NCAA National Championship

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JimBeam
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NCAA National Championship

Post by JimBeam »

So...
Merrimack and Limestone.

What do you think :?:
sguy9
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Re: NCAA National Championship

Post by sguy9 »

Mack goes out with back to back rings, then heads to DI to be a .500 team..... Stone wins 5 in a row after '19 .
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Turbo
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Re: NCAA National Championship

Post by Turbo »

Should be a tremendous hard fought game but Limestone should prevail.
Pitt12
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Re: NCAA National Championship

Post by Pitt12 »

Shoul be a classic! I would expect a much closer game then last years final. Would expect a high score. Limestone has the advantage at Faceoff. If they capitalize I see Limestone winning 16-15.
Laxwarrior
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Re: NCAA National Championship

Post by Laxwarrior »

Does anyone know where the video link is located? I can't find it.

I want to set it up in advance on some family members computers (older folks)
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RedFromMI
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Re: NCAA National Championship

Post by RedFromMI »

Laxwarrior wrote: Tue May 21, 2019 1:59 pm Does anyone know where the video link is located? I can't find it.

I want to set it up in advance on some family members computers (older folks)
https://www.ncaa.com/game/lacrosse-men/ ... -limestone

No video link there yet, but it should show up on Sunday...
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RedFromMI
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Re: NCAA National Championship

Post by RedFromMI »

Final review of the game:

#1 South seed Limestone Saints (20-0) vs. #6 North seed Merrimack Warriors (16-3), Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphi, PA, Sunday, May 26, 1:00 pm

You have seen my reviews of the prior games in the tournament - some thoughts for this one.

Both teams are well represented on the USILA All-American teams announced today: Charlie Bertrand (Junior/Attack) was named to the First Team, and also the DII player of the year. Sean Black (Sophomore/Attack) was listed on the Second Team, Michael O'Connell (Senior/Midfield) on the Third Team, and Christian Thomas (Sophomore/Attack) on the Honorable Mention list. For Limestone, four players were part of the DII First Team: Larson Sundown (Junior/Attack), Clark Walter (Junior/Midfield), Tyler Papa (Junior/Midfield), and Jordan Stouros (Junior/LSM). Kendall Collins (Junior/Defense) was listed on the Second Team. For Merrimack, this is a good sign for entering the DI ranks (if in schedule alone for the next couple of years) as they make the transition up a division - two sophs and a junior mean they have a good core for next year. For the Saints - all of these guys have one more year, which likely will make the Saints (as usual) part of the conversation for the championship next year...

For this Sunday's 'ship, Bertrand is goal #1 for the Saints to stop - leading the nation in goals per game (4.93) and goals (74), as well as points per game (6.00). Also, he is #2 nationally in man-up goals (13). He is eighth in the country in shot percentage (.514), and 1st in points per game (6.00). Teammate Michael O'Connell is #17 in shot percentage (.476), and leads the country in man-up goals (15). Christian Thomas is #14 in the country in assists per game (2.21). Sean Black is #1 (4.00 - look who he is feeding). Black also is 4th in the country in points per game (5.67). Other national rankings of note are Davis Cronin at the FO at .629 (14th), goalie Nick Ponte in GAA (9.40, #10) and save percentage (.559, #11). BTW, the goalie numbers for the tourney alone for Ponte are GAA 10.32 (#4 among tourney goalies), and save percentage of .524 (#3). FO post season numbers for Cronin are .553 (#4).

For the Saints, Larson Sundown is #6 in goals per game (3.53), #16 in assists per game (2.11), #5 in points per game (5.63), and #6 in shot percentage (.523). Matt Bennett (with Sundown as a basic target) is #12 in assists per game (2.31). At faceoff, Christopher Parrott is #6 in the country at .701 percentage. In goal, Danny Forren is #4 nationally at 8.17 GAA, and #6 nationally in save percentage of .584. For the playoffs only, Sundown is #4 in APG (2.50), #4 in PPG (5.00), #15 in GPG (2.50). Bennett is #6 in APG (2.00). Jeremy Burns is #16 in APG at 1.50. Tyler Papa is #6 in GPG (3.50) and Brian Huyghue is #10 at 3.00 GPG with Clark Walter #15 at 2.50 GPG. Huyghue is #12 at 4.00 PPG, and Papa, Bennett, and Walter are tied at #17 at 3.50 PPG. Shot percentage is #5 for Huyghue (.667), #8 for Papa (.538) and #18 for Sundown (.417).

Top three team numbers (post season only among the 12 teams in the tournament) for Merrimack are: #1 assists (32), #2 APG (10.67), #2 FO win % (.565), PPG (25.67), #1 saves (34), #2 scoring margin (4.67), #1 scoring offense (15.00). They are #4 in scoring defense at 10.33 GPG. The top three numbers for Limestone are #3 APG (8.00), #3 assists (16), #3 clearing % (.902), #3 FO win % (.547), #3 ground balls (74), #1 ground balls per game (37.00), #1 saves per game (13.50), #2 saves (27), #1 scoring defense (9.00), #1 scoring margin (5.00), #3 scoring offense (14.00), #2 shot percentage (.389).

One large difference is man-up offense - Limestone is #9 of 12 teams in the post season at .286 percentage, while Merrimack is #4 at .545 percentage. During the season Merrimack had nearly double the goals (46 vs 26) in about 30% more chances. Limestone only gave up 26 goals in 77 man-down situations, while Merrimack gave up 46 goals on 94 man-down situations.

Now for the game. For the Saints, stopping the Warrior offense is their key - and the D for Stone has recovered big time for this year after the meltdown last year. As is doing it without significant penalties to avoid the high power man-up offense of Mack. Scoring D on the year is #4 nationally (8.20 GPG), and they have been able to quiet a number of high scoring players during the year. Keeping Andrew Kew to (2,1) was essential in allowing the Saints to prevail in the second OT. (But Jake Mosher McGraw did have six goals against the Saints). For the Warriors, stopping the #1 scoring offense over the regular season (17.55 GPG) and still 14 GPG for the post season will be critical. D during the regular season was a weak spot for the Warriors, at #18 in the country (9.89 GPG), but in facing one of the toughest brackets they only had their numbers go up by about a half goal per game (10.33 GPG).

Numbers say marginally that the Saints should be favored (and certainly their record does). Post-season play makes this one quite a bit closer, as Mack seems to have woken up a bit for their last DII hurrah. Intangibles - how does Merrimack deal with this being their last game in DII and of course defense of the title (and avenge the loss two years ago to the Saints in the championship), vs. the Saints being on such a roll this year. Stone certainly has more national experience - this is their 19th post season, and appearance #12 in the final game. And JB Clarke has 3 rings vs. just one for Warrior coach Mike Morgan. Flip a coin on this one - it should be a great game.
Laxwarrior
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Re: NCAA National Championship

Post by Laxwarrior »

very nice Red!

one point of clarification. Was Merrimack #6 seed or #6 in the country? I thought they moved from #6 in last printed regional rankings to #4 for the final seedings.
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RedFromMI
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Re: NCAA National Championship

Post by RedFromMI »

Laxwarrior wrote: Thu May 23, 2019 10:03 pm very nice Red!

one point of clarification. Was Merrimack #6 seed or #6 in the country? I thought they moved from #6 in last printed regional rankings to #4 for the final seedings.
If you look at the actual bracket for the tournament, their first game was to travel to #3 North seed Mercyhurst. Then after winning (16-5), they met #2 North seed Adelphi, and with the win there (14-12), traveled to Syracuse for the semifinal against #1 North seed Le Moyne where they won in OT 15-14. Mercy was the #4 North seed, and Seton Hill the #5...
Laxwarrior
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Re: NCAA National Championship

Post by Laxwarrior »

thanks for the clarification.

by the old rules they wouldn't have made the tournament. Now in championship. hmmmmmmmmm
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Re: NCAA National Championship

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sguy9
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Re: NCAA National Championship

Post by sguy9 »

Mack goes out with back to back rings, then heads to DI to be a .500 team..... Stone wins 5 in a row after '19 .
I win. Good luck to Limestone as they begin their run of Dii dominance.
Warrior123
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Re: NCAA National Championship

Post by Warrior123 »

In 4 years who will have a better program? Mack or Bryant?
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