Cornell Game Thread...

[jr4750]

Thats interesting. I was guessing the slide didn't come because they didn't think one was needed. Watching that clip I didn't think it was needed either until - well it was needed - Firman lets up. It's an oh . . . . moment.

It was really poor play by Firman, which was disappointing in that he's well schooled, fundamentally sound and usually pretty darn good.

but overall its poor communication. Firman seemingly letting the guy go to the slide but the slide never coming. Nobody is on the same page.

I have never understood why that happens. On a full sprint towards the goal, in a game deciding situation, I just can't see how a defender (Player A) decides to defer to a unknown entity. Worst thing that happens is that you get beat for a goal, but letting off the gas, and giving the opposition a free look, even for a second, is just bad procedure. Correct me if I am wrong, but even if a slide happens, (Player B moves in on opposition) that oppositional player with the ball then becomes doubled in a sense. The player who originally had him (Player A) would not be responsible nor able to pick up "Player B's" man, who is now unguarded. So the idea of Player A relinquishing full defensive pressure is counter productive in every way. This evolution of thought and prcatice has cost us two games this year now. Basically, if the game is on the line, you stick with your man. Guard the "$%^&" out of him.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I have never understood why that happens. On a full sprint towards the goal, in a game deciding situation, I just can't see how a defender (Player A) decides to defer to a unknown entity. Worst thing that happens is that you get beat for a goal, but letting off the gas, and giving the opposition a free look, even for a second, is just bad procedure. Correct me if I am wrong, but even if a slide happens, (Player B moves in on opposition) that oppositional player with the ball then becomes doubled in a sense. The player who originally had him (Player A) would not be responsible nor able to pick up "Player B's" man, who is now unguarded. So the idea of Player A relinquishing full defensive pressure is counter productive in every way. This evolution of thought and prcatice has cost us two games this year now. Basically, if the game is on the line, you stick with your man. Guard the "$%^&" out of him.

It was a bad call by both Firman and Molloy. In that situation Scott has to stay with his man no matter what.

 

[JeremyCuse]

As someone else noted earlier Molloy was less then stellar yesterday, its probably time to go back to Hill.

 

[cuseguy]

It's weird in that for some reason Firman seems to let up, you can see it when they cross the 20 yard line. It's like he anticipates a slide coming that never comes so he's letting up. There's no way he is running with that guy at full speed and not in a million years does he think that kid is going to walk right into the goal. Molloy with pretty weak goal tending there to. defensive chemistry/IQ at this point is a trainwreck. Guys aren't sure when to slide or not slide, makes me wonder what kind of talk is happening on the field.

That's part of the problem with having a new or inexperienced goalie.

That would include Hill and Molloy.

I think there was something mentioned preseason about how the communication wasn't great between Hill and the defenders.

Big issue because we're not lacking talent at close defense.

 

[JeremyCuse]

That's part of the problem with having a new or inexperienced goalie.

That would include Hill and Molloy.

I think there was something mentioned preseason about how the communication wasn't great between Hill and the defenders.

Big issue because we're not lacking talent at close defense.

You have to wonder if that transfer or the incoming frosh next year will be given a chance to win the starting job with the goalie situation being completely wide open again.

 

[PhatOrange]

3rd line

1st line is dejoe, salcido, mariano
2nd line simmons, weston, and i cant rrmemeber ho played on the second line...Lane as out so he didnt play.

Mariano is a stud but collectively that has to be the weakest 1st line of mids Syracuse has ever put on the field.

 

[cuseguy]

We seem to redshirt a host of players every year but not sure it's paying off in any measurable way.

 

[PhatOrange]

I have never understood why that happens. On a full sprint towards the goal, in a game deciding situation, I just can't see how a defender (Player A) decides to defer to a unknown entity. Worst thing that happens is that you get beat for a goal, but letting off the gas, and giving the opposition a free look, even for a second, is just bad procedure. Correct me if I am wrong, but even if a slide happens, (Player B moves in on opposition) that oppositional player with the ball then becomes doubled in a sense. The player who originally had him (Player A) would not be responsible nor able to pick up "Player B's" man, who is now unguarded. So the idea of Player A relinquishing full defensive pressure is counter productive in every way. This evolution of thought and prcatice has cost us two games this year now. Basically, if the game is on the line, you stick with your man. Guard the "$%^&" out of him.

I'm just speculating and maybe I'm crazy but it looked to me like Firman pulls off the gas at the 20 yard line. I don't know if he's expecting a slide or expecting the mid to peal off and pass it back up top. But either way, Firman has to run with that guy all the way down the alley. I dont know what the heck happened there with him, and it's not like the Cornell mid is sporting 4.2 speed.

No matter how bad the last play was the game was lost in the first 60 minutes. Sounds like Syracuse left A LOT of opportunities on the field. Door step shots, stuffs, turnovers.

 

[cuseguy]

I'm just speculating and maybe I'm crazy but it looked to me like Firman pulls off the gas at the 20 yard line. I don't know if he's expecting a slide or expecting the mid to peal off and pass it back up top. But either way, Firman has to run with that guy all the way down the alley. I dont know what the heck happened there with him, and it's not like the Cornell mid is sporting 4.2 speed. No matter how bad the last play was the game was lost in the first 60 minutes. Sounds like Syracuse left A LOT of opportunities on the field. Door step shots, stuffs, turnovers.

Over the years, if we win the face off in OT, we win there. It's just not happening with this team. Then there's 0-4 on the man up.

Just really uncharacteristic.

 

[JeremyCuse]

We seem to redshirt a host of players every year but not sure it's paying off in any measurable way.

Not at all.

 

[4evaOrange]

Mariano is a stud but collectively that has to be the weakest 1st line of mids Syracuse has ever put on the field.

Agree on Mariano, Salcido either has a great game or goes 0-10, dejoe has just plane faded.
Second line is pretty week. Really thought Simmons would be big. Weston is just...ughhhh, Lane hasn't used his size to his strength.

Mariano is having a Glasso type year.

 

[jr4750]

Agree on Mariano, Salcido either has a great game or goes 0-10, dejoe has just plane faded.
Second line is pretty week. Really thought Simmons would be big. Weston is just...ughhhh, Lane hasn't used his size to his strength.

Mariano is having a Glasso type year.

Think you nailed our issues offensively here. Besides Dylan, Barber, Mariano, and #22, those are the guys who need to step up and score when we need points. Very disappointed in how DeJoe has vanished. Weston has been a non factor all year. Salcido has been great and invisible. Simmons hasn't done anything, and Lane as we discussed is a man without a position. The 3rd midfield line is not good or experienced. So that's why we have struggled.

As for the man-up. Look at who we have this year on that team as opposed to last year. No Galasso, Schoonie, #45, Rice. This years team has Dylan and no one to get him the ball. Mariano has been ok there. Thank god we got him.

 

[PhatOrange]

DeJoe hasn't vanished. He's never been good period. 1 trick pony. To stand at the top right corner on man up and crank high shots. He's never done anything else.

 

[jr4750]

DeJoe hasn't vanished. He's never been good period. 1 trick pony. To stand at the top right corner on man up and crank high shots. He's never done anything else.

Agree. He did have a nice few opening games this year when he was short sticked. Virginia being probably the biggest. Remember hearing from his camp how under utilized he was early in his career, right after that performance, and being quite skeptical. Obviously, the coaches were right about him being a man up specialist up to this point, where we don't have anyone else.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Agree. He did have a nice few opening games this year when he was short sticked. Virginia being probably the biggest. Remember hearing from his camp how under utilized he was early in his career, right after that performance, and being quite skeptical. Obviously, the coaches were right about him being a man up specialist up to this point, where we don't have anyone else.

Anyone who thinks he was underutilized is dreaming, he had chances before he's just not a complete midfielder. Worse when his shot is off he doesn't bring much else to the table, not his fault that's just who he is. I still can't believe that after all the struggles with three midlines worth of players Romano wasn't given a look, mind-numbing.

 

[WoodyUK]

Oh dear it was hard to watch the Molloy interview the kid really is coming in at a bad time and you can tell he cares!

I think the issue we have closing out close games also Lies in our strength this year, we share the ball very well and everyone is a threat offensively but when it comes down to it they don't know who the man is? When you had a Powell or a Levielle everyone clearly knew who would get the ball and who the alpha male was. Not only that but the opposition knows who the alpha male is and this will either mean no slide or an early slide to open up someone else!

Feel for the team and the coaches and I'm not even thinking about a coaching change right now!

 

[CreaseRat]

Anyone who thinks he was underutilized is dreaming, he had chances before he's just not a complete midfielder. Worse when his shot is off he doesn't bring much else to the table, not his fault that's just who he is. I still can't believe that after all the struggles with three midlines worth of players Romano wasn't given a look, mind-numbing.

I believe Romano is an injury red shirt this season. He hasn't traveled to any away games and I haven't seen him suit up at home games. All other freshman red shirts have been in uniform for home games

 

[wvlax]

Losing to Cornell was pretty bad, given their 1-3 record and in fifth place in the Ivy League standings. Still have to play Brown.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Losing to Cornell was pretty bad, given their 1-3 record and in fifth place in the Ivy League standings. Still have to play Brown.

Exactly, its one thing to have a meltdown against a Sr. laden Duke team who has underachieved its another to have it against honestly a team that's on the same level as Hobart. I don't think people realize how bad a loss that really was.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I believe Romano is an injury red shirt this season. He hasn't traveled to any away games and I haven't seen him suit up at home games. All other freshman red shirts have been in uniform for home games

That would certainly explain a lot.

 

[creatorsgam]

I don't think people realize how bad a loss that really was.

Yeah, this isn't exactly a "throw the records out the window when these teams play" type of rivalry.

The prospect of postseason lax, as of now still possible, may have taken the sting out of this loss for some. But this UNC game is huge. And yes, at the moment it looks like Saturday could get out of hand. But I'm optimistic because I've seen plenty of positives this season that I believe can be executed over the course of a full game. And as I mentioned in the game thread, this lacrosse season is chaotic to predict. Maybe this team can raise some eyebrows and blowout the Heels.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Yeah, this isn't exactly a "throw the records out the window when these teams play" type of rivalry.

The prospect of postseason lax, as of now still possible, may have taken the sting out of this loss for some. But this UNC game is huge. And yes, at the moment it looks like Saturday could get out of hand. But I'm optimistic because I've seen plenty of positives this season that I believe can be executed over the course of a full game. And as I mentioned in the game thread, this lacrosse season is chaotic to predict. Maybe this team can raise some eyebrows and blowout the Heels.

I agree with your thoughts but under no circumstance/scenario do I see SU winning in a blowout. I am not sure this team can blowout Binghamton next week less a team as good as UNC.

 

[Orangello]

This team has a bad habit of playing down to the level of their competition and an inability to hold a lead. Neither of these is a good thing. Could they beat UNC, sure, will they beat UNC, I'm not counting on it. I just don't see fire in the belly with this team. I would have thought being absolutely embarrassed at home against ND on the weekend of the program's 100 year anniversary and in front of all of the assembled lax alumni would have been enough of a wake up call.