Men's Lacrosse Final: Hoyas 16, Army 6

[DFW HOYA]

Next week: Hoyas vs. Maryland at Princeton

[Nevada Hoya]

Good to see the Hoyas win this one and get another shot at the Twerps. But I am not liking what is happening in the women's game.

[showcase]

Can we transfer some of the men's goals to the women?

Nice going, men's lax. Hope this is the start of a nice run to the finals.

[FLHoya]

This was a way bigger victory than the final score indicates. It was never close and seldom competitive. Both teams playing almost exclusively reserves in the fourth quarter. Got to see a number of those goals where it actually ends up working exactly like it's drawn up in practice (and probably close to practice speed) b/c GU's reserves were hyped up and Army was going through the motions.

Probably the worst thing that happened all day was when Brodie Merill's shorts fell down after a play in the fourth quarter. Judging by the reaction of some of the ladies in attendance, this was also the best thing that happened all day for a few fans.

When Brodie kept his pants on, he spent the rest of the day undressing Army's big attack guy Walker (the metaphor--she's gonna blow! HOLY TOLEDO!). Didn't let him have a shot on goal all day. The entire defense was really first rate today, though Army blew a lot of clears and easy passes. After about the first long Army sequence of the game D'Andrea didn't have to do much, and Urick pulled him the 4th. Army's coach meanwhile was shuttling 3 different goaltenders in and out all game--sometimes on the fly.

Corno had some ridiculous faceoff percentage today--he might have lost 2 or 3 tops all day out of over 15. He was getting subbed for in the second quarter even.

Nice win--fun time, no rain, lots of pinks and blues in the clothing (somebody must have had twins, or people from this region are still taking their dressing cues from the stupid Lacoste catalog. Blech ;D)

We did also get (TWICE!!) the courtesy (and very, very sarcastically done) announcement that artificial noise makers are prohibited at NCAA tournament games. So I guess that means Bobby Knight's gonna retire now (hey, ex-Army coach right? how bout that). Seriously, the "artificial noise makers" the GU parents were like tiny plastic hand clapper things. It's not like the D'Andreas, Denihans, and Caseys are Pots and Spoons here.

And I wanna know who that GU Lax parent is who's always up on the roof of the press box. Because I'd like to try that seat next time.

[nychoya3]

Solid beatdown of a pretty good team today. Very good omen for the rest of the way. (Hey, that rhymes! Another good omen.)

Corno maybe lost 2 faceoffs - we were 20-26 on the day. The stat sheet has us at 51-18 on ground balls. Holy Toledo is right! That means we were simply faster and stronger than they were.

FLHoya, how did Brendan Cannon's one-handed shot (the one where they checked his stick afterwards) look in person. 'Cause it looked pretty damn nasty on the feed.

I'm gonna be at Princeton next week, and I'm bringing my airhorn, thundersticks, cowbell, and snare drum. You just try to stop me, NCAA!

[FLHoya]

nychoya3 said:

Solid beatdown of a pretty good team today. Very good omen for the rest of the way. (Hey, that rhymes! Another good omen.)

Corno maybe lost 2 faceoffs - we were 20-26 on the day. The stat sheet has us at 51-18 on ground balls. Holy Toledo is right! That means we were simply faster and stronger than they were.

FLHoya, how did Brendan Cannon's one-handed shot (the one where they checked his stick afterwards) look in person. 'Cause it looked pretty damn nasty on the feed.

I'm gonna be at Princeton next week, and I'm bringing my airhorn, thundersticks, cowbell, and snare drum. You just try to stop me, NCAA!

Box Score:

guhoyas.collegesports.com/sports/m-lacros/stats/2004-2005/05x15x05.html

I'd say Cannon's shot was scrumtrilescent. File that under "things I'm never gonna be able to do".

I think the more amazing part wasn't that he held onto the ball--if you've watched him this year you know he's incredible at stick-handling--but that he got knocked down, double-teamed while on his belly, and still got up and beat both guys to the front of the crease, while a delayed penalty was on.

That was sort of the point at which you know Army wasn't gonna have it today. When that happens and you get the lame "check the stick" thing...yeah, not so much. I think Brendan had a hat trick with that goal too.

And that box score says Corno was 15-16 on face offs today (two other guys did the remaining ten). I remember the exact one he lost too, and let's just say I'm pretty confident the other guy started early...you know, since he was basically standing up when the whistle blew. I'm still at maybe 80-85% on totally grasping lacrosse rules/strategy but I think I got that one down.

Yeah, the ground ball thing was ridiculous--some of that was hustle, some of it was Army throwing passes away. On the faceoffs it was weird--Army put their wing guys way off the center line, and really a lot of times didn't bother contesting ground balls, like they expected Corno to win easliy and were just getting back on D. Even when the ball would squirt behind Corno, it'd be a race between Queener and...the official maybe.

This like I said before was almost never remotely competitve. By the fourth quarter, hoyabinx and I were basically talking about Hoya Blue next year (read: pointing out a girl wearing a Kurt Shirt, making fun of GUHoya2007) broken up occassionally by one of us making the call: "yeah, that's a goal" as a pass came through in front of the crease. Maryland's gonna be a tough, tough assignment though. Big stuff.

[WilsonBlvdHoya]

Best quote from Urick after the game: " When you play a service academy, you know they're not going to quit-or else we're all in trouble!"

guhoyas.collegesports.com/sports/m-lacros/recaps/051505aad.html

[JimmyHoya]

Talked with Coaches Urick and Rienzo at the Landon/Prep IAC Title game today...seemed real confident about our Hoyas' chances this weekend versus the Twerps and were oooh and aah'ing all game. Fun stuff.

Rienzo was laughing his tail off at this Prep long pole who scored on a fast break, and the two bonehead goalies who ran out of their cages and got burned for goals.

Prep has some INSANE juniors that if we can get a hold of would be huge. These guys, Danny Gladding and Andrew Bococcaio (sp?) are big (6'2 and 6'4) midfielders who had the most dominant stick skills on the field. Really really impressive players.

[lichoya68]

whoa this could be our FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE SAILING ,,,and we supposedly signed four or five of the top landon players ,,,a first ever for us... so watch out for the hoyas.. first respect.... then FEAR.. go hoyas.. beat the twerps

[WilsonBlvdHoya]

JimmyHoya said:

Talked with Coaches Urick and Rienzo at the Landon/Prep IAC Title game today...seemed real confident about our Hoyas' chances this weekend versus the Twerps and were oooh and aah'ing all game. Fun stuff.

Rienzo was laughing his tail off at this Prep long pole who scored on a fast break, and the two bonehead goalies who ran out of their cages and got burned for goals.

Prep has some INSANE juniors that if we can get a hold of would be huge. These guys, Danny Gladding and Andrew Bococcaio (sp?) are big (6'2 and 6'4) midfielders who had the most dominant stick skills on the field. Really really impressive players.

Yeah, those guys are solid players. Gladding played hoops with Roy on GPrep bball team and I THINK (not certain) that Brancaccio may be related (the son of??) broadcaster David Brancaccio of NPR (business coverage) and PBS-TV Now program (formerly with Bill Moyers)....