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Stat of the Week
Duke’s Brennan O’Neill: five goals on six shots vs. High Point
This is, unfortunately, not a safe space for High Point the last few weeks. Apologies to my beautiful surrogate son Kevin Rogers who is single-handedly reshaping how DI coaches look at DIII transfers, but the Panthers defense looked more porous than a 1990’s teen magazine. O’Neill at his worst is an attackman that tries too hard and still manages to create shots for himself and his teammates. At his best, he hits a flow state the likes of which most players only dream about. His fluidity, his ease, is why he’s such a good-bordering-on-great player just six games into his collegiate career. People laughed at the Zion Williamson comparisons, but now they are choking on their phlegmy regret.
Game to Watch
Maryland vs. Rutgers
Ugh, so much Big Ten, I feel bloated with hyperbole. The Ivy League not playing really opened up a vacuum of bluster in the DI space and guess who decided to fill it? Don’t even have ten schools playing lacrosse and you had to borrow Hopkins. Settle down. None of that is this game’s fault, though. These are two teams on a collision course to an AQ watching as everyone else punches themselves out before the end of March. Speaking of punching...
Both of these teams have enjoyed the fruits of their hustle labor, particularly between the restraining lines. It’s not often that games are solely won with rides or clears, but this game could easily be the exception that proves the rule. Rutgers in early offense vs. Maryland’s ride breaker is going to be a titanic matchup.
The matchup everyone wants to see is Brett Makar against Connor Kirst. Maryland loves to put their best cover pole on the opposition’s best offensive player regardless of where he plays and I think you will see them try to do that in this game. However, this is the trap that Rutgers wants to see - they love teams that work to switch because they have confidence in all six guys to go to the cage. The Terps need to tread lightly.
While we are talking about match-ups - who is going to guard Logan Wisnauskas? One of the most underrated and multi-faceted players in college lacrosse, good king Wisnauskas always delivers goals and assists like they’re Frankincense and Mir. Bubba Fairman and Jared Bernhardt are a better dodge and dump duo than any other tandem in the Big Ten, but it’s Wisnaukas that does the yeoman’s work of finishing; all he has to do is get open and all Rutgers has to do is try and stop that from happening. Best of luck.
One on One Match up to Watch
Georgetown’s Owen McElroy vs. Denver’s Ethan Walker
Currently, McElroy is sitting third overall in save percentage in all of DI with a 66.7% stop rate. He also has a 4.75 goals against average through four games which might be the most absurd goalie stat we have seen in years. What’s his secret? He takes great angles and his defense alters a ton of shots. Against Big East foe Denver, the defense is going to have to do more than just square up and stop individual dodgers, though. They’re going to have to protect McElroy from Denver’s most dangerous weapon - the lefty luger wielded by Ethan Walker.
Walker has had an interesting year so far. With the Arrival of Jackson Morril, one would think that Walker would see less attention and be able to get open on the right side of the field for a lot more step downs - it just hasn’t happened. Part of that is moving Walker around and letting him carry the ball more and part of it is defenses refusing to slide off of him. Whichever team makes the right adjustment here will get the victory.
Unit to Watch
Vermont Offense vs. Albany Defense
Can’t get enough of the Catamount offense? This is the game to watch as this is a true in-conference test. The irony is that as recently as two seasons ago this entire narrative would be swapped and we would be talking about Vermont’s defense and Albany’s offense (#TehokaVsEveryone).
Albany has only played two games so far this season, but they have given up less than ten goals in both games. The Dane Train, always known for producing excellent goaltenders, has former Utah and Rutgers keeper Liam Donnally between the pipes as a graduate student this season and he’s saving shots at a 57% clip. Still, Colgate and Hartford aren’t exactly offensive powerhouses and Albany has leaned hard on their offense to close out games - they scored six goals in the fourth quarter to finish off the Raiders and seven in the final frame against the Hawks. With how well Vermont possesses the ball that’s going to be a difficult feat to replicate. It’s about to be a long day for the Scooby Gang.
Sidebar: I’m always happy to give U Albany bulletin board material since Scotty Marr would love to smash my face in as it is. I’ve got nothing to lose - what are you going to do? Hate me MORE? That’s what I thought. Go Catamounts.
Devitte Matrix Leaderboard Presented by Lacrosse Reference
The Devitte Matrix is a number that combines a player’s goals and assists and subtracts their turnovers. We’re trying to make it into a more accessible metric. Like an actual search engine optimization, but for player effectiveness instead of trying to sell you something you don’t need.
Chris Gray, UNC, 40 (5.7 DMPG)
Ryan Tierney, Hofstra 23 (5.75 DMPG)
Joe Robertson, Duke 23 (4.6 DMPG)
Michael Sowers, Duke 23 (3.29 DMPG)
Ryan Smith, Robert Morris, 21 (4.2 DMPG)
Is Clark going to win this week?
No, but the NESCAC is BACK! KINDA! We’re going to get to see this monster of a Tufts team actually play real games in 2021! I’m very excited, jump on the New England DIII train - it’s probably headed for titletown.