Lax: NCAA 1st round vs. Ohio State (pre-game)

[Hillel Hoffmann]

Ohio State is loads of fun. Not as entertaining as Albany 2007, but if you dig fast-paced offense and aggressive defense, then the Buckeyes are the team to watch in this year's tournament. It's a shame that Great Western Lacrosse League teams aren't on TV more. With three GWLL teams in the NCAA tournament and all eight of this weekend's first-round games on ESPNU, at least they'll get a brief moment in the sun.

Brian Delaney's article in today's Ithaca Journal totally nailed it -- Ohio State's 2008 team is going to look mighty familiar to Cornell fans. With a defense that extends to the edges, a hard ride, a dangerous transition game, a high-powered offense with good shooters, a brilliant dodging middie who can shoot on the run with both hands (Kevin Buchanon), and a left-handed Canadian attackman (Joel Dalgarno), they look a lot like last year's Cornell team. They're even having a miserable time at the faceoff X, just like Cornell '07. (They're not a perfect match; unlike Cornell '07, the Bucks don't have an All-Universe goalie and defenseman, nor do they have playoff experience.) If you want to see something scary, watch highlights here of Ohio State opening a can of whupass on North Carolina at Boys' Latin in Baltimore.

Ohio State will score goals against Cornell. Maybe a whole bunch. (Don't take any comfort in Ohio State's 9-2 loss to Notre Dame in the GWLL championship game; the Irish have great defenders, and their goalie Kemp played one of the best games any goalie has played this season, making 18 saves.) It's a good match-up for the Bucks' offense. They have the talent to prey on Cornell's weak links, and their extra-man unit -- one of the very best in the nation at 48 percent -- will burn Cornell if the Big Red's defense reverts to the overzealous play that drew so many flags earlier this season (that's you, Mr. Gradinger).

The answer, of course, is don't let them have the ball. How cool is to have a good, deep face-off unit for a change? After so many years of misery, Cornell is now ranked fourth in the nation in team faceoff winning percentage (61 percent). The depth of the unit permits to throw size/style curveballs (wee quick Glynn and big strong Schmicker, spelled by unorthodox Seibald) and wear down opponents. This unit not only wins possessions -- they score at least a goal a game within seconds of the draw, and they're all capable of playing solid defense when they lose faceoffs.

Ohio State will counter by pushing their defense out to the edges of Cornell's offense and trying to force the issue with Cornell's turnover-prone midfielders. If Cornell's offensive players can stay mentally focused, move off-ball and find the open man, there will be plenty of opportunities to get easy goals. Only one other team, Denver, has tried to be super-aggressive on defense against Cornell this season, and the Big Red dropped 20 on them by working the ball inside. Ohio State has a better goalie, but Schroder won't stand a chance if his defenders take too many risks.

Cornell needs to demoralize Ohio State by coming out fast in the first and third quarters. If they don't -- and if Buchanon and Dalgarno start feeling confident and throwing all kinds of stuff at Myers -- look out.

Can't wait.

[Beeeej]

Thanks as always for your detailed and entertaining analysis, Hillel - I would've watched the game on TV this Saturday regardless, but I know I'll enjoy and appreciate it more having soaked all this up.

Go Red!

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

When I hear deny them the ball, I imagine that Tambroni will go to a slow-down game against the fast paced offense.  My impression with when we go slow down is that we think too much and start making mistakes.  Ref. Duke in the 2006 playoffs and Princeton this year.

This does not make me comfortable.

[Al DeFlorio]

[quote Jeff Hopkins '82]When I hear deny them the ball, I imagine that Tambroni will go to a slow-down game against the fast paced offense.  My impression with when we go slow down is that we think too much and start making mistakes.  Ref. Duke in the 2006 playoffs and Princeton this year.

This does not make me comfortable.[/quote]
Add Navy in the 2004 QF.

[Cornell11]

duke is up 11-4 in the 4th. looks like theyll be playing in ithaca next sunday

[Jordan 04]

What does "WD>WS"on the back of our warm-up shirts mean?

[DeltaOne81]

2-0 OSU early, including a goalie-goal and a man-down goal.

[Jordan 04]

Looks like the team has been caught thinking ahead to Duke in the early going.

[likeshockey]

This is embarrassing. I don't know how they could be thinking about Duke. Ohio State beat some good teams during the season.

[DeltaOne81]

I doubt they're looking ahead, I more think the bad Cornell team showed up (so far) this week, which is no big surprise this year.

[Jordan 04]

Well, whatever the reason,sucks to see us getting steamrolled.

[Jordan 04]

Time for a goalie change?

[Jacob '06]

It would be nice if we could get a save at some point in this game.

[likeshockey]

I should stop watching. I did that last year against Duke and when I turned the TV on again, we had just tied the score. Boy was it heart breaking to lose that game.

[Jacob '06]

[quote Jacob '06]It would be nice if we could get a save at some point in this game.[/quote]

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