OT LAX: Cornell lacrosse at Syracuse

OK, first things first: The Cornell game against Syracuse tomorrow night at 7 p.m. is going to be televised by Time Warner Syracuse, which means you can see it on Time Warner Ithaca's channel 26.

Due to Syracuse's high RPI rank, the Syracuse game could make or break Cornell's season. A win isn't a guarantee of an at-large NCAA bid, but let's just say Cornell ain't gonna get an at-large bid without a win in the Dome.

Time for pre-SU-game foreplay …er… a midseason report...

Just before the season, a blowhard idiot wrote the following:

[Q]Hillel Hoffmann: Ball movement will not be Cornell's strength, which may make their even-strength offense even more exasperating to watch. [/q]
Wrong as usual, punk. Cornell seems to have found its offensive soul during a string of intraconference buttkickings. What happened? Lots. Tambroni has successfully reprogrammed Cornell's three big guns -- A Kevin Nee, A Sean Greenhalgh, and M Joe Boulukos -- to think "feed" without losing their killer shooting instincts. And what instincts! If you're a goalie, you do NOT want to face this team now. In addition to the high-percentage shots you expect from this offense, Cornell throws a mess of unconventional shots at you: lots of left hands (Greenhalgh, Nee), outrageously improbable angles (Greenhalgh), rebounds, and quick-release darts and bombs from everywhichwhere. And just when you expect one of CU's big guns to blast you, they ignore the scouting report, dish, and Bam! -- you're dead.

But the biggest change to Cornell's modus is the arrival of a transition game. Did I just say that? Thanks to aggressive, intelligent riding and strong play by defensive middies Dave Bush (SSDM), Cameron Marchant (SSDM), and Mike Pisco (LSM), Cornell has been getting as many fast-break goals as any team in the nation in the last three games. The d-mids are easily the most improved unit on the team. Bush is particularly explosive. With the help of strong riders such as Greenhalgh, Cornell is now among the national leaders in busting opponent's clears.
What's so remarkable about this 15 gpg mini-binge is that it's happening while the extra-man offense is in an unexpected slump. If the EMO unit starts clicking (as hinted in the Harvard game), look out.

Syracuse will be tough, but not for the usual reasons. They have a great goalie in Pfeifer (from Baltimore?!), a great freshman attacker in Leveille, and a mess of tall, sturdy, physical midfielders who are hard to knock off course. What will surprise you if you haven't seen SU recently is their overall size. What may also surprise you is the lack of swagger. Unfortunately, reports suggest that the swagger seemed to be returning on Saturday when they spanked Loyola on the road.

A big variable in tomorrow's game will be the play of McMonagle, who’ll be making his first appearance in the Dome. It's a notoriously hard place for young goalies because the unusual lighting makes it hard to find the ball. The good news is that he’s the only CU starter who fears the place. If he plays big, Cornell can win. Will win.

This is fun.

Tomorrow night should be interesting. The usual SU suspects on the Syracuse and Laxpower forums are strangely quiet. Are they concerned?

SU is coming off a win over a poor Loyola team. We don't have much to show yet against top competition, other than a win over ND (slipping lately) and a very good showing, albeit in a scrimmage, against JHU.

BTW, Cornell now 8th in the (meaningless) media poll.

[www.insidelacrosse.com]

Also the meaningless coaches poll: [www.laxpower.com]

and the meaningless LaxPower Forum poll: [www.laxpower.com]

Meaninglessly consistent, at least.

[Q]peterg Wrote:

Tomorrow night should be interesting. The usual SU suspects on the Syracuse and Laxpower forums are strangely quiet. Are they concerned?

[/q]

I think SU fans are very concerned about this year & have been for each game thus far. This is the year to take a whack at the Orange. The swagger is missing...they're spotty once more at the faceoff...they're looking for some offensive leadership. It's as if they're hoping to get through this year, somehow, without missing their annual Final Four party.

SU's top 6 scorers account for about 90% of the offense this year (that compares to about 80% for Cornell) and they lose only one of those kids. If Jamie Ireland (last year's JC midfielder of the year) gets his stuff together and can play next year -- along with the class they have lined up, and some kids that can't even get on the field this year -- I'm guessing the swagger returns.

how many people are making the trip to SU for the game? I am contemplating it, though driving home after nine on a junior license is bad idea.

More foreplay.

Today's preview coverage:

[www.syracuse.com]

[www.ithacajournal.com]

[www.cornellsun.com]

Unintentionally funniest moment from the Sun article above: "Twelve-of-the-16 Red goals were assisted, as the team scored almost willingly against the then-eighth best defensive unit in the nation."

Oops, I don't know how I missed this article about Derek Haswell in today's Post-Standard. Haswell is making a (Section 3) homecoming of sorts.

[www.syracuse.com]

Coverage of lacrosse at the P-S is solid.

Is there anyone here who's gonna be listening to the game, either over the air or over the internet. I probably shouldn't, being at work, and both schools charge for audio anyone. Still, I'd love updates.

Edit: oh wait, something made me think the game was a 4 o'clocker. Hmmm, now I guess I have to pay for audio

[Q]DeltaOne81 Wrote:
Edit: oh wait, something made me think the game was a 4 o'clocker. Hmmm, now I guess I have to pay for audio

[/q]

Does that mean you'll be posting updates here?

[Q]Al DeFlorio Wrote:

DeltaOne81 Wrote:
Edit: oh wait, something made me think the game was a 4 o'clocker. Hmmm, now I guess I have to pay for audio

[/Q]
Does that mean you'll be posting updates here?[/q]
Probably. I can't guarantee I won't doze off when I get home and miss a little while, but I'll do my best