CORNELL WINS 2025 MENS LACROSSE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

[BearLover]

I don't have the numbers, so please correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like Cornell never had very good statistical defenses under Stevens. Even last year, our defense was pedestrian while the rest of our team was great.

I think part of this could be the effect of having an amazing offense. An offense that scores so much and so quickly gives the opponent a lot of chances that they might not have against a slower, less dynamic offense.

I would be interested in seeing stats like defensive efficiency, which I believe accounts for number of possessions. In lacrosse you can't really judge an offense or defense or goalie by goals scored/goals allowed because it doesn't account for number of possessions.

[mike1960]

I don't have the numbers, so please correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like Cornell never had very good statistical defenses under Stevens. Even last year, our defense was pedestrian while the rest of our team was great.

Could be. But the team played great defense when it really counted. That's what we need if we want to make it back to the big games in May.

In the meantime, last I checked, Cornell remains the national champions of college lacrosse!

[BearLover]

If I'm reading lacrosse reference correctly, last season Cornell had the #1 offensive efficiency and #45 defensive efficiency, *not adjusting* for opponents. To get the opponent-adjusted metric, you'd need to subscribe to pro.lacrossereference.com

[CU77]

Massey computes offensive and defensive ratings based on his own proprietary methodology which does take into account opponent strength.

He has Cornell 2025 at #11 defense, #1 offense.

https://masseyratings.com/clax/ncaa-d1/ratings

Defensive ranking in prior years: 2024 #27; 2023 #14; 2022 #4

https://masseyratings.com/clax2024/ncaa-d1/ratings

Change the year in the URL to see other years.

[Al DeFlorio]

Massey computes offensive and defensive ratings based on his own proprietary methodology which does take into account opponent strength.

He has Cornell 2025 at #11 defense, #1 offense.

https://masseyratings.com/clax/ncaa-d1/ratings

Defensive ranking in prior years: 2024 #27; 2023 #14; 2022 #4

https://masseyratings.com/clax2024/ncaa-d1/ratings

Change the year in the URL to see other years.

Don't do this to him.  He'll have nothing to whine about.

[BearLover]

Massey computes offensive and defensive ratings based on his own proprietary methodology which does take into account opponent strength.

He has Cornell 2025 at #11 defense, #1 offense.

https://masseyratings.com/clax/ncaa-d1/ratings

Defensive ranking in prior years: 2024 #27; 2023 #14; 2022 #4

https://masseyratings.com/clax2024/ncaa-d1/ratings

Change the year in the URL to see other years.

Don't do this to him.  He'll have nothing to whine about.

You have a comically low bar for what constitutes "whining." Wahhh I'm so upset I can't whine anymore about *checks notes* a defensive coordinator who isn't even here anymore and who I praised as a Cornell legend a few pages back. I must really love whining about him, and I must be absolutely crushed that CU77 provided these statistics, especially considering I *checks notes* asked for these statistics to be provided.

Back to the actual topic, our mean defensive ranking with Stevens as DC was 14th. That's solid, but not great, considering we are a better than top-14 program (both traditionally and in that span). Our offense in that time was 10th, 8th, 5th, and 1st (average of 6th). Outside of 2022 we didn't have much of a shut-down defense. Thus, while our defense is impact by Stevens' departure, I do not feel like we are losing a strength of our program. (Obviously, he contributed greatly in recruiting and other things as well.)

[mike1960]

Massey computes offensive and defensive ratings based on his own proprietary methodology which does take into account opponent strength.

He has Cornell 2025 at #11 defense, #1 offense.

https://masseyratings.com/clax/ncaa-d1/ratings

Defensive ranking in prior years: 2024 #27; 2023 #14; 2022 #4

https://masseyratings.com/clax2024/ncaa-d1/ratings

Change the year in the URL to see other years.

Don't do this to him.  He'll have nothing to whine about.

That 2022 team was pretty darned good, full of young guys who went on to win the national championship.

[jjanow99]

I don't have the numbers, so please correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like Cornell never had very good statistical defenses under Stevens. Even last year, our defense was pedestrian while the rest of our team was great.

Could be. But the team played great defense when it really counted. That's what we need if we want to make it back to the big games in May.

In the meantime, last I checked, Cornell remains the national champions of college lacrosse!

My thoughts exactly. In the last 3 games they gave up 12/9/10. I think that having all of the SSDMs back and healthy made a huge difference. I'm wondering if Box and Bozzi were kept out of the ILT just to be sure they were at 100%. I've watched these games multiple times now, and am very impressed with the SSDM contingent.

[BearLover]

Jack Cascadden (previously class of '26) is listed on his LinkedIn as graduating in 2027. Presumably he has taken/will take off two semesters to preserve eligibility after he tore his ACL. I wonder if AJ Nikolic will do the same after missing last season.

With Cascadden having two more years of eligibility I am bullish on the next two seasons. We'll be winning faceoffs and getting the ball to Goldstein/Firth/Nurry (incoming freshman), which should be one of the best attacks in the country. Our D and midfield were so deep last year that we should still be solid there despite all the graduations.

I would not be surprised at all if we're seeded in next year's NCAAs despite losing more talent to graduation than any other team in the country. In two years I predict we will be competitive for another national title.

[Al DeFlorio]

Jack Cascadden (previously class of '26) is listed on his LinkedIn as graduating in 2027. Presumably he has taken/will take off two semesters to preserve eligibility after he tore his ACL. I wonder if AJ Nikolic will do the same after missing last season.

With Cascadden having two more years of eligibility I am bullish on the next two seasons. We'll be winning faceoffs and getting the ball to Goldstein/Firth/Nurry (incoming freshman), which should be one of the best attacks in the country. Our D and midfield were so deep last year that we should still be solid there despite all the graduations.

I would not be surprised at all if we're seeded in next year's NCAAs despite losing more talent to graduation than any other team in the country. In two years I predict we will be competitive for another national title.

::cheer::::cheer::::cheer::

[Swampy]

Jack Cascadden (previously class of '26) is listed on his LinkedIn as graduating in 2027. Presumably he has taken/will take off two semesters to preserve eligibility after he tore his ACL. I wonder if AJ Nikolic will do the same after missing last season.

With Cascadden having two more years of eligibility I am bullish on the next two seasons. We'll be winning faceoffs and getting the ball to Goldstein/Firth/Nurry (incoming freshman), which should be one of the best attacks in the country. Our D and midfield were so deep last year that we should still be solid there despite all the graduations.

I would not be surprised at all if we're seeded in next year's NCAAs despite losing more talent to graduation than any other team in the country. In two years I predict we will be competitive for another national title.

::cheer::::cheer::::cheer::

Some "experts" are even more optimistic: Brown: My Top 10 NCAA Men's DI Contenders For 2026

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Jack Cascadden (previously class of '26) is listed on his LinkedIn as graduating in 2027. Presumably he has taken/will take off two semesters to preserve eligibility after he tore his ACL. I wonder if AJ Nikolic will do the same after missing last season.

With Cascadden having two more years of eligibility I am bullish on the next two seasons. We'll be winning faceoffs and getting the ball to Goldstein/Firth/Nurry (incoming freshman), which should be one of the best attacks in the country. Our D and midfield were so deep last year that we should still be solid there despite all the graduations.

I would not be surprised at all if we're seeded in next year's NCAAs despite losing more talent to graduation than any other team in the country. In two years I predict we will be competitive for another national title.

::cheer::::cheer::::cheer::

Some "experts" are even more optimistic: Brown: My Top 10 NCAA Men's DI Contenders For 2026

Interesting how high he has Richmond ranked.

[mike1960]

Jack Cascadden (previously class of '26) is listed on his LinkedIn as graduating in 2027. Presumably he has taken/will take off two semesters to preserve eligibility after he tore his ACL. I wonder if AJ Nikolic will do the same after missing last season.

With Cascadden having two more years of eligibility I am bullish on the next two seasons. We'll be winning faceoffs and getting the ball to Goldstein/Firth/Nurry (incoming freshman), which should be one of the best attacks in the country. Our D and midfield were so deep last year that we should still be solid there despite all the graduations.

I would not be surprised at all if we're seeded in next year's NCAAs despite losing more talent to graduation than any other team in the country. In two years I predict we will be competitive for another national title.

::cheer::::cheer::::cheer::

Some "experts" are even more optimistic: Brown: My Top 10 NCAA Men's DI Contenders For 2026

I don't see how it is possible to know where teams truly rank until around the middle of the season.

[RichH]

Jack Cascadden (previously class of '26) is listed on his LinkedIn as graduating in 2027. Presumably he has taken/will take off two semesters to preserve eligibility after he tore his ACL. I wonder if AJ Nikolic will do the same after missing last season.

With Cascadden having two more years of eligibility I am bullish on the next two seasons. We'll be winning faceoffs and getting the ball to Goldstein/Firth/Nurry (incoming freshman), which should be one of the best attacks in the country. Our D and midfield were so deep last year that we should still be solid there despite all the graduations.

I would not be surprised at all if we're seeded in next year's NCAAs despite losing more talent to graduation than any other team in the country. In two years I predict we will be competitive for another national title.

::cheer::::cheer::::cheer::

Some "experts" are even more optimistic: Brown: My Top 10 NCAA Men's DI Contenders For 2026

I don't see how it is possible to know where teams truly rank until around the middle of the season.

It's not, but CONTENT for the off-season. Gotta keep the clicks.

[scoop85]

Right after we beat Maryland someone posted here that they were happy to trade the success of their professional teams for a Cornell championship, and I wholeheartedly agreed with them. Well, with the Mets in freefall and the Giants looking miserable after one game, God is putting me to the test (but I still stand by my prior assertion).