Lacrosse

[P'bearfan]

Agree that the Bowdoin women's lax team is off to a rough start.  They graduated their starting goalie and much of their starting defense.  Could be a rebuilding year for them.

On the men's side, the Polar Bears are off to a strong 5-1 start including an impressive 9-8 victory over Midd in OT this past Saturday.  Here's hoping they can keep the momentum going.

GoUBears!!

[Vandy74]

Agree that the Bowdoin women's lax team is off to a rough start.  They graduated their starting goalie and much of their starting defense.  Could be a rebuilding year for them.

On the men's side, the Polar Bears are off to a strong 5-1 start including an impressive 9-8 victory over Midd in OT this past Saturday.  Here's hoping they can keep the momentum going.

GoUBears!!

A bit late with this.  Too much NCAA basketball and fantasy baseball draft preparation going on.

I saw the recap of the Bowdoin men's win over the Panthers.  I'd been hopeful Middlebury had the team that would win those types of games this season but the NESCAC is a tough league for the men as well.  The question remains, can anyone take down Tufts?  Maybe Amherst.  With the way the conference schedules league games it's impossible to see both men's and women's teams play and I've always been more interested in the women's league due to a family connection.

I did see the Middlebury women's victory over Bowdoin however.  I met PolarCat who was much better about how the game progressed than I would have been had the situation been reversed.  This was certainly a much different Bowdoin team than the one that beat Middlebury 14-8 in last season's 'CAC semifinals.  But a rebuilding team gets better as the season extends itself.    Three Bowdoin losses have come at the hands of the conference's best while Middlebury is 4-0 against teams that have just one conference win among them, albeit Tufts' impressive upset of Trinity on Saturday.  When he mentioned his daughter was playing through an injury I was impressed having seen her run the ball 3/4 the length of the field outracing several Middlebury defenders just a short time before.  Bowdoin will be back sooner rather than later and she'll be one of those responsible for it.

One thing must be mentioned about the game.  Middlebury's Mary O'Connell scored eight goals on eight shots in the 1st half and added four assists.  A clinic performance.   In other NESCAC  action #10 Amherst beat #12 Hamilton 10-6.  Where are you amh63?  I shouldn't have to do your work for you.   As already noted, #13 Tufts upset #9 Trinity 10-9 in a game they led 8-7 at the half.  Only four more goals were scored in the second stanza with Trinity earning the first two to take a 9-7 lead at 8:53.  Gabby Vinci tied the score again for Tufts on an assist from Caroline Ross at 1:26 and Ross added her second goal of the game unassisted with just 13 seconds remaining to win it for the Jumbos.  In other games involving NESCAC teams  #9 Bates handled Williams 14-5 and Wesleyan beat up on Kean by a score of 14-2.

This isn't meant to be just a NESCAC board.  There's a lot of great lacrosse being played out there.  It's too bad more of it's fans don't post here.  On the women's side Mount Union has a program that defeated a ranked team last year playing in just it's third varsity season.  Augustana represents a rapidly improving CCIW.  Denison has taken on a killer schedule and has beaten a ranked team in the process.  They'll be ready for anything come NCAA tournament time.  First they have to win the NCAC tournament, never easy to do.  The SCIAC represents the best of west coast lacrosse.  Then there are the Salisburys, Gettysburgs, Franklin & Marshalls and TCNJs of the women's lacrosse world.  The last I knew SUNY Cortland is still the undefeated defending champion.  Anyone who is more of a men's lacrosse fan is welcome too..........Just is all probably falling on deaf ears.    But I hope not.

[JEFFFAN]

Interesting loss by Tufts the other day to Stevenson, a program with great historical success but one that is not having a very good year.  For Tufts no loss is a good loss but this one is just surprising because of where Stevenson is this year.   Tufts is giving up a ton of goals this year, more than in the past.

Jeff fans should take a hard look at Quinn Moroney, arguably the best attackmen in Amherst history.   The kid is a complete assist machine who also tosses in a few goals here and there.  This is a very senior laden team offensively so one could guess that Thompson sees this as a year to make a serious run.   Having said that, their defensive performance of late has been sloppy and they have serious FOGO problems that will likely keep them from making that long run.

[Vandy74]

Interesting loss by Tufts the other day to Stevenson, a program with great historical success but one that is not having a very good year.  For Tufts no loss is a good loss but this one is just surprising because of where Stevenson is this year.   Tufts is giving up a ton of goals this year, more than in the past.

Jeff fans should take a hard look at Quinn Moroney, arguably the best attackmen in Amherst history.   The kid is a complete assist machine who also tosses in a few goals here and there.  This is a very senior laden team offensively so one could guess that Thompson sees this as a year to make a serious run.   Having said that, their defensive performance of late has been sloppy and they have serious FOGO problems that will likely keep them from making that long run.

A new poster, and men's lacrosse to boot.  Welcome JEFFFAN. 

I needed to check a few details since I don't follow the men that closely and the Stevenson-Tufts women's game was won by Tufts that day by the same score.  The Stevenson women are a very atypical 2-6 but the men are still 5-4.  Those four losses are to the #1 and #2 teams and to two others listed as also receiving Top 20 consideration.  I expect Stevenson is like 4-3 Middlebury, a very good team that hasn't quite done the job often enough against other very good teams.  Next up for the Panthers is a trip to the Syracuse Carrier Dome to face #2 RIT.  Then we host Amherst.  4-3 could become 4-5 rather quickly.  I do appreciate the talents of Quinn Moroney btw.  He tossed in three against us in last season's NCAA second round game at Amherst.  Payback was the order of the day as I recall.  I hoped that he'd graduated by now.

I do wish him and his teammates well against Tufts however.  The Jumbos two goal margin of victory over us earlier this season was the smallest I can remember in quite some time. 

[P'bearfan]

Congrats to Bowdoin's Peter Mumford for being named NESCAC player of the week and to the entire men's lacrosse team who vaulted into the national poll at #14! This is the first time since 2014 the men's team has been nationally ranked.

GoUBears!!

[amh63]

OK, reporting for duty! . Have been following the men's action more than the women.  Even caught some Div1 games....Hopkins vs UVA for one. 
Agreed that Amherst's defense appears a little off wrt to last season...but heh, the offenses of the opponents are getting better with fine talent entering the game.  Did notice that the younger Killian is scoring more lately. Was a student abroad the first semester...maybe needed to get in shape.  Not sure what position he plays...more on the defensive side.  Yes, his older brother is the fine MBB Killian.
With regard to the women games...did check on the status of the Caputi girls.  The younger one from Tabor is not on the roster this season!  She was on the WBB team and may have needed time to get herself ready for Stickball.  Maybe PolarCat can provide some input here?
The older daughter of the former Bowdoin Football HC appears on the Middlebury roster.  Do not recall her position. 
Still getting use to adjusting to the differences between men and women play..again .
Checking rosters, etc., see the Middlebury men's team was edged by Bowdoin 9-8.
The latest Women's rankings has Middlebury at no. 2, followed by Colby, Amherst and Tufts?  All in the top 10.
I was really mixed up wrt the  Caputi sisters.  Though both the same size, had the older one at Bowdoin...before my correction.  Wasn't there a third sister?...heading to college.  Thought she ended up at Middlebury...not playing Lacrosse though.
Planning to watch Middlebury vs Dickerson at Carlilse.  Interesting location in Pa.  Home to the Army War College and a former school for Indian Boys!..one that became a great football player.  Also a former training site for the Washington NFL team...the Redskins .

[Vandy74]

OK, reporting for duty! . Have been following the men's action more than the women.  Even caught some Div1 games....Hopkins vs UVA for one. 
Agreed that Amherst's defense appears a little off wrt to last season...but heh, the offenses of the opponents are getting better with fine talent entering the game.  Did notice that the younger Killian is scoring more lately. Was a student abroad the first semester...maybe needed to get in shape.  Not sure what position he plays...more on the defensive side.  Yes, his older brother is the fine MBB Killian.
With regard to the women games...did check on the status of the Caputi girls.  The younger one from Tabor is not on the roster this season!  She was on the WBB team and may have needed time to get herself ready for Stickball.  Maybe PolarCat can provide some input here?
The older daughter of the former Bowdoin Football HC appears on the Middlebury roster.  Do not recall her position. 
Still getting use to adjusting to the differences between men and women play..again .
Checking rosters, etc., see the Middlebury men's team was edged by Bowdoin 9-8.
The latest Women's rankings has Middlebury at no. 2, followed by Colby, Amherst and Tufts?  All in the top 10.
I was really mixed up wrt the  Caputi sisters.  Though both the same size, had the older one at Bowdoin...before my correction.  Wasn't there a third sister?...heading to college.  Thought she ended up at Middlebury...not playing Lacrosse though.
Planning to watch Middlebury vs Dickerson at Carlilse.  Interesting location in Pa.  Home to the Army War College and a former school for Indian Boys!..one that became a great football player.  Also a former training site for the Washington NFL team...the Redskins .

There you are amh63.  I knew you'd show up sooner or later.   Middlebury senior Maggie Caputi plays defense, btw.  Her dad pointed out Polarcat to me last Saturday when I was trying to track him down.  You and I haven't managed to put a face with the other's name yet but Middhoops and I take all the blame there for not following through on travel plans at least once.  I'll be watching the Middlebury Dickinson game too in about ten minutes.  I see they lost to Amherst earlier down in Florida. 

[Vandy74]

Middlebury had all it could handle in their 12-7 victory over Dickinson on Tuesday.  Take away the opening 3 1/2 minutes of the 1st half and the first 9+ minutes of the 2nd and Dickinson outscored the Panthers the rest of the way.  The host team was playing it's best game of the season by far according to the student commentator and GK Tara Cuddihy put on an All-American caliber performance with 15 saves, some of them absolutely remarkable, against 25 shots on goal.  Her aggressive style of play also made her the equivalent of an extra defender as well.  I'm not sure I've seen a better game played at GK in my experience of watching women's lax. 

After taking a quick 2-0 lead at 26:37 Middlebury was continually stymied by Cuddihy and the Panthers lead by only a 5-3 score at the half.  Middlebury again seemed to take control of the game in the second stanza scoring four times in the opening nine and a half minutes but then Cuddihy again returned to her 1st half form.  Middelbury's two GKs made just one save as the stingy defense limited Dickinson to only eight shots on goal the entire game.  The hosts committed 24 turnovers to only 13 for the Panthers.  Unfortunately Middlebury lost the services of key defender senior Maggie Caputi who was injured and helped off the field putting no weight on her right foot in the process.  Hopefully that was just a precaution but obviously she would be a big loss to the Panthers if the injury is serious.

As I was telling PolarCat Saturday afternoon I didn't believe Middlebury had really been tested yet.  Now they have.

[P'bearfan]

Bowdoin's men's lax team continued its winning ways by defeating Babson 12-6 powered by a 6-0 run at the start of the second half.  This victory extends the Polar Bear win streak to 6 and the overall record now stands at 6-1.  Bowdoin will host Trinity this Saturday.

GoUBears!!

[NCF]

The Augustana women are currently the top dog in the CCIW. They take their 7-1 record on the road tomorrow to play undefeated Wooster.

[amh63]

The presently No.4 ranked Amherst Men's team won over a game Springfield team 15-7 last night.  Springfield actually led 2-0 before Amherst got their act together.  Is that a proper phrase to use here?
Anyway, it was 4-4 in the first period.  Amherst shut down the Pride? In the next period.  The stats seemed even but Amherst was more efficient with their shots and clears.  The 7pm start of the game prevented me from watching the game.  Sports watching at home is being prioritized , especially around meals and Spring cleaning, etc., etc,.
Did see the injury to Maggie Caputi.  She was down awhile while action continued...since Dickerson was on the attack.
Matt Killian, a Jr., did score a goal and is listed as a SSDM player.  Need an inscription expert here.
Does that mean Short Stick Defensive Midfield?
Need to make a correction on the women lacrosse latest top 10 rankings.  Trinity vice Tufts is the fourth team in the top 10.

[polbear73]

Perhaps Bowdoin's 6-1 start, including wins over Stevens and Middlebury is a bit surprising as this was a 3-12 team last year.  The fact that the top four scorers for Bowdoin are sophomores and that a couple freshmen have been solid contributors already is a positive sign for the future of the program. 

[Vandy74]

It was Middlebury over Stevenson by an 18-6 count this afternoon.  14-4 at the half.  Ordinarily this would have been a much more contested match up.  2-7 Stevenson is traditionally a true SOS type of non-conference opponent and while today's game showed they are not at that standard this season they have played a killer schedule.  Salisbury, Gettysburg, Franklin & Marshall and Washington College to open the schedule.  Four ranked teams and three of them the winners of 6 of the last 9 DIII championships.  That's more brutal than any four game stretch of the NESCAC schedule, as strong as the conference is.

During a team time-out I spotted Maggie Caputi using crutches.  She will obviously miss some time.  Another Panther went down with injury although it seemed to be possibly only a mild sprang, but no details.  Sophomore midfielder Evie Keating, I believe, but when it comes to remembering things this steel trap mind of mine isn't what it used to be.   It's proving to be a costly Spring Break road trip. 

Amherst is next, a road game.  Hamilton at home followed by Bates on the road.  Trinity and Colby, both of whom have owned Middlebury over the last decade.  Williams, always credible.   The meat of the conference schedule is yet to be played.

[amh63]

Vandy74.....need to get a perspective of yesterday's Men's Middlebury's win over Rochester IT.  Saw it was played in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.  Was it an Tourny event?  About 2-3 hour trip for RIT.  More for the Panthers, I guess. 

[NCF]

Augustana downed Wooster 18-8 last night. They take on Columbus tomorrow, before opening the conference portion of the season April 9th at Illinois Wesleyan.