ELynah Forum

Actually Calvert mostly ran with Seibald and Romero on the first midfield.  Obviously that will change when Glynn returns.  I don't know what was behind that-- maybe they are considering a position change for him, but I suspect they were just letting him have some fun, and trying to see who should run on a second and even third offensive midfield.

Cornell was very sloppy which was to be expected.  Rob Pannell is a very good addition on attack.  The defense is very thin, and not physical at all.  Feely looked pretty good and had some good hits at LSM.  Both goalies had their moments-- Martinez looks thinner  and quicker.  If Meyers goes into one of his funks, either should be at least an adequate replacement.  Freshmen Roy Lang ran on the second midfield with Austin Boykin who looked pretty good.  Jack Dudley also saw time on that line as did Christian Pastirik who I think has previously only played attack in an injury-plagued career.  I'm not sure whether Shane O'Neill played but he also is a candidate for the second line.  Other than defense, there is lots of depth.  Matt Sutherland appears to be another option on faceoffs-- he took several and was very effective.  On the other hand Kevin Raesley, who wowed with his face off prowess last fall and then did not play during the season, was not in uniform.  Anybody know the story with him?

Some of those listed as candidates to replace the departed close defensemen are also candidates for short stick d middie:  Michael Howe and Ethan Gilbert.  Two freshmen may see some action there: Mitch McMichael and Chris Langton, but very few freshmen have started in recent years.  I'd also love to see Austin Boykin get more pt anywhere-- he was a highly recruited all-MIAA player but has not seen the field much. George Calvert returns and will no doubt start at d-mid.  He is physically tough, and as a former attackman transitions easily to offense.  But he just lacks the foot speed to keep up with very quick players and though improved, he still gets burned a little too frequently.

The coaches are very high on Ethan Gilbert, another middie converting to defense. Last year they were talking about his Mitch Belisle-like potential.  Despite their great success converting mids, it's interesting how few high school defensemen they've gotten in recent years, although there are atleast two defense recruits in the next recruiting class.

I would not dismiss these lists, but I would not be overly concerned either.  The high school talent is more widespread, and there are still many gems a little under the radar screen.  Cornell has a reputation for finding "blue collar" players, who are still improving and who play together selflessly.  Mitch Belisle, who just graduated, is a good example.  I don't think he would have made a top 200 list as a senior in high school.  He was converted from middie to defense at Cornell, and was named the top defenseman in the country.  Cornell's recruiting classes are routinely branded the second, third or fourth best in the Ivy League by the so=called experts, yet they, not Princeton, have been the strongest team for several years now.

A very informed Canadian fan told me that Mitch McMichael from Whitby, Ontario and the Salisbury School is linked to Cornell, and that Carter Bender from Toronto is seriously interested and will PG at Brewster Academy. An attackman from Taft named Claghorn is also linked.