LaxPower Back-Up Stick

seacoaster wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 1:50 pm Watched the second half of the Cuse-SBU game today, after having to stop last night (went to an Indian place and then saw Rachael and Vilray instead of Joe Spallina's checked blazer). Here's what I think:

First, they have to make a goalie decision; the platoon thing will not work out. I think Hower is the better ball stopper, and seems more confident clearing.

Second, if you are a senior on the first midfield for a top five program, you have to score goals. Nos. 3 and 43 have to produce. Sam in particular needs to stop aiming for the goalie's naval or stick.

Third, defense is currently a problem. If SBU had handled three passes into the middle of the Eight, it would have beaten Syracuse. Teams with good ball movement and which, like many, feature two players at or below GLE, are going to give Syracuse fits, because the low defenders are not getting into the hands of the below GLE carriers and the topside players aren't communicating adequately to follow the cuts. Syracuse seems to have Cooper covering a huge expanse of ground, and not even she can manage all this turf.

The offense will get better. Sam and Sierra will shoot better. The offense will learn to play with EH as a complimentary strength rather than the No. 1 option. But the other end of the field has to improve.

seacoaster wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 1:50 pm Watched the second half of the Cuse-SBU game today, after having to stop last night (went to an Indian place and then saw Rachael and Vilray instead of Joe Spallina's checked blazer). Here's what I think:

First, they have to make a goalie decision; the platoon thing will not work out. I think Hower is the better ball stopper, and seems more confident clearing.

Second, if you are a senior on the first midfield for a top five program, you have to score goals. Nos. 3 and 43 have to produce. Sam in particular needs to stop aiming for the goalie's naval or stick.

Third, defense is currently a problem. If SBU had handled three passes into the middle of the Eight, it would have beaten Syracuse. Teams with good ball movement and which, like many, feature two players at or below GLE, are going to give Syracuse fits, because the low defenders are not getting into the hands of the below GLE carriers and the topside players aren't communicating adequately to follow the cuts. Syracuse seems to have Cooper covering a huge expanse of ground, and not even she can manage all this turf.

The offense will get better. Sam and Sierra will shoot better. The offense will learn to play with EH as a complimentary strength rather than the No. 1 option. But the other end of the field has to improve.

seacoaster wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 1:50 pm Watched the second half of the Cuse-SBU game today, after having to stop last night (went to an Indian place and then saw Rachael and Vilray instead of Joe Spallina's checked blazer). Here's what I think:

First, they have to make a goalie decision; the platoon thing will not work out. I think Hower is the better ball stopper, and seems more confident clearing.

Second, if you are a senior on the first midfield for a top five program, you have to score goals. Nos. 3 and 43 have to produce. Sam in particular needs to stop aiming for the goalie's naval or stick.

Third, defense is currently a problem. If SBU had handled three passes into the middle of the Eight, it would have beaten Syracuse. Teams with good ball movement and which, like many, feature two players at or below GLE, are going to give Syracuse fits, because the low defenders are not getting into the hands of the below GLE carriers and the topside players aren't communicating adequately to follow the cuts. Syracuse seems to have Cooper covering a huge expanse of ground, and not even she can manage all this turf.

The offense will get better. Sam and Sierra will shoot better. The offense will learn to play with EH as a complimentary strength rather than the No. 1 option. But the other end of the field has to improve.

Cagekeeper wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 2:24 pm

seacoaster wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 1:50 pm Watched the second half of the Cuse-SBU game today, after having to stop last night (went to an Indian place and then saw Rachael and Vilray instead of Joe Spallina's checked blazer). Here's what I think:

First, they have to make a goalie decision; the platoon thing will not work out. I think Hower is the better ball stopper, and seems more confident clearing.

Second, if you are a senior on the first midfield for a top five program, you have to score goals. Nos. 3 and 43 have to produce. Sam in particular needs to stop aiming for the goalie's naval or stick.

Third, defense is currently a problem. If SBU had handled three passes into the middle of the Eight, it would have beaten Syracuse. Teams with good ball movement and which, like many, feature two players at or below GLE, are going to give Syracuse fits, because the low defenders are not getting into the hands of the below GLE carriers and the topside players aren't communicating adequately to follow the cuts. Syracuse seems to have Cooper covering a huge expanse of ground, and not even she can manage all this turf.

The offense will get better. Sam and Sierra will shoot better. The offense will learn to play with EH as a complimentary strength rather than the No. 1 option. But the other end of the field has to improve.

Yes. Yes and yes. I will say Schweitzer looked better than the last two games. With that being said. Changing goalies at half could be the kids of death. She was finally getting a read on players shooting and then you put someone in cold. I don’t particularly think either one one was worth eye transfer.
Second. Same and Sierra have been invisible. Same better on gb yesterday. But come one. She’s a fifth yr btw. Should be carrying the midfield and not relying on 55/49 Defense. Is a disaster. And that’s being kind. Cooper is now slightly exposed? Not surrounded by her support of the last 3 years. 12 looks scared to death. 31 is a huge ? For me other than being a sib of prob the best defender they had. I did like 15 running d mid. But they will get sliced apart by unc and bc if they play like that.

laxer12 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 4:02 pm

Cagekeeper wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 2:24 pm

seacoaster wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 1:50 pm Watched the second half of the Cuse-SBU game today, after having to stop last night (went to an Indian place and then saw Rachael and Vilray instead of Joe Spallina's checked blazer). Here's what I think:

First, they have to make a goalie decision; the platoon thing will not work out. I think Hower is the better ball stopper, and seems more confident clearing.

Second, if you are a senior on the first midfield for a top five program, you have to score goals. Nos. 3 and 43 have to produce. Sam in particular needs to stop aiming for the goalie's naval or stick.

Third, defense is currently a problem. If SBU had handled three passes into the middle of the Eight, it would have beaten Syracuse. Teams with good ball movement and which, like many, feature two players at or below GLE, are going to give Syracuse fits, because the low defenders are not getting into the hands of the below GLE carriers and the topside players aren't communicating adequately to follow the cuts. Syracuse seems to have Cooper covering a huge expanse of ground, and not even she can manage all this turf.

The offense will get better. Sam and Sierra will shoot better. The offense will learn to play with EH as a complimentary strength rather than the No. 1 option. But the other end of the field has to improve.

Yes. Yes and yes. I will say Schweitzer looked better than the last two games. With that being said. Changing goalies at half could be the kids of death. She was finally getting a read on players shooting and then you put someone in cold. I don’t particularly think either one one was worth eye transfer.
Second. Same and Sierra have been invisible. Same better on gb yesterday. But come one. She’s a fifth yr btw. Should be carrying the midfield and not relying on 55/49 Defense. Is a disaster. And that’s being kind. Cooper is now slightly exposed? Not surrounded by her support of the last 3 years. 12 looks scared to death. 31 is a huge ? For me other than being a sib of prob the best defender they had. I did like 15 running d mid. But they will get sliced apart by unc and bc if they play like that.

Hower has definitely shown the propensity to be an effective goalkeeper. Katie Goodale looks scared to death? She leads the team in caused turnovers and has been very impressive in the clearing game. She is one of the few bright spots of the very new defense in my opinion.

Lax101 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 2:51 pm Great points by all on Cuse. On a scale of 1-10 defense right now is about a 3. BC and UNC will drop 20 on them in a heartbeat. On offense their middies do nothing which is puzzling because last year both were very productive. Everyone expected EH to step in for Ward but offense is stagnant and ball does not move as well with her in the game. Offense was much more dynamic without her and with Ward. Draw was exploited yesterday by an average SB draw team. They miss Simpkins on the circle. Carney seems to be getting better each week and is moving impressively well. I even felt the impact of having a new coach yesterday. There were multiple times in the final 4 minutes where offense was struggling and game was getting messy and they would have benefitted from a timeout and a designed play. They will go as far as their defense will take them.

laxer12 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 4:25 pm

Lax101 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 2:51 pm Great points by all on Cuse. On a scale of 1-10 defense right now is about a 3. BC and UNC will drop 20 on them in a heartbeat. On offense their middies do nothing which is puzzling because last year both were very productive. Everyone expected EH to step in for Ward but offense is stagnant and ball does not move as well with her in the game. Offense was much more dynamic without her and with Ward. Draw was exploited yesterday by an average SB draw team. They miss Simpkins on the circle. Carney seems to be getting better each week and is moving impressively well. I even felt the impact of having a new coach yesterday. There were multiple times in the final 4 minutes where offense was struggling and game was getting messy and they would have benefitted from a timeout and a designed play. They will go as far as their defense will take them.

Emily just needs to be a cutter and a dodger -- she doesn't need to have the same feeding/passing abilities as Ward has. I feel she is finding her way (back to where she was in 2020) more so with every game she plays. She (and along with the vast majority of offensive Cuse players) do need to correct their shooting.

Olivia Adamson should be on the attack the entire game. She contributes mightily when it comes to the Cuse offense flowing and effectively moving the ball. She's very versatile and can shoot/pass with both hands and has the highest shooting percentage on the team in her limited playing time thus far.

laxer12 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 4:25 pm

Lax101 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 2:51 pm Great points by all on Cuse. On a scale of 1-10 defense right now is about a 3. BC and UNC will drop 20 on them in a heartbeat. On offense their middies do nothing which is puzzling because last year both were very productive. Everyone expected EH to step in for Ward but offense is stagnant and ball does not move as well with her in the game. Offense was much more dynamic without her and with Ward. Draw was exploited yesterday by an average SB draw team. They miss Simpkins on the circle. Carney seems to be getting better each week and is moving impressively well. I even felt the impact of having a new coach yesterday. There were multiple times in the final 4 minutes where offense was struggling and game was getting messy and they would have benefitted from a timeout and a designed play. They will go as far as their defense will take them.

Emily just needs to be a cutter and a dodger -- she doesn't need to have the same feeding/passing abilities as Ward has. I feel she is finding her way (back to where she was in 2020) more so with every game she plays. She (and along with the vast majority of offensive Cuse players) does need to correct her shooting.

Olivia Adamson should be on the attack the entire game. She contributes mightily when it comes to the Cuse offense flowing and effectively moving the ball. She's very versatile and can shoot/pass with both hands and has the highest shooting percentage on the team in her limited playing time thus far.

seacoaster wrote
and EH looks a little better, a little more in-synch every game

DMac wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 8:05 am

seacoaster wrote
and EH looks a little better, a little more in-synch every game

Yes, EH, looked more relaxed, at ease, lose, and not so much as if she feels she has to prove herself as a super star who carries the team again. I liked what I saw from her, best I've seen her look and I think it'll getter better as the season goes on.

user1020 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 12:33 pm Is MD better than Cuse?

OuttaNowhereWregget wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 12:56 pm

user1020 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 12:33 pm Is MD better than Cuse?

It's a fair question. I would say Reese gives Maryland the edge.
Would have been great to see them play this season to find out, but well, that topic is a whole other skillet of plantains.

OuttaNowhereWregget wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 7:30 am After last night's OT win over the Golden Domers, I've come to the conclusion that this Orange team will not challenge for the crown at the end of May. I don’t think that’s a stretch to say after having a pretty decent sample size of their wins over Stanford, Binghamton, Stony Brook and Notre Dame. They may not even make it to the final weekend. I can’t see them putting it all together between now and then.

Let’s face it, this program has a new coach in her first head-coaching position. It takes time to build a system regardless of the talent level inherited. There are some good coaches doing good things with their programs these days, like Jill Batcheller at Villanova and Melissa Lehman at Rutgers, and John Sung at Carthage (lol—just wanted to see if you were paying attention, Doc ); but it takes time to build a contender regardless of the talent a coach has on their team. Coaching seems to matter a lot more in women’s lacrosse than it does in some other sports—like NBA basketball, for instance. A team bursting with talent like Syracuse will cover over coaching mistakes (like they did last night) on occasion. Kayla Treanor will experience being outcoached this season at some point and her team won't be able to cover it. Doesn’t mean she’s not a good coach; doesn’t mean she won’t put it all together in the future. But it won’t be this year. Too soon in the proceedings. I also don't know if Treanor will be able to "coach out" the boneheaded mistakes this team seems inherently prone to commit during big postseason games. Or the unnecessary flash alluded to toward the end of the Syracuse/Notre Dame game thread by wlaxphan if I'm remembering accurately.