Denver Pioneers 2023

[molo]

Schelling took one run with the second midfield and two at ssdm in the first half four Duke.

[youthathletics]

Enjoying the team shooting more, as opposed to years past where they’d spin the ball passing up great looks.

[PizzaSnake]

So what was the score? InsideLacrosse shows 14-13 OT Duke winning. However, both team's pages show 13-12 Denver win.

Which is it? Bad bookkeeping by IL?

[darkhaha]

So what was the score? InsideLacrosse shows 14-13 OT Duke winning. However, both team's pages show 13-12 Denver win.

Which is it? Bad bookkeeping by IL?

14-13 Duke in OT.

[10stone5]

14-13 Duke,

O’Neill, at least so far has looked like he’s ramped up his game
is acting like the team leader,

had the game winner.

[Pio9]

What was Lambert thinking (or not thinking) on that pass? That was Denver's game to close out and they couldn't get it done.

[wgdsr]

What was Lambert thinking (or not thinking) on that pass? That was Denver's game to close out and they couldn't get it done.

he wasn't ready. he was about to get doubled by 2 poles. the *play* should've been taking the ball above gle/middle expecting goalie out/pole double. duke called the timeout. duke actually gave them a break not doubling immediately. spread guys out and give him (or preferably a lefty) the ball to get north. smh.

they battled.

[henryben]

What was Lambert thinking (or not thinking) on that pass? That was Denver's game to close out and they couldn't get it done.

he wasn't ready. he was about to get doubled by 2 poles. the *play* should've been taking the ball above gle/middle expecting goalie out/pole double. duke called the timeout. duke actually gave them a break not doubling immediately. spread guys out and give him (or preferably a lefty) the ball to get north. smh.

they battled.

Denver has lost a number of games in this way the last few years.

Sloppy TO instead of closing out the final 90 seconds, then a horrible, undisciplined penalty after the ensuing face off, giving an EMO to opponent to end it.

On the TO, the other attackman should’ve v cut towards the ball carrier, not away from him.

And Malik Sparrow is a great player who lets his aggression get the best of him in bad spots.

Also - every year it’s more clear that Trevor Baptiste was a generational talent who won them a a lot of games.

[darkhaha]

Disappointed that the Pios couldn’t close this one out, but heartened that they went toe-to-toe on the road against a quality opponent. Nice to see them push the pace and score in transition, as well as finally bag some goals on EMO. I thought the defense played OK overall, although it obviously might have been a good idea to slide earlier to O’Neill.

On to Merrimack, which I expect to be a very competitive game.

[tech37]

Disappointed that the Pios couldn’t close this one out, but heartened that they went toe-to-toe on the road against a quality opponent. Nice to see them push the pace and score in transition, as well as finally bag some goals on EMO. I thought the defense played OK overall, although it obviously might have been a good idea to slide earlier to O’Neill.

On to Merrimack, which I expect to be a very competitive game.

Great game! Difference?...DU couldn't handle O'Neill (obviously) even though they outplayed Duke all over the field.

[youthathletics]

What was Lambert thinking (or not thinking) on that pass? That was Denver's game to close out and they couldn't get it done.

he wasn't ready. he was about to get doubled by 2 poles. the *play* should've been taking the ball above gle/middle expecting goalie out/pole double. duke called the timeout. duke actually gave them a break not doubling immediately. spread guys out and give him (or preferably a lefty) the ball to get north. smh.

they battled.

Denver has lost a number of games in this way the last few years.

Sloppy TO instead of closing out the final 90 seconds, then a horrible, undisciplined penalty after the ensuing face off, giving an EMO to opponent to end it.

On the TO, the other attackman should’ve v cut towards the ball carrier, not away from him.

And Malik Sparrow is a great player who lets his aggression get the best of him in bad spots.

Also - every year it’s more clear that Trevor Baptiste was a generational talent who won them a a lot of games.

I wonder if this is due in part to muscle memory. Tierney, over the years, has mentioned he does not want to the ball to stay in a stick for more the a couple seconds. If this is the mindset in those rigorous practices, then recognizing a double should be an immediate trigger to move the ball....in most circumstances.

In line with what wgdsr mentioned, this type of restart typically gives the ball to your best of 6 on the field. You would often teach them to show towards the endline, jab step in that direction to get the upfield pole to collapse, then bounce back upfield/topside and begin to read the field. The goalie is always going to cover the near crease guy, which means he is going to be the first defender to leave his man, which means that is your player that should be the most open.

[Farfromgeneva]

Anyone see Lampert being a lead scorer or more complimentary? Nice player, seems to have surpassed his older brother in the game but while he seems capable of being a 2.5ppg+ player early on he's looking more like a goal or assist a game type and good role player.

[Typical Lax Dad]

Disappointed that the Pios couldn’t close this one out, but heartened that they went toe-to-toe on the road against a quality opponent. Nice to see them push the pace and score in transition, as well as finally bag some goals on EMO. I thought the defense played OK overall, although it obviously might have been a good idea to slide earlier to O’Neill.

On to Merrimack, which I expect to be a very competitive game.

Great game! Difference?...DU couldn't handle O'Neill (obviously) even though they outplayed Duke all over the field.

Denver didn’t give the ball to an athlete. Ryan Conrad may have killed the clock himself.

[Pio9]

Disappointed that the Pios couldn’t close this one out, but heartened that they went toe-to-toe on the road against a quality opponent. Nice to see them push the pace and score in transition, as well as finally bag some goals on EMO. I thought the defense played OK overall, although it obviously might have been a good idea to slide earlier to O’Neill.

On to Merrimack, which I expect to be a very competitive game.

Great game! Difference?...DU couldn't handle O'Neill (obviously) even though they outplayed Duke all over the field.

Denver didn’t give the ball to an athlete. Ryan Conrad may have killed the clock himself.

Who is that guy on Denver's roster? Who should get the ball with the game on the line?

[Farfromgeneva]

Disappointed that the Pios couldn’t close this one out, but heartened that they went toe-to-toe on the road against a quality opponent. Nice to see them push the pace and score in transition, as well as finally bag some goals on EMO. I thought the defense played OK overall, although it obviously might have been a good idea to slide earlier to O’Neill.

On to Merrimack, which I expect to be a very competitive game.

Great game! Difference?...DU couldn't handle O'Neill (obviously) even though they outplayed Duke all over the field.

Denver didn’t give the ball to an athlete. Ryan Conrad may have killed the clock himself.

Who is that guy on Denver's roster? Who should get the ball with the game on the line?

If he gets fully healthy eventually I'm predicting this kid.

https://denverpioneers.com/sports/mens- ... scott/4720

[10stone5]

Disappointed that the Pios couldn’t close this one out, but heartened that they went toe-to-toe on the road against a quality opponent. Nice to see them push the pace and score in transition, as well as finally bag some goals on EMO. I thought the defense played OK overall, although it obviously might have been a good idea to slide earlier to O’Neill.

On to Merrimack, which I expect to be a very competitive game.

Great game! Difference?...DU couldn't handle O'Neill (obviously) even though they outplayed Duke all over the field.

Denver didn’t give the ball to an athlete. Ryan Conrad may have killed the clock himself.

Who is that guy on Denver's roster? Who should get the ball with the game on the line?

TLDs was my take,

its asking a lot,
run off the last 1 minute plus ?

I watched the Navy game replay - Xavier Arline was able to run
off about half a minute before he got stripped, fortunately for
Navy this was enough.

[Typical Lax Dad]

Disappointed that the Pios couldn’t close this one out, but heartened that they went toe-to-toe on the road against a quality opponent. Nice to see them push the pace and score in transition, as well as finally bag some goals on EMO. I thought the defense played OK overall, although it obviously might have been a good idea to slide earlier to O’Neill.

On to Merrimack, which I expect to be a very competitive game.

Great game! Difference?...DU couldn't handle O'Neill (obviously) even though they outplayed Duke all over the field.

Denver didn’t give the ball to an athlete. Ryan Conrad may have killed the clock himself.

Who is that guy on Denver's roster? Who should get the ball with the game on the line?

In the first quarter, I told a friend that I don't see a lot of athleticism on Denver (I know its relative). I don't know the team well enough but I am not sure they have many players that can force a slide or are a threat to force a slide. Poor execution on that last possession.

[Typical Lax Dad]

Disappointed that the Pios couldn’t close this one out, but heartened that they went toe-to-toe on the road against a quality opponent. Nice to see them push the pace and score in transition, as well as finally bag some goals on EMO. I thought the defense played OK overall, although it obviously might have been a good idea to slide earlier to O’Neill.

On to Merrimack, which I expect to be a very competitive game.

Great game! Difference?...DU couldn't handle O'Neill (obviously) even though they outplayed Duke all over the field.

Denver didn’t give the ball to an athlete. Ryan Conrad may have killed the clock himself.

Who is that guy on Denver's roster? Who should get the ball with the game on the line?

TLDs was my take,

its asking a lot,
run off the last 1 minute plus ?

I watched the Navy game replay - Xavier Arline was able to run
off about half a minute before he got stripped, fortunately for
Navy this was enough.

Yes. A fast / athletic stick handler can kill a decent amount of clock in that setting. 30 seconds is probably the most one should expect.

[cherrylax]

Overall a much better looking game for Denver. I don't believe that all losses are created equal, and Denver showed some true grittiness in this one. Unfortunately our inexperience showed again at the end of the game. Lampert doesn't turn it over, Sparrow doesn't turn it over/takes a bad penalty, Tierney calls a timeout, all things that have Denver leaving Durham with a win. I do believe that end of game scenarios are something that doesn't necessarily get all the attention to at practice, but clearly are extremely important. If Lampert rolls that ball rather than throws it, could have been a totally different outcome and killed another :20. But as I had mentioned against Air Force this is the type of mistakes you would expect from an inexperience roster. On the plus side, there was so many positives in this game you have to hope that this team is improving week in and week out, and can maybe steal one or two from some of the other big boys we are playing.

Some things that I believe need to be addressed:
- Lefty attack spot. The last two games Connell has had a shortstick on him and has really been a none factor. I will give him the one good goal at the end of Duke, but besides that not a whole lot. I think he brings a lot to the table as a shooter, and man up/zone specialist, but not sure if he's the answer going forward. Our last two opponents have decided they would rather cover our inexperienced midfield with two poles than our lefty attackman. It's been brought up here as well that we have Tye Scott and Cody Malwasky sitting on the bench, both of which are capable lefties.

- Goaltending. Weird situation on Friday. Thought that Kleban played decently well, and yanked at the half for Thompson who again was sub 40%. Almost feels like it was always the plan to put Thompson back in. Don't think this does anything for either goalies confidence. Wondering if this could've been a disciplinary issue as I didn't see any reason to pull Kleban.

-JJ Sillstrop. He is our leader in points, but I think we need more from him. End of the game I would've expected him to pick up that ball on the endline and split the double and give us a security goal. Had some nice flashes in the game, but he needs to be our creator at attack and I haven't seen enough from him.

- Positives. Colm Barnett is getting comfortable and looks to be a great contributer on this team. Could definitely see him moving up to 1st line and being the recipient of Lampert and Kelly dodges. Noah Manning looked exceptional on Friday, kid can obviously finish, but also showed a quick first step and the ability to beat his man. Freshaman Dan Anderson made one glaring mistake on the Dyson Williams goal, but besides that looked like he belonged on our rope unit.

Looking forward to a good Merrimack team coming in the PB on Saturday. A great game to see what we're made of.

[Puck Swami]

Big DU win over #12 UNC on the road in a game in which DU lead almost the entire game, nearly gagged it up at the end, but came through with Sillstrop's game-winner with 1:23 left. DU's 70% win rate at the face-off X and winning the GB battle was crucial, considering UNC was far better in the caused turnover dept.

I think this was the a big confidence-builder the Denver team was looking for after losing to AFA and Duke, with no disrespect to the 13-9 home win over Merrimack in late Feb.

DU next heads to New Haven to play Yale. Should be a good game.