What's Wrong With Hopkins?
A look at a few things that TFBO2F has noticed about the Blue Jays in their four-game losing streak. Many of these are culled from conversations with the lacrosse cognoscetti over the past couple weeks, plus having watched three of the games either in person or on tape (thanks to the TV in Wilbon's office).
1. The defensemen aren't great on groundballs.
Junior D Michael Evans is a shutdown defender. He is very good in particular on position defense. Yet he has only three groundballs this year. Senior D Eric Zerrlaut has nine groundballs. Junior LSM Matt Drenan has 12.
The only defender who is good on groundballs is senior Matt Bocklet; he has 34. It hurts in particular because when the defense creates a loose ball, it needs to be a turnover. Instead, teams are regaining possession and scoring goals in scramble situations.
2. The Third Attack Spot Hasn't Been Producing
Senior A Michael Doneger had two goals against North Carolina on Saturday and hit the pipe with a third shot early in the game. Overall, though, Doneger has 7 goals this year. Junior Tom Duerr has 2 goals. Freshman Kyle Wharton has 2 goals, though both have come on extra-man.
The main problem isn't so much the lack of big numbers; their lack of presence has allowed opposing teams to put a longstick on sophomore MF Michael Kimmel. It was tough to put a shortstick defender on Jake Byrne last year because he was such a good shooter, especially with time and space. The attackman drawing a shortstick this year is not making the opponents pay.
3. Goalie Play
Sophomore Michael Gvozden was removed from the loss to North Carolina twice. To us, it looks very much like he is coming off the inside pipe when he shouldn't and not moving his body when he should. Correctable errors, it would seem. Someone told TFBO2F this weekend that they think Gvozden lacks a little moxie, too. Quint Kessensich has said in numerous broadcasts that the best goalies are like baseball pitchers in terms of their attitude and body language; the best ones are very good at bluffing. Right now, Gvozden is down, and it's easy for opponents to see it and smell blood.
What do the readers think?
By Christian Swezey |
March 31, 2008; 9:41 AM ET
| Category:
CSI: Lax
,
Johns Hopkins
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Posted by: tim | March 31, 2008 12:44 PM
Agree with Tim. I was there and left after in the third Q. At one point, UNC scored on 3 shots in a row (I believe). I had the angle on the last one that went high-to-high on the goalies off-hand (non stick) side.
It was just ridiculous. NOT a hard shot, so I'm assuming he was slightly screened, but, c'mon. At that level of LAX you need a few stops in that 3rd Q to get in the game. They got NOTHING from them.
And, on top of that the Tar Heel goalie was stellar. Just put a lid on the goal in the 1st Q and get into the Hop's head.
Posted by: jer | March 31, 2008 2:13 PM
Christian,
Again, Keep up the great work. I hope you keep your word and 1. Cover the Marymount/Catholic game tomorrow and 2. We start to see some HS Coverage soon.
Regarding the Hop Goalie situation...I know for a fact they have 2 STRONG commitments next year from St. Albans and Bullis. Should be a fun time for all of those guys as they battle it out!
Thanks again....and we will See You Out There...
Posted by: Mike | March 31, 2008 4:59 PM
Mike - That was another thing that cracked me and the alum buddies I was hanging out with... The Hop trotted out no less than 5 'keepers during warm-ups.
Another in the long line of proof against Quantity over Quality, I suppose.
Posted by: jer | April 1, 2008 12:35 PM
Needless to say Hopkins came back as a TEAM and showed themselves what they are capable of. They finally had 4 quarters of solid defense. Gvozden was full on. Offensive seemed a bit apprehensive but consistent. Pyser really excelled. The others were solid, but just think if they all had over the top games. Hope the team "head check" will be lasting. Unfortunately the goalie took most the heat during the 5 game loosing streak. Gvozden was definitely off the last two games. You have to at least give it to him that he was beaten down from the previous 3 games. His stats for those games were not bad, the Hops defense just left the building. The last two games just showed Hops as a team was not together. Whatever the staff did last week worked. The team was always there, it just need the proverbial foot applied. No reason it can't roll thru to Foxboro.
Posted by: The Bull 61 | April 13, 2008 12:40 PM
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Love the blog--hope it catches on. Went to the Hopkins game and could not agree more with Kessenich's assessment. NC shot the ball well but the JHU goalies seemed lost. JHU players were a step behind all day--with UVA up next, they better turn it around or else they won't get a chance to defend their title.