2022 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament Thread of DESTINY

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Amazing season, thank you players and coaches! Playing on Memorial Day was an accomplishment few of us fans would have believed possible four months ago.

Ran into one of the all-time great teams in the final, came within 2 goals. We could not have asked for more from these men.

+1. Perfectly stated!

Exactly how I would have put it.

+ another 1.

[BearLover]

The coaching staff did an unfathomably good job. I don't understand how this was even possible after the last two years.

That said, the transfer portal (in conjunction with the blanket fifth year of eligibility) is more garbage that we are going to have to contend with going forward. A first-team all-American midfielder graduates from Cornell. Next year, he and his sixth-year senior teammates score enough goals to make the difference against Cornell in the championship game. How much sense would that have made to anybody five years ago?

[Swampy]

The coaching staff did an unfathomably good job. I don't understand how this was even possible after the last two years.

That said, the transfer portal (in conjunction with the blanket fifth year of eligibility) is more garbage that we are going to have to contend with going forward. A first-team all-American midfielder graduates from Cornell. Next year, he and his sixth-year senior teammates score enough goals to make the difference against Cornell in the championship game. How much sense would that have made to anybody five years ago?

I don't know how the NC$$ determines Coach of the Year. But it's hard to imagine anyone but Buczek and his staff deserving it more. Tillman did a great job, but he had a loaded deck. Buczek, OTOH, drew an inside straight.

[dbilmes]

I felt sorry for the Cornell pep band at the game. They barely got a chance to be heard over the too-loud stadium sound system. Since this was a college championship game you would think the NCAA would give a pep band from one of the participating schools a chance to be heard at least a few times during the game. But sitting across the field from the pep band, I wouldn't have known they were there if I hadn't seen them preparing to go to their seats.

[Weder]

https://twitter.com/terencefoy/status/1531362593671110656

[FallCreek]

The loss stings but there is a lot of positives to take away.

1. The team made what is probably one of the best every Lax teams play a full 4 quarters to win.

2. The defense was epic. They held a great offense to 9 points. They forced a lot of turnovers and were tenacious on ground balls

3. The offense did not fold and made a great run at the end.

4. Nobody expected us or the other Ivy's to run deep into the season.

5. I suspect that it will be a lot easier to recruit in the near future. I am going to guess that playing for Coach Buczek will be a draw given what he has done. He is only 10 or so years older than the 18+ year old players he is recruiting and had the credentials that will impress.

Thanks to all the seniors for a great year! LGR

[Trotsky]

A great season, and something to build on.

May hockey now follow with a title game appearance.

[djk26]

Congratulations to both teams.  What an amazing effort by Cornell. That showed a lot of guts and the graduating seniors, who contributed so much to this program, should absolutely walk away with their heads held high.  While it's tough to come up just short, this feels better than the last time Cornell was in the championship game.

The future of Cornell lacrosse looks bright with Connor Buczek at the helm. As Quint Kessenich said during the semifinal, "I have to be honest, they [Cornell athletics] are going to have to open their wallet to keep him [Buczek]."  I know that Kessenich is not the most popular person among Cornell fans, but I can't disagree with him here.

Maryland is one of those once in a generation teams (I hope...I obviously don't want to see them have the same unbeatable season next year).  Congratulations to Coach Tillman, who went to a pretty good school himself.

However, Maryland's championship can't be considered legit until they play Notre Dame, at a date and location to be determined by the Pope himself.

[George64]

I suspect that it will be a lot easier to recruit in the near future. I am going to guess that playing for Coach Buczek will be a draw given what he has done. He is only 10 or so years older than the 18+ year old players he is recruiting and had the credentials that will impress.

Thanks to all the seniors for a great year! LGR

Absolutely, I'm certain that every top recruit was watching on ESPN.  The announcers praised the Cornell program and spoke highly of its storied history.  Coach Buczek not only has a high Lacrosse IQ, but has academic credentials to match.  He's the kind of coach I'd like my son to play for, but my son is 22 years older than Connor.

LGR
.

[Trotsky]

I suspect that it will be a lot easier to recruit in the near future. I am going to guess that playing for Coach Buczek will be a draw given what he has done. He is only 10 or so years older than the 18+ year old players he is recruiting and had the credentials that will impress.

Thanks to all the seniors for a great year! LGR

Absolutely, I'm certain that every top recruit was watching on ESPN.  The announcers praised the Cornell program and spoke highly of its storied history.  Coach Buczek not only has a high Lacrosse IQ, but has academic credentials to match.  He's the kind of coach I'd like my son to play for, but my son is 22 years older than Connor.

LGR
.

I hear they're making grandsons now.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

https://twitter.com/terencefoy/status/1531362593671110656

Excellent news.

[kingpin248]

The coaching staff did an unfathomably good job. I don't understand how this was even possible after the last two years.

That said, the transfer portal (in conjunction with the blanket fifth year of eligibility) is more garbage that we are going to have to contend with going forward. A first-team all-American midfielder graduates from Cornell. Next year, he and his sixth-year senior teammates score enough goals to make the difference against Cornell in the championship game. How much sense would that have made to anybody five years ago?

I don't know how the NC$$ determines Coach of the Year. But it's hard to imagine anyone but Buczek and his staff deserving it more. Tillman did a great job, but he had a loaded deck. Buczek, OTOH, drew an inside straight.

The USILA presents the Morris Touchstone Award to the coach of the year. Three Cornell head coaches have won it a total of five times (Moran 1971, 1977, 1987; Pietramala 2000; Tambroni 2009). Tillman has yet to win one.

The award isn't given until December at the men's lacrosse coaches summit. (see last year)

[scoop85]

The coaching staff did an unfathomably good job. I don't understand how this was even possible after the last two years.

That said, the transfer portal (in conjunction with the blanket fifth year of eligibility) is more garbage that we are going to have to contend with going forward. A first-team all-American midfielder graduates from Cornell. Next year, he and his sixth-year senior teammates score enough goals to make the difference against Cornell in the championship game. How much sense would that have made to anybody five years ago?

I don't know how the NC$$ determines Coach of the Year. But it's hard to imagine anyone but Buczek and his staff deserving it more. Tillman did a great job, but he had a loaded deck. Buczek, OTOH, drew an inside straight.

The USILA presents the Morris Touchstone Award to the coach of the year. Three Cornell head coaches have won it a total of five times (Moran 1971, 1977, 1987; Pietramala 2000; Tambroni 2009). Tillman has yet to win one.

The award isn't given until December at the men's lacrosse coaches summit. (see last year)

That Tillman hasn't won it is mind boggling

[Robb]

The coaching staff did an unfathomably good job. I don't understand how this was even possible after the last two years.

That said, the transfer portal (in conjunction with the blanket fifth year of eligibility) is more garbage that we are going to have to contend with going forward. A first-team all-American midfielder graduates from Cornell. Next year, he and his sixth-year senior teammates score enough goals to make the difference against Cornell in the championship game. How much sense would that have made to anybody five years ago?

I don't know how the NC$$ determines Coach of the Year. But it's hard to imagine anyone but Buczek and his staff deserving it more. Tillman did a great job, but he had a loaded deck. Buczek, OTOH, drew an inside straight.

The USILA presents the Morris Touchstone Award to the coach of the year. Three Cornell head coaches have won it a total of five times (Moran 1971, 1977, 1987; Pietramala 2000; Tambroni 2009). Tillman has yet to win one.

The award isn't given until December at the men's lacrosse coaches summit. (see last year)

That Tillman hasn't won it is mind boggling

...and doesn't bode well for anyone else winning it this year after the year MD had.

[dbilmes]

We move up 8 spots to No. 2 in the final media poll of the season. Five Ivies ranked in top 10.