Now that a few days have passed, I’d love to see some actual analysis of the game. Sad to see that with two great teams a lot of the posts were about blaming the referees and/or clock operator and about one play. No, that call did not “cost Salisbury the game”. Yes, I’m an RIT fan and was at the game. Ton of respect for both teams, coaches, and players. Getting a couple things out of the way:
1. No, the clock operator didn’t delay the clock on the restart at the end of the 4th. The clock stopped at 18.4. Started with the restart and RIT scored with 12.1. Easy to hear the whistles on the replay.
2. The interference call was “unique” and yes is rarely called – not because referees ignore it. It rarely every happens – a player with the ball running 2-3 feet from the midfield line where an attack can reach out and check him and a defensive player impeding the attack. So those out there who don’t want a call to be made - there is an RIT player pushed over midfield. The entire play happened 10 feet from the referee. And that player could have tried to check the Salisbury player. And you think no call should be made??? I’m of the belief that a no-call can also “cost a team the game’. Any call or no call is equal. This was not an offsides behind the play in a 30-5 game. If no call is made, not sure how a referee would answer to that.
Now for my thoughts:
1. Clearly the Salisbury defender at midfield treated it like a ground ball/over and back situation – box out and impede the RIT attack. With Salisbury possession, this is clearly a moving screen/interference. He uses his stick to block the RIT player and lift his stick. No way you can look the other way. If the referee did, they’d probably not be doing a championship game again. You can watch it again and see the Salisbury player use his stick.
2. With the new rule change Salisbury could have called time out before the restart. New timeout rule in 2021 allows for defensive timeouts with any dead ball. No, they didn’t call it when they were trying to run out the clock, but after the turnover, with the dead ball, they could have stopped the break. So please stop complaining about a quick whistle. The RIT player looks at the referee and starts running with the referee’s whistle and arm. Please correct me if I’m wrong on this interpretation.
3. I wondered why it was a 3 and 2 fast break at the end. Watching again, when the whistle blows the left defender for Salisbury runs off the field to sub instead of sprinting back. Not sure why as that meant only two long sticks back on defense.
4. The Salisbury attack at midfield who is 5 feet from the RIT player could have run back to play defense. Instead, he walks to midfield and a player 20 yards behind him is sprinting to try to catch up. – think of what Chris Gray did this year for UNC.
5. Watch Salisbury trying to run out the clock, 4 RIT players are chasing, then realize they need to split up to find other players. One long-stick ran about 80 yards without stopping. Chasing the player with the ball from the lower left side all the way around the goal and then following the pass. When the pass was made up to the midfield he could have stopped. He didn’t and that caused the double team which pushed the Salisbury player to midfield for the call.
6. Two different styles of play. RIT 15 goals – 9 assists, Salisbury 14 goals – 6 assists. Two 70 goal scorers go a combined 5 for 23 with 0 assists. Give credit to RIT for how they played those two and how they played off ball. Salisbury players were amazing to watch and with their size and strength it looked like they might score on every shot.
7. Face offs – The fact the Salisbury was only 17-32 on face-offs was huge. And Salisbury won the second overtime face-off only to lose the ball on great plays the RIT LSM. Give credit to RIT FOGOs.
8. And an amazing play on the game winner. Salisbury D is not goal side. The cutter was in front of the net when the pass was made to the open side. Frozen rope. Great timing, great pass, great catch and shot.
As I said, I’d love to read some analysis and thoughts on the game, the offensive sets, defense, goalies, etc. Please don’t take away from both teams and all the phenomenal plays and players by claiming that one call was the difference. It was not.
Replay available:
https://www.ncaa.com/video/lacrosse-men ... ull-replay