Good win
by Domer65 (2018-03-11 08:53:01)
Edited on 2018-03-11 08:54:26
Post Reply Return to Arlotta Stadium

However, as for the past few years, faceoffs are still a problem. We won 8 of 24 faceoffs against Maryland (33%) and 9 of 24 against Denver (37%). If we could win 45% of the faceoffs against quality teams, we could make a run at the NC. IMAGINE IF WE COULD WIN 50% OR MORE OF THE FACEOFFS. The offense and defense played a solid game against Denver and we were able to win by 2 goals (one which was scored by Denver). Faceoffs kept Denver in the game. Unless they change the lacrosse rules, faceoffs play almost too large a determinant in the outcome of the game. Do we have any young players on the team that we can try on faceoffs when we have the game under control? We sorely need to recruit a faceoff specialist or coach up the ones that we already have.

Denver had beaten ND 6 straight times before yesterday
by ShermanOaksND  (2018-03-12 00:43:50)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

They have been our nemesis. This was a big win. Hopefully we can do better on the faceoffs.

1 of 3 or 4, as I see it
by tf86  (2018-03-13 09:43:53)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

I would also put Duke and Syracuse, and possibly North Carolina, on that list as well, although that may be a matter of perception more than anything else. But yes, Denver has been a huge nemesis in recent years, and that was a win we really needed.
We beat each of those teams 3 times in the last 4 seasons
by ShermanOaksND  (2018-03-15 22:46:07)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

ND's records against those teams from 2014-2017:

Syracuse: 3-2
UNC: 3-3
Duke: 3-5
Denver: 0-6
Travisano won 50% of his face-offs yesterday.
by irishdoc01  (2018-03-11 17:02:54)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

He went 9/18 yesterday against the best face-off man in the history of college lacrosse.

While I generally agree with your sentiment, I thought face-offs were a huge win for the Irish yesterday compared to what Baptiste did to the Irish in the playoffs last year.

Of the other 6:
Hyland went 0/4. He is the young face-off guy. His career has been plagued by injuries to date.
Sexton went 0/1 when sent up as a sacrificial lamb with two men in the penalty box.
Leonard went 0/1.

We could debate why Travisano doesn't take all the face-offs, but so far he's living up to his preseason all ACC billing.

I didn't keep track,but it was more wings winning groundball
by NDoggie78  (2018-03-12 09:22:24)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

than Travisano winning faceoffs. I think he was much better than against Maryland, he fought very hard, kept Baptiste tied up and gave time for help to arrive when the ball got loose, but I remember him winning only one faceoff outright despite what stats say (they only record the outcome)

I'm not dismissing what Travisano did, just pointing out it was more a team effort than actually winning at the "x". We still don't have that guy and will have a problem with possession against the better teams
It's remarkable that this hasn't been successfully addressed *
by Wolfetone  (2018-03-11 13:46:05)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

I never post here and am not a LAX expert...
by DavidAddison  (2018-03-11 12:07:57)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

and I totally agree with you. Here's what I wonder...the rules are known, the problem has been obvious, shouldn't it be the head coach's responsibility to have addressed it by now?

It would be like football sticking with only walk ons for field goal kicking even after they've missed game winners, or like the recent issues we had in football with strength and conditioning. If there is a competitive disadvantage identified, coach needs to address it, proactively, through any "legal" means necessary (legal meaning within NCAA/ND rules, etc.).

By the way, as far as face-offs being too large a determinant, reminds me of girls and women's softball, where one pitcher can pitch almost literally every inning of a season. Really sucks in high school. Baseball is much better where inning limits mean you need the best STAFF of pitchers, not the single best pitcher.
In lacrosse, you can have 3 paid coaches and 1 volunteer
by steelhop  (2018-03-12 09:16:38)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

coach. Most programs typically break their staff into head coach that oversees everything, a defensive coordinator (Byrne at ND), and offensive coordinator (Karweck). This isn't always true but most programs use the volunteer coach in two specific areas - face-offs or goalie coach and general fill in the spaces type of coach. Generally, the volunteer coach breaks down into 3 type an older guy just looking to be involved (Hopkins uses an alumni goalie from the 80s) or a former HC coach looking a for a bridge to the next job (Duke had the old Cornell coach a year or two ago) or a young guy looking to get his break into coaching (similar to a grad assistant in football. ND has John Crawley - a former offensive midfield from Hopkins. I am assuming he is in grad school at ND.

It is an interesting selection. He was a tough guy but didn't face-off at Hopkins so his ability to work with fogos is likely limited. ND has usually had good goalies so I doubt he works much with the goalies beyond just warming them up before practice and games. My guess is that they think Karweck is going to get hired as HC somewhere and have him become the OC after that.

Face-offs are what make lacrosse unique. It allows a team to continue the momentum in either direction and string multiple scores together. The coaches that complain about it are those that don't have a good face-off guy. Desko from SU is notorious for saying face-offs are great when he has a good face off guy and should be eliminated if he doesn't - these statements can literally be one year after each other.
He has tried to address it
by Ccndbound  (2018-03-11 19:47:29)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

There are a few FOGOs on the team - I believe they try to recruit one per year, similar to goalie. You never know how a specialist will develop in college. Baptist was intending to go to Franklin & Lee (div 3school).

It’s not like ND is ignoring the position - they are recruitIng FOGOs on a regular basis.
I could see FOGO being very hard to project from HS. *
by Irish Tool  (2018-03-12 16:08:25)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

Denver has had success finding athletes from other sports
by NDoggie78  (2018-03-13 11:12:24)     cannot delete  |  Edit  |  Return to Board  |  Ignore Poster   |   Highlight Poster  |   Reply to Post

They've had a couple football players and I think Baptiste was more an athlete then a Div I lacrosse player. We are limited to 12.6 scholarships with 54 (listed on roster) on the team.

Maybe ND could open it up to the student body to find an athlete. I know I am making this too simplistic as there is much skill involved. But it seems like someone strong with fast twitch muscles and a willingness to practice and learn (experience with lacrosse even better). Maybe a wrestler?