LaxPower Back-Up Stick

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 5:07 pm By the way, sorry to beat a dead season, horse, and topic, but if you took away one game, Towson's Woodall against Bailey, where Woodall seemingly won every FO like 20-4 or something like that, Bailey's #'s would be significantly better. He even beat the Holy Cross FOGO.

Olddog wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:31 pm Any thoughts on Matt Hughes and Ross Pridemore. They both sat out this past year. Hughs is a super-talented and causes lots of turnovers. Assuming he is back, he will likely start on D and can provide some help to Cam Wyers and the defense. Ross Pridemore is a total question mark, but could be the spark for this team that nobody is talking about.

Olddog wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2019 11:31 pm Any thoughts on Matt Hughes and Ross Pridemore. They both sat out this past year. Hughs is a super-talented and causes lots of turnovers. Assuming he is back, he will likely start on D and can provide some help to Cam Wyers and the defense. Ross Pridemore is a total question mark, but could be the spark for this team that nobody is talking about.

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 9:03 am I keep saying, like a broken record, our defense will be top-3 in the country. Mark my word.

BigTom4 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 9:43 am

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 9:03 am I keep saying, like a broken record, our defense will be top-3 in the country. Mark my word.

Yeah I don't see it. Team was 29th in defensive efficiency last year with a unit who regularly relied on their excellent goaltender to make a high number of saves to get the ball back to the offense. Now that goalie (and his NCAA leading 15 saves a game) graduates and you are telling me they are going to be a top 3 unit? I don't care if everyone is back, those guys who are coming back gave up 15 to HC, 18 to BU, and as many goals as PSU wanted to score last year with the best goalie in the country in net.

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:32 am

BigTom4 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 9:43 am

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 9:03 am I keep saying, like a broken record, our defense will be top-3 in the country. Mark my word.

Yeah I don't see it. Team was 29th in defensive efficiency last year with a unit who regularly relied on their excellent goaltender to make a high number of saves to get the ball back to the offense. Now that goalie (and his NCAA leading 15 saves a game) graduates and you are telling me they are going to be a top 3 unit? I don't care if everyone is back, those guys who are coming back gave up 15 to HC, 18 to BU, and as many goals as PSU wanted to score last year with the best goalie in the country in net.

Hughes did not play; he was #6 in CT's as a freshman at another college. Likely to start.

Wyers was a freshman; 2nd on team in CT's with 17.

Higgins, Railey back as seniors...each has gotten progressively better every year on the field.

McNulty back as senior leader with 25 CT's as LSM...

Volante might be back, let's see.

Calder Vandenheuvel (incoming freshman) is a McNulty doppelganger...watch for his name a lot.

This defense, any coach imo in D1 would switch out what they have for what we have. Great athletes getting better. The biggest problem last year was communication on slides. That will get better with one more season of the whole defense back.

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 11:42 am

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:32 am

BigTom4 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 9:43 am

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 9:03 am I keep saying, like a broken record, our defense will be top-3 in the country. Mark my word.

Yeah I don't see it. Team was 29th in defensive efficiency last year with a unit who regularly relied on their excellent goaltender to make a high number of saves to get the ball back to the offense. Now that goalie (and his NCAA leading 15 saves a game) graduates and you are telling me they are going to be a top 3 unit? I don't care if everyone is back, those guys who are coming back gave up 15 to HC, 18 to BU, and as many goals as PSU wanted to score last year with the best goalie in the country in net.

Hughes did not play; he was #6 in CT's as a freshman at another college. Likely to start.

Wyers was a freshman; 2nd on team in CT's with 17.

Higgins, Railey back as seniors...each has gotten progressively better every year on the field.

McNulty back as senior leader with 25 CT's as LSM...

Volante might be back, let's see.

Calder Vandenheuvel (incoming freshman) is a McNulty doppelganger...watch for his name a lot.

This defense, any coach imo in D1 would switch out what they have for what we have. Great athletes getting better. The biggest problem last year was communication on slides. That will get better with one more season of the whole defense back.

i subscribe to the notion that communication on slides is priority #1 on defense, that's just me. sometimes it never gets fixed.
i smell a wager. top 3/5 etc. is very difficult to do, let alone predict. but you seem pretty convinced.
i'll give you top 5. either category, goals against per game or defensive efficiency.
stakes?

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 12:38 pm

wgdsr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 11:42 am

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 10:32 am

BigTom4 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 9:43 am

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 9:03 am I keep saying, like a broken record, our defense will be top-3 in the country. Mark my word.

Yeah I don't see it. Team was 29th in defensive efficiency last year with a unit who regularly relied on their excellent goaltender to make a high number of saves to get the ball back to the offense. Now that goalie (and his NCAA leading 15 saves a game) graduates and you are telling me they are going to be a top 3 unit? I don't care if everyone is back, those guys who are coming back gave up 15 to HC, 18 to BU, and as many goals as PSU wanted to score last year with the best goalie in the country in net.

Hughes did not play; he was #6 in CT's as a freshman at another college. Likely to start.

Wyers was a freshman; 2nd on team in CT's with 17.

Higgins, Railey back as seniors...each has gotten progressively better every year on the field.

McNulty back as senior leader with 25 CT's as LSM...

Volante might be back, let's see.

Calder Vandenheuvel (incoming freshman) is a McNulty doppelganger...watch for his name a lot.

This defense, any coach imo in D1 would switch out what they have for what we have. Great athletes getting better. The biggest problem last year was communication on slides. That will get better with one more season of the whole defense back.

i subscribe to the notion that communication on slides is priority #1 on defense, that's just me. sometimes it never gets fixed.
i smell a wager. top 3/5 etc. is very difficult to do, let alone predict. but you seem pretty convinced.
i'll give you top 5. either category, goals against per game or defensive efficiency.
stakes?

You are on. I am trying to find an online reference table for 'defensive efficiency' and can't; where is one? All I can find is 'goals scored against', which I'd prefer to not use but will if we can't find a mutually agreeable site for 'defensive efficiency' (preferable).

Goals scored against: https://www.ncaa.com/stats/lacrosse-men ... t/team/229

(and don't get too cocky too soon in the season, as our #'s will significantly improve as we get into the meat of the PL schedule)

Also, I'd like to wager a dozen jumbo crabs from Ocean Pride in Baltimore County, the only place I know for crabs, me and two friends (we will eat 4 a piece). I believe that the height of crab season is right around Memorial Day, so they will be very tasty! Also, "all I ask is three beers a piece for each of my co-feasters...I think a man workin' outdoors feels more like a man if he can have a bottle of suds. That's only my opinion."

NovaHound wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 8:44 pm This is FUN!!! I do like all of the conjecture, assumptions, foretelling, forecasting, predictive analysis, wishful thinking, hopefulness, etc.... Makes an otherwise boring Summer tolerable, although the Chase Scanlan sweepstakes are certainly entertaining.

I just think you have to pay heed to what Peter brown is saying about the defense and here's why. The SSDMs are a year (and will be) better, more experienced and bigger - Benus, Swindell, Higgins, Rezanka... I probably missed someone else here. I also think Milhouse shifts more to offense but all of his time spent on Defense only increases his upside in the transition game.

As for the Long Poles:
Wyers is a lefty. Hughes, a projected starter until a January knee injury, is a rightie. That's one heck of a double from both sides if you ask me. They are both big and fast. Both are experienced. Railey and Johnson - both starters/experienced. I hear LeBlanc might be a factor in the rotation this year as well. Defense - you have starting experience, size, knowledge, etc... and I expect communication within the group to improve. Very little downside. They will miss the senior leadership provided by Volante and Stover but someone will step up IMO. Last year Stover bailed the defense out with his crazy saves, this defense bails out the goalie by forcing bad shots, creating turnovers, winning the GB game and creating the transition to quickly take advanatge of an unsettled and unprepared defense. It's a hopeful wish.

I forgot to mention McNulty?? 2 more years Baby!!! His confidence and ability is off the charts. And Middleton steps up his defense to go with his offensive mindset. Johnson also took some runs at LSM last year and may do the same this year. And I hear we have another good pole coming in from the Hill Academy...

It's going to be a good defense.

Offense - Lindley and Olmstead. Proven, dependable, willing to step up and lead the team. Both are tough as nails. I remember someone mentioning Ross Pridemore. Have heard nothing but good things about him. Has the size, speed and all around knack for feeding the ball to the open man. He injured his knee prior to arriving on campus and rehabbed it last Fall. He was finally cleared in late Spring and is why he suited up for the Playoffs.

Middies - sure the Scanlan loss hurts. But Hounds have Cox, Devoreaux, Wiggs, Milhouse, and some new faces coming in that are dependable and experienced.

The Freshman class from last year saw playing time and I'm not sure who will emerge and make an impact.

Goalie - Sam Shaffer (sp??) 2 years watching Stover and learning the game. Bigger. Good clearing.

I almost forgot to mention how the game tactics are executed - it begins at X with Bailey Savio. Loyola improved its face off percentage from .478 in 2018 to .522 in 2019. I expect this to improve and this will help wear down the opposing defense. Hounds will have more touches on the ball.

Prognosis - Pretty Good team with potential. Team starts slow (possible losses to UVA and JHU - I hate to say) and then begins to build its chemistry and gets on a roll during Patriot League. Win it. On to Playoffs. That's how I see it. But I also believe in one game at a time... Each game will be a stepping stone. It doesn't matter how you start - it's how you finish

Please chime in Peter Brown - what did I miss??

Peter Brown wrote: ↑Wed Jun 26, 2019 9:20 am

NovaHound wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 8:44 pm This is FUN!!! I do like all of the conjecture, assumptions, foretelling, forecasting, predictive analysis, wishful thinking, hopefulness, etc.... Makes an otherwise boring Summer tolerable, although the Chase Scanlan sweepstakes are certainly entertaining.

I just think you have to pay heed to what Peter brown is saying about the defense and here's why. The SSDMs are a year (and will be) better, more experienced and bigger - Benus, Swindell, Higgins, Rezanka... I probably missed someone else here. I also think Milhouse shifts more to offense but all of his time spent on Defense only increases his upside in the transition game.

As for the Long Poles:
Wyers is a lefty. Hughes, a projected starter until a January knee injury, is a rightie. That's one heck of a double from both sides if you ask me. They are both big and fast. Both are experienced. Railey and Johnson - both starters/experienced. I hear LeBlanc might be a factor in the rotation this year as well. Defense - you have starting experience, size, knowledge, etc... and I expect communication within the group to improve. Very little downside. They will miss the senior leadership provided by Volante and Stover but someone will step up IMO. Last year Stover bailed the defense out with his crazy saves, this defense bails out the goalie by forcing bad shots, creating turnovers, winning the GB game and creating the transition to quickly take advanatge of an unsettled and unprepared defense. It's a hopeful wish.

I forgot to mention McNulty?? 2 more years Baby!!! His confidence and ability is off the charts. And Middleton steps up his defense to go with his offensive mindset. Johnson also took some runs at LSM last year and may do the same this year. And I hear we have another good pole coming in from the Hill Academy...

It's going to be a good defense.

Offense - Lindley and Olmstead. Proven, dependable, willing to step up and lead the team. Both are tough as nails. I remember someone mentioning Ross Pridemore. Have heard nothing but good things about him. Has the size, speed and all around knack for feeding the ball to the open man. He injured his knee prior to arriving on campus and rehabbed it last Fall. He was finally cleared in late Spring and is why he suited up for the Playoffs.

Middies - sure the Scanlan loss hurts. But Hounds have Cox, Devoreaux, Wiggs, Milhouse, and some new faces coming in that are dependable and experienced.

The Freshman class from last year saw playing time and I'm not sure who will emerge and make an impact.

Goalie - Sam Shaffer (sp??) 2 years watching Stover and learning the game. Bigger. Good clearing.

I almost forgot to mention how the game tactics are executed - it begins at X with Bailey Savio. Loyola improved its face off percentage from .478 in 2018 to .522 in 2019. I expect this to improve and this will help wear down the opposing defense. Hounds will have more touches on the ball.

Prognosis - Pretty Good team with potential. Team starts slow (possible losses to UVA and JHU - I hate to say) and then begins to build its chemistry and gets on a roll during Patriot League. Win it. On to Playoffs. That's how I see it. But I also believe in one game at a time... Each game will be a stepping stone. It doesn't matter how you start - it's how you finish

Please chime in Peter Brown - what did I miss??

Great summary.

Only thing you overlooked were the incoming freshmen. I think Pacheco is the most underrated player in high school; how we got him I have no idea, other than the bigs keep overlooking non-hotbed areas of high school lacrosse. vandenHeuvel is just like McNulty, and I assume everyone knows how good Ryan is?

Where Voyeur and others can't see the forest (team performance) through the trees (Spencer!!!) is we are likely to be significantly better as a team in 2020 than we wee this year.

1. That starts with Bailey, Cottone, and Pacheco at FOGO. We will see the ball so much more in 2020 than we did in 2019.

2. Then go to our defense. No one here outside if you are a Mercer fan realizes just how good Hughes is. The kid is as good a defender as you will see in D1, as is Wyers. Our defense will be excellent, not simply better than average.

3. No one appreciates Lindley and Olmstead yet, except for Pat Spencer. When you take the reins off those two, as we saw in the BU and Gtown games, you will see two very elite players whose numbers will surprise many here.

Look, I love Pat as much as anyone, and no doubt there will be some adjusting period, but this team will be a very strong D1 squad next year. The upside and downside to having a great player is so many teammates start staring at the one guy to create everything, and then you become less of the sum of your parts. That will not be the case next year. Lindley is an elite player as is Olmstead.

My only worry has nothing to do with losing Spencer, Scanlan, or Duffy, our offense, midfield, LSM's, or defense...we willbe excellent at all three lines. My only worry for the 2020 Hounds is in goal. One of those two guys will need to be very good.