Inside the February Issue of LM
COVER STORY
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| Lacrosse Magazine: February 2011 |
Kevin Crowley is excited that the same names will populate Stony Brook's starting midfield and attack for the third straight season, mainly because of the comfort on the field that brings.
"Even beyond that, though," the senior co-captain said, "We know how to pick guys up, what they need to hear to get back on track when something goes wrong."
Chemistry? Stony Brook's offense has it. But, "for us," said Crowley, Lacrosse Magazine's Preseason Player of the Year, "it's about taking it to a new level."
Led by the Canadian duo of Crowley and Jordan McBride, who had record-setting seasons as juniors, the only step left for the Seawolves is to reach the final four. They come in as the No. 4-ranked team in LM's preseason Division I poll and spearhead an expansive preview of NCAA lacrosse in the February issue. Big write-ups of the Division I top 10s, closer looks at Cal women's and Syracuse men's lacrosse and in-depth breakdowns in Divisions II and III -- packaged with all of LM's regular monthly content -- make February the most stacked edition of the year.
THE SCOOP
Sport's Gain Can Be No Pain
Safety first. Perhaps never in lacrosse history has such a diverse
group of stakeholders invested in keeping the sport safe gathered
in one place, as will be the case March 11 in Baltimore when US
Lacrosse hosts the inaugural Lacrosse Sports Medicine
Conference.
Lifestyles: Kip Campbell
Kip Campbell was good with a stick -- the middie helped Lynchburg
College to its first ODAC title in 2003. But he's great with a bow.
He and teammate Chad Day created a TV show, "Red Arrow," that
tracks their hunting adventures. LM got Campbell in our sights for
a few questions.
ZIP It: 04074
Scarborough, Maine
At the start of spring lacrosse season in late March, snow
typically covers the fields in Scarborough, Maine, or at the very
least playing surfaces are thick with mud. But the boys and girls
play on. Known for its coast, lacrosse is growing in the southern
suberb of Portland.
Down to Basics: First Sticks for Kids
A child's first lacrosse stick serves not only as a means to play
the sport, but a symbol of the confidence, sportsmanship and
leadership qualities acquired through the game. Grateful for the
way the sport shaped and redirected their lives in positive ways,
former Oceanside (N.Y.) teammates Paul Meyer and Peter Gibson and
Lou Delligatti jumpstarted the First Stick Program with a generous
gift of $100,000.
SIDELINE CHATTER
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LM's Question of the Month: Who's your sleeper in
2011?
Who's lurking out there in 2011, poised to make big names for
themselves? Maybe you've noticed a teammate putting extra time in
after playing under the radar. Better yet, maybe your wholeteam is
ready to raise your game.
OFF THE FIELD
Kevin Nguyen, Notre Dame de Namur
Notre Dame de Namur University's Kevin Nguyen (at right) came from
Seattle-area lax powerhouse Bainbridge High School and got off to a
great start as a freshman, scoring a team-leading 31 points last
season. Nguyen -- and the rest of the Argonauts -- kick off their
2011 season this month with games versus Grand Canyon University
and C.W. Post. Before then, the sophomore attacker took us on a
tour of his Belmont, Calif., dorm.
RECRUITING U
Beyond the Big Time
Out of the sphere of influence of the Eastern establishment,
lacrosse is cooming across the rest of the country for an
increasing number of high school standouts in the Midwest, South
and West to enjoy. Between the MCLA and US Lacrosse WCLA, schools
from big-name conferences like the Big Ten (Minnesota, Michigan,
Michigan State), the Big 12 (Texas, Baylor, Kansas), the Pac 10
(Stanford, USC, UCLA) and the SEC (Vanderbilt, Florida, Ole Miss)
mingle on a regular basis in non-varsity, lacrosse-only leagues
with less heralded rivals from, say, Lindenwood, Texas State and
Chico State, in one big melting pot.
US LACROSSE: SHARING OUR STORY
Sign Him Up
Jeff Dobbin was born deaf. Officially, his deafness is profound,
meaning that without hearing aids he can't hear medium and high
frequencies. The honk of a horn or tweet of a whistle or the murmur
of a person's voice, they all pass without his noticing. But after
so many years of being unable to hear coarse calls from the
sideline, Dobbin aspires to coach college lacrosse. With the help
of US Lacrosse, two pairs of hands and his two willing easrs,
Dobbin is realizing his coaching ambition.
FEATURES
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All Roads Lead to Orlando
U15 clubs with and without pedigree will begin their hunt for a US
Lacrosse National Championship with four regional championships.
"We're not just pitch forks out here," said Red Shirts (Mo.) club
coach Andy Kay. "We've got good multi-sport athletes."
Changing of the Guard
As a kid growing up in the lacrosse hotbed of Cortland, N.Y.,
future Syracuse University star Joel White idolized the players who
defined Orange tradition. White, a midfielder who would graduate
fom Cortland High in 2007 as its career scoring leader, wanted to
emulate such legendary shooters as Gary Gait, Casey Powell and Mike
Powell. Now a senior with the Orange, White and his teammates have
carved out their own history, and they have done it in a way that
must be strange to the Syracuse faithful: with defense.
Shunned
At first, Amelia Burke thought it was a dream. She grew up in the
Bay Area, where everyone loves and roots for Cal. The freshman
midfielder had worshipped the Bears' lacrosse players who's taught
her at camps and clinics, and couldn't believe she'd become one of
them. The dream should have lasted four years. Instead, it lasted
about four weeks. On the morning of Sept. 28, 2010, two teammates
burst into Burke's dorm room, sobbing. Due to tremendous budget
shortfalls in the Cal athletic department, the lacrosse team had
been cut from varsity status.
NCAA DIVISION I MEN'S LACROSSE PREVIEW
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1. Syracuse
Offense must catch up to defense for a change.
2. Virginia
Cavaliers' title hopes hinge on rebuilt defense.
3. North Carolina
Tar Heels going deep in search of title.
4. Stony Brook
Guess who's back? The entire offense.
5. Maryland
New coach wants to give veteran Terps freedom.
6. Princeton
Moniball: offense, defense, offense again.
7. Notre Dame
John Kemp has big shoes to fill in Irish cage.
8. Duke
Humble star CJ Costabile leads Blue Devils.
9. Hofstra
Pride wants an NCAA big without debate this time.
10. Cornell
How will the Big Red develop under DeLuca?
11-20. Army, Johns Hopkins, Loyola, Denver, Georgetown, Villanova, Drexel, Delaware, Massachusetts, Yale.
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S LACROSSE PREVIEW
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1. Maryland
Defending champion Terps reload.
2. Northwestern
Young attack must step up to regain crown.
3. North Carolina
UNC thinks it's got answers.
4. Duke
Blue Devils have health, depth.
5. Syracuse
SU wants to take the next step -- but how?
6. Georgetown
Freshmen could flourish -- or fizzle.
7. Virginia
Cavaliers seek to continue healing process.
8. Penn
Young Quakers excited for new era.
9. James Madison
Dukes aim to build on recent success.
10. Notre Dame
Blaney hopes to return Irish to a familiar place.
11-20. Vanderbilt, Stanford, Loyola, Dartmouth, Penn State, Towson, Florida, Princeton, Boston College, Hofstra.
NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S LACROSSE PREVIEW
What's new, what's not, key players, sleepers and three big questions for the 2011 NCAA Division II men's lacrosse season. Will there be more clamoring for playoff expansion come season's end? Will C.W. Post three-peat? Which region grabs the psotseason at-large bid this year?
1. C.W. Post
2. Le Moyne
3. Mercyhurst
4. Limestone
5. Merrimack
6. Dowling
7. NYIT
8. Adelphi
9. Bentley
10. Queens
NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S LACROSSE PREVIEW
What's new, what's not, key players, sleepers and three big questions for the 2011 NCAA Division II women's lacrosse season. Can anyone touch Adelphi? Can Limestone break through? How grueling is the PSAC?
1. Adelphi
2. Lock Haven
3. C.W. Post
4. Le Moyne
5. Limestone
6. West Chester
7. Stonehill
8. Mercyhurst
9. Gannon
10. Dowling
NCAA DIVISION III MEN'S LACROSSE PREVIEW
What's new, what's not, key players, sleepers and three big questions for the 2011 NCAA Division III men's lacrosse season. Which conference race will be the most interesting this spring? What team could step into the limelight this season? What are the chances that Tufts repeats?
1. Tufts
2. Cortland
3. Salisbury
4. Stevenson
5. Middlebury
6. Haverford
7. Gettysburg
8. Roanoke
9. RIT
10. Connecticut College
11. RPI
12. Dickinson
13. Lynchburg
14. Geneseo
15. Nazareth
16. Cabrini
17. Denison
18. Endicott
19. Bowdoin
20. Goucher
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN'S LACROSSE PREVIEW
What's new, what's not, key players, sleepers and three big questions for the 2011 NCAA Division III women's lacrosse season. Who will come out of the NESCAC? What team is due for a rebound season in 2011? Can anyone challenge F&M in the Centennial?
1. Hamilton
2. Salisbury
3. TCNJ
4. Franklin & Marshall
5. Gettysburg
6. Cortland
7. Trinity
8. Williams
9. Stevens
10. Tufts
11. Colby
12. Union
13. Catholic
14. Washington & Lee
15. Amherst
16. Middlebury
17. Mary Washington
18. Bowdoin
19. Haverford
20. Babson
YOUR EDGE
One Move Wonder
You would think Alex Smith had a complex array of faceoff moves.
Really, it comes down to one: the pinch-and-pop. Smith uses it in
every encounter as the top specialist for Team USA and the
Washington Bayhawks. Here's how he does it.
Win, Lose and Draw
Team USA center draw expert Kristen Kjellman hooked us up with a
few tricks of the trade, including five steps each to win the draw
to yourself, win it behind, "lose it" forward and draw down the
line.
Body Weight Training
Athletes today have access to weight rooms, but don't ignore the
importance of body weight training. Use this routine to assist or
supplement your weight-training program.
CEP Tip: Ref This!
One of the easiest things a coach can do in preseason to help your
team all year is set up practices with officials, where your team
or organization invites a local official or umpire to practice for
the day.
The Lone Ranger: Don't Be One!
The idea that a single person can handle anything is a disaster
waiting to happen when it comes to officiating lacrosse.
Tee and 'T' Dynamite
Michelle Tumolo was Gary Gait's first blue-chip recruit for
Syracuse. She chose the Orange over Penn State because she thought
playing for Gait would suit her creative approach to the game. She
also draws inspiration from teammate Tee Ladouceur. Tumolo took LM
aside to talk style and substance.
GIVE AND GO
Jen Cook, McDonogh (Md.) and U.S. U19 Team
Why star attacker Jen Cook loves Shaun White, can't live without her stuffed lamb, wants to be on the West Coast in 10 years and would like to patent a heated jacket.
