Powellfan
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Pressure doesn't get much bigger than this, with Syracuse facing one of the top teams in the country with a potential bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line. Win, and seemingly they are in (lose and they most certainly are not). SU lost a heartbreaker to Duke earlier this year. Can they steal a bid here against one of the best teams in the country on the road?
SU, for all intents and purposes probably should have won the game against Duke earlier in the year, with a shot on goal in overtime. However if SU hopes to follow the same game plan against the Blue Devils, they will be in trouble. SU won only 9 of 30 face-offs and were outshot by more than double (!!!) 66-32. Duke hit a bunch of pipes (we know because the announcers lost their minds every time it happened). The Orange simply can't hope to win with those same numbers. They have to find a better formula and they have to find someway to win more face-offs. Neither Fine (2-8) or Richiusa (7-22) did very well against Jake Naso the last time out. Something has to be done but I'm not sure what it is.
The Duke game was the first time the Orange coaches mixed things up personnel wise during the season, moving Cole Kirst to attack and Saam Olexo downlow to cover Andrew MacAdory (held to one goal on 11 shots). Landon Clary guarded Brennan O'Neil. I'd like to see Olexo and his physicals style move over to guard O'Neil, as it seemed like the Blue Devil Tewaarton candidate outmuscled Clary quite a bit last time. I am hoping that the coaches saw the errors of their ways and find a place for Billy Dwan this game. I think he'd do a good job against Dyson Williams and hopefully Clary can bounce back with his speed against MacAdory. The Duke midfield isn't quite as terrifying as they are most years, but Syracuse shorties really need to play their best game this time out.
Last time out it seemed like Duke wasn't quite prepared for Kirst being on attack and he had a breakout performance with five points. Obviously the SU offense sputtered against UVA last time out and Duke will most definitely try and employ a similar defense gameplan. Orange offensive players need to beat their man in this game, period. Jackson Birtwistle had a good game as a first line midfielder with three goals last time out against Duke, but has since then been moved to the second line. I doubt they will change things up but it's been curious to me why Birtwistle was moved to the second line. I wouldn't mind seeing him back up to the first for this game. The Orange seemed to be trending up with games against Princeton and UNC, they dipped against UVA. They will have to have a big bounce back against Duke and have to, have to limit turnovers in this one.
Bottom line is SU needs to play this game with their hair on fire. Its the last game of the year and there is everything to play for.
SU, for all intents and purposes probably should have won the game against Duke earlier in the year, with a shot on goal in overtime. However if SU hopes to follow the same game plan against the Blue Devils, they will be in trouble. SU won only 9 of 30 face-offs and were outshot by more than double (!!!) 66-32. Duke hit a bunch of pipes (we know because the announcers lost their minds every time it happened). The Orange simply can't hope to win with those same numbers. They have to find a better formula and they have to find someway to win more face-offs. Neither Fine (2-8) or Richiusa (7-22) did very well against Jake Naso the last time out. Something has to be done but I'm not sure what it is.
The Duke game was the first time the Orange coaches mixed things up personnel wise during the season, moving Cole Kirst to attack and Saam Olexo downlow to cover Andrew MacAdory (held to one goal on 11 shots). Landon Clary guarded Brennan O'Neil. I'd like to see Olexo and his physicals style move over to guard O'Neil, as it seemed like the Blue Devil Tewaarton candidate outmuscled Clary quite a bit last time. I am hoping that the coaches saw the errors of their ways and find a place for Billy Dwan this game. I think he'd do a good job against Dyson Williams and hopefully Clary can bounce back with his speed against MacAdory. The Duke midfield isn't quite as terrifying as they are most years, but Syracuse shorties really need to play their best game this time out.
Last time out it seemed like Duke wasn't quite prepared for Kirst being on attack and he had a breakout performance with five points. Obviously the SU offense sputtered against UVA last time out and Duke will most definitely try and employ a similar defense gameplan. Orange offensive players need to beat their man in this game, period. Jackson Birtwistle had a good game as a first line midfielder with three goals last time out against Duke, but has since then been moved to the second line. I doubt they will change things up but it's been curious to me why Birtwistle was moved to the second line. I wouldn't mind seeing him back up to the first for this game. The Orange seemed to be trending up with games against Princeton and UNC, they dipped against UVA. They will have to have a big bounce back against Duke and have to, have to limit turnovers in this one.
Bottom line is SU needs to play this game with their hair on fire. Its the last game of the year and there is everything to play for.