Welcome to the Week 2 Lacrosse Wall Ball recap. Week 2 saw six Top 20 teams lose this weekend (Hopkin’s actually lost twice). Georgetown, Harvard, and Brown left Week 2 looking for the reset button and UMass-Lowell needing the number of a good personal injury lawyer.
Maryland and Syracuse didn’t make the list this week but played a thrilling game on Saturday from College Park. The Terps bounced back from last week’s loss to Loyola and without their starting goaltender, Logan McNaney, to defeat the Orange 15-12. The highlight of the game though came from No.22 on Cuse.
After you pick up your jaw watching the play four or five (hundred times), watch the Terp’s goalie. Teddy Dolan doesn’t move or react to the shot until the ball is in the cage. This isn’t a criticism of Dolan, more just a compliment to the amazing shot. And to think some were complaining about Spallina’s 1 for 15 performance in Week 1.
A shout-out to the Richmond Spiders who defeated Bucknell 18-5 on Saturday in the early frame. The Spiders started out the season on the wrong foot, losing 20-5 to Maryland to open the season two weeks ago. Hats off to the players and Dan Chemotti for not letting one game’s poor showing snowball.
Finally, congratulations to Army for holding on to defeat Rutgers 14-13 for their first win of the season. The Black Knights saw a three-goal fourth-quarter lead slip away. Paul Johnson scored with just under four minutes left which would prove to be the game-winner for Army. Rutgers’ Ross Scott had a chance to tie the game late, but his shot hit the post with a few seconds remaining in the game.
Grab your stick, it’s time to hit the wall!
Virginia Lacrosse Makes a Statement
Harvard had a Ron Burgundy moment on Saturday during the first half against Virginia in one of the most impressive lacrosse halves ever seen. The Cavaliers scored nine unanswered goals in the first eight minutes and never looked back. Virginia would go into halftime with a 20-8 lead which is crazy for lacrosse. Hats off to the Crimson who kept fighting and making the 25-21 final score appear more respectable. This was a statement win for the ACC and will be on the committee’s mind come Selection Sunday. Connor Shellenbeger led Virginia with 10 points (3G/7A) and will be a top name in the Premier Lacrosse League.
Penn Adds to Georgetown’s Woes
If you would have told Georgetown Head Coach Kevin Warne on Saturday morning that his defense would limit Sam Handley and Dylan Gregar to two goals and a combined 17% shooting percentage, he would have probably felt pretty good about the game. Unfortunately, a stout defense wasn’t enough to put the Hoyas back in the win column after last week’s disappointing loss to Johns Hopkins. Penn defeated Georgetown 9-7 on Saturday. Cam Rubin led the Quakers with four goals. Tucker Dordevic led the Hoyas with three goals. The schedule doesn’t get any easier next week as Georgetown welcomes Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon.
Loyola Puts “Is Hopkin’s Back?” On Ice
Loyola continued their dominance in The Battle of Charles Street. The Hounds won for the fifth time in their last seven games against Johns Hopkins. What a difference a week makes. Last week at this time, many in the media considered the Jays a top ten team. Back-to-back losses bring up a lot of the same questions Jay’s fans have been asking about the team during the last two seasons. The Jays were short-handed missing Russel Melendez and Jacob Angelus, two of their top four-point scorers this year. Four Greyhounds scored at least two goals in the win. Luke Staudt had another solid day in net, making 10 saves (67%).
Week 2 Called Game
Three games went to overtime this week. The sudden victory format keeps fans and players on the edge of their seats. Week 2 didn’t disappoint.
Duke 🆚Denver
The overtime excitement got started for Friday’s happy hour matchup between Duke and Denver. Duke’s Brennan O’Neill showed off his right-handed to help the Blue Devils bounce back after last week’s loss to Jacksonville. O’Neill led Duke with seven points (4G/3A).
Boston 🆚 Bryant
BU and Bryant played a wild fast-paced game on Saturday afternoon. BU trailed Bryant by three with just over eight minutes left in the game. The Terriers avoided starting the season 0-2 when senior Thomas Niedringhaus scored the game-winner to lift BU on the road against Bryant. Nierdringhaus led BU with four goals on the day.
Vermont 🆚 Utah
Brock Haley had a picturesque Saturday. Haley helped lead the Catamounts to their second straight victory in their 14-13 win on Saturday in Utah. Haley sent the game to overtime when he scored with 30 seconds remaining in the game and then tallied the game-winner in OT. The snow-capped mountains in the background made for quite the scene.
D3 Overtime Life
One overtime was not enough for No.1 ranked RIT in its opening game against Muhlenberg. Senior Zeb Hollinger scored in the third overtime to lift the top-ranked Tigers to their first win on the season. Muhlenberg outscored RIT in the fourth quarter 4-0 to force extra time. RIT is the back-to-back defending national champion in D3.
Sunday: A Game for Everyone
What type of game do you want to see? A high-scoring affair with teams flying up and down the field and goals coming by the dozen? Or do you prefer a defensive contest, where every possession counts? Sunday had something for everyone.
If you enjoy the high-scoring game, Philadelphia was your place. Yale and Villanova combined for 34 goals in the Bulldog’s 20-14 victory. Chris Lyons led Yale with nine goals on the afternoon. Lyons was the beneficiary of all of the attention being drawn to other ⅔ of Yale’s attack unit: Matt Brandau and Leo Johnson.
If you are more of a defense-wins-championships fan, Columbus was the place to be. Ohio State used a five-goal fourth quarter to come from behind and defeat North Carolina 8-5 in front of a soldout crowd at Ohio State Lacrosse Stadium.
