Cornell vs. OSU Postgame

[Jim Hyla]

Well, I for one am not optimistic about the future of Ivy, and in particular CU, lax. I think this year may herald the explosion of lax around the college world. The three western teams shows schools that they can compete if they put their mind, and money, into it. Throw a bunch more scholarship schools in the mix and the talent available for non-scholarship schools will be diluted. There just isn't the huge amount of high school players out there. As they see they have much greater options to get at least partial free rides, they will choose not to go to non-scholarship schools. It's what Hobart was concerned about, and I agree.

We have similar problems with hockey, but with Canada available, the pool of recruits is a lot higher. Now I don't claim to say we will no longer be competitive, but I'm afraid we may be slowly sliding downhill. I hope I'm wrong, but there are just not that many players available. As more colleges play, they will generate interest in high schools. That has happened in Ohio, but it will eventually lead to  more scholarship schools starting teams. One more Big Ten school could lead to a Big Ten conference. There may be a Big East conference. All of that will dilute the talent pool.

Woman's lax has also started to see this. SU is playing UNC this weekend. UNC has four CNY players, two of whom are sisters whose parents both played at CU. Did money lead them to the south?  Gary Gait has SU flying and money helps recruiting. All of that makes it harder to say give it up and come to CU.

[TimV]

I agree that it is one of the worst losses in Cornell lacrosse history, but I don't see the apocalypse.  Yet.  

The way Duke handled TOSU confirms my original opinion that Cornell played their worst game of the year (and perhaps several years) on the same day that TOSU played their best (perhaps also in several years.)  We had no goaltending whatsoever, and when I heard Meyers had another year of eligibility I almost puked.  The defense was fundamentally awful and tactically not at all playing their usual game.

This year started out as a major retool with a god-awful lot of talent leaving.  I'm amazed they did so well, and very pleased with everything before Saturday, which I see as a confluence of bad performance, bad luck, and an opponent that had the Midas touch that disappeared a week later.

I do anxiously agree about your point about big money schools like TOSU and Notre Dame becoming successful.  At this point, with only 12 scholarships to give on a 40-something man roster, I think there's still plenty of talent, probably more than there ever was.

[cliffw]

There are more good highschool players every year. The amount of high school programs continue to grow as does the quality. Since the amount of D1 programs remain the same there are more than enough top quality players to go around. The challenge is to attract the top flight players without the benefits of athletic scholarships. CU's newly announced financail program should help in this regard.

[Al DeFlorio]

Good news for next year: http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080524/SPORTS/805240320/1006

[Jordan 04]

Schadenfreude!

Down goes Duke.  Great job by Hopkins today.

[ebilmes]

[quote Al DeFlorio]Good news for next year: http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080524/SPORTS/805240320/1006[/quote]

The article seems to indicate that the goalie situation will be roughly the same next year. Does anyone know if we have goalie recruits lined up for either of the next two years?

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote ebilmes][quote Al DeFlorio]Good news for next year: http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080524/SPORTS/805240320/1006[/quote]

The article seems to indicate that the goalie situation will be roughly the same next year. Does anyone know if we have goalie recruits lined up for either of the next two years?[/quote]
Here's an earlier thread about a 2009 goalie recruit: http://elf.elynah.com/read.php?7,130436

I think next year's gonna be same old, same old.

[peterg]

The Ithaca Journal reported in early April that AJ Fiore, a HS All-American (I believe) from Ithaca High School, who started as the CNY Empire goalie (a very BIG deal in lacrosse recruiting) as a sophomore, has committed to Cornell for the fall of 2009.  Supposedly, he turned down the rest of the Ivy's and Hopkins, among others, to commit to CU.  Of course, there's that pesky admissions process....

I would post the link to the article, but the IJ seems to charge to get to the page.

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote peterg]The Ithaca Journal reported in early April that AJ Fiore, a HS All-American (I believe) from Ithaca High School, who started as the CNY Empire goalie (a very BIG deal in lacrosse recruiting) as a sophomore, has committed to Cornell for the fall of 2009.  Supposedly, he turned down the rest of the Ivy's and Hopkins, among others, to commit to CU.  Of course, there's that pesky admissions process....

I would post the link to the article, but the IJ seems to charge to get to the page.[/quote]
http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080403/SPORTS/804030355

[Jim Hyla]

Yeah, our only problem is goalie, goalie, goalie. Yes, our defense was somewhat suspect at times, but I expect that to come around. The offense also didn't seem to stay in groove, trying too hard one on one, when backing off and letting someone else try would have been the best option. However, that should correct with maturity, goalie on the other hand???

[Swampy]

[quote Jim Hyla]Yeah, our only problem is goalie, goalie, goalie. Yes, our defense was somewhat suspect at times, but I expect that to come around. The offense also didn't seem to stay in groove, trying too hard one on one, when backing off and letting someone else try would have been the best option. However, that should correct with maturity, goalie on the other hand???[/quote]

Don't forget that Martinez was a very highly regarded recruit. Like Fiore, he was a goalie at the Empire State Games (but for the Long Island team), and he was all-county three times at Babylon High. He may mature into an excellent keeper.

[Josh '99]

[quote Swampy]Bâbylon[/quote]Heh.