Lax: 4/3 at Penn

[Al DeFlorio]

And last update has Yale leading Princeton 5-4 in the second period (at Princeton)

[Al DeFlorio]

Looks like we're gonna have to beat Princeton or Syracuse to have any shot at the NCAAs.

[billhoward]

[Q]Al DeFlorio Wrote:

 Looks like we're gonna have to beat Princeton or Syracuse to have any shot at the NCAAs.[/q]

... Cornell lacrosse is putting itself in the same position as the hockey team skated into, losing winnable games and cutting out chances for an at-large berth, leaving only the win-the-league-title route. Assuming Princeton is the class of the Ivy League again but not unbeatable, it's possible Cornell could lose to Princeton (or beat Princeton, that's possible too), Princeton could lose to someone else, and Cornell could beat the someone else (Brown this year as it was Dartmouth last year?), creating a multi-way tie for the title. But that scenario goes out the window with the loss to Penn.

Well, Syracuse is in Ithaca, which has been guaranteed win night for the Big Red the last two times.

[Al DeFlorio]

[Q]billhoward Wrote:

 Well, Syracuse is in Ithaca, which has been guaranteed win night for the Big Red the last two times. [/q]
Syracuse looked more vulnerable than usual earlier in the year, but they appeared to handle an unbeaten Brown team easily in Providence yesterday.  With the firepower on this year's Cornell team, they should be able to score more than they have been.  The killer yesterday was outshooting Brown 13-2 in the third period and coming away with just a 1-0 scoring advantage to show for it.

[ben03]

[Q]billhoward Wrote:

 Well, Syracuse is in Ithaca, which has been guaranteed win night for the Big Red the last two times. [/q]


might want to use the word "guaranteed" with some caution ...

[Hillel J. Hoffmann '85]

I just got back from Philly (our new home, starting sometime in May) after the long Passover weekend.

The Penn game was difficult to watch in so many ways. It was the first time I'd seen the team play since the Boiardi tragedy, and there were many moments when events conspired to break the spell of enjoyment that comes from watching this beautiful sport. At one point, a Cornell player blocked a shot with his body. The sound of the ball striking him made a loud, plastic "thwack," and you could hear the crowd--mostly parents--sharply suck in one big collective breath. There was only a second of silence, but it was a heavy second, if you know what I mean.

The Cornell lacrosse parents are one tight, supportive, enthusiastic bunch (even before recent events). I don't know if any of them read this stuff, but I'd like to extend my thanks to all of them. This sounds silly, but I feel like their rock-steadiness during this whole situation has helped many people cope, and not just the kids on the team. I know it helped me to see all of them there at Franklin Field.

The game. Oy vey. An impressive performance by the Quakers. They played a patient offensive game (no small accomplishment for such a young team), and they were able to retain possession and find cutters near the crease with alarming ease late in the game. They also shrugged off a few Cornell double-teams WAY too easily. Ross did a nice job for most of the game, but he can't hold a candle to Penn's Kelly. Kelly is returning after missing a year due to academic difficulties, and he's clearly the team leader. The dude is unflappable and positionally sound. People have ridiculed me for saying this, but I thought Kelly was the best goalie in the nation two seasons ago.

I agree with Chris 'O3's statement that Cornell's shot selection wasn't so great. In my opinion, the offensive spark that's been missing is Kevin Nee. He is such a great finisher, and he has surprising bursts of quickness near the cage. Whenever he's in the game, Cornell has more offensive options and often ends up with better shots. The problem: It's obvious that Nee is still in great pain because of his chronic (shin?) injuries, and his time is clearly being limited. He only played about a half's worth against Penn, including all of the third quarter, and you could just see the difference he made. It hurts just watching him limp around out there. That's a courageous young man.

However, I disagree with Chris '03's pinning so much blame on face-off specialist Scott Raasch. People have to understand that Raasch's opponent that day was senior Ethan Haire, the best FO guy in the Ivy League. There was NO WAY that Raasch or anybody else on the roster was going to consistently beat Haire (no one has been able to do that--just ask the Blue Jays). After the game, I lingered under the clock next to Haire's father. He was shaken, and told another Penn parent that Raasch had given Ethan "all he could handle." Raasch is the most improved player on the team. Don't be fooled by his performances against the likes of Corno and Haire.

I think we all need to adjust our expectations for this team. If you looked at their body language during the Penn comeback, and then after the game, you could see how fragile and numb these boys are. This is no doubt pop psychology BS, but I gotta assume that their ability to cope with setbacks has been compromised. That's understandable. I hope they regroup and make the playoffs, but I don't think that's realistic. I just wish I could snap my fingers and make their nightmares go away.