Landmark 2021

[nevadajoe]

As a longtime observer and supporter of the Landmark Conference, it is great that the conference was able to have a season and crown another champion this year. Congrats to Catholic on their AQ bid. They actually match up very well with Stevens Tech. If their defense can step up against an offense comparable to the best teams in the Landmark, I think they have a shot to move on in the tournament.
Catholic joins Elizabethtown as three-time winners of the conference championship. Susquehanna and Goucher have claimed 2 titles with Scranton, Drew and former conference member, Merchant Marine, each having one.
It is interesting to see the change in success ever since Elizabethtown joined the Landmark in 2015. They made it to the title game the next year, losing to Catholic in OT, 13-12. And they have been in the championship game every year since then, winning three in a row until falling to Catholic this year. Both Catholic and Elizabethtown have been the class of the Landmark for the past several years.
After Goucher had their run of success from 2008-2012, appearing in 4 of the 5 conference championships and winning two in 2010 and 2013, they have seemed to have struggled a lot. The decision to cancel their season this year will have ramifications for years to come as they try to rebuild their roster.
Susquehanna took two straight titles in 2012-13 and had a resurgence in 2018 and 2019 before having a tough year this year.
Scranton has been the most consistent of all of the Landmark teams, making the playoffs 12 out of 13 years since the Landmark conference began.
Moravian has continued to improve year-after-year and made the playoffs this year for the first time.
Drew was very a very strong squad in the early years of the Landmark, but has had a rough time recently. After making the playoffs 5 out of 7 years between 2008-2014, their conference record since 2015 is 5-32.
The primary reason for the success or demise of the Landmark teams is simply that the successful teams have recruited at a higher level than those who have struggled. Catholic and Elizabethtown continue to bring in great athletes who can contribute immediately. Scranton always been able to bring in solid players, especially on defense and at the faceoff position. Susquehanna has had some great freshmen classes. Moravian has become a school to be considered by top recruits in recent years. Goucher and Drew have struggled with small rosters and not enough new talent to bring success.
I am thinking that transfers will be more of an impact in the Landmark than ever before. If you look at the All-Conference selections this year, three players were transfers, including Player-of-the-Year. Kudos to the coaches who reached out and got those players. With the uncertainty of D-1 rosters and that transfer portal wide open for next year and beyond, it would appear that more kids who opted to go to a D-1 program and didn't see the field might be open to transfer to a top tier D-III program. Salisbury does it every year with great success.
In any case, good luck to Catholic on Saturday. Only 2 Landmark teams have won first-round NCAA tournament games. Goucher over Washington College in 2012 and Elizabethtown over John Carroll in 2018. I think that this year Catholic has a great chance to become that third team to win in the first round.

[LI_Lax14]

Admirable showing by Catholic yesterday against a tough Stevens team. 7 first quarter goals is a tough hole to climb out of but they battled back and kept it competitive. Hopefully there is a full recruiting circuit and the landmark coaches have a productive offseason. I still think Catholic is poised for a run as the top team in the conference for the next few years.

[laxbro1955]

I guess Usila is only picking all Americans from the chosen 10-12 teams they follow. its a shame thought we had a couple honorable mentions

[SouthernLaxGenius]

I guess Usila is only picking all Americans from the chosen 10-12 teams they follow. its a shame thought we had a couple honorable mentions

Follow some Landmark, not a ton.

Who did the miss out on (In your opinion)

[HappyGilmore]

I guess Usila is only picking all Americans from the chosen 10-12 teams they follow. its a shame thought we had a couple honorable mentions

Has the all American team been posted?

[ergit]

I guess Usila is only picking all Americans from the chosen 10-12 teams they follow. its a shame thought we had a couple honorable mentions

Has the all American team been posted?

US Lacrosse Magazine, not USILA.

[nevadajoe]

Looks like no HM from USA Lacrosse magazine for Division III this year.

Kevin Crowley form Catholic and Tom Mahoney from Elizabethtown would have been mentioned if there was an HM category.

[laxbro1955]

Does anyone know if they are having the North/South senior Allstar game? Did anyone get picked from the landmark? They usually play sometime this weekend.

[LI_Lax14]

I haven't heard anything about the game being played. I feel like the only player from the conference would be Mahoney.

[LI_Lax14]

Congrats to the 4 Landmark players who received AA honors today.

3rd Team- Crowley CUA
HH- Hilleary CUA, Mahoney Etown, Purdy Scranton

Nice showing for the conference and 2 of the 4 will be back next year to hopefully build off a strong '21 season.

[laxbro1955]

Great news!! Great for the conference Congrats to all the guys
Who are the 2 coming back ?

[nevadajoe]

Hillery and Purdy are juniors and will return next season.

Purdy continues the great tradition of Royals at the X. They have dominated the position in the Landmark since 2009 with guys like Patrick Cefalu, Adam Drury and Matt Finor. Great recruiting by the Scranton coaching staff over the years to find and coach up these guys.

Hillery will anchor a very strong defense for CUA next year joined by ROY Austin Stanley, Matt Clohessy, Collin Stein, goalie Nic Pezone and face-off specialist Mike McShea. Defense wins championships as ably proven by the Cardinals this year.

So, let's agree that Scranton has had the best face-off complement since the Landmark started in 2008.

Which schools have had the best attackmen, middies, defensemen and goalies over that time?

[laxbro1955]

they list Purdy and Crowley as seniors unless one is coming back. that's why I was asking about which 2 were coming back

[nevadajoe]

Purdy is a senior. Listed on the roster for the North-South All-Star Division III game.

https://usila.org/documents/2021/5/28// ... .pdf?id=73

[laxbro1955]

I thought you stated that Purdy was coming back because he was a junior that's all I meant
also Heard guys made the Allstar team but had other obligations so turned it down.

[LI_Lax14]

Hilleary is a Jr. and Crowley transferred in. Pretty sure he has at least another year of eligibility.

[laxbro1955]

Wow if thats the case Catholic will most likely repeat for sure.

[River Donkey]

Sage resigned from Drew.

[LI_Lax14]

Drew needs a fresh set of eyes and a culture refresh. They were once one of the dominant teams in the Landmark and have really fallen apart the last few years. Hopefully they can get a young up and coming coach to pump some life into the program.

[NJLaxer24]

Drew needs a fresh set of eyes and a culture refresh. They were once one of the dominant teams in the Landmark and have really fallen apart the last few years. Hopefully they can get a young up and coming coach to pump some life into the program.

I don't think this is a set of "fresh eyes" issue. Coach Sage took over a program that was clearly in the decline. Drew's reputation was once great in NJ but at this point it's a bit tarnished. Financial problems, lack of facilities and price tag have really crushed the school. The other schools in the Landmark aren't facing all those issues, except maybe Goucher. I just don't think it's fair to put this all on the Coach.