Navy Lacrosse (NAVYLAX)

Not Logged In

NAVYLAX.ORG Sponsor: Triton Services, Inc.

02/25/2010

Navy Falls to UNC in a Very Cold and Windy N-MC Stadium 11-4

TO '89 said "Buddy, I'm not sure how you're gonna dress this one up and make it sound good."

First things first - these were ridiculous conditions in which to play lacrosse.

The NCAA should reconsider when the season starts.

Who is having fun?

The players? The parents? The coaches? The fans?

These young men are playing just to rack up some Ws to try to help their resume for May.

Forget about it. Start playing in mid-March, and most of the games will be in the warmth of spring.

Wait a minute, I'm not sure anybody wanted my opinion. But I will tell you, it was too cold to play tonight.

On the other hand, I have to admit, there were a lot of things that looked good if you were a Carolina fan.

They scored 11 goals, almost all of them were assisted and from within 5 yards.

Nobody on the Tar Heels seemed to care who scored and from where - they just kept passing and jamming it in front of the goal until somebody could shoot from in close.

RJ Wickham '12 on the other hand, played valiantly to try to thwart the onslaught. (14 saves)

I'm not sure how many saves will go on his official score sheet, but I had the words "point blank save" written seven times in my notes.

Seven Point Blank Saves !!

Many goalies would be happy with 7 saves in a game - but not 7 "in your face" saves.

RJ had to have more than a dozen saves (14 officially). It was a long night.

I didn't see Navy take 2 dozen shots (they actually had 26) - UNC had 2 dozen shots on goal.

However, I will say - these were ridiculous conditions in which to play lacrosse.

Did I say that already?

There were some bright spots. Tommy Mansfield '11 took the field tonight alongside Michael Hirsch '11 and Matt Vernam '12 on defense. That allowed Ian Crumley '12, Jake Brosnan '10 and Peter Rogers '13 to spell them and keep the defense fresh.

Navy won 11 of 16 face-offs. Robby Battle '10 won 7 of 11 and Logan West '12 won 4 out of 5.

Navy was 17 out of 18 on clears.

The first few minutes were quiet on the scoreboard, as Navy won the first face-off on the ground ball, but lost it during the fast break.

After two possessions each way, Navy's Andy Warner '11 was trying to scoop a ball on the end-line, was pushed from behind - no call. Less than 10 seconds later, at 8:17 remaining in the first, Navy is called for a tripping penalty (1:00).

At 7:47, RJ Wickham '12 had an amazing stuff on a Carolina attackman, right on the crease. Marty Gallagher '11 and Joe McAuliffe '10 were playing defensive midfield and began racing upfield. RJ Wickham '12 picked up the ground ball, flipped it to Matt Vernam '12, who pushed it to Joe McAuliffe '10.

Navy did manage a shot on that fast break, but it was wide.

Navy held on for most of the first quarter, until UNC broke the ice with 0:49 seconds remaining in the quarter.

UNC 1-0

Carolina won the face-off, then the ball went out of bounds with 29 seconds remaining.

Carolina worked the ball around and scored as time expired.

From the stands, we thought that there should have been a review - and maybe there was, but all we saw was UNC 2-0, start the next face-off.

End of 1st qtr UNC 2-0

Carolina would run that score to 6-0, despite Navy controlling many minutes of possession, but we did not score.

Then with 1:02 remaining in the half, we won a groundball at midfield. We ended up with an EMO situation.

Bring on Evan Sullivan '10 and Patrick Moran '10. They moved the ball well, until Evan was able to set up on the goalie's right, then drill in an overhand shot.

Half-time UNC 6-1

Unfortunately, Navy was offsides right before the half, so Carolina started the second half with a man advantage.

They picked up right where they left off - scoring 17 seconds into the 3rd quarter - UNC 7-1.

Robby Battle '10 won the ensuing face-off, but UNC ended up with the ball.

Kyle Kapron '10 and Taylor Reynolds '12 played on attack and did a nice job. Kyle Kapron '10 actually made one of the best riding plays on the night, stripping a Tar Heel defender on a clear, then scooping the ball and starting a fast break to the goal.

Unfortunately, that break ended like many other Navy opportunities with the shooter dropping the ball in front of the goal without getting off a shot.

At the 12:25 remaining mark, the Tar Heels scored again.

UNC 8-1

Logan West '12 won the face-off and Navy came down and worked the ball.

Navy got off two shots in that possession.

At 10:41, the UNC attacker got by our defender who pushed him down for another EMO for Carolina.

At 10:29, RJ made a great kick save, but we could not clear the ball.

They brought is right back - fast break score.

UNC 9-1

Logan West '11 won the next faceoff.

By 8:37, UNC had the ball and RJ WIckham '12 made two point blank saves and cleared the ball to Michael Hirsch '11.

Navy ran many plebes and sophomores at midfield, including Bucky Smith '13, Jordan Seivold '13, Jay Mann '13, however it was Taylor Cook '12 who picked up a loose ball about 30 yards from the goal and drove straight in - launched a bounce shot and scored at the 2:47 mark for his second goal of the season.

It was an inspiring play from the young man who grew up down near Pax River and hopefully has a bright Navy career ahead of him.

Unfortunately, that score did not turn into a momentum changer, just a temporary blip.

UNC would score two more before the end of the 3rd quarter, the last one with 1:01 left in the 3rd.

End of 3rd qtr - UNC 11-2

In the last quarter, UNC moved the ball a lot, and the Navy defense played rather stoutly - shutting out the Tar Heels in the final stanza despite them launching 11 shots - 3 of them on cage.

Navy, on the other hand, played more offense in the 4th quarter and put all 6 of their shots on cage.

Navy scored the final two goals of the game, and the Carolina goal racked up 4 saves in the period.

Basil Daratsos '10 fired a hard shot that snuck by the Carolina goalie to bring the score to 11-3. Then with 2:14 left, Joe Lennon '10 scored his first goal of the night (Joe has scored a goal or assist in each game this season 2G 2A) on an assist from his line-mate Patrick Moran '10 (who has also scored in every game this season 6G 2A).

UNC 11-4

Final score: UNC 11 Navy 4

Next up, Lehigh on Tuesday 3/2/10 up at Bethlehem, PA. Game time is 7 pm.

Let's reset and storm the Patriot League. If we go undefeated in the Patriot League and play well against the other big teams on the schedule, February will just be a cold bitter memory. =:0

Go Navy !!

Buddy Garland '84