doesn't get old does it. My boys were actually so excited, they asked if we could rewatch the whole game last night. It was just as good the second time around. We came away pretty impressed with O'Hara too! He really used the longstick pretty well.
I really hope ND tries to push it more against Maryland!
I really hope ND tries to push it more against Maryland!
Sherm Sticky
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Where is the preview?
Praytorian
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So I don't follow lax and am now watching. someone knowing the rules please let me know. Is there no pic? like in basketball where they set a pic and get your guy free.
I found my answer.
I found my answer.
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Sorry on a road trip with no Internet access except through phone. Doesn't really matter as even if we get past MD I don't see how we beat Duke. This game will come down to faceoffs and goal tending... probably will be pretty boring as Maryland plays the lamest style of lacrosse ever. I'll appreciate updates if anyone can give them.
I'm assuming Duke is beating Denver? Can't get ESPN to load out here in Nor Cal. Last score update I saw had Duke up 3.
Sherm Sticky
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