Face-off Preseason All-Americans

[Cooter]

Dox Aitken 121 shots in 18 games
Tre LeClaire 96 shots in 15 games
So maybe you should have a special category for players on teams that run.

That's the equivalent of less than one-half of one shot per game more...

But in the end, it is more, which tends to shows that other factors can be as significant.

It's statistically negligible.

Given how fast UVA plays and how slow OSU plays, I'd have thought the difference would be much, much greater. If anything it only underscores the point that LeClaire took a heck of a lot of shots last year. I'd wager a lot of money that on a per-possession basis LeClaire took way more shots than Aitken, and pretty much everyone else for that matter.

Yet you have no problem with comparing Dox Aitken's statistics with other midfielders.

[HopFan16]

Yet you have no problem with comparing Dox Aitken's statistics with other midfielders.

Because he's an actual midfielder? I've seen him play on the wings, cross the midfield line, and sub off the field. You know, things midfielders do.

[Cooter]

I'm sure LeClaire can do all these things, but his coach chooses to use him in a certain way.
In the end, for me LeClaire plays like an offensive midfielder in OSU's offense and that is enough.
There are a lot of offensive midfielders (particularly converted attackmen), who go off, but who very rarely get caught on the defensive end and don't play on the wings on FOs. (UMd has actually had players who have gone off and on, but played as attackmen.) So as I say, I don't see a real difference between LeClaire's coach choosing to let him stand on the field and some other coach choosing to have his offensive midfielder stand on the sidelines.

[HopFan16]

I'm sure LeClaire can do all these things, but his coach chooses to use him in a certain way.
In the end, for me LeClaire plays like an offensive midfielder in OSU's offense and that is enough.
There are a lot of offensive midfielders (particularly converted attackmen), who go off, but who very rarely get caught on the defensive end and don't play on the wings on FOs. (UMd has actually had players who have gone off and on, but played as attackmen.) So as I say, I don't see a real difference between LeClaire's coach choosing to let him stand on the field and some other coach choosing to have his offensive midfielder stand on the sidelines.

I'm actually not convinced LeClaire can do those things, otherwise he probably would. He is a phenomenal wing shooter. I don't really seem him as a guy who you'd want running up and down the field. Which is why midfielders get subbed on and off to rest.

If you're one of the three dudes who stands idly on the offensive end of the field when the ball is on the other side with your defense, you're an attackman.

[Cooter]

I don't know how OSU will play it when the season starts but from the fall ball article:

Leclaire, wearing his newly donned No. 44 jersey this year, came strictly out of the box on the first-line midfield to presumably create matchup problems alongside senior Jack Jasinski, who saw plenty of time on the wing on face-offs. Both Buckeyes played attack last season.

OSU's attack was apparently: JT Bugliosi, Jackson Reid and Jack Myers.

[shaadb-man]

We are in the at time where specialization is key in all sports. The majority of the time Leclaire subbed in through the box making him a middie. Of the middies on the first three pre-season teams only Conrad can be seen as a true middie as seen by our older posters on this forum playing two ways and taking wings. We can make the same argument about many of these guys as none of them play D or take wings oustide of getting caught in transition.


James White starts the majority of plays for the New England Patriots in the backfield, but gets flexed out to the slot and even out wide a lot of the time. He's had more balls thrown to him than handed to him.

He's a running back not WR

[ohmilax34]

I agree with hopfan16 in that a player who stays on the offensive end of the field when the other team has the ball is an attackman. The way teams are using players is changing. We rarely see a team with 3 attackmen who play like attackmen and 3 midfielders who play like midfielders. Teams are getting their 6 best players on the field for offense and playing a chess game with who goes on the field and when to get favorable match ups.

Ohio State is a great example of this. Bugliosi seems like a pretty similar player to Leclaire. Reid was, at least partially, considered a midfielder coming into OSU. Jasinski has played attack and midfield. They are blurring the lines between the positions.

[ohmilax34]

My guess is Brad Smith plays attack this season, based on Duke's depth at midfield and losing Guterding.

[xxxxxxx]

The shot clock and shorter box are going to make it much tougher to have pure offensive middies, at some point every midfielder will get caught and have to play some defense. Should be very interesting to see how players adapt.

[Cooter]

Ohio State is a great example of this. Bugliosi seems like a pretty similar player to Leclaire.

Bugliosi and LeClaire almost seem like twins.

[molo]

While I agree that the shot clock should make it harder to use exclusively offensive middies, the attack and offensive middie position have become tough to distinguish in some cases. Just as the NFL has named "edge rushers" to the all pro team instead of quibbling over who is a defensive end and who is an outside linebacker, a more realistic description of the positions might just be offense. Just to muddy the discussion until the games start in February, what about arm pads? Lots of offensive middies wear "midfielder" arm pads. Do we designate those players who wear the fuller pads attackmen?

[10stone5]

All sorts of top players that didn’t make these lists.
Clarke Peterson, Adam Charalambides, Matt Moore, Jakob Peterson, Joe Saggese, Dan Bucaro, Austin French, Lucas Spence, Matt Gaudet, Mac O’Keefe, Jimmy Perkins.

Any of these players could make the year end lists.

[Cooter]

All sorts of top players that didn’t make these lists.
Clarke Peterson, Adam Charalambides, Matt Moore, Jakob Peterson, Joe Saggese, Dan Bucaro, Austin French, Lucas Spence, Matt Gaudet, Mac O’Keefe, Jimmy Perkins.

Any of these players could make the year end lists.

Their HM list certainly was short, particularly at attack. I might be a little hesitant to put Charalambides on a preseason AA list as he has missed the last 2 seasons with injuries, and might be quicker to add Kieren Mullins for Rutgers. A number of other talented Big Ten attackmen: Logan Wisnauskus, Kyle Marr, Kevin Mack, Alex Buckanavage, and Jackson Reid could show up at the end of the season.

[FannOLax]

Happy Holidays! The IL list includes no freshmen; fair enough, as it's not easy to predict how well players will make the transition to college ball... but last season's All Americans included second-team defenseman Chris Fake and HM attacker Tehoka Nanticoke. Will any current freshman be good enough for AA recognition? Joey Epstein? Will Bowen? Someone else?

[Cooter]

Watching fall ball, it appears that Brett Makar will get a chance to start on the defense at Maryland - which is the first step on the road to AA.

[10stone5]

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/ ... cans/53464

First Team
A- Pat Spencer, Sr., Loyola
A- Jeff Teat, Jr., Cornell
A- Michael Sowers, Jr., Princeton
M- Dox Aitken, Jr., Virginia
M- Brad Smith, Sr., Duke
M- Bryan Costabile, Jr., Notre Dame
FO- TD Ierlan, Jr., Yale
SSDM- Zach Goodrich, Sr., Towson
LSM/D- Craig Chick, Sr., Lehigh
D- Chris Fake, So., Yale
D- Patrick Foley, Sr., Johns Hopkins
D- Johnny Surdick, Sr., Army
G- Alex Heger, Sr., Robert Morris
G- Nick Washuta, Jr., Vermont

Just doing some random current observations versus the pre season 1st team.
Some names that jumps right out would include Grant Ament at attack on 1st team.
Logan Wisnauskas at midfield (hybrid?).
Tyler Canto at goal.
And Ryan Conrad at some position, specialist two way middie, something.

[TheBigIguana]

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/article/ ... cans/53464

First Team
A- Pat Spencer, Sr., Loyola
A- Jeff Teat, Jr., Cornell
A- Michael Sowers, Jr., Princeton
M- Dox Aitken, Jr., Virginia
M- Brad Smith, Sr., Duke
M- Bryan Costabile, Jr., Notre Dame
FO- TD Ierlan, Jr., Yale
SSDM- Zach Goodrich, Sr., Towson
LSM/D- Craig Chick, Sr., Lehigh
D- Chris Fake, So., Yale
D- Patrick Foley, Sr., Johns Hopkins
D- Johnny Surdick, Sr., Army
G- Alex Heger, Sr., Robert Morris
G- Nick Washuta, Jr., Vermont

Just doing some random current observations versus the pre season 1st team.
Some names that jumps right out would include Grant Ament at attack on 1st team.
Logan Wisnauskas at midfield (hybrid?).
Tyler Canto at goal.
And Ryan Conrad at some position, specialist two way middie, something.

Wisnauskas is an attackman through and through. He's a good player but not to the first team AA level currently.
Conrad is a solid player but he's got 9 points so far which isn't enough to be first team on offense and he isn't better than Goodrich as a defensive player. Honestly to me he's maybe an HM or possibly 3rd team.
One criticism that has happened before with Connor Kelly and hopefully won't happen again this year with Matt Moore or Brad Smith is a middie moving to attack and still making AA as a middie. It isn't fair to actual midfielders to have production compared to a true attackman.

[10stone5]

First Team
D- Johnny Surdick, Sr., Army

Johnny Surdick sure is playing like a lock at 1st team All American. If he wasn’t already on the list, he’d have to be added. 23 ground balls and 14 caused turnovers, 6’4” 215 lbs. - on track it would seem for defender of the year, depending on how things go for the Cadets.

[Velvet.Fog]

Happy Holidays! The IL list includes no freshmen; fair enough, as it's not easy to predict how well players will make the transition to college ball... but last season's All Americans included second-team defenseman Chris Fake and HM attacker Tehoka Nanticoke. Will any current freshman be good enough for AA recognition? Joey Epstein? Will Bowen? Someone else?

As to the question of potential freshman AAs - the best candidate so far Is Matt Campbell of Villanova. Big, strong middle from Delbarton NJ that has a big time lefty shot. Six goals in each of the last two games against Hofstra and Delaware. After 4 games has 14 goals that include two against then #1 Yale in Nova’s upset win.

VF

[houndace1]

Happy Holidays! The IL list includes no freshmen; fair enough, as it's not easy to predict how well players will make the transition to college ball... but last season's All Americans included second-team defenseman Chris Fake and HM attacker Tehoka Nanticoke. Will any current freshman be good enough for AA recognition? Joey Epstein? Will Bowen? Someone else?

As to the question of potential freshman AAs - the best candidate so far Is Matt Campbell of Villanova. Big, strong middle from Delbarton NJ that has a big time lefty shot. Six goals in each of the last two games against Hofstra and Delaware. After 4 games has 14 goals that include two against then #1 Yale in Nova’s upset win.

VF

Also IMO, Chase Scanlan from Loyola- Has 15 goals and 6 assists in 5 games so far against quality teams. Super smooth when dodging and finishing