Virginia 2023

[HooDat]

My guess is that he will play on a wing and be given the green light to play a little transition offense if they win the face off.

But at least early on, will probably be told not to get stuck in a settled 6v6 situation.

[molo]

Congratulations to Conrad and Bertrand on being named to Team USA.

[blue angels]

I happen to agree with most of the comments about Foy. My point, apparently too subtly made, is that it’s not a given that Ricky will be looked at solely as a dm.

The Virginia team Twitter page and official roster announcements distinctly say Miezan will be an offensive middie. That certainly doesn’t prevent him from wing play but speculating that some agreement was made on how he would be used as a player that was acceptable to Lars and the player.

[molo]

No surprise

[molo]

They are deep at ssdm with four returning dms along with two-way middie Conner. Likely first midfield would have been MConvey, who probably won’t miss many shifts, aling with Conner, who could run some dm, and Dickson/Schutz and maybe Sunderland In whatever a/m rotation that third attack spot gets. Now they have another potential dodging threat to form a second line with Terenzi, who looks like a full service guy, and another attackman or Garno.
The first yearman who really intrigues me is Colsey, a lefty attackman whom I’d like to see break into the offensive midfield rotation. Unless Cormier gets hurt, there won’t be much pt for a backup lefty attackman.

[Ol'Southlacrosse]

Serious question, where do we see Mizen fitting in. Obviously, it is a massive get for them, but does he switch into a more defensive role? UVA has a history of d mids who make massive impacts in transition and that's where I see him playing but, I could be wrong.

[wgdsr]

Serious question, where do we see Mizen fitting in. Obviously, it is a massive get for them, but does he switch into a more defensive role? UVA has a history of d mids who make massive impacts in transition and that's where I see him playing but, I could be wrong.

in a week +, we'll maybe know more. social media, roster list and lars comments say he's looked at as offensive mid. but they've barely started practice. argument could be made that learning to be a d-mid (for the 1st time?) would be more difficult in a team d concept.

rtd had an article on him, most interesting to me is that he kept a stick in his car (& his hands) @ stanford. whenever he wanted to decompress, he threw wall ball and shot on cage. must've been weird to see your mlb doing that on campus.

[HooDat]

Serious question, where do we see Mizen fitting in. Obviously, it is a massive get for them, but does he switch into a more defensive role? UVA has a history of d mids who make massive impacts in transition and that's where I see him playing but, I could be wrong.

in a week +, we'll maybe know more. social media, roster list and lars comments say he's looked at as offensive mid. but they've barely started practice. argument could be made that learning to be a d-mid (for the 1st time?) would be more difficult in a team d concept.

rtd had an article on him, most interesting to me is that he kept a stick in his car (& his hands) @ stanford. whenever he wanted to decompress, he threw wall ball and shot on cage. must've been weird to see your mlb doing that on campus.

i agree with your thoughts on learning defense versus offense. If he has been playing wall ball - perhaps the stick skills are still decent. Shouldn't take him that long to get back into form.

[Laxguy703]

Serious question, where do we see Mizen fitting in. Obviously, it is a massive get for them, but does he switch into a more defensive role? UVA has a history of d mids who make massive impacts in transition and that's where I see him playing but, I could be wrong.

in a week +, we'll maybe know more. social media, roster list and lars comments say he's looked at as offensive mid. but they've barely started practice. argument could be made that learning to be a d-mid (for the 1st time?) would be more difficult in a team d concept.

rtd had an article on him, most interesting to me is that he kept a stick in his car (& his hands) @ stanford. whenever he wanted to decompress, he threw wall ball and shot on cage. must've been weird to see your mlb doing that on campus.

I talked to a player I coached on the UVA team and he said that Ricky has been knocking off the rust very quickly. Looking really good and will definitely contribute on the field.

Seeing Ricky play in HS, this kid could basically do everything. He would take wings, run a full possession on offense, get back on defense, and then hero clear the ball. Most importantly, his biggest strengths in high school was his Size, strength, and speed.. those are all things that have only upgraded after spending 4 years with a division one football strength and conditioning program. There will definitely be an adjustment period at first, but after a little bit of time I think he will excel where ever Lars decides to put him.

There’s a reason that everyone who’s played against/with Ricky has said he had the potential to be an elite college lacrosse player out of HS. I think he will show that this year.

[molo]

I predict that he will be an offensive middie who will take some wings. First midfield will nominally be McConvey, Conner, and Dickson, maybe with Schutz and Dickson toggling between attack and midfield. Since Conner runs some dm, there is room on the “first” for another guy, maybe an attackman like one of the first years. Ricky will play, and I don’t think primarily as a dm. The question is whether he’ll be a nice addition or play as key a role as the lefty middie transfer, McConvey.

[HooDat]

If I were his coach, my bias going in would be to start off with him on the wings and told to stay on the offensive end of the field.

Obviously, what the coaches have seen in practice will determine how he's used.

In any event, I am looking forward to seeing him on the field.

[Dip&Dunk]

The UVA community lost huge supporter when Mark Mincer passed away January 28th. You cannot go to the corner and be a Wahoo and not be tempted to visit Mincer’s. RIP.

[molo]

Very sorry to hear about Mark Mincer. His grandfather was still around in my day, and his father, Bobby Mincer, took over for senior. Great shop even though I think Bobby was a local Republican presence in an era when most of my friends were well to the left of most Democrats.
When I was finishing up my M. Ed., the city school system was in the process of changing from a junior high to a middle school configuration. The two junior highs were going to lose the ninth grades to the new Charlottesville High, which replaced Lane High. For a year or maybe two, the elementary schools lost their sixth grades as the junior high/middle schools had just seventh and eighth grades. Every sixth grader in the city attended the same school, where I frequently subbed while knocking out my last six credits. I recall Mark Mincer as a capable, affable,polite student at a school that gave me some of my fondest memories in a career that spanned more than 40 years in public education. I’m sorry to hear that he died so young.
Since that school included every demographic group in Charlottesville, I’ll always associate the quintessential small business family with integration at its finest. Maybe an odd juxtaposition, but nonetheless a fond memory of a nice family and a place where you could write a check for $25, buy the Post, maybe a Rolling Stone, a pack of Marlboros, some Zig Zags, and walk out with plenty of cash back. Can’t say I ever bought anything related to pipes at what was then known officially as Mincer’s Pipe Shop.

[molo]

As regards the love UVA is getting in the polls—an issue raised in that thread. Here are my concerns about the team that I voted number one after watching the Michigan game.
GOALIE
Nunes is good but not yet excellent. He generally makes the saves he should but hasn’t appeared to have robbed shooters with exceptional saves yet.
DEFENSE
Close d includes two number one caliber poles with a veteran third guy who has a quality transfer backing him up. Evidently one of the three top lsms is no longer on the team. Last year’s backup pole/fourth close d man moves up. This position has been a work in progress since the departure JC. Ssdm was not strength last year, and one of the top four returners is hurt, leaving a three man rotation augmented by running a first middie as the fourth dm at times. You need four dms and two lsms.
MIDFIELD
LaSalla is a good face-off man capable of more than just FOGOing, and he is tough as nails, but the reason we know he’s tough is that he’s been playing hurt. The second guy, a first yearman, needs to be ready. My concerns about ssdm and lsm pertain to the wings.
The former Catamount, the second best offensive player on the team, heads the offensive midfield. The big second year man create ms potential mismatches against shorties. Can the veteran shooter find his shot this season? The two way man is also tough on shorties. I’d like to see a second unit emerge, but I think we’re more likely to see an almost Handley like dose of the exCatamount with a rotation of several veterans mixed in.
ATTACK
With a T candidate and a high scoring lefty finisher, this unit could be the best in the country. If the Slim Reaper stays at attack, you’re looking at an elite qb with a right sharp shooter opposite the big Canadian. If the Reaper moves back to midfield, the third spot could go to a highly touted first year guy who was quiet against Michigan.
I’ll stand by my number one vote this week, but there are five teams out there who have not played yet as well as a couple of upset winners who could seize the spot next week.

[HooDat]

Molo - good post.

The one place where I can't help but want to add to the discussion is around the goalie spot. Nunes appeared to not be seeing the ball very well during pre-season and the first quarter of the Mich win. I will admit I was getting nervous. And just when he started making some saves he committed what seemed to me to be a frustration penalty - and I was even more nervous that the coaches were going to put Morris in. The fact that they didn't and the noticeable improvement in Nunes play after that is a testament to the value of having a coach like Kip on the sideline. He has been there and done that - in fact to perfection one year!

Me not wanting Morris to go in is about selfishness for the future. If Nunes can establish the same trajectory as Rode, then I would rather have three years of that plus TWO years of Morris.

[wgdsr]

Molo - good post.

The one place where I can't help but want to add to the discussion is around the goalie spot. Nunes appeared to not be seeing the ball very well during pre-season and the first quarter of the Mich win. I will admit I was getting nervous. And just when he started making some saves he committed what seemed to me to be a frustration penalty - and I was even more nervous that the coaches were going to put Morris in. The fact that they didn't and the noticeable improvement in Nunes play after that is a testament to the value of having a coach like Kip on the sideline. He has been there and done that - in fact to perfection one year!

Me not wanting Morris to go in is about selfishness for the future. If Nunes can establish the same trajectory as Rode, then I would rather have three years of that plus TWO years of Morris.

they've had a fairly long list of good goalies. pretty sure they could get another one. bird in hand. also done pretty well over time without pulling a lot of redshirts in general, but having the best guys play and then getting new guys.

not advocating for one over the other in this case, but the system in place.

[molo]

The guy I didn’t address is the other grad midfield transfer. McConvey is a know factor who will be AA, possibly first team. Miezan is more of a wild card. He could be a game changer or he could be a nice addition to flesh out a midfield corps that lacks a potential superstar beyond McConvey. Of course, if Schutz lives up to his billing, they would have three formidable athletes at midfield. I’m assuming he stays there with Dickson nailing down the third attack spot. I was really looking forward to seeing Colsey in the mix, but it appears he’s headed for a redshirt.

[HotbedD3]

Serious question, where do we see Mizen fitting in. Obviously, it is a massive get for them, but does he switch into a more defensive role? UVA has a history of d mids who make massive impacts in transition and that's where I see him playing but, I could be wrong.

I could see him being a real threat in transition. Speed and size in a ssdm can really draw a slide in a 4v3 or 5v4 and then it's tic-tac-toe boom goal. UVA has been really impressive in transition in Tiffany's era, and he could also be a force in their ride. Good on him for getting a goal as well, shows he'll play into some sort of scouting report.

[blue angels]

Serious question, where do we see Mizen fitting in. Obviously, it is a massive get for them, but does he switch into a more defensive role? UVA has a history of d mids who make massive impacts in transition and that's where I see him playing but, I could be wrong.

I could see him being a real threat in transition. Speed and size in a ssdm can really draw a slide in a 4v3 or 5v4 and then it's tic-tac-toe boom goal. UVA has been really impressive in transition in Tiffany's era, and he could also be a force in their ride. Good on him for getting a goal as well, shows he'll play into some sort of scouting report.

Lars has been very clear, publicly stating, that they are only going to play Miezan on offense until they feel he is comfortable in that role. They felt that they made a mistake last year by putting too much on Zinn's plate with offense and defense which hindered his development. They didn't want to do that with Miezan. I guess LT could change his mind, but unlikely any time soon.

[Finster]

I’ll be at the Saturday game at Klockner. Know a few families on Harvard.

This game is not the cakewalk some Hoos folks think it is. Be warned.