Harvard Gameday...

[JeremyCuse]

This may be the worst loss in years (worse than ND blowouts) - considering we:
1) lost at home
2) to a non-elite Ivy
3) who was on a short week
3) after being blown out by Colgate
4) we're coming off a tough road loss to an elite team
5) and we won 28-32 faceoffs

Hats off to Mullen, English, Thomson, Figueiras and Ippoliti. If Ippoliti started the game we would've won despite playing terribly - and that is 110% on Gait. Coaches that put seniority, players who have "paid their dues", and how many stars they have ahead of the team is inexcusable.

Ippoliti SCREAMING at his defense after that blown coverage (I don't know anything about lax X's and Os for the record) is exactly why he needs to be starting.

Yup Mullen was fantastic along with Thomson and the others you mentioned. I also agree on Ipp, gotta give him a full shot and see what happens. As far as the loss couldn't agree more, worst of the Gait era by far even the Cornell choke job

 

[JeremyCuse]

There is only one common denominator between the Desko and Gait era time to say good bye to Pat March in the end it’s Gary’s fault for not taking over when March obviously has no adjustments or answers. I don’t even think he’s a good recruiter. Yes he knows all the talent but can’t get them to commit and sure isn’t developing anyone

If this plays out the way it's trending I think you have to consider a full reset. If Gait can't win with this team what team can he win with? Keep Odierna and start over at HC and OC. 4 years is plenty of time and Gaits teams are still making the same mistakes m.

 

[36'sq.]

well i guess Harvard is the Harvard of central ny...

Nah, Colgate is! Beat Harvard on Tuesday 19-15 and Villanova (on the road, should have been in Hamilton) 16-5.

 

[SULAXAHOLIC]

At the very least I’m hiring Desko or Donahue as a consultant even if the players never see them but let one of them restructure the offense March needs to be done like yesterday

 

[cuseguy]

Should be able to win a lot of games with 14 goals. And while the offense was terribly inconsistent and sloppy after going up 5-0, the defense and goaltending were porous from that point. Other than faceoffs, not a lot to praise. Harvard was smarter (naturally), tougher and more poised.

 

[36'sq.]

28-4 on FO and 40-24 on GBs, hard to believe a team could lose with those advantages. Yup, I think fans have everyone reason to question the team and the coaching too.

 

[SkyTopBus44]

Did we sign Gait/March to a contract extension?

 

[cuselaxss26]

I blame gait twice. Once for his lack of coaching or being involved in anyway. Two also gonna blame his lacrosse equipment. Missing so many shots i just wanna blame on him n his gait company lol.

 

[36'sq.]

Reality is, with the media presence around ‘Cuse and the hype train that can surround players, they need a hard-nosed coach who is not afraid to call out selfishness and players reading their own press clippings.

Desko never did it, now Gait is more of the same.

A Chemotti type (A Mike Messere disciple) would be the PERFECT fit for this Syracuse program. Without exaggerating, I think not hiring him in 2021 was the worst mistake our athletic department could have made.

Less glitz and glamor, more fundamental execution and discipline.

Just my thoughts, but I had these same reservations about Gait when he was hired, and it continues to show face in tough games.

Yeah, any guy/coach who can make Richmond a solid lacrosse power gets my vote for a great coach. Never would have thought Richmond would beat UVA. Hats off to Dan C. Beating UVA is a big deal, congrats to him and the team.

 

[LaxDoc]

If this plays out the way it's trending I think you have to consider a full reset. If Gait can't win with this team what team can he win with? Keep Odierna and start over at HC and OC. 4 years is plenty of time and Gaits teams are still making the same mistakes m.

Your giving Odierna to much credit. We complained that Petro's D schemes were to complicated, Odierna's are far from it. Talented players, its on the coach!

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Gary Gait gives update on 2 injured Syracuse midfielders after loss to Harvard

In a 15-14 upset loss to Harvard on Saturday, Syracuse was down two of its key midfielders.

www.syracuse.com

Syracuse was down two of its key midfielders in a 15-14 upset loss to Harvard on Saturday,

Jackson Birtwistle, a redshirt senior midfielder, exited the game early after an apparent injury. Teammates and training staff helped him off the field to the Orange sideline during the fourth quarter.

Coach Gary Gait didn’t provide an update on Birtwistle’s status after the game, saying he hasn’t met with medical staff.


Birtwistle has played in all five games so far this season and has accumulated three points. In the season opener against Jacksonville, he scored his season high of two goals.

Junior midfielder Luke Rhoa was ruled out for the Harvard game with what the school called an upper-body injury.

He had scored at least one goal each game and ranks in the top five on the team in points with nine.

Gait said Rhoa is considered day-to-day.

The status of the two midfielders will be a question mark for the Orange (3-2) as it prepares for a road game at Utah next week.

 

[DMVCuseLax]

That goal mouth call on English was tough.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

That goal mouth call on English was tough.

28-4 faceoffs.

It shouldn't have been put into the hands of the referees.

 

[swish7]

My 17 year old has never experienced a great Syracuse lacrosse team. An unbelievable thought in 2009, when he was 2.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Imagine losing a basketball game where you have like a +20 turnover advantage? It’s essentially impossible.

I am far from a lacrosse expert, so what do people think were the top 2 or 3 issues today?

For my untrained eye, goaltending was a problem (explains why a chance was made) as well as some sloppy turnovers especially 2nd half.

 

[cuseguy]

This tram lacks the “head, heart, hustle” of some of the great SU teams. Can’t coach that. Either you have it or you don’t.

 

[Bayside44]

Imagine losing a basketball game where you have like a +20 turnover advantage? It’s essentially impossible.

I am far from a lacrosse expert, so what do people think were the top 2 or 3 issues today?

For my untrained eye, goaltending was a problem (explains why a chance was made) as well as some sloppy turnovers especially 2nd half.

Same as you, love the sport but not in my bones...

To the untrained eye Mullen taking a shot off a FO up three at end of the first was just so dumb. McCool obviously having a rough start, hold it for one, and go in either up three or four.

The rest was just sloppy. Hoops team I get, they're sped up by better defenses, no such reason here to be so loose with the rock.

Harvard goalie had a game also. We missed Rhoa a lot (but still, that shouldn't matter).

 

[orangecuse]

Imagine losing a basketball game where you have like a +20 turnover advantage? It’s essentially impossible.

I am far from a lacrosse expert, so what do people think were the top 2 or 3 issues today?

For my untrained eye, goaltending was a problem (explains why a chance was made) as well as some sloppy turnovers especially 2nd half.

Unreal for sure. Maybe a better comparison than turnover advantage to the 28 of 32 face-off advantage (considering how critical winning at the X is in lax) is where a hoops team converts 28 three pointers to the other teams 4, and, somehow, someway, in all stupor, still finding a way to lose the game. It's along those lines of it being totally inconceivable.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Imagine losing a basketball game where you have like a +20 turnover advantage? It’s essentially impossible.

I am far from a lacrosse expert, so what do people think were the top 2 or 3 issues today?

For my untrained eye, goaltending was a problem (explains why a chance was made) as well as some sloppy turnovers especially 2nd half.

We won 24 more faceoffs, that's 24 more possessions.

We had too many "one and done" possessions that ended with a Harvard save.

We had too many "none and done" possessions where we never got a decent shot off.

I haven't got the energy right now, but it would be interesting to look at the box score and see how many self-inflicted turnovers and shot clock violations and penalties robbed us of scoring opportunities.

 

[CuseNHouse]

What we have forming here folks is the Harlem Globetrotters. Always fun to watch ..get some cotton candy and popcorn and a souvenir...awe the tricks and the show - but could they ever really beat a legit NBA team? But they always got the best of The Washington Generals (aka mid majors)

 

[nyclax]

woof i was way off...didnt get a chance to see the game live but will have to dig into the replay...at first glance, winning 28/32 faceoffs but losing seems unfathomable...if you told me that's how draws went i would have guessed the orange won by 15

 

[cuselaxss26]

honestly i’m starting to think the problem is two things.

1. this team really isn’t good or as talented as believed to be. Good to point but not talented to where they grow n get better n better even individuallly. They can only play when things are easier n less frenetic. Meaning no pressure.

or

2. The coaching is just not good. Doesn’t know players strength or how to put them at their strength. How to calm them down or have them improve. Or not able to instill heart or even inspiration into his team. While also being to lackadaisical with things or giving out punishment for poor play or poor mistakes.

Either way something has to change and change now. Get play utah n game should win. But set a goal n if not achieved then there will be consequences.
Example: finish game with under 7 turnovers total, 6 goals after two passes, or each player needs 3gbs, hold opp under 6 goals and if not next pratice you run or some kind of punishment .

 

[lincolncuse]

Same as you, love the sport but not in my bones...

To the untrained eye Mullen taking a shot off a FO up three at end of the first was just so dumb. McCool obviously having a rough start, hold it for one, and go in either up three or four.

The rest was just sloppy. Hoops team I get, they're sped up by better defenses, no such reason here to be so loose with the rock.

Harvard goalie had a game also. We missed Rhoa a lot (but still, that shouldn't matter).

Agree on the Mullen shot. He had another one in the second half he missed and lost possession.

 

[Newhouser]

So is Gait unfireable? More a question of Wildhack stature than Gait as I have no lacrosse experience. Just curious.

 

[tbonezone]

Agree on the Mullen shot. He had another one in the second half he missed and lost possession.

i posted a couple games ago that if mullen is green lighted to shoot someone on attack has to slide behind cage when he's charging down field. as for sliding into the crease that's all on him. truly dumb and costly.