I learned today that when it comes to DC/MD/VA lacrosse fans, the major fault line isn't necessarily GU-Navy, MD-Hopkins, UVA-anyone but UVA, etc...
...it is, in fact, people who are pro-umbrella vs. people who are anti-umbrella.
(I come out somewhere in the middle, in that I used an umbrella during the second half, but positioned it so that it was (a) not blocking anyone's view, (b) providing me absolutely no actual protection from the elements.)
Essentially, if you're a member of Hoya Blue or a GU football fan and weren't at the game today, think of this one as the Duquesne game with lacrosse sticks (except everyone kept their shirts on this time).
There was a 30 minute weather delay in the first half...you could hear the little rumbling of thunder so they called it and sent people to the Leavey Center...and the cashier w/ Late Stay working at Vittles probably had the WORST. RUSH. EVER. for the next 20 mins. Same for Snaxa, which is a) under an archway next to the stadium; b) adjacent to the entrance to the parking garage. Attendance was listed at 2,455 or so, a few short of capacity prob. cause of the crappy weather, and about 30% or so left for good after the delay.
I went back and changed into my lucky board shorts...we were down 3-2 until I put them on...now we're headed to Towson next weekend. Coincidence? Almost certainly, yes. But people in HB like them (read: probably find them extremely lame).
Def. not a good start being down 3-0 within three minutes, and all three of the goals were some different kind of depressing. A bounce pass through the crease that took about three deflections. The Dingman goal that was #2 if memory serves he kinda snuck behind a defender and parked himself on the door step for a real easy quick stick goal. The third one that was the fast break off the face off right? There was also a 5-second Navy goal off a FO in the third period on the same end. But Urick called a TO at that point and to GU's credit Navy went 20+ w/o scoring thereafter.
GU's first goal was a real nice feed from B. Cannon behind the net to a cutting Denihan...Cannon had another nice assist in the second half IIRC, the one on the man-down situation.
The first half was sloppy for stretches, although the turf field held up surprisingly well...one notable exception though being Mike White for GU who looked like he really wrecked his knee trying to make a clear in the first quarter, just kinda slid out. He was helped off w/o putting any weight on the knee, hope he's okay.
(Wow...actually, GUHoyas.com has the photo of it:
guhoyas.cstv.com/sports/m-lacros/spec-rel/051406aaa.html?pic=5)
Really, about as sloppy as one would expect when the weather's like that:
guhoyas.cstv.com/sports/m-lacros/spec-rel/051406aaa.html?pic=8More missed passes than normal...although the one thing that puzzled me is Navy had a lot of clears intercepted in the first half where they were just airmailing the ball down the field and one of the GU long-sticks hanging back would step in w/ plenty of time and pick it off. More violations for not clearing in time than I normally see in my limited experience w/ games.
GU controlled the game much better in the 2nd half, the quality of Navy's looks went down quite a bit it seemed, while GU finally solved Matt Russell, the Jorge Campos of college lacrosse. The game was in the bag after McBride's goal, not just because it was a total laser shot and put us up 9-7 w/ under 2 mins to go. He took a big hit after the goal and met a Navy guy's knee on the way down (people who actually saw it said the original hit was clean and not late, and hitting the dude in the knee on the way down was just unlucky, so I'm inclined to believe that...I was looking at the net) and he was lying there for a minute or so. But he was fine and he got up and was urging the crowd to get loud on the way back to the sideline. And that was pretty much it for momentum.
JimmyHoya commented before the game that he isn't exactly thrilled with GU's shooting, to which I replied that sometimes we seem to miss the net more often in the pre-game drills where we shoot at an empty net. Sure enough, we missed an empty net when Navy was doubling at the end of the game.
But another good, solid win where we controlled the tempo in our own unassuming, not especially interesting way. I'd kill for some 8-7 type of win over UVA...but it's gonna sure take some effort.
Also, someone pointed out to me--this is the last Georgetown sporting event I'm going to as a student
somewhere. So...ummm...there's that to feel nostalgic about. Actually, graduation-related stuff is keeping me from going to Towson next weekend...but I'll be in...well, we just won't say anything more until next Sunday night.
I would also like to publicly campaign for the return of "Thunderstruck" to the men's lacrosse pre-game mixtape next season. Unless we make the Final Four, in which case you guys can keep "The Safety Dance".
