Navy Finds Unlikely Hero in Hamm
by David Streeten | Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online
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| Attackman Tim Paul had two goals and an assist Saturday in Navy's 13-5, season-opening win over VMI. |
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Brendan Hamm’s
college lacrosse experience prior to Saturday consisted of a
singular faceoff – against North Carolina in 2007. He
lost.
After Navy struggled to a 5-5 halftime tie with lowly Virginia
Military Institute in its men’s lacrosse opener at sunny
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, however, Hamm took matters in
his own hands. He won seven of eight second-half faceoffs to key
the Midshipmen’s 13-5 victory over the Keydets before an
announced 2,063 fans.
Navy, ranked No. 10 in Lacrosse Magazine’s Division I
preseason poll, was torched by VMI’s Stephen Robarge in the
first half. Robarge won nine of 12 first-half faceoffs to
catch the Midshipmen off guard.
It led Navy head coach Richie Meade to an unlikely solution in
Hamm, a senior who had appeared in just one game his first three
seasons.
“Brendan came and told me at the half that he knew what
Robarge was doing and that he knew how to stop him,” Meade
said. “So I let him try it.”
With possession on their side, the Midshipmen peppered the Keydets
with 30 second-half shots and found the consistency on offense they
lacked in the first half.
Navy’s defense also adjusted. VMI found success early using
an open set with just one man on the crease to stretch out the
Mids’ defense. VMI then quickly pinched in its men, finding
looks on the crease and with back-door feeds.
“They were using a set we didn’t know they
used,” said defenseman Andy Tormey.
Navy’s troubles didn’t end there. The Midshipmen
failed to take advantage of offensive opportunities early in the
game, running three offensive midfields and rotating four
attackmen.
They started the game with an attack of Andy Warner, Tim Paul
and Brendan Connors while rotating in Bruce Nechanicky.
Navy’s first midfield line was Patrick Moran, Joe Lennon and
Basil Daratsos. Its second line consisted of Brian Striffler,
Michael Beggins and Shane Durkin. Meade even toyed with a third
line - Ryan O’Leary, Matt Bitter and Taylor Reynolds - solely
on invert sets.
None of it translated into production until the second half,
thanks to Hamm, who was named the player of the game.
The Mids held VMI scoreless in the second half. Goalie Matt
Coughlin, who did not record a save in the first quarter, played
the entire game and finished with seven saves. Defenseman Thomas
Zimmerman saw his first game action since suffering a knee injury
in 2007.
“With a better understanding of VMI’s offense and some
first-game-of-the-year nervousness out of our system, we were able
to really shut down VMI’s offense,” Tormey said.
VMI head coach Jeff Shirk, entering his third season, has coached
in Meade’s system for the Naval Academy Prep School. Shirk
led VMI to its first-ever postseason victory in 2008, a first-round
win in the MAAC tournament.
Said Meade: “[VMI] played just like their coach had our NAPS
players playing during his time here at Navy.”
