Yale 2025

[Lax3]

I am with the assessment that the defense is the problem over this period, a feeling which I understand many fellow alumni have as well. Last season was slightly better but this team over the past four years has given up goals in bucketloads. Offense has been very good but when they are giving up the number of goals they have been they don't give themselves a fighting chance.

[The Orfling]

I am with the assessment that the defense is the problem over this period, a feeling which I understand many fellow alumni have as well. Last season was slightly better but this team over the past four years has given up goals in bucketloads. Offense has been very good but when they are giving up the number of goals they have been they don't give themselves a fighting chance.

I wish I had more technical knowledge to diagnose the issues. I know some of it is pace of play (defenses get tired out when it's a racehorse pace), some might be not having had a truly elite goalie, but I keep coming back to the feeling that the whole is less than the sum of the parts. I have in the past voiced a wish for a bit more defensive flexibility -- Yale is extremely loath to ever go to a zone or try any sort of specialized defense and I wish they'd do that sometimes for change of pace -- and when I do focus in I see issues with off-ball coverage, etc.

But, with that note of puzzlement voiced, no complaints here! I'm a huge supporter of the program: coaching staff, players, and parents all represent Yale so well. The team was as resilient as could be last year and even with the disappointment they surely felt at seeing an NCAA bid chance melt away when the injuries hit the face-off X, the players and families were incredibly upbeat and supportive of one another.

[FannOLax]

May the best young man win the starting goalie job, and I'm not advocating for Ben Friedman, but here are his junior-HS-year highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwPUG9AHEDk

Of course, the defense in front of the goalie is of major importance, and we all know how Yale's D has been performing since, well, I suppose every season after the 2018 natty. Could we see an improved D in 2025? Was it just an aberration that the Elis held Penn to nine goals this past season?

Attackmen Leo Johnson and All American Lyons should be returning from injuries that kept them out for all of 2024; ditto for 2nd-team All Ivy middie Sharp. Can they get back to, or improve upon, their 2023 form? I thought Lyons was tremendously impressive on Fall Ball Day in October 2023, and would be delighted to see him return to that sort of form. Of course, Sharp's return could complicate The Orfling's dreams of a Special K midfield line, but I also know that Orfling cares more about the team's success. I also feel that all three FOGOs suffering injuries late in the 2024 season was the straw that ultimately broke the camel's back and kept the Bulldogs out of the 2024 NCAAs. Can both Mac Rodriguez and Annunziata stay healthy throughout 2025? Can the 2025 team as a whole stay relatively healthy?

Vacation travel plans have been made for early Otober, so I'm hoping that fall ball will be mainly in mid-to-late October.

Go Yale! Go Ivies!

[Ezra White]

IMHO, defense is the most difficult position in lacrosse because it's all about reacting to what the other player does and what the other team does. This is why we commonly see scores in double-digits and even the 20's.

It also helps to have a great FOGO unit and ride. If your team has the ball, your opponent can't score and your defense can rest.

My larger point is that Yale's defensive woes may in fact originate away from the defensive unit.

[TBD]

Yale is scrimmaging UNC and probably another local team in Baltimore end of September and another game at home against an international team early October. I think that is all scheduled so far.

[pcowlax]

IMHO, defense is the most difficult position in lacrosse because it's all about reacting to what the other player does and what the other team does. This is why we commonly see scores in double-digits and even the 20's.

It also helps to have a great FOGO unit and ride. If your team has the ball, your opponent can't score and your defense can rest.

My larger point is that Yale's defensive woes may in fact originate away from the defensive unit.

Certainly true that there is more to defense, especially when just defined crudely as goals again, than play of close defenders and d-mids. Very true about the FOGO but that thought doesn't exactly breed confidence as Yale has had good to excellent FOGO play the past 6+ years. Even if Rodriguez is fully healthy, its hard to think they will be much improved over the already good results of the past few years (the end of last year when everyone was hurt excepted). If there is to be improvement, it will have to be found elsewhere.

[The Orfling]

Yale is scrimmaging UNC and probably another local team in Baltimore end of September and another game at home against an international team early October. I think that is all scheduled so far.

Thanks for the update. Usually they only have two fall ball dates, as I recall?

[FannOLax]

Throw in Alumni Day, and that looks like a full fall slate. UNC and a Balto school looks like a great day in Baltimore.

[FannOLax]

One incoming frosh I think has the potential to surprise to the upside is Quinn Crotty. He's from Upper Arlington, Ohio, a tony Columbus suburb right across the Olentangy River from The Ohio State University campus. I might be biased here, as I grew up in Central Ohio and played soccer against Upper Arlington HS several times (back then, my HS did not have lacrosse). Quinn played HS football and lacrosse, was listed at 6'4" 200 lbs and was a midfielder. Coming from Ohio, I think he might have plenty of room to improve as a lacrosse player, while Yale's weight training should add muscle to his frame. IL lists him as a 3-star, but did they ever actually see him play?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MrvvWuHMpw

[The Orfling]

One incoming frosh I think has the potential to surprise to the upside is Quinn Crotty. He's from Upper Arlington, Ohio, a tony Columbus suburb right across the Olentangy River from The Ohio State University campus. I might be biased here, as I grew up in Central Ohio and played soccer against Upper Arlington HS several times (back then, my HS did not have lacrosse). Quinn played HS football and lacrosse, was listed at 6'4" 200 lbs and was a midfielder. Coming from Ohio, I think he might have plenty of room to improve as a lacrosse player, while Yale's weight training should add muscle to his frame. IL lists him as a 3-star, but did they ever actually see him play?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MrvvWuHMpw

It's always a lot of fun to see what new first-years make a contribution -- Crotty seems like an intriguing prospect. In related news, it looks like Yale has gotten a good one for the first announced 2026 commitment: an IL 4-star (ranked #49), midfielder Johnny Devir from Don Bosco Prep in NJ. https://x.com/ILPreps/status/1834296385094537635

[Typical Lax Dad]

One incoming frosh I think has the potential to surprise to the upside is Quinn Crotty. He's from Upper Arlington, Ohio, a tony Columbus suburb right across the Olentangy River from The Ohio State University campus. I might be biased here, as I grew up in Central Ohio and played soccer against Upper Arlington HS several times (back then, my HS did not have lacrosse). Quinn played HS football and lacrosse, was listed at 6'4" 200 lbs and was a midfielder. Coming from Ohio, I think he might have plenty of room to improve as a lacrosse player, while Yale's weight training should add muscle to his frame. IL lists him as a 3-star, but did they ever actually see him play?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MrvvWuHMpw

It's always a lot of fun to see what new first-years make a contribution -- Crotty seems like an intriguing prospect. In related news, it looks like Yale has gotten a good one for the first announced 2026 commitment: an IL 4-star (ranked #49), midfielder Johnny Devir from Don Bosco Prep in NJ. https://x.com/ILPreps/status/1834296385094537635

Shoot….that is a sneaky good pick up. Reminds me of Cornell getting Buczek out of Cincinnati. I like the fact that he plays football.

[TBD]

There are a couple of big football players in the freshman class. Should be an interesting group.

[XLdad]

Has anyone heard if Sharp or Lyons or Johnson are enrolled this fall? If so then that would mean they are leaving for their extra year. If not they all would be back again next year..

[Lax3]

My understanding is that they are coming back for two more seasons.

[The Orfling]

My understanding is that they are coming back for two more seasons.

Wow, that would be great. I wouldn't blame them a bit if they wanted to graduate with their college class and take a redshirt year elsewhere but selfishly I would love to see all three of them suit up for two more years for the Bulldogs.

[FannOLax]

Assuming Leo and Lyons are back to full strength in 2025, they will start in attack. Who will be the third attackman? Anderson and Kuhl started in 2024; Kuhl put up more points, while Anderson is more of a crease attackman. Kuhl can be a good middie, while Anderson looks like an attackman only. I also think Moynihan could be the third attackman. Yes, he played O midfielder last season as a frosh and looked very good. But throughout HS he was an attackman and I thought he looked terrific in attack on fall-ball day last year. If Sharp is back to full health, the O midfield lines will be very strong. Of course, the rope unit is another matter entirely.

[XLdad]

Ok..Did a bit of snooping and found out that Lyons and Johnson are playing this fall which would mean they are gone after this year. Supposedly both look amazing and dominating practices. So far Anderson is playing with them and Kuhl is back in the midfield..The other attack man playing a bit with them is the freshman from L'ville Gately. Moynihan is playing midfield. Sharp is LOA this fall so would mean he will be back next year I am told.

[The Orfling]

Ok..Did a bit of snooping and found out that Lyons and Johnson are playing this fall which would mean they are gone after this year. Supposedly both look amazing and dominating practices. So far Anderson is playing with them and Kuhl is back in the midfield..The other attack man playing a bit with them is the freshman from L'ville Gately. Moynihan is playing midfield. Sharp is LOA this fall so would mean he will be back next year I am told.

Thanks, XLdad. Lots of interesting info in your post. As Fann noted, Kuhl is a superstar at midfield or attack while Anderson is attack all the way -- at his best maybe Matt Gaudet dominant finisher upside -- so it would make sense to try to maximize the scoring by keeping Anderson at attack and moving Kuhl back in the midfield. Yale could have two great offensive midfield lines given Keib, Kuhl, Krevsky, Cashion, and Moynihan, not to mention a hopefully healthy Sharp.

Lyons/Johnson will probably be the "pick of the portal" this year; I wonder if they'll look to go to the same program. Hopefully not before helping Yale get back to the NCAA tournament.

[XLdad]

Being told that they want to stay together. best friends evidently...

[The Orfling]

Being told that they want to stay together. best friends evidently...

That would make the transfer option a lot more fun, I'm sure, and we've seen Yalie transfer duos before (Denver, Notre Dame, now Hopkins). Yale's Attacking Lions (Leo and Lyons, get it) will be a great get for some smart head coach and lucky program (who knows, if Pat Hackler and Jack Monfort have a good experience at the Hop this year, JHU could be a destination). Wherever they end up, I'll be wishing them all the best.