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Message: [QUOTE="Powellfan, post: 4315520, member: 4819"] Correct. This doesn't even take into account players like Cook, Fiorini, Magnan, Ferris, Tenaglia or Cordes who maybe didn't produce a ton the last few years, but have gotten playing time. Cordes was a first line midfielder when Quinn was injured. Cook has largely been forgotten this offseason (even by me when I started this post). And there are players like Finn Kelly and Blake Borges who redshirted last year but might be ready to contribute in '23. I'd be bummed if Birtwistle was benched next season. You really couldn't have asked more from him at the end of the season, 13 goals in the last four games of the season, on 52% shooting. That's really good. He'll obviously have a lot of competition next year if he falters but he can score in a variety of ways. Plus I think he could really flourish with pure passers like Hiltz and Spallina inserted into the offense. I think it would set a bad precedent if the staff benched a player like that. There is room for nine players seeing significant playing time between attack and two midfields next season. I would say that Hiltz, Simmons and Kirst are pretty much guaranteed to take three of those spots. Spallina is as close to a lock as you can get for an incoming freshman. My math says that leaves five open spots. Off the top of my head, I count 8 being realistic options - Birtwistle, Thomson, Rhoa, Leo, Cordes, Borges, Kempney and Cook (when he's healthy, that is a big question mark). Personally I would like to see the freshmen take a majority of these spots since we haven't seen the more veteran players produce these last few years. Cordes is my darkhorse since he was just a freshman last year and may have made a leap. Should be a very interesting battle for playing time, that's for sure. [/QUOTE]

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