Harvard Gameday...

[JeremyCuse]

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

Very much like Cornell last year just less turnovers. Offense blew so many opportunities

 

[LaxAddict38]

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

Gait is probably as close to unfireable as it gets. Big contract, and in today’s climate any dead money on a non-rev coaching contract is bad business.

No shot Wildhack goes, football being successful trumps literally anything else.

Best chance for change is rest of staff outside of Gait, for better or worse.

 

[dwilmont44]

No shot Wildhack goes, football being successful trumps literally anything else.

Give it a year

 

[JeremyCuse]

Gait is probably as close to unfireable as it gets. Big contract, and in today’s climate any dead money on a non-rev coaching contract is bad business.

No shot Wildhack goes, football being successful trumps literally anything else.

Best chance for change is rest of staff outside of Gait, for better or worse.

Wildhack is going absolutely no where.

Gait won't be fired after this year but he's not going to gave near the leash Desko had. I could absolutely see him being let go next season if it's another struggle and no final four. His contract has no buyout issue and likely is close to up

 

[RoofBeam]

I thought Gary's big contract was with the girls when Gross signed him. Did Wildhack sign him to another large contract when he moved over to the boys?

 

[swish7]

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.

I just finished watching it on demand. The main 2 things I noticed
1 - we were bullied & outphysicaled all over the field.
2 - we were far less precise.

Very disappointing loss.

 

[DoctahLexus]

Short version of my take for this game is that 4th quarter stupidity and a complete inability to close a game was the main problem, and that has to be on Gait at this point because it has happened too many damn times. Defense is clearly an issue that would be holding us back now no matter what, but more on that later.

People are saying we never win the big game under him, which is not exactly true. Last year we had 3 top 10 wins and our first seeded playoff spot since 2018. Last year ON PAPER was a step in the right direction and nothing to be concerned about big picture. HOWEVER, in none of those games did we win it with our 4th quarter or late game performance. It was almost always a case of us cooking a team earlier in the game and hanging on for dear life at the finish. Then on top of that we have had plenty of late game and 4th quarter collapses where the offense suddenly shuts off and everything in the middle of the field goes to sheeit.

This year the defense is my main concern for how far we will go. Bad showing for Grace and for the second line ssdms. Full weeks rest and no health issues on that end and Harvard scored on nearly half of their possessions! Our depth of midfield athletes is a killer. But big picture this clear trend of dumb decisions and bullcrap all over the field late in games is impossible to ignore, and that is on Gait. Offense did a perfectly fine job right up until the most crucial portion of the game. We will need to do a whole lot in March for me to get any sort of long term confidence back. Man what a massive bummer.

 

[Laxfanshutt]

Harvard vs Syracuse | 2025 Men's Lacrosse Highlights

 

[Whitey23]

 

[SUlax88-09]

Losing to Maryland (the best or 2nd best team on the road) was understandable, although disappointing. Losing at home to Harvard (when we absolutely dominated them in face-offs) is completely deflating. The season is just getting started, but this is a bad loss.

McCool was awful, our SSDMs got exposed (Ochoa cannot stay with quick/shifty players), our longsticks looked lost against a good passing team, Spallina was M.I.A. again against a good team, Leo really struggled, McCarthy has shown me literally nothing through 5 games, those 7 turnovers in the 3rd quarter killed us, and our attack (which I know is 3 future professional box lacrosse players, but this is field lacrosse) cannot dodge and beat their man in crucial times. I know I‘ve been in the minority for not being a fan of Spallina (he seems like a really nice kid, by the way), but I would put Anderson in for him. Hiltz is our best offensive player, Thomson is our finisher, and we need someone who can dodge and create a slide. Spallina literally cannot even draw a slide when he’s going against a SSDM! Frustrating!

 

[W'boro'Cuse315]

People are saying we never win the big game under him, which is not exactly true. Last year we had 3 top 10 wins and our first seeded playoff spot since 2018. Last year ON PAPER was a step in the right direction and nothing to be concerned about big picture. HOWEVER, in none of those games did we win it with our 4th quarter or late game performance.

I agreed with almost everything in your post except for this. We were down 3 with 7 minutes left in a back-&-forth game vs UVA last year & scored the final 4 goals to win.

 

[MSOrange]

Wildhack is going absolutely no where.

Gait won't be fired after this year but he's not going to gave near the leash Desko had. I could absolutely see him being let go next season if it's another struggle and no final four. His contract has no buyout issue and likely is close to up

If the time comes that we have to make a move from Gait, will there be politics to find another SU alum or will we go outside the family? It's been almost 100 years since a non-alum has been coach, so it feels like that would be an interesting dynamic.

 

[JeremyCuse]

If the time comes that we have to make a move from Gait, will there be politics to find another SU alum or will we go outside the family? It's been almost 100 years since a non-alum has been coach, so it feels like that would be an interesting dynamic.

Outside the family, the only alumni with a remote chance would be Galloway and I don't see it.

 

[JYCUSE12]

Is he fully recovered from injury? I thought he kept on getting hurt in high school. Is he ready to go?

Good question knew he played in the games leading up to Maryland. Some sports have redshirts based on percentage of games played but lax not one of them. I was mistaken. Thought something was up since we didn't see him today and don't remember if he played or not vs Maryland.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Good question knew he played in the games leading up to Maryland. Some sports have redshirts based on percentage of games played but lax not one of them. I was mistaken. Thought something was up since we didn't see him today and don't remember if he played or not vs Maryland.

He's not hurt as far as I know. He needs to play and should be out there for Utah.

 

[JYCUSE12]

He's not hurt as far as I know. He needs to play and should be out there for Utah.

Agreed man go from a team that i felt had a lot of depth. No roha birt gets hurt and still no Anderson?? Our answer was hottle on 1st line. I don't get it

 

[OrangeinBoston]

Tough to do 4 games into the season, but Gait has to rethink everything on offense and defense as nothing is working against teams with a pulse.

 

[BillSU]

Havard - we lost to Harvard- have the players gone mental? Or is the coach not really that good - players yes - coach no . We have plenty of talent - it's just not being used wisely

 

[JYCUSE12]

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.

You start to wonder though? I've never seen so many passes that are 30 yards away from their target in the first 5 weeks. Not even close, and these guys aren't playing with greasers. Every game we have a couple passes that aren't even close lol

 

[JeremyCuse]

Tough to do 4 games into the season, but Gait has to rethink everything on offense and defense as nothing is working against teams with a pulse.

The offense needs an overhaul. The current starting attack is Uber talented but there set up to win a box title not field. You have to have a dodging threat at attack, full stop. Leo or Anderson should be moved to attack with the other on the 1st mid line. Also the 2nd line has to be completely overhauled. Birt is now gone for the year and Deere is not a midfielder. Get some new faces out there including 1 or 2 of the freshmen and Kellogg

 

[JYCUSE12]

The offense needs an overhaul. The current starting attack is Uber talented but there set up to win a box title not field. You have to have a dodging threat at attack, full stop. Leo or Anderson should be moved to attack with the other on the 1st mid line. Also the 2nd line has to be completely overhauled. Birt is now gone for the year and Deere is not a midfielder. Get some new faces out there including 1 or 2 of the freshmen and Kellogg

Agreed even having Kellogg out there today as an outside shooting threat with roha out might have softened up the d a Lil. Just frustrating I don't understand why these coaches are doing what they are doing in regards to personnel decisions

 

[cuselaxss26]

We are to 1 dimensional. Ball movement ball movement. When Defenses pack in tight we still try to force feed. I don’t think we use our players to what they’re best at. Spallina is great feeder yet he starts the offense tho don’t have speed to beat any top defenders. Hiltz our best shooter but have him dodge. Thompson and deere suppose to be finishers except one is playing midfield n both not super speedy. Also besides leo playing like crap lately also hasn’t inverted much or has english. We need to get our faster guys to start the offense n also invert a lot more.

Def like anderson in there to be dodger n when draws slide kick it to spallina or thompson to start the ball movement or to spin it. Need to have hiltz in his spot ready to shoot along with rhoa on opposite side. Mccarthy needs to either become a great feeder or dodger cause clearly he doesn’t wanna shoot n when does not close(barely shoots tho).

We have no alley dodgers can rip on run or least haven’t. We need to play to everyone’s strength and put them in a position to use their strength. Give more guys this game vs utah try n see if find lightning in bottle. While also trying to score in other ways then ball movement. Leo was on first line last year with english n stevens wonder if he isn’t as great now drawing pole or he is playing hurt or broke up with girlfriend or something. Cause he has totally not looked good at all. Looks slower more hesitant not feeding as much as did.

Please something change n let a spark get going in these guys. Defense need to step it up be more physical making teams earn every single inch. Not even goal every inch.

 

[cuselaxss26]

we lost mark stevens n olexo (wright too but didn’t play the last couple games). Stevens really only offensive guy yes mulé but in big games he wasn’t much help. How this offense is struggling so much losing 1 player really is mind boggling. Also what did gait work on or practice or preach in off season. Thought that denver lost whole team decided was time to change. Yet still come out playing high school ball trying to create highlights instead of winning or just playing lax.

Is money involved part of problem? Is fact some of them know their going to next level win or not? Seems they all lost feeling why play the game. They don’t seem to play like it’s last game ever for them. Just no do or die or hustle on every play. Really wish max rosa would come back to teach these guys how to play with true heart n give it ur all. Dude wasn’t great but i can confidently say he gave it everything he had. That is what we need from all these guys. Ok make mistake move on and make up for it on next play or fight for gb or make a play.

 

[DMVCuseLax]

Moving forward if I was Gait Id shutdown all the outside noise. No more radio interviews and no more walks in the Dome interviews. Constantly talking about a National Championship needs to end. Take things one practice, one play, and one game at a time.

We can't look ahead and discount anyone and EVERYONE on the team needs to lock-in.

 

[cuselaxss26]

Hope we drop out of top 20 n nothing but critics hating n hating. Maby then this team will pull their head out of their asses n realize “ok we really need to play to our full potential “

Sorry i’m done had to vent as was still so so so angry. Prob keep quiet for while now.