2022 NCAA Men's Lacrosse Tournament Thread of DESTINY

mike1960

Delaware is an excellent team, especially on the defense. This is a small sample size (I watched one game against GTown), but here is what I saw. Cornell will have to work hard for goals. Delaware kept a high-powered GTown to 9 goals, Penn to 8 (earlier this year), and Princeton to 10. They play disciplined lacrosse and they time their slides extremely well, as one would expect from a DeLuca defense. Their long poles are skilled. They will pick your pocket and take away the ball, esp. a guy named Owen Grant. And they don't make a lot of mistakes.

mike1960

I'm not any good at predicting wins and losses, so I won't try. This is clearly a team that Cornell can beat, but Delaware was incredibly impressive in their win against GTown.

Thanks for the analysis, Mike. Delaware seems strong and I am spooked by that 10-9 score over Georgetown. If we can beat them it will have solved some of the 10-9 juju in my mind.

mike1960
Eldon Lindsay posted some great photos of the Ohio State game.

[www.instagram.com]

Nice find.

Some nice analysis of last weekend's action with video in Inside Lacrosse:

[www.insidelacrosse.com]

djk26
Does anyone know where you can find the highlights of the Ohio State game? The "highlights" link on cornellbigred.com does have footage from the game set to bad music, but I was looking for highlights from the broadcast.

25 minutes of highlights: [youtu.be]

Al DeFlorio

djk26
Does anyone know where you can find the highlights of the Ohio State game? The "highlights" link on cornellbigred.com does have footage from the game set to bad music, but I was looking for highlights from the broadcast.

25 minutes of highlights: [youtu.be]

Al for the win! This is terrific, thank you.

Al DeFlorio

djk26
Does anyone know where you can find the highlights of the Ohio State game? The "highlights" link on cornellbigred.com does have footage from the game set to bad music, but I was looking for highlights from the broadcast.

25 minutes of highlights: [youtu.be]

There's a three-minute highlights tape for Ohio State fans.

billhoward

Al DeFlorio

djk26
Does anyone know where you can find the highlights of the Ohio State game? The "highlights" link on cornellbigred.com does have footage from the game set to bad music, but I was looking for highlights from the broadcast.

25 minutes of highlights: [youtu.be]

There's a three-minute highlights tape for Ohio State fans.

Good one!
.

George64

billhoward

Al DeFlorio

djk26
Does anyone know where you can find the highlights of the Ohio State game? The "highlights" link on cornellbigred.com does have footage from the game set to bad music, but I was looking for highlights from the broadcast.

25 minutes of highlights: [youtu.be]

There's a three-minute highlights tape for Ohio State fans.

Good one!

It was an obvious and cheap shot but the layup was uncontested. And it was Ohio State. The Fortune 1000 Big 10 school that took in $230 million in revenue in the last pre-pandemic year.

eLynah castigates members for, say, publicly wishing in the third period that Andy Iles completes the shutout. So Thread of DESTINY is an affront to the woofing gods and to the all-caps police. But, heck, it's just sports. And yet, here we are, one game removed from the final four, either that or the seniors knowing a week in advance they will attend graduation in person. Cornell was helped immeasurably by Delaware taking down Georgetown last weekend. I can almost taste East Hartford, just as I can almost taste the gods of fate letting a lower-ranked team pull off a second upset, under an ex-Cornell coach with a grudge. This should be fun. It feels as if Cornell is playing with house money, us starting the year ranked 15th (below). LGR!

Richie, I hope you're looking down on us. It's good to be here.

USILA Pre-Season 2022 Poll D1
Team (1sts)      Rank   WL   Points   
Virginia (16)	   1	0-0	320	
Maryland (1)	   2	0-0	303	
Duke	           3	0-0	291	
North Carolina	   4	0-0	254	
Notre Dame	   5	0-0	244	
Georgetown	   5	0-0	244	
Yale	           7	0-0	202	 
Penn	           8    0-0	165	
Loyola	           9	0-0	156	
Rutgers	          10	0-0	153	
Syracuse	  11	0-0	137	 
Denver	          12	0-0	134	
Army	          13	0-0	113	 
Lehigh	          14	0-0	91	
Cornell	          15	0-0	74	
Johns Hopkins	  16	0-0	61	
Drexel	          17	0-0	43	
Princeton	  18	0-0	40      	
Delaware	  19	0-0	32	
Penn State 	  20	0-0	30	 
Also receiving votes: Albany (NY) (25), Vermont (25), Bryant (22), Villanova (16), Ohio State (15), Massachusetts (12), High Point (11), Navy (9), and Richmond (8).

this also shows Del was looked at pretty highly to start the year.

upprdeck
this also shows Del was looked at pretty highly to start the year.

Syracuse, Army and Lehigh all rated above us (pre-season) underperformed Cornell; look how low (lower than Cornell) Princeton was rated and Ohio State was in the also-mentioned category. I think Virginia was #1 only in the pre-season, then #2 Maryland took over.

In Cornell's favor, an 80-1 took the Kentucky Derby.

You know DeLuca wants this one bad. His players probably want it for him too. We're going to have to be ready.

I don't know about getting 'helped' so much by Delaware. Georgetown deservedly was highly rated because they had only one loss, but they went 1-1 vs Princeton and Penn, just like Cornell, and Richmond was the only other tournament team they played. They did not blow any games against bubble teams (like Cornell did vs Army), but I think both Georgetown and Rutgers may well be overrated.
Delaware looked very good, with a really solid defense. I am not convinced they will be an easier opponent than Georgetown would have been.

mike1960
You know DeLuca wants this one bad. His players probably want it for him too. We're going to have to be ready.

'Everything Happens For a Reason': Ben DeLuca's Lessons From Moran Pace Blue Hens' Run

[www.insidelacrosse.com]

jeff '84

mike1960
You know DeLuca wants this one bad. His players probably want it for him too. We're going to have to be ready.

'Everything Happens For a Reason': Ben DeLuca's Lessons From Moran Pace Blue Hens' Run
[www.insidelacrosse.com]

Story also helps make Cornell sound like a good place to play lacrosse.

nshapiro
I don't know about getting 'helped' so much by Delaware. Georgetown deservedly was highly rated because they had only one loss, but they went 1-1 vs Princeton and Penn, just like Cornell, and Richmond was the only other tournament team they played. They did not blow any games against bubble teams (like Cornell did vs Army), but I think both Georgetown and Rutgers may well be overrated.
Delaware looked very good, with a really solid defense. I am not convinced they will be an easier opponent than Georgetown would have been.

Agree. Better to have had the target on Georgetown's chest, not ours.

nshapiro
I don't know about getting 'helped' so much by Delaware. Georgetown deservedly was highly rated because they had only one loss, but they went 1-1 vs Princeton and Penn, just like Cornell, and Richmond was the only other tournament team they played. They did not blow any games against bubble teams (like Cornell did vs Army), but I think both Georgetown and Rutgers may well be overrated.
Delaware looked very good, with a really solid defense. I am not convinced they will be an easier opponent than Georgetown would have been.

The glass is half full: At least we don't have to play Syracuse.

Meanwhile: Paging Gavin Adler (blue-and-yellow #1 is Delaware's JP Ward, 71 points on the season).

We’ll take this @HoyasMLacrosse Island Defense Any Day of the Week. pic.twitter.com/MmttwyUBcD

— LaxFilmStudy.com (@LaxFilmStudy) May 19, 2022

billhoward

Story also helps make Cornell sound like a good place to play lacrosse.

And get a great education. DeLuca speaking about Richie Moran, “He believed in me and gave me an opportunity to be a part of a special tradition-rich program and get a phenomenal education and that changed my life.”
.

The article got one fact wrong: Ben DeLuca was a biochem and nutrition major, not a business major. But this demonstrates another benefit of a Cornell education -- access to a vast network of alumni who can help you get a job on Wall St. if you want one.

Quarterfinals

Saturday at Hofstra

Rutgers 11, Penn 9

Princeton 14, Yale 10

Sunday at Columbus OH

Cornell - Delaware

Maryland - Virginia


----

Semifinals: Rutgers plays Cornell-Delaware winner, Princeton plays Maryland-Virginia winner.

Penn ran out of gas in the fourth quarter versus Rutgers.

Yale was up 3-1 before Princeton ripped off 7 in a row. Yale scored last and is about to go man up. P 8-4 ~4 minutes left in the first half.

ugarte
Yale was up 3-1 before Princeton ripped off 7 in a row. Yale scored last and is about to go man up. P 8-4 ~4 minutes left in the first half.

8-5 at the half.

Rutgers goalie Colin Krist was terrific against Penn. He is the brother of Cornell attackman CJ Krist.

Yale can't throw and catch today.

CU77
Rutgers goalie Colin Krist was terrific against Penn. He is the brother of Cornell attackman CJ Krist.

Both goalies were standing on their heads in that game. But Crist was astounding.

KIRST

I see noon ESPNU.

Is any of that correct?

LGR!

Trotsky
I see noon ESPNU.

Is any of that correct?

LGR!

Yes. Every bit.

Nice look by Kirst on that low angle. Love the behind the back try too.

1-0 Cornell, very early.

2-0 on two Pietelli scores. Pep band sounds good.

Trotsky
2-0 on two Pietelli scores. Pep band sounds good.

And they apparently have a Krispy Kreme hat!

Not fair that Delaware's stud is named Kurtz.

Trotsky
Not fair that Delaware's stud is named Kurtz.

The horror.

Losing track of cutters.

Is LiveStats frozen for anyone else? Still says 2-0 Cornell, 7:48 in the 1st. I'm relying on Delaware lacrosse twitter to tell me that now it's 5-4 Cornell, 4:25 to go in the 2nd.

Cornell updates:
[twitter.com]

djk26
Is LiveStats frozen for anyone else? Still says 2-0 Cornell, 7:48 in the 1st. I'm relying on Delaware lacrosse twitter to tell me that now it's 5-4 Cornell, 4:25 to go in the 2nd.

Yes. As is IL scoreboard, likely based on the NCAAs.

Halftime 5-4.

Is this game still 6-4 in the 3rd? I’m in France and things like LiveStats and the radio feed are blocked, so I’m pretty much in the dark. All I can see is the score on InsideLax, and that hasn’t changed in some time.

Killer
Is this game still 6-4 in the 3rd? I’m in France and things like LiveStats and the radio feed are blocked, so I’m pretty much in the dark. All I can see is the score on InsideLax, and that hasn’t changed in some time.

Look two messages back. Twitter link is pretty up to date.

Was 7-4 Cornell, but Delaware is on a run with 3 straight goals, now tied 7-7.

Cornell turning the ball over more in the 3rd and start of 4th periods. Need to control the ball more.

Cornell goal, now 8-7 Cornell.

9-7

9-7 good guys, 6:49 left in the game.

10-7, 5:39 4Q

10-7 Cornell.

60s PP (or whatever it's called) coming up with 2:31 left. 10-7

Time to lock this down.

DE losing their shit.

Trotsky
Time to lock this down.

Nothing on the PP, but now another one!

Jesus fuck what a drive by DE. That was like Syracuse in the game not to be named.

10-8 with 39.4 seconds left. But cmon, it's not like we can give up very quick goals at the end of a tourny game.

10-8 us, 19.4 seconds. A good clear and we can win this.

10-8 Cornell with 20 seconds left.

Game!

Kirst vs Kirst coming up. Now take the interview with boobs on a stick.

Woohoo! (I think it’s the same in French.)

Thanks for the updates.

Allez le Rouge!

On to the Final Four!!!

NCAA Final Fours: 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1987, 1988, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2022

Let’s Go Red!

Trotsky
Jesus fuck what a drive by DE. That was like Syracuse in the game not to be named.

I'd be lying if I said that didn't cross my mind.

East Hartford is less than 2 hours away. If only I wasn't scheduled to be at a hockey tournament in Philly that night.

Come on, early game!

Long highlights video: [youtu.be]

Maryland is dominating Virginia.
15-5 in the 3rd

KenP
Maryland is dominating Virginia.
15-5 in the 3rd

And that's the "de facto championship game" according to a few.

Al DeFlorio
Long highlights video: [youtu.be]

Thanks again, Al. Were you able to find the Piatelli highlights video and the Petrakis highlights video?

I kid, I kid; this is great. And at the end of the video was a suggestion for another video, which had the whole game!

[www.youtube.com]

Inside Lacrosse article says Cornell-Rutgers game's at noon Saturday.

Al DeFlorio
Inside Lacrosse article says Cornell-Rutgers game's at noon Saturday.

Sweet. Maryland will be soooo much more tired when we get them on Monday!

My excuse is that I missed the game because of my daughter's college graduation ceremony.

It was a great day all around.

mike1960
My excuse is that I missed the game because of my daughter's college graduation ceremony.

It was a great day all around.

Congratulations to you both!

[www.quora.com]

Just a topic to get everyone pissed off for Saturday.

toddlose
[www.quora.com]

Just a topic to get everyone pissed off for Saturday.

Hahaha

So it's Ivy League schools versus "Big 10 but let's face it not really Big 10" schools.

ok so i watched the highlights (great compilation) and ... why was kirst's goal waved off? would have put us up 8-7.

ugarte
ok so i watched the highlights (great compilation) and ... why was kirst's goal waved off? would have put us up 8-7.

WHCU broadcasters said it was an illegal pick.

It wasn't, but that was one of several bad calls that went against Cornell.

CU77
It wasn't, but that was one of several bad calls that went against Cornell.

There really wasn't a screen set. I guess the ref called interference on Licciardi for preventing the defender from getting to Kirst? Licciardi did not actively impede the player. When the ref sees the video on this one, I'm sure he'll want it back.

Eight of Cornell’s 10 goals were unassisted — this strikes me as unusual. Was it? I’m too lazy to go back and look at old box scores.
.

George64
Eight of Cornell’s 10 goals were unassisted — this strikes me as unusual. Was it? I’m too lazy to go back and look at old box scores.
.

Yes. Unusual for Cornell.

Cornell vs. Rutgers, NCAA semifnals, 12 noon, Saturday, 5/28/22, on ESPN2
Followed by Princeton vs. Maryland, 2:30 pm
Championship Monday, 1 pm, ESPN


From the site: [www.rentschlerfield.com]
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field
615 Silver Lane
East Hartford, CT 06118
Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field is located off of Interstate 84 at Exit 58, Roberts Street/Silver Lane in East Hartford.

Stadium seats 40,000. Semifinal attendance at Hofstra was announced as 5814, at Columbus 3684. Numbers are off from a decade ago. For Hartford, there's a boatload of tailgating rules such as, "Kegs and bulk quantities of alcohol are not permitted in any vehicle." For lacrosse fans, what's a bulk quantity? [www.rentschlerfield.com]

Title game for Divisions 2 and 3 is Sunday 5/29 in East Hartford

D2 title game is unbeaten (20-0) Tampa vs. Mercy, the Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry on the East side of the Hudson below the Tappan Zee bridge. 4pm

D3 title game RIT (clobbered Tufts 26-15) and Union (ECAC hockey's Union, which beat York PA). 1pm

Inside Lacrosse article on the Cornell/Delaware game

Inside Lacrosse
"First thing I'll say… It's great to be here,” Delaware coach and Cornell alum Ben DeLuca said to open his team’s postgame press conference, an homage to legendary Cornell head coach Richie Moran, who coached DeLuca as a freshman and died on April 24.

That's pretty classy from DeLuca.

djk26
Inside Lacrosse article on the Cornell/Delaware game

Inside Lacrosse
"First thing I'll say… It's great to be here,” Delaware coach and Cornell alum Ben DeLuca said to open his team’s postgame press conference, an homage to legendary Cornell head coach Richie Moran, who coached DeLuca as a freshman and died on April 24.

That's pretty classy from DeLuca.

Hmmph. I thought DeLuca was trading on the trademark of his old not current school. But I suppose "voted best party on the Northeastern Seaboard" doesn't have the same ring.

I think Ben DeLuca has just as much right as Connor Buczek or any other Cornell lax player to quote Richie Moran. After all, he played for the guy, he coached at Cornell for several years, including his stint as head coach, and he interacted with Moran on a regular basis during their years at Cornell. In his interviews he has always given Richie credit for shaping his coaching philosophy. Now if Jeff Tambroni led off a post-season press conference with the comment, that would be different.

djk26
Inside Lacrosse article on the Cornell/Delaware game

Inside Lacrosse
"First thing I'll say… It's great to be here,” Delaware coach and Cornell alum Ben DeLuca said to open his team’s postgame press conference, an homage to legendary Cornell head coach Richie Moran, who coached DeLuca as a freshman and died on April 24.

That's pretty classy from DeLuca.

Completely agree. His team just lost to Cornell, yet he paid homage to a legendary Cornell coach who had just passed away.

In an interview before the game he had been asked what it felt like to be playing against his alma mater. He said something like, "I love Cornell, and I love Cornell lacrosse. I always will. Coach Moran changed my life: I went to Cornell, got a great education, and became a lacrosse coach. But this game isn't about me."

DeLuca got shafted at Cornell, perhaps deservedly so. But he's spent his time in purgatory, and now he's building a very good program in Delaware. It's hard to imagine he hasn't learned some lessons from all this. He didn't have to say anything about Cornell, the university, or RM. But he chose to open with this.

Time to cut him some slack.

I also agree.

Now time to beat Rutgers!

Rentschler background info says "grass field."

Info lacking on which side of the field or which sections are Cornell for Saturday. Also which is the parking area for the Cornell-sponsored (BYO food) tailgate.

Rentschler buy-tickets landing page suggests majority of sections have limited or no availability. Hard to believe it's close to sellout. In the years of 40K+ attendance in Baltimore or Philadelphia, the quarterfinal sites often drew 10,000-plus). Semifinal attendance at Hofstra was announced as 5814 (Shuart Stadium capacity is 11,929 and in previous year, pre-Covid, mid-teens, it was close to sold out), at Columbus 3684 (Ohio Stadium capacty is 104,944).

Oh, yeah, the lower cost seats are $26. Plus $13 handling fees. Where's an attorney general when you need them?

Who's going to the NCAA lacrosse finals weekend?

We are in Lake Placid for the Memorial Day weekend. Plans are to watch the Saturday at WiseGuys, the sports 100 yards downhill from LP Miracle on Ice Rink. If Cornell advances, I'm going +3 (3-1/2 hour drive). From about age 40 onward, it's become clearer and clearer: If Cornell makes the finals, go! You might not live long enough to see the next one. Plus I saw 1971, 1976, 1977.

fyi not many tickets left for the semis

billhoward
Rentschler background info says "grass field."

No quotes needed. The Rent often hosts US National Soccer games, both Men's and Women's teams. It should still be grass. Never mind Pine Tree Road, imagine if you had to drive 30 minutes on an interstate to go to sporting events like UConn students do.

This is bizarre for me. I worked for 13 years (leaving in 2018) in a crumbling office park less than 3 miles away (so not Pratt & Whitney) from Rentschler. I could bike to the stadium in about 20 minutes from my home across the river. It was always a better choice for me to bike since the car traffic access in and out of the former airfield is so horribly mismanaged. Be prepared to sit around in your idling car as everyone is funneled into 1 or 2 entrance/exits depending on what highway you're coming from. Heck, just plan for a post-game tailgate while the lots empty. I was once leaving a concert and listened to an entire hockey period before getting out of the parking lots.

While I'm still undecided about going, I could provide any info about the area if anyone wants. I love Hartford like a 2nd home (yes, seriously), but most people here would feel most comfortable in the posh shopping/dining area of West Hartford Center, or for a more "New Englandy" feel, go to Glastonbury or Old Wethersfield. Nearby Manchester has all the chains (hotels, malls, big boxes) you might want. Just don't say you're "in Hartford" unless you're actually in Hartford city limits. The old racist tropes and donut effect is strong there. People "west of the river" tend to shit on the towns "east of the river" for some reason, but just wear any Whalers gear and you'll likely make friends. I'd like to say the area around the stadium and the city of East Hartford in general has anything very worthwhile, but it really doesn't, and that's too bad since that's what most fans visiting for the first time will take away. Other than the stadium there's a huge Cabella's plopped in the old airfield, and that's about it besides the stark Pratt & Whitney (now part of Raytheon) campus.

billhoward
Rentschler background info says "grass field."

Info lacking on which side of the field or which sections are Cornell for Saturday. Also which is the parking area for the Cornell-sponsored (BYO food) tailgate.

Rentschler buy-tickets landing page suggests majority of sections have limited or no availability. Hard to believe it's close to sellout. In the years of 40K+ attendance in Baltimore or Philadelphia, the quarterfinal sites often drew 10,000-plus). Semifinal attendance at Hofstra was announced as 5814 (Shuart Stadium capacity is 11,929 and in previous year, pre-Covid, mid-teens, it was close to sold out), at Columbus 3684 (Ohio Stadium capacty is 104,944).

Oh, yeah, the lower cost seats are $26. Plus $13 handling fees. Where's an attorney general when you need them?

I just went onto the ticket sales page and there are still a crap-load of seats in the upper deck. Plenty of seats behind the goals, too. Monday looks similar.

I'm driving up Saturday morning and staying with family in suburban Boston for the weekend. If we win Saturday, I'll buy a Monday ticket then, and go to Monday's game on the way home.

Jeff Hopkins '82

billhoward
Rentschler background info says "grass field."

Info lacking on which side of the field or which sections are Cornell for Saturday. Also which is the parking area for the Cornell-sponsored (BYO food) tailgate.

Rentschler buy-tickets landing page suggests majority of sections have limited or no availability. Hard to believe it's close to sellout. In the years of 40K+ attendance in Baltimore or Philadelphia, the quarterfinal sites often drew 10,000-plus). Semifinal attendance at Hofstra was announced as 5814 (Shuart Stadium capacity is 11,929 and in previous year, pre-Covid, mid-teens, it was close to sold out), at Columbus 3684 (Ohio Stadium capacty is 104,944).

Oh, yeah, the lower cost seats are $26. Plus $13 handling fees. Where's an attorney general when you need them?

I just went onto the ticket sales page and there are still a crap-load of seats in the upper deck. Plenty of seats behind the goals, too. Monday looks similar.

I'm driving up Saturday morning and staying with family in suburban Boston for the weekend. If we win Saturday, I'll buy a Monday ticket then, and go to Monday's game on the way home.

I figured out what's going on with ticket availability, I think. The site seems to be showing very different availability depending on which link you click to get to it. This link shows almost no seats available. This one shows many. There must be something going on in the parameters of the first URL that is filtering out available seats for some reason. There are also tons of tickets available on the usual resale sites, so I'm curious to see what the actual attendance is. (According to the Cornell ticket site, the official Cornell section is 102.)

Any thoughts on Rutgers as a team and how we pair up to them?

KenP
Any thoughts on Rutgers as a team and how we pair up to them?

see this thread & follow its links.

KenP
Any thoughts on Rutgers as a team and how we pair up to them?

The Rutgers goalie is CJ Kirst’s brother, so CJ should know his weaknesses, if any.
.

George64

KenP
Any thoughts on Rutgers as a team and how we pair up to them?

The Rutgers goalie is CJ Kirst’s brother, so CJ should know his weaknesses, if any.
.

And vice-versa

Weder

Jeff Hopkins '82

billhoward
Rentschler background info says "grass field."

Info lacking on which side of the field or which sections are Cornell for Saturday. Also which is the parking area for the Cornell-sponsored (BYO food) tailgate.

Rentschler buy-tickets landing page suggests majority of sections have limited or no availability. Hard to believe it's close to sellout. In the years of 40K+ attendance in Baltimore or Philadelphia, the quarterfinal sites often drew 10,000-plus). Semifinal attendance at Hofstra was announced as 5814 (Shuart Stadium capacity is 11,929 and in previous year, pre-Covid, mid-teens, it was close to sold out), at Columbus 3684 (Ohio Stadium capacty is 104,944).

Oh, yeah, the lower cost seats are $26. Plus $13 handling fees. Where's an attorney general when you need them?

I just went onto the ticket sales page and there are still a crap-load of seats in the upper deck. Plenty of seats behind the goals, too. Monday looks similar.

I'm driving up Saturday morning and staying with family in suburban Boston for the weekend. If we win Saturday, I'll buy a Monday ticket then, and go to Monday's game on the way home.

I figured out what's going on with ticket availability, I think. The site seems to be showing very different availability depending on which link you click to get to it. This link shows almost no seats available. This one shows many. There must be something going on in the parameters of the first URL that is filtering out available seats for some reason. There are also tons of tickets available on the usual resale sites, so I'm curious to see what the actual attendance is. (According to the Cornell ticket site, the official Cornell section is 102.)

I just bought a couple of seats in Section 202 in the deck above the Cornell section. Section 202 is close to sold out, but the adjacent sections have plenty of seats.

scoop85

George64

KenP
Any thoughts on Rutgers as a team and how we pair up to them?

The Rutgers goalie is CJ Kirst’s brother, so CJ should know his weaknesses, if any.
.

And vice-versa

True, but Colin also has to contend with Piatelli, Long, Coyle, Kelleher, et al.
LGR

George64

KenP
Any thoughts on Rutgers as a team and how we pair up to them?

The Rutgers goalie is CJ Kirst’s brother, so CJ should know his weaknesses, if any.
.

In case, like, the refs don't call Wedgies as a one-minute personal foul.

+1 You know more about Hartford than I know about Lake Placid.

There'll be thousands of semifinals-losers fans who'll head home Saturday evening.

RichH

billhoward
Rentschler background info says "grass field."

No quotes needed. The Rent often hosts US National Soccer games, both Men's and Women's teams. It should still be grass. Never mind Pine Tree Road, imagine if you had to drive 30 minutes on an interstate to go to sporting events like UConn students do.

This is bizarre for me. I worked for 13 years (leaving in 2018) in a crumbling office park less than 3 miles away (so not Pratt & Whitney) from Rentschler. I could bike to the stadium in about 20 minutes from my home across the river. It was always a better choice for me to bike since the car traffic access in and out of the former airfield is so horribly mismanaged. Be prepared to sit around in your idling car as everyone is funneled into 1 or 2 entrance/exits depending on what highway you're coming from. Heck, just plan for a post-game tailgate while the lots empty. I was once leaving a concert and listened to an entire hockey period before getting out of the parking lots.

While I'm still undecided about going, I could provide any info about the area if anyone wants. I love Hartford like a 2nd home (yes, seriously), but most people here would feel most comfortable in the posh shopping/dining area of West Hartford Center, or for a more "New Englandy" feel, go to Glastonbury or Old Wethersfield. Nearby Manchester has all the chains (hotels, malls, big boxes) you might want. Just don't say you're "in Hartford" unless you're actually in Hartford city limits. The old racist tropes and donut effect is strong there. People "west of the river" tend to shit on the towns "east of the river" for some reason, but just wear any Whalers gear and you'll likely make friends. I'd like to say the area around the stadium and the city of East Hartford in general has anything very worthwhile, but it really doesn't, and that's too bad since that's what most fans visiting for the first time will take away. Other than the stadium there's a huge Cabella's plopped in the old airfield, and that's about it besides the stark Pratt & Whitney (now part of Raytheon) campus.

The traffic on 84 from West Hartford through Hartford can be a slog, though I’m not sure if the holiday weekend would mean this is lighter or heavier than usual.

The Wadsworrh Art Museum in Hartford is quite good (and the art museum in New Britain is decent as well). If you’re a basketball fan, it’s a short trip up to the Hall of Fame in Springfield. I haven’t lived in the area for many years, but there’s enough to keep you occupied on Sunday if you’re staying for the weekend.