If You're Watching, Navy-JHU II Edition

Some of the great books in recent times have been told from the perspective of different viewpoints--including As I Lay Dying by Faulkner and Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh. So it is with "If You're Watching." I try and tell what different strata of lacrosse viewers should keep an eye on--for the newcomers, the young players and the ardent fans. Hope you enjoy.

Navy vs. Johns Hopkins
When: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Saturday, 3 p.m.
TV: ESPNU
Radio: WNAV-AM 1430, WFED-1050 (Navy); WJFK-AM 1300.
Tickets: $12 adult, $10 student.
Parking: $5

What to Watch If You're a Casual Fan
Groundballs. Especially in Navy's offensive end. Navy likes loose ball situations because they are unpredictable; they give the offense a chance to take advantage of a defense that might be caught out of position.

In particular, the only Hopkins defender who has proven adept at getting groundballs is senior Matt Bocklet (#7). He has 80 groundballs, tied for the most by a non-faceoff player since D Steve Mitchell had 80 in 1987.

So Navy is going to be aggressive on loose balls and then will be aggressive if it gains possession; expect a quick shot or quick pass if the 50-50 balls are going Navy's way.

See how Hopkins plays these, too. Do they commit defenders to try and get the ball or keep someone back in case Navy gets possession?

What to Watch If You're a Young Player
The most impressive thing about Hopkins senior MF Stephen Peyser (12) on faceoffs (.580 percent) is how often he wins the ball to himself. Maryland and Navy are among the teams that tried to double-pole the wings on faceoffs, i.e. they used two longstick defenders on the wings to try and "crash" on Peyser and make it harder for him to get the ball off the ground.

Peyer renders the tactic moot by winning the ball to himself before the wings can arrive to harass him. This is a doubly decisive move because, in having two longsticks on the wings, it leaves a shorstick defender on an attackman. Advantage Hopkins, big-time.

As if that's not enough...Peyser also may be too strong physically for Navy's main faceoff man, senior Mikelis Visgauss (21). See if Navy has a quick hook with Visgauss and goes to senior Dan Decker (20) or sophomore Frankie Coppola (53).

What to Watch If You're an Ardent Fan
It's hard for me to stress enough how difficult a matchup this is for Navy. Like Scarlett O'Hara Blanche Dubois, the Mids relied on the kindness of strangers--namely, UNC's clearing game--for some crucial goals in an 8-7 victory in the first round.

Johns Hopkins does not and will not make those same mistakes.

Against UNC, the Mids could wait and be opportunistic--and they showed remarkable aplomb in taking those chances, especially from a senior who hadn't scored a goal this year (Terence Higgins, 11) and a sophomore longpole (Zack Schoreder, 51).

On Saturday, the onus is on Navy to create some luck against Hopkins. The Blue Jays won't give it out.

But of course Navy has a chance. It is playing with a tremendous amount of confidence. Higgins was one of the top recruits in one of the sport's hotbeds (Westchester County NY) as a high school senior.

Junior Shane Durkin (35) is a hard-runner and he appears able to get defenses moving. Junior Sean Standen (2) and sophomore Evan Sullivan (32) were among the highest scorers in their high school programs' histories.

Navy fans have been waiting for these guys to shine. Now is their chance.

Meantime, Hopkins needs to be patient. It makes a living taking what the defense gives it. If it falls behind, and the crowd is into the game, that patience will be tested. Hopkins has been here before: See if they can pull one more win out of the fire.

By Christian Swezey |  May 16, 2008; 10:50 AM ET
Previous: Lacrosse Final Four to FedEx Field? | Next: A Chance to Catch Up, Today at 1 p.m.

Posted by: jimmy jenkins | May 16, 2008 12:43 PM

Posted by: hopken | May 16, 2008 4:33 PM

Posted by: HopAlum | May 16, 2008 5:49 PM

Name:

Comments: