January 27, 2010

Lacrosse Magazine has put the finishing touches on its 2010 college preview issue, which mailed US Lacrosse members the first week of February. LM canvassed rival coaches to give us their anonymous take on the top 10 preseason ranked teams for Division I men's and women's lacrosse.

WD1: 10 Princeton | 9 UND | 8 UVA | 7 SU | 6 Georgetown | 5 Duke | 4 Penn | 3 UNC | 2 UMD | 1 Northwestern

Scouting Report: No. 6 Cornell

Cornell attackman Rob Pannell, the nation's top rookie in 2009, saves his best for the best. He averaged over four points per game against opponents ranked in the top 10.

HEAD COACH: Jeff Tambroni
CONFERENCE: Ivy League
2009 RECORDS: 13-4, 5-1
2010 SCHEDULE: Click Here

WHO'S BACK

A Rob Pannell (So.)
Hard to think of a better rookie campaign. Pannell (25g, 42a) developed awesome chemistry with Ryan Hurley, and the Big Red can only build on that familiarity. Pannell also saves his best for the best, averaging over four points a game againt top 10-ranked teams last year.
M Roy Lang (So.)
Tremendous athlete flourished as a short-stick defensive midfielder as a freshman, but given his talents and the exodus at midfield, Lang will step onto the first line with the potential to become Cornell's next great midfielder.
D Max Feely (Jr.)
Solid, if not flashy, defenseman steps into Matt Moyer's role as the leader of the Big Red defense.
LSM Pierce Derkac (Sr.)
One of the key players in that wild play at the end of regulation in Cornell's NCAA championship game loss to Syracuse has been itching to get back on the field. Derkac (52 GBs) can take it to the hoop on occasion. He scored five goals in '09.
A Ryan Hurley (Sr.)
Native Minnesotan continued in his emergence as one of the sleekest finishers in the game in '09 with 45 goals and 10 assists. Thanks to Pannell, he can continue to focus on off-ball activity.

WHO'S NOT

M Max Seibald
Um, yeah, you might have heard of him. Best player in the country? One-man clear? Tewaaraton Trophy runaway? You don't replace Max Seibald.
M John Glynn
A complete threat, Glynn (23g, 10a) will be most missed for his faceoff abilities (143-for-259).
M Rocco Romero
Oft-overlooked third cog on Cornell's first midfield line was also a significant contributor (17g, 11a). Plenty of reloading needed at midfield.
G Jake Myers
There was a time when Myers and Mat Martinez were options 1 and 1A. Then Myers led Cornell to the NCAA championship game. If the Big Red still don't trust Martinez between the pipes, the lack of experience there could hurt.
D Matt Moyer
The glue to Cornell's defense is gone. Can Feely, who came on strong last year, fill that void?

WHO'S NEW

G A.J. Fiore
Highly touted hometown product who’s battling junior Mat Martinez for the starting position. Said Tambroni: “It’s still a two-man race. A.J. has consistently gotten better but lacks the maturity and experience that Mat Martinez has.”
M Kyle Ewanouski
Considering Cornell's midfield shuffle, this middie who was recruited to play both Division I lacrosse and football could emerge on the second line.
D Mike Bronzino
Won't play right away, but Tambroni likened him to former All-American defenseman Mitch Belisle -- no small comparison.

X FACTOR

Faceoff wing play. Long pole Michael Howe could be in line to take more faceoffs, as there's no pure specialist on the roster. But with Derkac and Lang on the wings, there may be no better combo crashing the X. All Cornell needs to do is neutralize faceoff play and let the wings take over.

RIVAL COACHES' TAKES

"Some losses at midfield, but they should be good. Pannell is a good, smart QB."

"Replacing Seibald and Glynn is key. They’re skilled at attack but suffered key losses all over the field."

"A great QB in Pannell, but can they replace their scoring from the midfield?"

"Can Pannell do as much as last year, without Glynn or Seibald? I doubt it."

"They’ve got some good young talent. They graduated that first midfield. That was a pretty unique and special midfield. Their attack returns. They’re skilled and defensively they’re good. They’ll be right there. I think it’ll take them a little time at midfield. The rest of them are back so they’ll be good."