JeremyCuse
Renowned lacrosse analyst
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Tough game for both teams on Saturday. Both teams could really use the win for different reasons. Duke has been a complete mystery this year so far, looking like a giant one week then losing badly to Harvard and falling on Wed to Air Force by a goal in OT. Syracuse obviously has its own issues and I wont rehash the disaster that was the second half of the Hopkins game last Saturday but needless to say they are looking to rebound as well.
On paper at least this is a difficult matchup for SU. Duke's top six are probably one of if not the best starting group in the country. Four players have scored more then 30 points (Duke has played a ridiculous 10 games already) and another is at 29. Much like SU however, Duke has little in the way of depth. There second midfield is mostly non existent and they don't have a fourth attackmen that they rotate in like SU does.
For SU the D matchups appear to be pretty easy guesses. Firman and Fusco will clearly draw Myles and Jones, Mellen is likely to get Matheis who listed at 5'7 and Mullins will draw either Guterding or Bruckner. Last year Mullins spent some time on Guterding, and as the leading point scorer its likely he will get that matchup again. That would leave McDermott on Bruckner. The SU SSDM's are in for a very tough matchup and will need to rebound especially for whoever is starting opposite Grimm. I expect Grimm to draw Deemer Class which will put Cifferi, Gillis, D'agostino on Cohan. Duke will look to try and force switches and slides to get Class and Jones matched up on our SSDM's like they did in the ACC title game. This usually forces SU to slide early to help leaving Guterding open on the crease. SU will need a big game from the SSDM's and Warren Hill who has yet to have a big game for the Orange.
Offensively it looks like the status quo for the Orange. Barber is listed as the starter at attack and no change up at the second midfield is noted at least at this point. Obviously the health of Nick Piroli will be what everyone is looking for. He was thought to be on track to play a few minutes against both St. Johns and Hopkins but didn't see a second in either game. The status of himself and Barber will be something to keep an eye on. Will also be interesting to see what if anything the staff does with the second and third mid lines. Both were abysmal against John Hopkins and appeared to grind the offense to a halt especially in the second half when they received more PT then what appeared necessary. Will there be any surprise changes? Will Desko lean more on the 1st line? Will Piroli's return cause a domino effect strengthening the second line? Could Voight see time? Will Romano or Hutchings burn a shirt?
Key for the game will likely be at X and in Goal. Both teams have to be pretty happy about their starting faceoff men and worried about the goalie play. Williams and Rowe will likely take 98% of the draws on Saturday as neither backup has seen much time and Duke's second string is only 5-16 on the year. SU fans have been clamoring for Cal Paduda to get some run to spell Ben Williams, will he finally get a chance this game?
Key will be which Goalie can have that big game. Warren hill took a lot of heat for a lackluster second half against JHU, can he rebound? Can Fowler stand tall against what has been an underwhelming defense dealing with an injury to their top defender Zenker?
I was initially less then thrilled about this matchup but Duke's Jekkyl and Hyde performance this year has made this a hard game to project. SU would seem to have a slight advantage overall but if Duke is winning draws and goes on a good size run early SU could get put on its heels and never recover similarly to 2014 when it was blown out at Duke. SU will need balanced performances from both sides of the ball to win. The attack has to help out Donahue and the leash for Jordan Evans must be short if he once again struggles. If Piroli and Barber play I like SU close if their out look for Duke to win with its offensive firepower. Will be critical to see if SU can compose itself if it has a lead in the 4th again having struggled in 3 straight games (outside of St. Johns) to close out teams and coughing up multiple goals leads.
On paper at least this is a difficult matchup for SU. Duke's top six are probably one of if not the best starting group in the country. Four players have scored more then 30 points (Duke has played a ridiculous 10 games already) and another is at 29. Much like SU however, Duke has little in the way of depth. There second midfield is mostly non existent and they don't have a fourth attackmen that they rotate in like SU does.
For SU the D matchups appear to be pretty easy guesses. Firman and Fusco will clearly draw Myles and Jones, Mellen is likely to get Matheis who listed at 5'7 and Mullins will draw either Guterding or Bruckner. Last year Mullins spent some time on Guterding, and as the leading point scorer its likely he will get that matchup again. That would leave McDermott on Bruckner. The SU SSDM's are in for a very tough matchup and will need to rebound especially for whoever is starting opposite Grimm. I expect Grimm to draw Deemer Class which will put Cifferi, Gillis, D'agostino on Cohan. Duke will look to try and force switches and slides to get Class and Jones matched up on our SSDM's like they did in the ACC title game. This usually forces SU to slide early to help leaving Guterding open on the crease. SU will need a big game from the SSDM's and Warren Hill who has yet to have a big game for the Orange.
Offensively it looks like the status quo for the Orange. Barber is listed as the starter at attack and no change up at the second midfield is noted at least at this point. Obviously the health of Nick Piroli will be what everyone is looking for. He was thought to be on track to play a few minutes against both St. Johns and Hopkins but didn't see a second in either game. The status of himself and Barber will be something to keep an eye on. Will also be interesting to see what if anything the staff does with the second and third mid lines. Both were abysmal against John Hopkins and appeared to grind the offense to a halt especially in the second half when they received more PT then what appeared necessary. Will there be any surprise changes? Will Desko lean more on the 1st line? Will Piroli's return cause a domino effect strengthening the second line? Could Voight see time? Will Romano or Hutchings burn a shirt?
Key for the game will likely be at X and in Goal. Both teams have to be pretty happy about their starting faceoff men and worried about the goalie play. Williams and Rowe will likely take 98% of the draws on Saturday as neither backup has seen much time and Duke's second string is only 5-16 on the year. SU fans have been clamoring for Cal Paduda to get some run to spell Ben Williams, will he finally get a chance this game?
Key will be which Goalie can have that big game. Warren hill took a lot of heat for a lackluster second half against JHU, can he rebound? Can Fowler stand tall against what has been an underwhelming defense dealing with an injury to their top defender Zenker?
I was initially less then thrilled about this matchup but Duke's Jekkyl and Hyde performance this year has made this a hard game to project. SU would seem to have a slight advantage overall but if Duke is winning draws and goes on a good size run early SU could get put on its heels and never recover similarly to 2014 when it was blown out at Duke. SU will need balanced performances from both sides of the ball to win. The attack has to help out Donahue and the leash for Jordan Evans must be short if he once again struggles. If Piroli and Barber play I like SU close if their out look for Duke to win with its offensive firepower. Will be critical to see if SU can compose itself if it has a lead in the 4th again having struggled in 3 straight games (outside of St. Johns) to close out teams and coughing up multiple goals leads.
