JeremyCuse
Renowned lacrosse analyst
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I think a lot of things that we talked about two weeks ago still apply to this game so I am not going to re-hash everything.
SU has never lost in the first round of the ACC tourney in their previous three appearances which is a positive going into today. To me a big X factor for tonight is who holds up better at the X Ben or Stephen Kelly. Kelly like Ben has been battling injuries most of the year and has faded in the second half of the games as Breschi much like Desko doesn't like to go to the backup FOGO. I don't think either coach is going to have a choice today if the temps are in the mid to upper 80s as both guys will be exhausted by the end of the third if there taking every draw. Wing play will also be huge as I expect a lot of 50/50 gbs. The SU wings had a pretty good game against UNC a few weeks ago and will need another one if were going to win.
Would like to see a bounce back game from the SU offense especially from the knowns ie Salcido, Mariano and Solomon. I expect UNC will double pole the midfield again and put the shorty on Evans this time versus Rehfuss. Would be nice to see the 2nd and 3rd line come through with some points to take some of the pressure off the first line guys. Would be a great game to get Lane back in the scoring column (its been awhile) and to see Dearth or O'Sullivan get a point or two.
Defensively I am curious to see how SU defends Carolina. SU changed their slide packages in the second half of the game against UNC after getting torched in the 2nd quarter. D got torched by Moore playing a zone last week I don't think we will be playing to much of that this week. Matchups seem pretty clear Firman on Goldstock, Bomberry on Cloutier, Cunnignham/Dipetro on Matthews and Fusco/Helmer on Timmy Kelly. Cannon and Cook each had two goals for UNC last time we played so will be interesting to see if we do anything different there. SSDMS will need to keep sticks on shooters hands especially on guys like Cannon and William Perry.
Would love to see Molloy really turn in an elite level performance like he did in this game a year ago. Hes been solid all year but hasn't really had that a All-American type of performance yet this year. This game would be a nice place to start. Ben is Ben just not sure which Ben will show up. Will it be the one who ran rough shot over Hobart, Cornell and UNC or the one who looked out of gas against Bingo? Varello should be in line to take at least 3-5 draws.
A loss here certainly isn't the end of the world but I would like to see us at least beat UNC as I believe that will lock up the #1 overall seed regardless of what happens on Sunday. UNC is a wounded and desperate team so I expect them to come out and through the kitchen sink at SU. This game got a little chippy a few weeks ago, will be interesting to see if emotions boil over for UNC.
SU has never lost in the first round of the ACC tourney in their previous three appearances which is a positive going into today. To me a big X factor for tonight is who holds up better at the X Ben or Stephen Kelly. Kelly like Ben has been battling injuries most of the year and has faded in the second half of the games as Breschi much like Desko doesn't like to go to the backup FOGO. I don't think either coach is going to have a choice today if the temps are in the mid to upper 80s as both guys will be exhausted by the end of the third if there taking every draw. Wing play will also be huge as I expect a lot of 50/50 gbs. The SU wings had a pretty good game against UNC a few weeks ago and will need another one if were going to win.
Would like to see a bounce back game from the SU offense especially from the knowns ie Salcido, Mariano and Solomon. I expect UNC will double pole the midfield again and put the shorty on Evans this time versus Rehfuss. Would be nice to see the 2nd and 3rd line come through with some points to take some of the pressure off the first line guys. Would be a great game to get Lane back in the scoring column (its been awhile) and to see Dearth or O'Sullivan get a point or two.
Defensively I am curious to see how SU defends Carolina. SU changed their slide packages in the second half of the game against UNC after getting torched in the 2nd quarter. D got torched by Moore playing a zone last week I don't think we will be playing to much of that this week. Matchups seem pretty clear Firman on Goldstock, Bomberry on Cloutier, Cunnignham/Dipetro on Matthews and Fusco/Helmer on Timmy Kelly. Cannon and Cook each had two goals for UNC last time we played so will be interesting to see if we do anything different there. SSDMS will need to keep sticks on shooters hands especially on guys like Cannon and William Perry.
Would love to see Molloy really turn in an elite level performance like he did in this game a year ago. Hes been solid all year but hasn't really had that a All-American type of performance yet this year. This game would be a nice place to start. Ben is Ben just not sure which Ben will show up. Will it be the one who ran rough shot over Hobart, Cornell and UNC or the one who looked out of gas against Bingo? Varello should be in line to take at least 3-5 draws.
A loss here certainly isn't the end of the world but I would like to see us at least beat UNC as I believe that will lock up the #1 overall seed regardless of what happens on Sunday. UNC is a wounded and desperate team so I expect them to come out and through the kitchen sink at SU. This game got a little chippy a few weeks ago, will be interesting to see if emotions boil over for UNC.