Laxfan01 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 8:08 am
houndace1 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 8:23 pm
What do we know about Richmond?
Seems like every year they play some Power teams REALLY really well. I know they beat the hounds in a scrimmage last preseason, but who are their knows? what are their strengths and what can our team due to possibly limit their strengths?
Their coach knows Loyola's staff very well, this scouting and the gameplan could be like when you face a mirror version of yourself, you know what eachother will do
Based on from what I know/have seen, this could be as tough of a game we’ll play all year. Severely underrated team that brought back every key contributor just like loyola did. Beat us pretty good last year in a scrimmage and should have beat duke and Maryland last year. I think it’ll be an awesome way to open up the year-it’ll have us more than ready for UVA in 2 weeks. Hearing the Hounds have continued to deal w Covid issues throughout this week-adaptation will be the theme this year.
The Good News is that we have a game on Saturday. Fingers crossed. This will be a tough test for the Hounds due to several reasons. To begin with, a long bus ride, and the weather may not be great Who knows what the locker room protocol will be as they get prepared? I’m not even sure Toomey and his Staff know how the Hounds will play based upon limited practices, players missing due to COVID quarantines, etc…. But we are playing
Richmond is a very good team. They have returned most of their team including 90% of their offense and starters from a year ago, and they have good playmakers in Lanchbury, Connell, and Savoca. Their defense is very stingy and settled at Goal. They have a stud LSM, Sean Menges, who will be the counterpoint to our own Ryan McNulty.
From an earlier SOCON Press Release, "Attack Ryan Lanchbury led the team in scoring with 30 points in the seven games, scoring 14 goals and dishing out a team-high 16 assists. Fellow attack Richie Connell added a team-high 19 goals, ranking second in the nation among true freshmen in scoring while leading the country with seven man-up goals.
The Spiders also return their entire starting midfield in Mitch Savoca, Tate Gallagher and Tyler Shoults. The three have combined to score 124 goals and hand out 67 assists in their careers.
Defensively, the Spiders return two of their starting defenders in senior Jason Reynolds and junior Ray Baran. The two have combined for 62 starts on the back end, including 39 straight for Reynolds in his Spider career. Senior goalie Jack Rusbuldt also returns having started 20 games in his Spider career, including all seven last year. Rusbuldt’s 90 saves led the SoCon last season, including a career-high 22 against No. 6 Notre Dame.”
This game could go either way. Two coaches who know each other’s strength’s and weaknesses, first game jitters for some, long bus ride, etc…. I believe Richmond may have the edge in goal, or at least more experience. I like our Face Off Unit anchored by Savio, but I don’t know how he’ll respond to the new rule changes. Watching games this past weekend at least showed me that good FOGO’s did well, particularly the UVA FOGO. I’d give our rope Unit a slight edge because we have McNulty on the wing accompanied by Higgins, Benus and Milhouse.
Defensively I’d say it was even, although Richmond’s defenders appear to have more experience playing together as a Unit. Hounds have Wyers and LeBlanc back, and Hughes who subbed in some for Alex Johnson last year, as well as John Railey, who was hampered by injuries last season, and Cam James. I’ve heard several Hound Close D Sophomores added strength and weight over the past 8 months so that makes me feel better.
The Spiders may also have the edge at Attack and Midfield, although the Hounds can counter with Lindley, Olmstead, Swindell and Cox. Not sure Kamish and Poitras will be at game speed yet because sophomores were not on campus in the Fall, at least this is what I’ve been told. I’ll be very happy if I’m incorrect. I’m also unclear if Richmond was able to practice as a team in the Fall, but I do know Virginia colleges were less restrictive, so I’ll give Richmond the edge in team chemistry. If anyone knows anything different please chime in.
I like the Hound SSDMs (Higgins and Rezanka are as good as you get) and I’m just going to go ahead and give us the edge here, but their test will be covering Richmond’s larger middies.
All in all, I believe game will come down to whichever team has the Hot goalie and takes care of the ball, minimizing mistakes. I’d give the Spiders the edge in playing 6 v 6, but I’m sure our LSMs can create some havoc and create good transition opportunities. Give McNulty and Middleton the green light, which I suspect Toomey will, and that might give the Hounds a good chance to win. Who cares what the final score is. We're playing lacrosse.