This article first appeared at USLIA.com
By Ben Gogol (VT Lacrosse)
The Virginia Tech Hokies will be hosting their first annual Hokie Shootout this Saturday and Sunday, November 3rd and 4th. Participating teams in the Hokie Shootout include the SELC rival Tennessee Vols, Buffalo and Illinois from the CCLA, and four teams in the NCLL, the Virginia club, Maryland club, West Virginia club, and UConn club teams. The tournament will mark the end of Virginia Tech’s 2001 fall ball season.
The Hokies have impressed teams this fall, traveling to Lynchburg, VA for their fall tournament and beating two Division 2 varsity teams Greensboro College (15-2) and Catawba College (6-5). That same weekend VT also traveled to VMI to play two games. They beat Division 2 varsity Shenandoah University (13-2). Then came their biggest game of the weekend, against Division 1 varsity VMI. The score was tied 2-2 at the end of the first quarter, and this became a trend, ending halftime in a 4-4 tie, and ending the third quarter knotted at 6-6. Virginia Tech quickly went up 8-6 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, only to see VMI come back and score the next three goals to win the game.
After two weeks of rest, the Hokies will begin their home tournament squaring up against the UConn Huskies, a team they know little about. Other first round matches include Maryland vs. Buffalo, Tennessee vs. West Virginia, and Illinois vs. Virginia. The winners will go on to play in the semi finals, while the losers will be competing in their own bracket.
It will be interesting to see the results from this weekend’s action in Blacksburg, VA. Stop back at www.uslia.com to see the results of the weekend!
This story first appeared at USLIA.com
By Josh Blumenthal
Pioneer Collegiate Lacrosse League Correspondent to USLIA.com
***This is the second installment of the Pioneer League Coaches interview***
Recently we had a chance to sit down with University of Connecticut head coach Tim Davis and get his thoughts on the season at hand as well as Connecticut lacrosse. Currently Coach Davis has led his team to a 1-2 Pioneer League record, taking ranked teams New Hampshire and Rhode Island to the wire.
After playing his college days in a Connecticut uniform, Davis has taken over the head coaching reigns in Storrs this season. While a member of the Husky squad, Davis played for four years as an attack man and was awarded both Pioneer First and Second team awards.
JB: What do you think about lacrosse in the state of CT?
Coach Davis: I believe that Connecticut produces some of the best lacrosse players in the nation.
JB: Where do you see the USLIA going?
Coach Davis: I see the USLIA continuing to expand, especially on the east coast. I believe more teams are looking into joining the USLIA from our area, and the competition will grow fiercer.
JB: What do you think about having a Heisman or Tewaaraton Trohpy for the USLIA?
Coach Davis: I don’t believe this is in the near future for the USLIA. In order to have an award of this caliber, teams will need more exposure and the voters will need to be able to follow each nominee's season, not by just statistics, but also by watching how they play and handle different game situations.
JB: What are your thoughts on your team thus far?
Coach Davis: I believe my team has enormous potential. UConn has some of the best raw athletic talent I've seen in the Pioneer League, but with the weather situation, a lack of field practice has really hurt our ability to harness our potential and sharpen our team play.
JB: Although you are 1-2, you have taken to premiere teams in the Pioneer League to the wire, your thoughts on that?
Coach Davis: I am very proud of the way my team performed in our two losses vs. URI and UNH. In both games, UConn amassed around 12 penalties and looked very sloppy in the offensive side of the field. By the time we face these teams again in the playoffs, I guarantee that this will not be the case, and the Huskies will come out on top.
JB: Any closing thoughts?
Coach Davis: To the rest of the USLIA Leagues, I would just like to add that the Pioneer League, even in one year, has grown and each team is much stronger than last year. Which ever team makes it out of the PCLL tournament, I expect them to go far in the national tournament, giving the dominant teams from the south and west a run for their money.
This article first appeared at USLIA.com
After sixteen days of rest after their spring break trip to the south, The University of Rhode Island Rams were anxious to get back on the field. Unfortunately they would not see field on Monday, as the Huskies home field had been destroyed by a weekend Rugby tournament, and team was left with nothing more than deep mud-pit with goals at each end.
The game began very slow, as both teams adjusted to the mud. The first goal came almost ten minutes into the game as Geoff Knowlten drew a double team and dished to Whitney Watts for a hard crank shot that got past the Husky goalie. URI would score again at 11:25 into the first quarter as Watts would roll away from the double team for a quick right-handed shot. UConn would answer back in transition, as Steve Colite was able to finish after a great clearing pass from the defense that left him one on one with the Ram goalie. The first quarter would end with the Rams leading 2-1.
The UConn defense tightened up and would hold the Rams scoreless in the second quarter. The Huskies tied the game at 4:23 in the second as Chris Sidwa found Steve Colite on the crease for his second goal of the game. The teams went to the half knotted at two.
The third quarter would begin just as slow as the two previous quarters, as both high powered offenses were stagnated by the mud. The Rams would open the second half scoring at 5:28 in the third as Sean Lindberg passed to Mike Jacobs who was left open on the crease. Lindberg would then get a goal himself on a fast break assist from Whitney Watts. The Rams would get their biggest lead of the game at 5-2, when Watts again scored unassisted. The teams would match goals for the rest of the third quarter, which ended with the Rams ahead 6-3.
The Huskies came out fired up for the fourth quarter and got themselves back into the game with three quick goals. The first goal came on an extra man opportunity as Steve Colite found Matt Whitneben on the left side of the goal for a quick shot. The second goal was a great individual effort by Colite who was hit on the crease and was somehow able to get the shot off anyway. The tying goal came on the ensuing face off as a blown fast break led to Tim Davis kicking the ball in for the goal. The Rams would answer though to regain the lead twenty seconds later as Whitney Watts found Freshman Shawn McCormick for the quick stick goal. The Huskies were not done yet as they re-tied the game at 5:33 into the quarter. The Rams re-captured the lead as Watts scored two more unassisted goals, giving them a 9-7 lead. The resilient Huskies would not go away though as Tim Davis made it a one goal game with 50 seconds remaining. The Huskies won the ensuing face-off but the Rams defense stepped up and was able to get the ball back to the offensive end of the field, where they iced the game on feed from Tony Axtmann to Sean Lindberg for the goal.
"I was very pleased with the play of the defense, in those conditions they needed to step up and they did. They are playing much better this year as a team, and they have handled a lot of difficult situations this year." Said Head Coach Charles Arthur. The defense of Matt Rubin, Paul Decarlo, and Michael Lord was led by the play of goal keeper John Melius who had 14 saves.
This article orginally appeared at USLIA.com
by Josh Blumenthal
PCLL Correspondent for USLIA.com
There is old saying in that says "To be the best, you have to beat the best." This statement could not be more true for the 2001 Pioneer League, as every team in the league is out to not only prove that they are the number one team, but that they play the best lacrosse in the Northeast area.
After a successful 2000 season, the Pioneer League is ready to step it up and compete with the big dogs of the USLIA. Having increased the number of teams in the league as well from eight to nine, with the joining of New York University as a full member and thus gives the league the highest number of teams in its 15 year history.
Due to the size and anticipated growth, the league has decided to break down into three divisions. In the Pioneer North we will see University of New Hampshire, Northeastern University and Boston University. The Pioneer Central will pair the Rams of Rhode Island, Chieftains of Stonehill and Bears of Bridgewater State against one and other. The league is rounded out by the Pioneer South division, which features New York University, United States Coast Guard Academy and the University of Connecticut.
Pioneer North
Univ. of New Hampshire Wildcats
Northeastern Huskies
Boston University Terries
Pioneer Central
University of Rhode Island Rams
Stonehill College Chieftains
Bridgewater State College Bears
Pioneer South
New York University Violets
US Coast Guard Academy Bears
University of Connecticut Huskies
As for the format of the new alignment; all three teams in each division will play each other twice, once at home and once away, while playing teams in other divisions only once. The top finishers in each of the three divisions will receive automatic playoff bids while other teams will have to gain entry through a wild card berth.
The league will also be unveiling its new website in February at www.PioneerLacrosse.com. Included will be game summaries, standings, league polls, team information and much more. Fans and players alike will be able to stay atop of all the league happenings throughout the season.
Since last years championship game between Boston University and University of New Hampshire, in which UNH pulled out the 16-9 win on a late second half surge, every team has been raring to go. This seasons looks to be a tight one for all with no one team above the other.
"UNH did a great job representing us in St. Louis and they proved that a Pioneer League team could compete with the other USLIA teams, I hope that whoever represents our league this year will look to further that success," Pioneer League Director Charles Arthur said.
Although looking forward to getting underway this season, Arthur is very happy with last years results as well. "Last season was great for our league as it gave all of the teams a real goal for the season and really gave a lot more meaning to winning the league championship," Arthur continued. "Having traveled to Atlanta to play some SELC teams and to the national championships in St. Louis, I was able to really see a level of play that far surpassed my expectations."
Stonehill College Head Coach Anthony Karpouzis echoed Arthur's feelings stating that "I really can't say enough about how organized we have become, with all of the rules and guidelines that have been set, it's obvious that the Pioneer League will not accept any teams that aren't serious about lacrosse,"; Karpouzis said. "There aren't just one or two good teams in this league anymore; everyone is playing for the same thing, a league championship and a bid to the national championship.
After an impressive undefeated season and trip to St. Louis, the University of New Hampshire Wildcats are out to repeat as Pioneer League Champions, however standing in their way are eight other teams who would all love nothing more than a trip to the Anheuser-Busch Sports Centre themselves .
With a Pioneer record three teams appearing in the USLIA Top 25 Pre-season Poll, #14 UNH, #24 URI, and #25 BU, the entire Pioneer league certainly means business this season.
"There is no such thing as an easy win in the Pioneer League anymore; the competition is too tough,"; Karpouzis stated. On October 18, 2000 the Pioneer League announced its 2001 Pre-season poll and showed just how close the competition really is.
2001 Pioneer Collegiate Lacrosse League Preseason Poll
1. University of New Hampshire (3) 45 pts
2 (tie) - Boston University (2) 42 pts
University of Rhode Island (2) 42 pts
4. Univ. of Connecticut 30pts
5. Stonehill College 25pts
6. Northeastern University 22pts
7. Bridgewater State College 17pts
8. US Coast Guard Academy 15pts
9. New York University 14pts
Although they have lost their starting attack, UNH sits atop of the poll. They will once again have a very deep squad with numbers reaching into the forties or fifties. With two very good midfielders in Todd Koss and Brad Deans returning, and the fact that the team has only lost a total of two games in their three years, UNH looks once again to be a tough competitor. Those three successful seasons however come under the leadership of head coach Nate Fitch, who has left to pursue career opportunities. If the Wildcats can work their magic once again then look for UNH to be returning to St. Louis in May.
Although in first place for now UNH will surely be tested as both BU and URI are tied for second place, falling only three points shy of the Wildcats.
Boston University who will also have a coaching change as Dan Morris, who served as an assistant for three years, moves up to take over as head coach. The Terriers will return a solid attack and midfield but lose their two top defensemen. Look for the Terriers to really step up in 2001 and possibly run their way right into St. Louis.
For Rhode Island their season looks to be filled with good news/ bad news situations. Good news: the Rams return a solid core of players on attack and midfield. Bad news: The loss of Brian Farren makes for a young defensive team Good news: The Rams boast last years scoring leader and league MVP in Whitney Watts. Bad news: All of the games versus higher ranked teams occur on the road. If the Rams can come together and win the tough ones in someone else's backyard, than look out for Rhody in 2001.
UCONN who over the past few years has proved to always be a tough team, will return a solid nucleus of players with a lot of talent. If they can bring it together and play as a team, they will be tough to beat and may wind up on a flight to St. Louis.
Despite a regular season record of three wins and four losses in Pioneer League play, the Chieftains took the league champions (UNH) almost to the wire in the Pioneer League semi-finals last year. Stonehill will start this 2001 season right where they left off, hungry and ready to go. Although starting lower in the brackets, the Chieftains return a solid midfield, but lose All league Goalie Jeffrey Knapp. If the hole at goalie can be filled and the attack stays strong then expect to see Stonehill playing in May.
The Huskies of Northeastern are ready to show that they not only have supremacy in Boston, but in the entire league as well. With an experienced coach in 1999 graduate Tyler Smith, the team will look to get to the top and give every a team a run for their money in not just the Pioneer but the entire USLIA in May.
Bridgwater State returns for another season of top notch lacrosse. Although finishing up last season with only one win, the Bears return most of their 2000 roster, which will result in a team rich in experience and depth. If coach Eric Lobo and his troops can step it up and continue to come together than look for Bridgewater to be booking tickets on a flight to St. Louis.
After a disappointing winless season, the US Coast Guard Academy looks to bounce back and get back on track. An early game on March 24th, 2001 with the Rams of URI will let them know exactly where they stand against the higher seeded teams in the league. The Bears will look to regain their 1999 championship and compete in the national championship.
After serving a probationary season last year, NYU joins the league this spring. Although ranked last, the Violets have played every team in the league and are ready to show that Manhattan can play lacrosse. With a strong and experienced midfield, NYU will look to make it all the way to St. Louis in this thier expansion year.
With many teams traveling into other regions of the country to do battle with other USLIA teams, the Pioneer League is on a quest to prove that they can in fact play with the best that the USLIA has to offer. So come March 24, 2001 when the Pioneer League officially opens its league play, up until the championship game on April 29th at the US Coast Guard Academy, fans can expect to see hard hitting and competitive lacrosse played at its best.
