OT: 2005 lacrosse preview

There have been few moments in the history of Cornell athletics as devastating as the death of George Boiardi. There also have been few moments in the history of Cornell athletics as redemptive as the sight of a sea of red 21 jerseys worn by Cornell fans in the Crescent during last year’s NCAA quarterfinals at Schoellkopf.

In the wake of Boiardi's passing, the Cornell lacrosse team pulled off a remarkable string of accomplishments. They won a bunch of tough, one-goal games. They beat Princeton on the road. They were co-winners of the Ivy League for the second year in a row. They finished in the top 10 and qualified for the NCAA tournament. They destroyed an excellent Hobart team in the first round. And they lost by one goal to a Navy team that nearly won the National Championship.

And that wasn't even their most lasting achievement. By carrying their burden in such a mature and sensitive way, the team, their families, the coaching staff, and the associated Athletics administrators did something that an army of counselors and PR professionals couldn’t have done: They helped heal us all -- not just Cornellians, but lacrosse fans everywhere. To an audience that eventually became international, they projected the best possible image of Cornell and the sport. In life, that’s what George did, so it was a fitting memorial.

I imagine this year’s team still feels some emotional fatigue. Despite some genuine stars, a solid work ethic, and an unusually strong performance against Johns Hopkins in the final scrimmage (an 8-7 loss at Homewood), I feel cautious about 2005. Maybe it’s the renewed strength of Cornell’s rivals, particularly Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, and Hobart. Maybe it’s the tough schedule, which includes three scary new opponents, each on the rise in 2005: Notre Dame (Saturday’s season-opening opponent), Army, and North Carolina. Maybe it’s the fact that Cornell typically slumps in odd seasons, when they play Syracuse on the road. Or heck, maybe it’s the fact that the Lax Swami picked Cornell to finish out of the top 10 this year. Admit it: He does have a knack for picking Cornell’s approximate end-of-season rank.

2005 PREVIEW

OFFENSE. When Andrew Collins graduated, he walked away with about 40 percent of the assists from an offense that was already alarmingly static. So who’s gonna get the ball to Cornell’s two superb finishers, seniors Sean Greenhalgh and Kevin Nee? Although Greenhalgh and Nee have diversified their games and have good off-ball instincts, they can’t be expected to create their own shots with regularity, and the leading third attackman candidates -- sophs David Mitchell and Henry Bartlett -- don’t seem to have Collins’ skill set. The answer emerged in last year’s playoff game against Hobart: Offensively, this team will live or die on the ability of its midfield to create offense off the dodge. Justin Redd, Joe Boulukos, Ian Rosenberger, Brian Clayton, and freshman John Glynn (a sparkplug from LI) all can dodge defenders and shoot to kill. Unfortunately, only Redd -- Cornell’s finest middie since Norm Engelke '81 -- has demonstrated that he can feed off the dodge with consistency (he had four assists against HC in the playoffs, a career high). Just how serious is this problem? Here’s a sign: Tambroni conducted several uncomfortable preseason experiments, including trying Redd at attack. Ick. Ball movement will not be Cornell’s strength, which may make their even-strength offense even more exasperating to watch. (Especially when the gifted Boulukos gets the rock -- I love those lasers he unleashes, but oy vey, how he runs himself into doubles and traps.)

DEFENSE. As usual, Cornell’s close defense enters the season with two incumbents and not much depth. Kyle Georgalas and townie Casey Stevenson return as starters (Stevenson’s brother, a prized recruit, was lost to Georgetown). Georgalas assumes the role of d-zone leader and clearmeister, a.k.a. He Who Must Not Get Injured. The choice for starting third d-man appears to be soph Mitch Belisle, a converted middie from MD. Belisle is reported to have played nearly every minute in recent scrimmages; he seems to be holding up. After that, there’s Michael Rodgers, freshman Shawn Byrne, and little else. Recent defections (see below) and position changes have culled the herd of available defensemen like a long winter. By contrast, there’s a logjam at long-stick middie, where Mike Pisco, Dave Bush (who may be playing short stick), Byrne, and -- get this -- goalie Ethan Vedder are available to replace departed LSM Needham, the most underrated of last year’s seniors. Vedder at LSM??? Tambroni recognizes that his wheels and stick are too good to keep on the bench. Besides, Vedder was already prone to bolting downfield on clears (as in: “Yikes, chain that guy to the posts”). Props to Vedder for being willing to try other ways to get on the field; sitting behind McMonagle last year must have been painful. I still think Vedder could be one of the best goalies in the nation. Based on reports from scrimmages, Cornell might play a slightly more aggressive match-up zone this year.

OUTBOUND/INBOUND. The team suffered three premature departures, some unexpected. Midfielder Joe D’Arrigo, who was getting no PT, transferred to Syracuse (there are surprising reports that he’s thriving there). Andrew Clayton, a long stick with great promise, left the squad soon after the 2004 season ended (twin brother Brian remains). But perhaps the most discouraging loss was freshman Rob Scott, a big, fast, intimidating defenseman who left the team for personal reasons only days before Cornell’s first spring scrimmage. I thought he was going to be one of the most impactful freshmen in the nation this year. The news ain’t all bad: Middie Ian Rosenberger, a team leader and effective shooter, returns for a fifth year of eligibility (he was hurt for much of 2003). Freshmen to watch include Glynn; A/M Drew Webb, part of the first wave of lacrosse talent to emerge from the state of Texas; Byrne, a long pole from Skaneateles; John Espey, a small but energetic attackman from LI; and midfielders Troy Turri (LI) and Tee Cahill (CT). Scott’s departure, if permanent, makes this a solid but unspectacular class. Glynn and Webb are the most intriguing newcomers.

RECRUITING. Tambroni and primary assistant Ben DeLuca '98 are coming into their own as recruiters. Next year’s incoming freshman class is talented and large. Part of this is likely the result of the staff’s handling of the Boiardi tragedy, which allowed the extended lacrosse community to witness Cornell’s close-knit lacrosse family. Even before last year's events, the staff had a knack for developing exceptionally tight teams, and I sense that word is getting around to parents. A few highlights from next year’s class: goalie Dave Grossman from Ithaca, a surprise star for CNY at last year’s Empire State Games (he’ll continue a tradition of lax faculty brats -- you go, boy!); HS All-America (as an 11th grader) attackman Chris Finn from LI juggernaut Manhasset; athletic A/M Max Seibald, a HS All-America (as an 11th grader) from Hewlett on LI; and Nick Gradinger, a defenseman from California’s growing lax pond who’s playing at Deerfield this year. Trends: Cornell is landing more players from private schools (not a traditional source) and Tambroni has restored flow to Cornell’s LI pipeline.

More notes:

* At this time, Cornell is not scheduled to make any regular season TV appearances.
* Cornell has a new second assistant coach, replacing Pat Dutton '99: Pat Myers (Ohio State '03), a Mainer (!) who will help run Cornell’s offense. Edit: Thanks to the Boiardi family and other supporters, primary assistant Ben DeLuca's post has now been endowed -- he is the first Mario St. George Boiardi Assistant Coach of Men's Lacrosse.
* Sean Greenhalgh was the victim of a well-orchestrated prank recently, when pals from St. Catherine’s posted a mock press release on lax boards announcing his suspension for worshiping the almighty [Canadian]two-four[/Canadian]. Reports of his absence from scrimmages fueled rumors. It’s bullshit, as far as I can tell, but it’s getting a lot of mileage.
* A new faceoff rule will separate the sticks of opposing FO players by four inches (and players’ sticks from the ball by an inch or two) before the whistle. Conventional wisdom: It rewards the quick and punishes the bulls. I think the rule’s effects will be minimal. Cornell’s primary FO man will be JD Nelson, who struggled in some scrimmages and dominated others.
* Sons of coaches keep coming to Cornell -- surely a good sign. Georgalas is the son of the coach of the MLL’s New Jersey Pride (and formerly Mahopac HS). Espey is the son of the former Stony Brook U coach. And recruit Kyle Doctor, an attackman at Skaneateles, is the son of his high school coach.
* Ivy trend to watch: The continued rise of Dartmouth, which now features two of the Ivy’s top guns, the Ivy’s best goalie, and some new assistant coaching blood. I predict they’ll take second place in the league and, if they beat Princeton, earn an at-large bid.
* The NCAA is moving the Final Four to Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field this year, part of a two-year experiment. The last time the F4 came to town, attendance was weak. Expect better results this time, but not the magic of Baltimore. Johns Hopkins and Princeton will host the NCAA D-I quarterfinals on May 21 and 22, respectively.

Wow. Thanks, Hillel.

Wow, great report. Maybe we need an eSchoellkopf (?) forum? Nah, doesn't have quite the same ring. It sounds as if the pre-season predictions of Cornell around #10 in the nation are not out of line.

As I was reading down the list of people who Cornell was hoping would play and then bailed, it sounded (initially) as if possibly there were some coach(es)-player relations issues. OTOH the flow of coaches' sons to Cornell sounds like only a good sign since those players are probably more knowledgeable.

A Cornell player (Joe D’Arrigo) transferring to Syracuse because he didn't get enough playing time here, that sounds bizarre, unless Syracuse is barren in the midfield.

Didn't Navy last year move its #2 goalie off the bench and into the defense?

For three years, it has seemed as if we're waiting for Sean Greenhalgh to unleash himself - even with 28 goals last year. He has those sparks of brilliance when he's left alone for two seconds and the pass comes to him. The ball is in the net an instant later. Does it seem like he can be neutralized by really good defensemen?

Rob Scott, the freshman defenseman with great potential, he's still at Cornell but not playing?

What inducement would it take to get Matt Moulson on the field?

Is Dartmouth still playing lax on a grass field? By the time the ice is off the campus, they have like two games left on the season. Hard to figure out why Penn doesn't do better in lacrosse than it does.

Do you know who wrote this article, or where it was published?

I think that Hillel wrote it, and it was published on elynah ...maybe published on laxpower as well?

Like a lot of sports (other than hockey), I didn't follow lacrosse much while I was at Cornell, but have become a big fan since graduating. I'm looking forward to this season, and already have the Cornell/Syracuse game circled on my calendar. I'll be in attendance at the Carrier Dome to cheer on the Big Red!

-Chris '03

Those with an interest in this game should know that for the first time in over two decades, the fabled #22 will not be worn this season (the first time since 1982). There are apparently no souls willing to accept the pressure/responsibility it bestows upon the wearers shoulders. It’s hard to imagine a team know for it’s superstars, is somehow lacking an ego big enough to sport the #22. So, absent an individual player who can single-handedly win a game for them, the Orange have instead committed to playing more as a team than in years past. In my mind this can only draw the comparison to the Big Red hockey program, deep.
It should make for an interesting season and an eventful night versus the Big Red.

[Q]ben03 Wrote:

So, absent an individual player who can single-handedly win a game for them, the Orange have instead committed to playing more as a team than in years past. [/q]

Does Desko have the coaching chops to win with guile rather than piles of raw talent? He ain't Bill Tierney...

[q]Those with an interest in this game should know that for the first time in over two decades, the fabled #22 will not be worn this season (the first time since 1982).[/q]For those of us that do not follow the sport closely enough to know (e.g. me), can you explain the significance of #22 to Syracuse?

[Q]KeithK Wrote:

Those with an interest in this game should know that for the first time in over two decades, the fabled #22 will not be worn this season (the first time since 1982).[/Q]
For those of us that do not follow the sport closely enough to know (e.g. me), can you explain the significance of #22 to Syracuse?[/q]

Wearing #22 at Syracuse for Lacrosse is like wearing #44 for SU Football.

#44
Jim Brown
Ernie Davis
Floyd Little
Rob Konrad

#22
Gary Gait '87-90 (imagine Gretsky or Jordan, but with a twin brother, Paul wore #19)
Charlie Lockwood '91-94
Casey Powell '95-98
Ryan Powell '99-00
Michael Powell '01-04 (imagine the Kariya family, with each one getting better than the last: Ryan & Casey each had 287 career points, Michael had 307)

EDIT: added Charlie Lockwood

 

___________________________
Cornell '98 '00; Yale 01-03; UConn 03-07; Brown 07-09; Penn State faculty 09-
Work is no longer an excuse to live near an ECACHL team...

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2005 05:21PM by jeh25.