I didn't get to watch the entire Cornell game, so this post isn't the most informed, but it seemed like the things that worked against Notre Dame, just fell flat against Cornell. On offense, Anderson got the party started against both UVA and Notre Dame - he made two nice dodges against the Big Red, but both were stuffed. Leo scored some "heat check" shots against Notre Dame, but against Cornell those same shots looked rushed and ill-advised. On defense, the ultra aggressive, slide happy, late-ish hits that weren't taken advantage of by Notre Dame (or not called by the officials) were by Cornell.
Some of this is down to adapting to your opponent (do not slide off of Kirst, not rocket science), and some is bad luck (missing out on a groundball on defense which leads to an open shot by the offense), and some is just really poor play (whatever they were doing on man-down defense). Early, it looked like the offense was rushed and panicked. Both Leo and Hiltz took early shots without working the ball around, on back to back possessions. That's not how this offensive operates when they are locked in. And in a game where you're not supposed to dominate possessions, doubly harmful. The defense was ultra slide happy. I don't know, to me it looked like Syracuse was simply afraid of Cornell in this game, desperate to make a big play. Surprising, given how well they were playing recently.
Team needs to play better in all facets. I don't totally blame McCool for this one, as he was left out to dry for at least the first three goals Cornell scored. He didn't help his cause with a really bad long distance shot he gave up to a second line middie, but I can't totally lay this game at his feet.
Also the penalties are getting old. I understand playing aggressive, but you need to understand the game scenario and how officials are going to call a game. This team cannot afford to give really good offenses that many extra chances to score. Have to, have to play smarter. Coaches need to reign this sort of thing in. It's too late in the season for this sort of slop.
Okay, I perhaps get too low when losses happen and not happy enough with victories, but this season is almost over and I think we've seen this team play up to their potential only a handful of times. There is no juggernaut out there to fear, and this team has no "obvious" defects. But there is something holding them back, these sort of mental errors that have been rearing their head all season. This looks like a team skating by, and not a team grabbing the season by the collar. Hopefully the team reaches it's full potential and peaks at the right time, but they need to start doing it now.
