Re: Cornell 2023
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2023 3:41 pm
Some excellent observations have been made re the Lehigh game!! Love the analysis - pls keep it up. I wanted to add a few thoughts of my own:
[*]In general I thought it was a decent showing. A better effort than actual execution. Frankly I thought Lehigh would be better. That is not close to a top-20 team this year. Without Sisselberger, they would struggle to get to .500. I have huge respect for Lehigh program and really like 10, 2, 44, 20, 6 and a few others on this year's team - but that game could have been a 12+ spread if Cornell was sharper. In fairness to Lehigh, they hit some pipes and took some bad shots in the 42 minute scoring drought. It wasn't just Cornell missing some easy opportunities (esp in Q3). So I wouldn't make too much of the second half "shutout". But the key to me was that it was against a fair to middling LEH offense.
[*]Having said that, the Cornell defense was very good. Obviously, 77 is a legit top line star. He can cover anyone, is fantastic off the ground and has a knack for causing TOs. But there are two other high level players on that defense - 45 and 7 (with more on 22 below). Neither 45 nor 7 get enough due, but they are excellent. Davis is huge, fast and strong. He should be in the discussion about top SSDMs in the country. Follows is sneaky smooth and lethal. Also great off the ground. On the negative side - I think we still give too much room to shooters from the top (see first 3 goals) and also get way out of balance as a group from time to time (2-3 sliding defenders sometimes when the opponent is not even a scoring threat) - leaving shooters wide open on the backside. A good unselfish, motion offense is going to give us problems off the ball. We will get better in this area I hope. SSDMS are probably the Achilles - not 7 and really not 5 - but especially 6 and 9 right now. Neither looks 100% healthy. At LSM, 33 was terrific and will log a ton of minutes this year. 46 is not bad - but again the competition is going to get really good, really fast. Hope our lsm/ssdm group prepares for the upcoming tests.
[*]Offensively, I thought it was average at best. Some better ball movement - but still very sloppy passing. 31 and 27 either jammed the crease or tried to throw through passing lanes on several occasions. Blake hopefully gets his mojo back soon - Red really needs him to get back to where he was last year. The attack really misses Long - but that is going to change (hopefully soon). 26 did not look sharp to me on the RW - despite a couple of goals. Missed two very close attempts with poor sidearm shots. Those opportunities need to be converted. Dodging is almost non-existent. I'd like to see more of 44 - poised and he looks strong. My guess is his role will expand. 15 and 11 were again very good. When Long returns everyone will improve. CJ hit 3-4 pipes himself. Just need our top 6 back and give them a game or two to get humming (esp the man-up which is not good).
[*]Faceoffs - not a bad day overall considering the opponent. Angelo struggled early but this was a day that Siss just had his number. He can and will bounce back. Psyllos again was a real spark. Great to see. But the revelation was Cascadden! Big and athletic. Great showing. Needs work off the ground but at least he gave us a real fighters chance. He will get more time for sure. Wing play needs to get better no matter who is at the dot.
[*]Finally, Chayse was in control all day. LEH got very few quality looks overall but Chayse was still very good. Excellent year so far.
The competition level gets steep quickly. Red needs intensity at Hobart tomorrow. One game at a time. Never overlook Statesmen.
VF
[*]In general I thought it was a decent showing. A better effort than actual execution. Frankly I thought Lehigh would be better. That is not close to a top-20 team this year. Without Sisselberger, they would struggle to get to .500. I have huge respect for Lehigh program and really like 10, 2, 44, 20, 6 and a few others on this year's team - but that game could have been a 12+ spread if Cornell was sharper. In fairness to Lehigh, they hit some pipes and took some bad shots in the 42 minute scoring drought. It wasn't just Cornell missing some easy opportunities (esp in Q3). So I wouldn't make too much of the second half "shutout". But the key to me was that it was against a fair to middling LEH offense.
[*]Having said that, the Cornell defense was very good. Obviously, 77 is a legit top line star. He can cover anyone, is fantastic off the ground and has a knack for causing TOs. But there are two other high level players on that defense - 45 and 7 (with more on 22 below). Neither 45 nor 7 get enough due, but they are excellent. Davis is huge, fast and strong. He should be in the discussion about top SSDMs in the country. Follows is sneaky smooth and lethal. Also great off the ground. On the negative side - I think we still give too much room to shooters from the top (see first 3 goals) and also get way out of balance as a group from time to time (2-3 sliding defenders sometimes when the opponent is not even a scoring threat) - leaving shooters wide open on the backside. A good unselfish, motion offense is going to give us problems off the ball. We will get better in this area I hope. SSDMS are probably the Achilles - not 7 and really not 5 - but especially 6 and 9 right now. Neither looks 100% healthy. At LSM, 33 was terrific and will log a ton of minutes this year. 46 is not bad - but again the competition is going to get really good, really fast. Hope our lsm/ssdm group prepares for the upcoming tests.
[*]Offensively, I thought it was average at best. Some better ball movement - but still very sloppy passing. 31 and 27 either jammed the crease or tried to throw through passing lanes on several occasions. Blake hopefully gets his mojo back soon - Red really needs him to get back to where he was last year. The attack really misses Long - but that is going to change (hopefully soon). 26 did not look sharp to me on the RW - despite a couple of goals. Missed two very close attempts with poor sidearm shots. Those opportunities need to be converted. Dodging is almost non-existent. I'd like to see more of 44 - poised and he looks strong. My guess is his role will expand. 15 and 11 were again very good. When Long returns everyone will improve. CJ hit 3-4 pipes himself. Just need our top 6 back and give them a game or two to get humming (esp the man-up which is not good).
[*]Faceoffs - not a bad day overall considering the opponent. Angelo struggled early but this was a day that Siss just had his number. He can and will bounce back. Psyllos again was a real spark. Great to see. But the revelation was Cascadden! Big and athletic. Great showing. Needs work off the ground but at least he gave us a real fighters chance. He will get more time for sure. Wing play needs to get better no matter who is at the dot.
[*]Finally, Chayse was in control all day. LEH got very few quality looks overall but Chayse was still very good. Excellent year so far.
The competition level gets steep quickly. Red needs intensity at Hobart tomorrow. One game at a time. Never overlook Statesmen.
VF