OT: Syracuse Lacrosse

[JeremyCuse]

Yes I know the site has a lacrosse Forum but for those of you who dont' follow the Lacrosse program ( I can't believe there are some) you are missing out on an incredible heart stopping season.

Syracuse has been involved in six straight one goal games (school record) and has won 5 out of the 6. The last two have been won on game ending goals in over time (Lax has a sudden victory Overtime not a specific time period).

This weekend SU plays #1 ND in South Bend. Do yourself a favor and check this team out and head over the lacrosse forum and join the few dozen of us over there.

 

[tbonezone]

they're throwing jeers and cabbages at you bro. lacrosse is downright uncivilized !

 

[DonLightfoot]

I've been following them for years whenever a game is on TV. However, they usually end up blowing a lead and lose late. Only saw part of a game earlier this season, but watched most of the win over Duke this weekend which was exciting.

Lacrosse is all about face offs and they have not done well in recent years. That's a big minus. They were ranked #5 before the weekend which may have changed today.

They usually have some Canadian kids on the roster which attracted my interest way back when. Any idea how many Canucks they have this year? When is the ND game?

 

[JeremyCuse]

I've been following them for years whenever a game is on TV. However, they usually end up blowing a lead and lose late. Only saw part of a game earlier this season, but watched most of the win over Duke this weekend which was exciting.

Lacrosse is all about face offs and they have not done well in recent years. That's a big minus. They were ranked #5 before the weekend which may have changed today.

They usually have some Canadian kids on the roster which attracted my interest way back when. Any idea how many Canucks they have this year? When is the ND game?

The ND Game is Saturday at Noon.

I think you maybe mistaking Syracuse for a different lax team as SU's reputation is that they get down and then coming storming back late. I can't recall a lot blown leads besides last year. As far as faceoffs go you are correct then it has been a big issue or at least it was until 3 years ago when Ben Williams transferred in. He has been one of the best faceoff specialists in Div 1 the last two years. He is a senior in this his third and final year at SU. He has struggled the last few games including the worst game of his career this past Saturday against Duke. However, most fans believe he is playing with an injury as he hurt his shoulder at the end of the second game against Albany, he has not been right since that game and he was winning over 70% of his draws prior to the injury. The backup is a true freshmen - Varello who came in and won 6 of 8 against Kyle Rowe of Duke who is one of the top faceoff guys in the country.

SU has two Canadians on the roster right now with the Bomberry Cousins. Brendan and Tyson both of whom are from six nations outside of Ontario. They have a few more committed over the next couple of recruiting classes.

 

[DonLightfoot]

Thanks for your response. My face off comment was really related to the games I have seen in recent years as I have only seen parts of 2 games this year. Hope ESPNU carries the game Saturday.

Be nice to see the Orange win another title.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Saw that Duke game. Caught it when we were up 2 in the second half, and we promptly lost the lead. I had to debate whether i had just jinxed us or if i could continue watching. I said jinx/schminx, and kept it on, and holy schnikies, what a finish.

 

[orangehomer]

The ND Game is Saturday at Noon.

I think you maybe mistaking Syracuse for a different lax team as SU's reputation is that they get down and then coming storming back late. I can't recall a lot blown leads besides last year. As far as faceoffs go you are correct then it has been a big issue or at least it was until 3 years ago when Ben Williams transferred in. He has been one of the best faceoff specialists in Div 1 the last two years. He is a senior in this his third and final year at SU. He has struggled the last few games including the worst game of his career this past Saturday against Duke. However, most fans believe he is playing with an injury as he hurt his shoulder at the end of the second game against Albany, he has not been right since that game and he was winning over 70% of his draws prior to the injury. The backup is a true freshmen - Varello who came in and won 6 of 8 against Kyle Rowe of Duke who is one of the top faceoff guys in the country.

SU has two Canadians on the roster right now with the Bomberry Cousins. Brendan and Tyson both of whom are from six nations outside of Ontario. They have a few more committed over the next couple of recruiting classes.

i'll start watching just because of how awesome the term "bomberry cousins" sounds

 

[Rage4CUSE]

I was flipping through channels and happened upon the Duke game.

I turned it on with 4 minutes left in the game. Wow am I glad I did that.

 

[MSOrange]

Yes I know the site has a lacrosse Forum but for those of you who dont' follow the Lacrosse program ( I can't believe there are some) you are missing out on an incredible heart stopping season.

Syracuse has been involved in six straight one goal games (school record) and has won 5 out of the 6. The last two have been won on game ending goals in over time (Lax has a sudden victory Overtime not a specific time period).

This weekend SU plays #1 ND in South Bend. Do yourself a favor and check this team out and head over the lacrosse forum and join the few dozen of us over there.

I watch the games but am definitely a lacrosse novice. As you mention above, it seems like not just this year, but in the past few years, we always seem to get down and then have to come back. Is that a product of our style? It just seems like a program likes ours should be able to come out and dominate more often than we do, although I realize we are playing good teams quite often. Also, what do you realistically see for this team? Any chance of ending the Memorial Day drought?

 

[texascpa]

I watch the games but am definitely a lacrosse novice. As you mention above, it seems like not just this year, but in the past few years, we always seem to get down and then have to come back. Is that a product of our style? It just seems like a program likes ours should be able to come out and dominate more often than we do, although I realize we are playing good teams quite often. Also, what do you realistically see for this team? Any chance of ending the Memorial Day drought?

There's more and more parity in college lacrosse. This year, there is no dominate one or two teams. Hell, Rutgers was just No.1 last week. I think we have as good a shot as anyone.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I watch the games but am definitely a lacrosse novice. As you mention above, it seems like not just this year, but in the past few years, we always seem to get down and then have to come back. Is that a product of our style? It just seems like a program likes ours should be able to come out and dominate more often than we do, although I realize we are playing good teams quite often. Also, what do you realistically see for this team? Any chance of ending the Memorial Day drought?

The answers to your questions are unfortunately lengthy and complex but I will do my best to answer them. SU for the most part has been a second half team under Desko so they tend to get behind against good teams (not always but a fair amount of time) and then coming storming back from inconceivable odds in the second half. In most of the high end games against other elite teams the matchup becomes a game of runs. The Duke game this past Satruday was a good example of that. SU ran off 4 unanswered at one point before Duke responded with 4 of there own. Game is on Youtube and available anytime via replay on the ESPN App. A lot of opposing fans cringe when SU is playing from behind late because if you leave the door open just a crack we will bust through it. Our teams do have a history of coming out flat in big games especially in the NCAA tournament the last 4-5 years under Desko which we have debated endlessly over on the lax board but are unsure the exact reasons why.

Their certainly is more parity as texascpa noted above. Richmond beat UVA last year and lost by a goal this year to Duke. Albany is now a perennial top 15 team and Marquette (a program that hasn't been around a decade yet) beat Denver last year and won a tournament game. That being said SU's lack of Memorial day success has been self inflicted as well. We blew to great opportunities in 2014 and 2015 when we were upset in the 1st round and quarter finals despite having an unbelievable offense both years loaded with talent and the #2 seed both years. SU's defense is rebounding this year from 2-3 years of below average mediocre performance and are more regimented offensive style versus the fun and gun of the 90's has cost us in the eyes of some fans. Also from a recruiting standpoint the 2013 and 2014 classes have been major disappointments and littered with misses, injuries, transfers, and underperformances. Current Sr Jordan Evans was the #1 recruit in the 2013 class and SU had the #2 overall class that year. That class has been a major disappointment and honestly has been a disaster. SU has had to survive via transfers - Ben Williams, Brendan Bomberry, Nick Mariano have kept this team in elite status. The good news is this past class 2016 has some high upside guys in Jamie Trimboli (game winning goal Saturday), Peter Dearth, Nick Dipetro, a SSDM who is seeing a lot of time, and a couple of players who are red-shirting including two goalies and two attackmen. The next three recruiting classes are all highly rated and include some elite offensive talent including several local players. The two names to keep an eye on are Griffin Cook - Attack Jamesville Dewitt class of 2018 and Matt Magnan - Mid fielder - Fox Lane. Magnan is the #2 overall recruit in the 2018 class and evaluators have indicated he could start at an ACC school now as a highschool Junior.

 

[jgeorge322]

I want blow outs not close games

 

[Briancuse]

This is about the time I get into lacrosse mode, looking forward to the game on sat.

 

[skurey]

Tl;dr are we making the final four or not?

 

[Hoo's That]

{snip}

Their certainly is more parity as texascpa noted above. Richmond beat UVA last year and lost by a goal this year to Duke. Albany is now a perennial top 15 team and Marquette (a program that hasn't been around a decade yet) beat Denver last year and won a tournament game. {snip}

We beat Richmond 9-0 last year (one of the few good things about last year) and play them again on Saturday. We lost to High Point last year, but beat them this year.

 

[JeremyCuse]

We beat Richmond 9-0 last year (one of the few good things about last year) and play them again on Saturday. We lost to High Point last year, but beat them this year.

Thanks, I think I confused you guys and Duke as I believe Duke lost to them last year. Still not sure how you guys lost to High Point.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I want blow outs not close games

And I want SU to be in the final four this weekend and for my wife to be OK with Kate Upton as my special friend but I'm not getting either of those.

 

[HSPORANGE]

And I want SU to be in the final four this weekend and for my wife to be OK with Kate Upton as my special friend but I'm not getting either of those.

Haha. Too many insane posters over there wanting Desko run out of town for his "mild success". I get it that he hasn't won a championship since 09, I believe (Cornell), but so much parity in the game today. Not too mention his tourney winning percentage is amazing and he is a good man. I imagine the Desk must go crowd wants a Petro on the sideline screaming at his players and the refs.

 

[W'boro'Cuse315]

I've been following them for years whenever a game is on TV. However, they usually end up blowing a lead and lose late. Only saw part of a game earlier this season, but watched most of the win over Duke this weekend which was exciting.

Lacrosse is all about face offs and they have not done well in recent years. That's a big minus. They were ranked #5 before the weekend which may have changed today.

They usually have some Canadian kids on the roster which attracted my interest way back when. Any idea how many Canucks they have this year? When is the ND game?

We also have a pretty heralded Freshman goalie who's redshirting, Drake Porter from Markham, ON. There's also a highly ranked incoming Frosh who could see immediate PT on attack or middie next year, Troy Lauder, who is believed to be the program's first ever player from Quebec.

 

[jgeorge322]

And I want SU to be in the final four this weekend and for my wife to be OK with Kate Upton as my special friend but I'm not getting either of those.

Kate upton is overrated

 

[W'boro'Cuse315]

Haha. Too many insane posters over there wanting Desko run out of town for his "mild success". I get it that he hasn't won a championship since 09, I believe (Cornell), but so much parity in the game today. Not too mention his tourney winning percentage is amazing and he is a good man. I imagine the Desk must go crowd wants a Petro on the sideline screaming at his players and the refs.

Don't worry, those posters tend to disappear when we're winning We've won for straight, including back-to-back OT wins over rivals Hopkins & Duke, & I haven't seen some of them in weeks. I sometimes wonder if their dislike for Desko & wanting him fired actually makes it hard for them to root for/enjoy our team's success.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Kate upton is overrated

Oh Lord:crazy:

 

[JeremyCuse]

We also have a pretty heralded Freshman goalie who's redshirting, Drake Porter from Markham, ON. There's also a highly ranked incoming Frosh who could see immediate PT on attack or middie next year, Troy Lauder, who is believed to be the program's first ever player from Quebec.

Don't forget about Quinn and Seebold who are also coming in next year along with Dordevic from Oregon. A lot of high end offensive players in the next three classes. Not to mention getting Gale Thorpe back from his ACL injury.

 

[HSPORANGE]

Don't worry, those posters tend to disappear when we're winning We've won for straight, including back-to-back OT wins over rivals Hopkins & Duke, & I haven't seen some of them in weeks. I sometimes wonder if their dislike for Desko & wanting him fired actually makes it hard for them to root for/enjoy our team's success.

They will be back if and when SU loses another game.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Haha. Too many insane posters over there wanting Desko run out of town for his "mild success". I get it that he hasn't won a championship since 09, I believe (Cornell), but so much parity in the game today. Not too mention his tourney winning percentage is amazing and he is a good man. I imagine the Desk must go crowd wants a Petro on the sideline screaming at his players and the refs.

Never been a fan of firing Desko but there were some dark days with our struggles at the X in 2013 and 2014 despite having two very good teams. Only one final four appearance since 2009 despite some very talented teams has definitely been disappointing and the program has underachieved for sure. A lot of that has to do with early tourney exits versus lack of success in the regular season, would be great to make a sustained run this year after the three years have ended by the quarter finals or earlier. Again I don't think hes on the hot seat but a few more year without a final four and the seat will start to get warm.