LaxPower Back-Up Stick

The 2018 Hoyas surprised lots of people, had a nice season, and took the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays to the end on their own field in the postseason. Several players have graduated, and they will be missed. However, with the changes in the coaching staff last season, all the talent being Coach Warne's, and him continuing to do a pretty good job with recruiting, do any of you think that last season might be the start of a nice run for Georgetown Lacrosse?

No doubt the Hoyas have some question marks given graduations. SSDM is the biggest one. Looked, during alumni game, that a few very athletic offensive middies from last year are now focusing at short stick. Remains to be seen if they can fill the void left by Galligan and Hursey . Long pole will also be interesting but with Dunne and Walker back from injuries, along with Soph Lacazi and senior Gillman, who both played well last year, this may be a strength in 2019 like 2018. One of those four should join the two strong returnees at close D to form a formidable unit. With some nice upperclass depth and the well regarded freshman from WM defense should be very solid. Always tough to graduate a 1st AA in the cage, and the Hoyas will certainly miss Nick Marocco, but there is reason to be very optimistic about the goalie situation this year. Stephenson and McElroy are both strong stoppers and the freshman brandeau should push them. Assuming Bucaro is back at full strength in the Spring, the Hoyas return their full attack unit and will be leaned on heavily for production. If a few of the highly touted freshmen become factors, this could be a very dangerous unit. Midfield is biggest unknown in my mind. Berge and Behrens are big losses from an already thin unit. Aslanian and Petrillo back from injuries should be a big plus. Looks like Mcdonald is now running middie as well after a strong end to the season on attack. With O’keefe and freshman thompson joining in the mix, along with the dynamic Whittenberg , offensive midfield may be a big upside surprise. Face off, where Tagliafari and Mann graduated is a big unknown. If oft injured junior Beane is healthy he is a real asset as we saw in Maryland scrimmage last spring. The freshman Reilly is highly touted and looke very good in alumni game. Overall, this will be a young team but the upside is huge. Let’s go Hoyas!

2018 Big East Champs, great showing in Tourney’s 1st round, very nice IL article on 2019 Hoyas, lauded HS senior incoming class and now Coach Warne is 3 for 3 on 2020 top 100 recruit commitments, including the number 24 player in the class. Lot’s of positives going on in our program right now. Where are all our laxpower participants? Let’s go Hoyas!

John Dixon (2020) face-off man from Noble & Greenough School.

He is now the 5th top 100 commit in the HS class of 2020 for the Hoyas.

HGK25 wrote:He is now the 5th top 100 commit in the HS class of 2020 for the Hoyas.

Go Hoyas!

https://www.insidelacrosse.com/slidesho ... 94?slide=4 Hoyas preseason #21. All high quality teams ranked ahead of Georgetown no question, but would think this is pretty good motivation for the 2019 team. Hopefully they can outperform the expectations from outside the program again this season. Let’s go Hoyas!.

Georgetown picked 2nd in IL Big East preseason poll and lands 3 on the Preseason All-Conference Team -

A- Daniel Bucaro, Georgetown
A- John Wagner, Marquette
A- Ethan Walker, Denver
M- Colton Jackson, Denver
M- Connor Kirst, Villanova
M- Tanner Thomson, Marquette
M- Lucas Wittenberg, Georgetown
FO- Colin Keating, Providence
SSDM- TJ Comizio, Villanova
LSM- Noah Richard, Marquette
D- Dylan Gaines, Denver
D- Dylan Johnson, Denver
D- Gibson Smith, Georgetown
G- Tate Boyce, Providence


2 weeks until first scrimmage vs Maryland. Let’s go Hoyas!

Hoyas wrapped up the preseason with a strong effort vs UMBC on Saturday, building off a solid but uneven scrimmge the prior week against Maryland. Offense seems to be adapting well to the up tempo rules change, after statistically being the 5th most deliberate offensive team in the country last year (in terms of time of possession per goal). Goalies all had good day Saturday and close defense looks to be a strength. More than a few younger/freshmen players will play significant roles due to holes left from the 2018 graduating class. How this team fares over the course of the season will have a lot to do with how the following are ultimately answered -

Finding the answer in cage - McElroy played first half vs UMBC but all three keepers had a good day. Who take the mantle?

Fogo - Freshman Reilly has been impressive. How injured returnees fare will be important.

Offensive Midfield production - Whittenberg will draw top rope unit defender and will be the clear leader from middie unit offensively . Finding a few other legitimate scoring threats at midfield is critical. Having strong threats up top will create more opportunities for Bucaro, Carraway and rest of a very strong attack unit.

Rope unit - a lot lost to graduation but capable, highly athletic SSD and pole players in mix for playing time. This unit could be very good and would be a very pleasant surprise if gels.

Senior leadership - last year’s seniors set the bar. Can the current seniors do the same? Indications from fall and January are yes.

Saturday vs Sacred Heart should start to provide the answers.

Let’s go Hoyas!!

Real good opening test.
Sacred Heart may not have enough to keep up, under the new rules, but some real good seniors.

I'm doubtful about Sacred Heart creating an upset. But 2/16 is a different story. At least the RoMo from 2018.

Two incredible Hoya lacrosse players being inducted into the Georgetown Athletic HOF tonight - Greg McCavera ‘99 and Scott Urick ‘00. Tremendous players, great men and were huge factors in the Hoyas run to the FInal Four in 1999. Brian McGuire also being inducted. Long time member of the Athletic Department and a huge supporter, over the years, of the Hoya lacrosse program. Congrats to all. And good luck to the boys vs Sacred Heart tomorrow. Let’s go Hoyas!

5-4 Hoyas halftime.
Both goalies doing well, McElroy in goal Hoyas.
Bucaro 1 & 3, Saggese 2g for SHU.

10-6 Hoyas end of 3!! Bucaro 2&4!

Looked pretty good yesterday! Good start to season. Especially pleased with how we performed up the middle - goaltending, faceoff, d mid.

Also, 8 players with a point and 10-13 goals assisted.

Agree team looked good , especially given some of the unknowns going in -
McElroy strong game in cage and clearing. Reilly and Bean effective at face off X. Getting goals from multiple middies not named Whittenberg is great to see. First career goal for Elders and McDermott scoring in his 1st collegiate game. Freshman Mazzone joining last year returning starters Smith and Macleod should be a formidable unit. Rope unit was big question coming in, with all 2018 starters gone to graduation. Aslanian and freshman Geddes at SSD played very well i thought, especially on GBs into transition. LSM Lacazi and Dunn also looked solid. Good Start. ROMO up next will be a good test. They are a dangerous team with a tremendous GK, and will be plenty hungry after PSU game I would imagine.

HGK25 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 10, 2019 11:42 am Agree team looked good , especially given some of the unknowns going in -
McElroy strong game in cage and clearing. Reilly and Bean effective at face off X. Getting goals from multiple middies not named Whittenberg is great to see. First career goal for Elders and McDermott scoring in his 1st collegiate game. Freshman Mazzone joining last year returning starters Smith and Macleod should be a formidable unit. Rope unit was big question coming in, with all 2018 starters gone to graduation. Aslanian and freshman Geddes at SSD played very well i thought, especially on GBs into transition. LSM Lacazi and Dunn also looked solid. Good Start. ROMO up next will be a good test. They are a dangerous team with a tremendous GK, and will be plenty hungry after PSU game I would imagine.

Down year for RM. Georgetown should prevail. like GK

Another W in the column.

9 of 13 assisted.
Good goalie play (57%).
Aslanian with 6GBs, 5CTs, and a goal.
Struggled at the faceoff X.

Towson will be a real test and a rare chance for a tournament resume boosting quality win.

Good teams find a way to win games like this and the Hoyas did today. Played some uncharacteristic sloppy D early (but tightened it up significantly after 1st quarter), were less than stellar in GB battle, some of which made face off stats worse than could have been, and relied on some huge saves from McElroy in 2nd and 3rd quarters to keep within 2 goals. First lead of game was at 11-10. This is a team with a lot of young boys playing serious minutes. Easily could have let this game get away from them a few times but showed a lot of poise and found a way late to get the W. Big one Saturday vs Towson.

Roll Dodge - not going to hear me say this schedule is a killer but to say “rare chance” at a tournament building win is a bit unfair. Granted Denver lost a last second game to Duke, but as of last week’s media poll the Hoyas still play #2 Loyola, #6 Denver, #7 Towson, a Nova team that just knocked off #1 Yale and will now certainly be ranked. As well as Marquette, who is a legitimate top 15 team in my mind (and in other polls). Hofstra, who beat a highly ranked but depleted Lehigh team, is no gimmie either. Schedule leaves little room for error, I am quick to admit, but actually affords plenty of chances to win tournament resume building games. Let’s go Hoyas!