This is obviously your favorite site, but other people actually write important stuff sometimes. Now is that sometimes.
A Full Pint
Woody: Starsia challenges others to follow Richmond's lacrosse lead
Richmond couldn't have asked for a better sunrise to their Division I existence: A packed building against an elite opponent, and a performance on the field that exceeded anyone's expectations. The Spiders were almost the story of the weekend -- had Richmond beaten the Cavaliers, heads would have exploded all over the nation -- but the difficult part lies ahead for the Spiders: Keeping the momentum going. First-year programs often have blips of exceptionalism but regress to their static capability. Richmond will need to challenge that throughout the rest of the season:
In some ways, this was an easy game for Richmond. The chance to upset a national power in the first game in the history of a program is a rare opportunity.
The hard part comes when the Spiders play the non-Virginia portion of their schedule.
“We’re going to play some games where there are not 4,200 pro-Richmond fans,” Spiders coach Dan Chemotti said. “We’re going to play some games where the ball doesn’t go in the (net) or we’re not making stops. We still have a lot of work to do to figure out exactly who we are. But, certainly, we’re all encouraged by the first step.”
Ban on Live Scouting Met With Doubt, Some Relief
This is a good job out of Swezey. For whatever reason this ban didn't even register on my radar, but the differences in opinion on the prohibition is interesting:
A coach for a Division I team in the Midwest says the rule change is a good one.
“I like live scouting but it’s a huge advantage for schools in the Baltimore area who can drive two hours to almost any game in the country,” he says. “We have to fly. Major disadvantage.”
A coach for a Division I team on the East Coast disagrees.
“It doesn’t make sense to me,” he says. “It hurts guys who want to work hard and are willing to go watch to study opponents.”
Says another from the East Coast, “I can’t go watch [certain] Division I lacrosse games, there’s something wrong with that.”
The crux of the disagreement over the rule’s utility is based largely on lacrosse’s methods of scouting.
Go read Swezey's full piece. It's a solid piece of work.
Flights
Maryland Terps men's lacrosse begins season with 16-3 win over Mount St. Mary's
Blood. Everywhere.
Freshmen power UMass men’s lacrosse to season opening win at Army
The freshman were given noogies after the game.
Virginia's Dom Starsia says 'it is lame to complain' about defending NCAA title
In a related story: Duh.
Connetquot's Kieran McArdle leads St. John's
St. John's (9-4) could have a shot at the Big East men's lacrosse title.
Rice, Donahue Shine as Balanced Syracuse Handles Siena, 19-7
I think the score at halftime was 126,744 to three, but this was adjusted at the end for inflation.
Photo Gallery: Johns Hopkins vs. Ohio State (MD1)
Pretty pictures!
Photos: No. 1 Orange Shoot 50% in Opening Win over Saints
More pretty pictures!
Video Highlights: Denver Opens Season with 14-8 Win Over Air Force
Noble and Bobzien went bonkers for the Pios.
Syracuse men's lacrosse blows out Siena behind near-record efforts by Kevin Rice, Dylan Donahue
Rice and Donahue were one helper and one goal, respectively, away from setting all-time marks.
Lacrosse On TV & The Tewaaraton
I'm not sure I totally agree with this. Television matters, but it still matters more that you play for a legitimate contender (rightly or wrongly).
Bundled Previews
Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Preview: Richmond
Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Preview: Quinnipiac
Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Preview: Providence
Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Preview: Princeton
Georgetown Men's Lacrosse: 2014 Season Preview
