LaxPower Back-Up Stick

Duke @ BC
Besides my general ‘love-to-hate’ Duke disdain (and the ACC opener for both teams), I’m struggling to find much inspiration for this one. Of course, winning draws against the all-time great MJ is a problem. But, as long as BC get the ball on the ground, they should win that 3v3 dog fight consistently. After Jenner’s 42 draw controls, Duke’s next best player has 6 DC.

Besides the draw circle, #4, 10, 12 are legit scoring threats. Dukes invert/overload attack from behind can be tricky but I think Duke will struggle to get to the net. BC goalies will see shots mostly from bad angles.

The only thing that can hold the BC offense back today is the BC offense. I look for them to continue developing their balanced attack with lots of assisted goals.

What am I missing?

Grateful to have this one indoors with temps at gametime projected to still be in the 'teens.

Well, you called it on the DCs ... 20-9 in favor of the eagles and Jenner with 2. I guess it's not so easy to rack up double digit DCs when the opponent is someone other than Gardner Wedd.

On another topic, why is no one talking about Mackenna Davis? Huge contributor last year in the Final Four and on fire to start 2023. Leading the team in pts, outstanding facilator, and lax IQ. A pleasure to watch play the game.

Watch out for BC. Next up is UNC on Friday. Quick thoughts. Defense may be the best in the country. Midfield may be best in the country. Draw is already exceeding expectations. And the offense after losing CN is already showing that it may be better and more balanced than last year. Oh, they also have pretty good coaching and game-planning.

Lax101 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 10:28 am Watch out for BC. Next up is UNC on Friday. Quick thoughts. Defense may be the best in the country. Midfield may be best in the country. Draw is already exceeding expectations. And the offense after losing CN is already showing that it may be better and more balanced than last year. Oh, they also have pretty good coaching and game-planning.

If BC has a weakness, I would say second midfield ... TOs poor decision-making, and weak on the defensive end. Otherwise, they are executing, and I expect they will continue to improve.

watcherinthewoods wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 9:41 am Well, you called it on the DCs ... 20-9 in favor of the eagles and Jenner with 2. I guess it's not so easy to rack up double digit DCs when the opponent is someone other than Gardner Wedd.

On another topic, why is no one talking about Mackenna Davis? Huge contributor last year in the Final Four and on fire to start 2023. Leading the team in pts, outstanding facilator, and lax IQ. A pleasure to watch play the game.

I mentioned Davis several times last year and no one really commented. Some very skilled high school players who get a lot of hype lack IQ and it gets exposed at the next level. Glad to see #3 get recognized for what she brings to the team.

Like SYR, if you have a lefty who can dodge and distribute equally you are more deadly. Other top 5 teams do not have that.

tothedraw wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 11:47 am

watcherinthewoods wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 9:41 am Well, you called it on the DCs ... 20-9 in favor of the eagles and Jenner with 2. I guess it's not so easy to rack up double digit DCs when the opponent is someone other than Gardner Wedd.

On another topic, why is no one talking about Mackenna Davis? Huge contributor last year in the Final Four and on fire to start 2023. Leading the team in pts, outstanding facilator, and lax IQ. A pleasure to watch play the game.

I mentioned Davis several times last year and no one really commented. Some very skilled high school players who get a lot of hype lack IQ and it gets exposed at the next level. Glad to see #3 get recognized for what she brings to the team.

Like SYR, if you have a lefty who can dodge and distribute equally you are more deadly. Other top 5 teams do not have that.

She had one of my favorite shots of the season last year, I still don’t know & can’t tell if it was intentional or not. I’ll have to look back, because I don’t remember the game either.

It looked like she froze the goalie with an off-speed shot. I thought it was pretty creative & intuitive if it was intentional. And if not, a goal is a goal anyway

To wrap up the Duke game, the contest played out in reality much as it had in my premonitions—a businesslike dismantling of the Devils. As mentioned above by our astute members, #3 Davis is not only reading defenses at a high level, she is manipulating them with her mind. Also impressive is #18 R Smith directing the draw and the rest of the unit improving communication and execution on the circle. Many more strong performances.

Though the match-up itself may not been inspirational, the Alumnae event following the game at TD Garden was. A great introduction to/reminder of how far the program has come and how many players, families and community members have built it. Championship and Tewaaraton trophies were in attendance. Great weekend!

Next up, an opportunity in Chapel Hill.

BC fans, i haven't watched all the games but how is Belle Smith looking? is she meeting your expectations or do you think she still has another gear? She's one of my fav players in the sport. I thought she was amazing her freshman season and i've been waiting for her to explode since. I don't think she's ever been a pure scorer so it might be unfair to judge her on goals alone.

My assessment is that B Smith is better than ever and continues to be one of the main reasons for BC success all over the field. The game often flows through her as she calms the entire building and sets the tone. Offensively, I think there has been a conscious effort to establish a new identity and she has unselfishly contributed. Her shooting efficiency may be down a bit but that won’t last. One of the top storylines this week is whether she and the rest of this experienced, bruising BC midfield group can expose the ‘heels young guns who figure to be very good.

Looking forward to the UNC game. I would say BC is the favorite. Don't know when the Tarheels were last a home dog.

BC by 3-5.

njbill wrote: ↑Tue Feb 28, 2023 3:20 pm Looking forward to the UNC game. I would say BC is the favorite. Don't know when the Tarheels were last a home dog.

BC by 3-5.

I am going with UNC by 4

Dr. Tact wrote: ↑Tue Feb 28, 2023 4:06 pm

njbill wrote: ↑Tue Feb 28, 2023 3:20 pm Looking forward to the UNC game. I would say BC is the favorite. Don't know when the Tarheels were last a home dog.

BC by 3-5.

I am going with UNC by 4

BC by 2. 14-12.

njbill wrote: ↑Tue Feb 28, 2023 3:20 pm Looking forward to the UNC game. I would say BC is the favorite. Don't know when the Tarheels were last a home dog.

BC by 3-5.

I agree with that margin as well. But if they play a quarter like their 3rd against Florida, the margin could be 5+.

tothedraw wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 11:47 am

watcherinthewoods wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2023 9:41 am Well, you called it on the DCs ... 20-9 in favor of the eagles and Jenner with 2. I guess it's not so easy to rack up double digit DCs when the opponent is someone other than Gardner Wedd.

On another topic, why is no one talking about Mackenna Davis? Huge contributor last year in the Final Four and on fire to start 2023. Leading the team in pts, outstanding facilator, and lax IQ. A pleasure to watch play the game.

I mentioned Davis several times last year and no one really commented. Some very skilled high school players who get a lot of hype lack IQ and it gets exposed at the next level. Glad to see #3 get recognized for what she brings to the team.

Like SYR, if you have a lefty who can dodge and distribute equally you are more deadly. Other top 5 teams do not have that.

I just searched my posts - it was her goal agains UMD in the NCAA semis. To me the shot looked intentionally slower, and it froze Sterling pretty good.

njbill wrote: ↑Tue Feb 28, 2023 3:20 pm Looking forward to the UNC game. I would say BC is the favorite. Don't know when the Tarheels were last a home dog.

BC by 3-5.

I agree with these sentiments. As I get longer in the tooth, I like to think that experience has the edge over talented youth.

Statistically, they seem to be very similar teams. Offensive/Defensive efficiency and possession differential all wash. The only notable advantage is opponent adjusted FO % with BC at ~72% (#1) and UNC ~60% (#19) from LacrosseReference PRO.

BC defense should have the advantage over an offense that is dangerous but still finding its way. UNC players I’ve noticed: #10 A. Long has deceptive quickness down the alley and #21 M White is slippery, especially off-ball. #12 OD of course, if healthy, has big game experience. Then again, every time I look at the roster another solid player I forgot about seems to pop up.

At the other end, BC balance will create favorable match-ups and remind us that UNC didn’t only graduate studs on offense. Low D will have their hands full, creating opportunities for BC middies to do some damage. #00 Nicholas will stand tall but can only do so much.

Factors that might help keep UNC closer than 4 goals—wet grass surface and muggy air (even a possible t-storm delay), UNC in-game coaching adjustments. I still think BC will deal better with any adversity and prove to be too much, winning by a couple.

My first trip to Chapel Hill was both memorable and one I hope to soon forget. Congrats to Carolina on a thorough shellacking of the Eagles. Their upper class-ers played great allowing the rookies to execute like they didn’t know any better. Soft sod, UNC coaching around the injury to CW and the palpable spell that hovers over the facility were predictable factors. More of a surprise was the Eags showing up with heavy legs and some nerves. As a result, it got late early in Chapel Hill. Losses like this have consequences, but all you can do now is find what’s fixable and take a few positives, then toss the game tape in the dumpster and move on.

A few bright spots:
The draw team battled to win more than 50%. #15 Abby H is ready to step into any situation and compete.

UNC only won the second half 5-3 – BC showed heart and began plugging a few leaks defensively.

Eags had to show a bit more of the midfield depth which resulted in #36 Lizzie O notching her first career goal.

Another poster said it well that BC was a bit surprised by the quickness of the ‘heels rookies. UNC’s dodges down the alley and from gle weren’t just for show—and they didn’t need much daylight to get home. BC adjusted and will commit to forcing dodgers wider and sealing off the goal circle to prevent the doorstep chances we saw Friday.

UNC defense did a great job on BC attack and generally handled their match-ups without sending help. UNC #1 Emily N and #45 Brooklyn WW shared the game ball imo. I can’t imagine them being able to replicate their near-perfect games, but BC offense will need to be more creative. BC didn’t show much of their capabilities so they will be able to bring some new looks to future meetings.

BC week ahead will look more like preseason than spring break but at least they get back on the horse quickly v Brown Wed and Louisville Saturday.

GratefulRed wrote: ↑Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:26 am
Another poster said it well that BC was a bit surprised by the quickness of the ‘heels rookies. UNC’s dodges down the alley and from gle weren’t just for show—and they didn’t need much daylight to get home. BC adjusted and will commit to forcing dodgers wider and sealing off the goal circle to prevent the doorstep chances we saw Friday.

^^This^^

I havent seen so many alley to GLE side attacks. They must have known something about the BC D that clued them into that. That is a hard spot to score from, but UNC seemed to do it well.

GratefulRed wrote: ↑Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:26 am UNC #1 Emily N and #45 Brooklyn WW shared the game ball imo. I can’t imagine them being able to replicate their near-perfect games

I'm not so sure about that part, every time I've seen those two play they've been nothing short of incredible/impressive. Two really good D gals.

DMac wrote: ↑Tue Mar 07, 2023 11:35 am

GratefulRed wrote: ↑Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:26 am UNC #1 Emily N and #45 Brooklyn WW shared the game ball imo. I can’t imagine them being able to replicate their near-perfect games

I'm not so sure about that part, every time I've seen those two play they've been nothing short of incredible/impressive. Two really good D gals.

Absolutely agree! Nalls has been a staple down on D since her freshman year and BWW was outstanding in her freshman debut plus the experience both gained this summer playing for England and Canada.

DMac wrote: ↑Tue Mar 07, 2023 11:35 am

GratefulRed wrote: ↑Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:26 am UNC #1 Emily N and #45 Brooklyn WW shared the game ball imo. I can’t imagine them being able to replicate their near-perfect games

I'm not so sure about that part, every time I've seen those two play they've been nothing short of incredible/impressive. Two really good D gals.

Roger that.