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Gone Campin': Captain Powell Finds Fitting Send-Off
by Nathaniel Badder | Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
| Team USA 13, MLL All-Stars 12
Day One: Pick-Up Hoops with Team USA
Day Two: Team USA Starts Two-A-Days
Day Three: 'We Have Not Yet Begun to Fight'
Day Four: U.S. Prepares for MLL All-Star Game
Day Five: Captain Powell Finds Fitting
Send-Off
Intrepid reporter -- and US Lacrosse Director of National Teams -- Nathaniel Badder is embedded with Team USA at Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., as it heads into training camp to ready for the MLL All-Star Game and FIL World Championships. Check back to laxmagazine.com this week for continuing coverage.
THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2010
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On the same day he was named captain of the U.S. men's national team, Ryan Powell potted the game-winner against the MLL All-Stars for a triumphant send-off to Manchester. © Richard Orr |
9:55 a.m.: Going "Q-tips” -- helmets and
gloves -- for the final practice of camp, a welcome break from the
physical play of the last three days. After practice, attackman
Ryan Boyle speaks for the team when he remarks, “We’re
ready to play somebody else.”
11:08 a.m.: Bryant Athletic Director Bill Smith
addresses the group after practice and speaks of the thrill of
having Team USA on Bryant’s campus (and this from a guy who
regularly hosts the New England Patriots’ summer practices),
the responsibility we all share in helping to promote and grow the
game, and most touching, the responsibility this group has to
represent this proud country well during such a critical time in
world history.
11:22 a.m.: After a brief scouting report on the
MLL All-Stars, it’s time to vote for captains. Every player,
coach and staff member gets a vote, but how do you separate two
individuals from a team full of remarkable players, stand-up men
and spirited leaders? What makes a good captain? Is it personal
traits like integrity, empathy and courage? Or is it team-oriented
stuff like experience, rah-rah leadership and a walking embodiment
of the we-over-me mentality? The truth is that it’s all of
them -- and more -- but the key ingredient may well be the ability
to move the dial of teammates’ emotions and mindsets at the
right time and in the right way at any moment. But that
doesn’t narrow down the list too much; there are still lots
of great candidates.
11:26 a.m.: And, the winner is…
11:27 a.m.: … going to be announced after
lunch at a local restaurant called Crickets.
1 p.m.: The bus arrives and, in chatting with the
driver, I find out that he was a milk man in his previous life. He
delivered half-gallons of milk and pounds of butter until the early
1990s. Who knew this occupation existed then and still continues
today (albeit in significantly reduced numbers from decades ago)? I
guess some people really do prefer their milk from a glass
bottle.
3:03 p.m.: After another fine Italian meal of
chicken parmesan -- which rivals that of Fiore’s from the
night before -- green beans and potatoes, Coach Pressler takes the
stage to address the group and announces that Kevin Cassese and
Ryan Powell have been named captains of the 2010 U.S. Men’s
National Lacrosse Team. Loud cheers… great choices!
Two very veteran guys whose words carry weight with their
teammates. Kevin has been steady as a rock throughout training camp
and Ryan’s play has been passionate and his emotions on full
display. A perfect combination.
4:25 p.m.: Driving up I-93 to Boston (Harvard is
in Cambridge, but Harvard Stadium, where the game will be played,
is technically in Boston), we pass the strangest sign I’ve
ever seen. It reads, “We sell guns. No ID. No background
check. Criminals & terrorists welcome.” I think it was an
ad for the Boston gun show -- or possibly for a visit to Gilbert
Arenas’ closet -- but I hope it was a joke.
5:17 p.m.: The guys dress in shooting shirts and
shorts, and emerge from the locker room to meet and greet some
local fans, as well as the two Team USA VIP raffle winners who
traveled all the way from Minnesota to see the game.
6:54 p.m.: Two national anthems – first
Canadian, then American.
7 p.m.: Tweeet! The opening whistle blows,
right on time, as expected with live TV.
9:28 p.m.: What a
game?!?!? A couple of observations from the
sidelines…
- The MLL put on a great show; the whole night was a lot of
fun and the MLL All-Stars, many with a Team USA snub axe to grind,
played their butts off
- Team USA could not have asked for a better final warm-up: to be
tested, fall behind and come back to win is an ideal send-off to
the FIL Championship in Manchester
- Having only four long-stick defenders available, the MLL
All-Stars dropped into a zone defense (two short-stick defenders
low with the four long-stick defenders forming a diamond shape up
top) ,which slowed Team USA’s ability to dodge to the cage,
but the crafty attack line of Ryan Boyle, Ryan Powell and Brendan
Mundorf was able to find some creases in the zone and produce some
beautifully-orchestrated goals.
- Speaking of Mundorf, he just plain scores (six goals and a Bud
Light MVP award for the night); he may not be the biggest, fastest
or strongest guy out there, but he just finds a way to get the ball
into the back of the net.
- Had the MLL All-Stars won, Matt Bocklett was a sure-fire
MVP -- the undersized defender from the Denver Outlaws was
everywhere, picking off passes, scooping up groundballs and running
down fast breaks.
- What a day for Ryan Powell. Gets named captain and then
hammers home the game winner. It was a very fitting end. He’s
been working his tail off all week and truly earned the opportunity
to be out there with the ball in his stick and the game on the
line.
11:10 p.m.: On the road… and there’s
that creepy sign again! Who do I need to talk to about this?
