Lacrosse

[amh63]

PolarCat.....like the buried " Animal House " reference in your post . plus K.  Some of your school alums would scare me to death as I got a ride back from Mt. Holyoke over the Notch.  The drivers were too much like the characters in that film.  Can even remember the real roadhouse and remember a real party with the big Band....believe it was held at the Amherst AD house.
I would have the President of the school in court if one of my kids had to go to Summer School After a Graduation event!   Williams and Amherst both walk a thin line wrt to course credits in Geology. To honor in a major, one must "write/ produce" a worthy thesis.  In geology, to get a thesis topic, one must attend a geology field course held in Montana....held through Princeton/ UPenn.  Kids from around the country take the course.  All get grades for the course....except those campers from Williams and Amherst.  I was not happy about paying for that course for my older son....complained to the Prez and got a scholarship for my son...money from the Prez's special funds. Memories again.

Planning a trip to see Middlebury play on Sat.  A salute to Missy Foote.  Hard to meet her as the teams are on the opposite side of the field from the fans.  Possible showers in the afternoon forecasted.

[PolarCat]

Glad you convinced the Mrs. that watching WLAX was a better way to spend your Saturday than whatever chores she had lined up.  +K back at you for having your priorities right (and making the sale).

Good luck to the Panthers - hoping they beat Hamilton, then Gettysburg, then Cortland, so we can play them again in Philly.  I will buy you and Vandy your choice of hoagie and soft pretzel if that happens.  And throw in some Shoo Fly Pie if Bowdoin prevails.

[Vandy74]

I haven't had much opportunity to do more than check in here lately.  It's good to see some regular chatter on this board.  Best of luck to all NESCAC teams except Hamilton tomorrow.....err....this afternoon.  I've always had a tendency to keep these hours amh63.  I just didn't need as much sleep as I seem to now.   I am on my way to bed when I finish this however.   I wish I were joining you in Gettysburg.  Give my best to Missy in the event you do succeed in getting a minute or to of her attention.  I also wish the games weren't all starting at the same time.  I would really like to see how Mt. Union plays against Catholic.  And as for your offer should Bowdoin prevail PolarCat, my taste buds favor apple pandowdy.

[magicman]

Got to see a few minutes of a feature on the Middlebury Women's Lacrosse team last night on the local Plattsburgh TV station. Missy Foote was interviewed as well as several of the players on the team. They seemed to be confident going into today's match against Hamilton. Think it was filmed a couple of days ago.

The Middlebury-Hamilton just ended a few minutes ago and the Panthers defeated Hamilton by an 18-10 final score. Hamilton scored first but then the Panthers rolled to an 8-1 lead. Hamilton came back to make it 9-5 at the break. Middlebury then opened up a 15-7 lead with about 15 minutes left to play and coasted to the win. They will play York (Pa.), who beat host Gettysburg 8-7, tomorrow at 2:30 PM.

#2 Cortland State had an easy time against Augustana (Ill.) as they beat the Vikings 21-2. The Red Dragons scored 4 goals in the first 4 minutes of the game and the rout was on. Cortland led 15-0 at the half and 19-0 before Augustana finally got on the board. Cortland will take on Catholic tomorrow at 1:00 PM. Catholic was a 21- 8  winner over Mount Union. 

[amh63]

Survived my trip to Gettysburg.  Magicman...thanks for filling the board here of the game...in the 2nd half.  Recalled the 9-5 first half score.  I left the game when it started pouring...delaying the game for the second time.  It was 9-4 when there was lighting in the area...automatic 30 minute delay....with around 8 minutes to go.  Got to talk to a number of the Continentals parents as well as Midd parents.
During the break, did get to chat with Vandy's brother....husband of Missy Foote.  Also a father of a Panther player who lives just a skip away from Amherst in Granby, Ma.
Did chat with the Middlebury football coach a bit about the new QB transfer.  He tells me that the kid is a VT resident!  Forgot that Coach Ritter has two players on the team.  Did sit with his wife and the wife's parents...Philly resident.  Tried to behave myself.  Bumped into a Hamilton football coach...guess he was the Hamilton rep for NCAA purposes.  Coach Ritter seemed to me he wished he was the NCAA rep......seems the Midd AD...Quinn?...took that role.  At Amherst, such a role is usually given to a football coach person.
Even talked to a Polar Bear fan who was present....closest CAC game he could attend.  Sitting in the stands, he was trying to check on the Bowdoin game.  Told him it was 3-3 and then 4-4 before we the fans had to leave the game due to lightning in the area.
Parking was difficult.  Seems that there was a men's Lax going on at the same time and Gettysburg was holding Graduation!  Talk about confusion.  There was even a sidewalk sale event in downtown Gettysburg that tied up traffic.
All in all, it was an experience....met nice fans and football coaches and got wet in a downpour.

[PolarCat]

Well, that was a painful end to an exciting season.  After jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first 7 minutes of play, the Bowdoin Polar Bears repeated the same mistakes they'd made at Trinity's Sheppard Field just 2 weeks previously, turning the ball over with sloppy passes and unforced errors, and letting their opponent dictate the time of possession and the pace of the game.  The game was tied at halftime, and Bowdoin scored first in the second period, but after that TCNJ held the Polar Bears scoreless, while wearing down the D with time of possession.

It was all over when TCNJ went up 8-5 with 12 minutes remaining, and began running out the clock.  The game wasn't as lop-sided as the final score would suggest, since Bowdoin switched out GK's and let the GK come out and double the ball.  TCNJ's final goal was scored on an empty net.  But hats off to TCNJ for playing an excellent game on both ends of the field.

It was a bitter-sweet loss for the Bowdoin Seniors, who will now get to graduate with their Class next Saturday.  And the final Bowdoin tailgate was epic.  Our girls may not have finished #1 in the nation, but I doubt there is any team that enjoys such gourmet feasts after every game.  (It was fun watching the HS kids who were there for the Football Skills Clinic, and the Trinity '15 families walk by our tailgate area with their eyes popping out at our Bear Bacchanalia).

2015 was a really fun ride.  We'll be back.

[PolarCat]

Since no one else here has mentioned it...  The most heart-breaking loss of the season belongs to Gettysburg.  The Bullets were down 8-7 to York with 6 seconds to go, when a Gettysburg first year found the back of the net to tie the game.

The only problem was, in the ensuing celebration multiple Bullets dropped their sticks, and the refs could not do a stick check on the girl who actually scored, so they waved the goal off.

Poor Carol Cantele.  She brought her team this far, including a defeat of arch-rival F&M and looked to be going to OT, only to lose because of player exuberance.  That's gonna leave a mark.

[Vandy74]

Survived my trip to Gettysburg.  Magicman...thanks for filling the board here of the game...in the 2nd half.  Recalled the 9-5 first half score.  I left the game when it started pouring...delaying the game for the second time.  It was 9-4 when there was lighting in the area...automatic 30 minute delay....with around 8 minutes to go.  Got to talk to a number of the Continentals parents as well as Midd parents.
During the break, did get to chat with Vandy's brother....husband of Missy Foote.  Also a father of a Panther player who lives just a skip away from Amherst in Granby, Ma.
Did chat with the Middlebury football coach a bit about the new QB transfer.  He tells me that the kid is a VT resident!  Forgot that Coach Ritter has two players on the team.  Did sit with his wife and the wife's parents...Philly resident.  Tried to behave myself.  Bumped into a Hamilton football coach...guess he was the Hamilton rep for NCAA purposes.  Coach Ritter seemed to me he wished he was the NCAA rep......seems the Midd AD...Quinn?...took that role.  At Amherst, such a role is usually given to a football coach person.
Even talked to a Polar Bear fan who was present....closest CAC game he could attend.  Sitting in the stands, he was trying to check on the Bowdoin game.  Told him it was 3-3 and then 4-4 before we the fans had to leave the game due to lightning in the area.
Parking was difficult.  Seems that there was a men's Lax going on at the same time and Gettysburg was holding Graduation!  Talk about confusion.  There was even a sidewalk sale event in downtown Gettysburg that tied up traffic.
All in all, it was an experience....met nice fans and football coaches and got wet in a downpour.

Sounds like you had a great time amh63.  I'm a bit jealous.  I'm glad you met my brother Dick.  The lightning delay worked in Midd's favor I thought.  They seemed to play much stronger defense in the second half.  That early 8-1 lead was largely because they had controlled the draws and Hamilton rarely had the ball.  The Continentals scored at will whenever they did possess it.  3 goals in 2 and a half minutes.  Very little D played on either side before the lightning began and I wondered if it was one of those no lead is big enough kind of games.  I lost the video feed for the final five minutes and had to settle for live stats.

Magicman, I had missed the York upset over Gettysburg.  Very strange.  Placing the Panthers in this regional should have given Missy one last shot at two teams she has regularly scheduled over the years for the Spring Break trip because her mom lives in the area and it gives her a chance to visit.  Both Salisbury along with Gettysburg were beaten before those match ups could take place.

Disappointed but not totally surprised by how easily Catholic dispatched Mt. Union.  But the on-paper data doesn't lie.  The Raiders were capable of playing them much closer.  Come tournament time experience counts for a lot and Catholic's program had it.  Mt Union will be here again and they will be better prepared.  It didn't help that they were basically unchallenged in their last ten games.  Almost every 1st round game has a clear cut heavy favorite and they were that.  But since conference play dominates the last month of the season Mt. Union needs for at least a few in-conference foes to take the game as seriously as they do.  If that doesn't happen they need to play a strong out of conference schedule and fit one of those games into the last week or two.  The Raiders are already too good to just utilize the local NCAC teams exclusively for that purpose.  Scheduling Fredonia was good.  Three or four more games against that caliber opponent are necessary.

Very sorry to see Bowdoin's fine season end today but when two such talented teams match up one has to lose.  TCNJ's GK Kelly Schlupp was outstanding.  I leave it to PolarCat to give the report on this one. 

PolarCat, I see that you posted while I was composing this.  I often ignore the "Warning".  Glad I didn't this time.  That is a lousy way to lose the opportunity to decide it in OT.  The rule being what it is I don't see how else the officials could have handled it but it does seem inadequate.   The play on the field, not technicalities, should determine an outcome.  Very sad.

[amh63]

Vandy74.....a sort of last word post.  The Midd player Bridget Instrum is a Div 1 transfer.  Her father, wearing a field hockey Panther shirt is an ice hockey fan.  While chatting about Canadian hockey players in the CAC, I found out he is an avid golfer.  May want to chat with him.  He knew all about Taconic and the first class golf course that runs by Mt. Holyoke College.  He also knows about the Amherst Alum who is building links type golf courses on his own dime as a sort of " hobby".  Built three great courses out west....Brandon Dunes, etc.  Mr. Instrum has played those and told me there are new ones being built in Nova Scotia!  The Amherst Alum was never a good college golfer but loves the game.  Funding comes from his recycled paper Card Co. In Illinois.
Yes, still digressing.  Could mention that the late Callaway ....of golf club fame...son was an art major at Amherst and is famous on his own via Callaway Corvette engines, etc. I'm told that those limited engines exceed 150-200K apiece if you can get one.  Next time you visit your niece at Amherst, maybe you should bring your clubs.

[magicman]

Cortland Girls defeat Catholic in a hard fought game by a final score of 13-12 Sunday afternoon. Cortland dominated the first half and led by a 9-2 score but the Cardinal ladies rallied in the 2nd half. After the teams traded 2 goals each and Catholic was still down by 7 goals at 11-4, the Cardinals ripped off 3 goals in 52 seconds to make it a game. They scored again with 14 minutes left to make it 11-8 but the Red Dragons answered 83 seconds later to make it 12-8. Catholic scored a pair of goals with about 5 minutes left to make it 12 -10 but Cortland won the ensuing draw control and scored with 3:58 left which ended up being the game winner. Catholic scored with 1:24 left and again with just 54 seconds to pull within 1 goal. The Cardinals had one last chance to tie it up when Cortland, attempting to run out the clock turned the ball over with 10 seconds to play. Catholic failed to get a shot off, however when a pass across the crease went awry and Cortland held on to make it to the Final Four for the 5th consecutive year.


Middlebury is joining the Red Dragons in the Final Four as Missy Foote's final season continues. In a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicates the Panthers defeated York(Pa.) 10-8.

The teams traded goals in the early going and the Spartans were up 3-2 with 14:25 left in the half. Middlebury got serious at that point and scored 5 unanswered goals with 3 of them coming in a 2 minute burst. After a 4 minute span with no goals, the Panthers tacked on 2 more and kept York off the scoreboard for the rest of the period, to take a 7-3 lead into the break.

The lead grew to 9-4 after 10 minutes of the 2nd half and the Spartans fought to get back into the game with a pair of goals over the next 10 minutes to make it 9-6 with just under 10 minutes to play. Defense took over and the next 6 minutes were scoreless until Bridget Instrum scored her 4th goal of the game with 3:22 to play to make it 10-6. With a 4 goal lead the Panthers gave up a couple of late goals to make the final of 10-8. Middlebury advances to the Final Four for the 15th time.

Trinity(Conn.) gives the NESCAC another Final Four participant as they will take on Franklin & Marshall in the other semifinal.

Look like amh63 had a big day at Gettysburg. Sorry to hear that T-storms spoiled part of the day. You did get to meet an awful lot of people though. You are quite the social gadabout.

Not happy that Middlebury has to play Cortland in the National Semifinals. Torn loyalties. May have to root for the Panthers even though I'm a SUNYAC guy. Would love to see the Cortland Red Dragons win a National Championship since they have been so close in the past 4 years but would also love to see Vandy's sister-in-law, Missy Foote, go out with a bang by winning the National Championship. I think Cortland has the better chance to go all the way but anything can happen at this point with all 4 teams left capable of winning the Big Doorstop.     

[amh63]

Magicman...the Big doorstop! . Like it +K
Watched a little Div 1 men's Lax...Johns Hopkins was playing no.2 Syracuse in Annapolis Md.  When I left for a picnic, JHU was up 3 goals with around 5 minutes to go.  the Orangeman player Straats is a member of an Indian tribe.  Seems no lead is safe among powerhouse teams.  It was hot and humid and announcers pointed out that defense starts to break down late in games.
For some reason, I attract people....seeing a strange person wearing NO purple with an Amherst Basketball hat.  Will admit I do have an out of place person image...but do dress fashionable/correct with socks on, pants zipped, etc.
Tufts did pull an upset over RIT....undefeated RIT.  Still upset about Cortland State beating Amherst in the NY regional baseball game.....down 5-0 in the sixth, Cortland scores 7 runs to win 7-5.  Cortland had the deeper team.  Amherst pitcher ran out of gas.
Go Red Dragons.

[magicman]

I watched that baseball game amh63 and I thought of you at various times during the contest. First, how happy you would be that the LJ's beat the top team in the country as the 5-0 lead late in the game seemed insurmountable. Later how disappointed you would be that the LJ's let a nice lead disappear and lost it in the last few frames. Got to hand it to Cortland as they came back from deficits in their first 3 games to win them all.  Rooting for the Red Dragons to win the D3 World Series.

I must confess that "The Big Doorstop" is a phrase I first heard used by Gregory Sager over on the D3hoops boards and have borrowed it on occasion. Greg is "The Man" when it comes to inventing novel expressions on the D3 boards. I wish I could remember his Titanic references as they were classic Sager.

Tufts didn't just beat #1 RIT they appeared to handle them pretty easily after a close first half. The Jumbos seem to have the Tiger's number having beaten them 4 of the last 5 times in the NCAA tournament. Need Tufts to win the Championship so the title resides in the Northeast. Lynchburg will be a tough opponent. Should be a good game. 

[Vandy74]

This so cool.  Chatter on the Lax board.  Last season nobody was here except NCF and myself.  NCF  was simply curious to learn what this sport that so many athletes coached over the years were turning to.  As before, too busy will other matters to really post anything worth reading.  Will try to rectify that later.  Love the inciteful posts of magicman and amh63.  Would like to see something from our two Mt. Union reps.  That 21-8 final score against Catholic is very misleading.  The  "just glad to be here" programs score 1 or 2 against that caliber opponent.  All 8 were scored against Catholic's starting GK.  The Raiders were very much in the game well into the 1st half.  It was tied 4-4 at one point.  Mt. Union will be a true player very soon.  Only one senior.  NESCAC et al. we have been given fair warning.   More to say later.

[PolarCat]

Update on the Gettysburg-York game.  PolarKitten is friends with the Bullet player who scored the goal that was called back.  (They played club lacrosse together). Contrary to initial reports, there was only ONE additional stick thrown on the ground - a teammate who threw hers in the air in exultation so she could hug the girl who scored.

It does seem like the refs could have resolved this without calling the goal back - at worst, they could have checked both sticks.  Heart breaking.

[Vandy74]

Update on the Gettysburg-York game.  PolarKitten is friends with the Bullet player who scored the goal that was called back.  (They played club lacrosse together). Contrary to initial reports, there was only ONE additional stick thrown on the ground - a teammate who threw hers in the air in exultation so she could hug the girl who scored.

It does seem like the refs could have resolved this without calling the goal back - at worst, they could have checked both sticks.  Heart breaking.

PolarCat.....    Thanks for the clarification of what really happened.  I mentioned the incident to a friend who has two daughters that play or have played at the collegiate level and he suggested the same.  Just check all the sticks.  He also has experience as a ref in several sports although not in lacrosse.  That said, the refs don't make the rules.  They enforce them and if a situation is covered in some way they have to use the rule book to make their judgement.  It's a fairly safe assumption that almost all refs are former players and don't enjoy having to make this kind of decision.  I have checked through the rule book to see what is specifically stated.  While the exact incident is not mentioned, three different rules taken together seem to allow the officials no way out of nullifying the goal.  First, "throwing the crosse for any reason" is a "minor foul".  Second, any foul committed in the act of scoring be it before, during or after the goal will be enforced.  Third, the result of such enforcement of a violation by the offensive team will result in the nullification of the goal.  There really is no gray area here.  What can be complained about is the "throwing the crosse for any reason" rule.  This like so many other rules in the women's game (that really set my friend's teeth on edge) are for "player safety" because since they are female they need special protection.  (Remember the way women's basketball used to be played?)  I think mention has been made on this board previously that at the DI level, at least, it has been lobbied to require the wearing of helmets specifically to allow more aggressive play.  But back to the point, the three rules I mention are in the book and would seem to allow the refs no discretion in making the call.  Once rules are in place, common sense goes right out the window, sad to say.  The only upside here is that from what I've read about the game York outplayed Gettysburg in every way possible and only those in the stands wearing the host team's colors would disagree.  That, however, does not change the fact that on the field of play Gettysburg managed the game tying goal just as time was expiring.