Heartbroken in '09, Big Red Reloads for 2010

by Matt DaSilva | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff

Canadian Jonathan Thompson is among a host of midfielders looking to help Cornell reload on its first line. © Lee Weissman

Fall Ball Schedule: Men | Women

With all the hubbub about Harvard and swirling offseason changes in the Ivy League, the Cornell men’s lacrosse team -- just five seconds shy of an NCAA Division I championship in 2009 – might just be the forgotten force in 2010.

It’s hard to blame the haters. The Big Red graduated one of the most potent midfield lines in lacrosse history. Tewaaraton Trophy winner Max Seibald, All-American John Glynn and Rocco Romero left a huge void.

Combined with Princeton’s upheaval due to Bill Tierney’s departure to Denver, some pundits think Harvard is ready to take over the mantle. Even Brown head coach Lars Tiffany, whose Bears took Johns Hopkins to overtime in the first round of the NCAA tournament, says of the Crimson, “That’s a scary monster growing in Boston.”

Not so fast, Cornell midfielder Chris Langton rebutted.

“I’m excited. It’s going to be a different team this year, but that’s exciting for everyone,” Langton said in an interview with Lacrosse Magazine last week. “Lacrosse isn’t a one-man game. It’s about a team working together, working hard and trusting each other to make things happen on the field.”

Langton and Roy Lang, both sophomores, logged lots of time as short-stick defensive midfielders in 2009. (Lang, you might recall, was the last line of defense on Syracuse’s miraculous goal in the final seconds of regulation in the NCAA title game.) Both are expected to make a move to offensive midfield this year as part of Cornell head coach Jeff Tambroni’s reloading plan.

“We got some decent time last year playing defensive midfield,” Langton said. “That’s going to help us this year playing on the offensive end of the field. We’ll be able to get back and play some defense.”

Cornell commences fall ball Saturday when it hosts Penn State -- now of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) -- and Bucknell. With an obscenity of talent on attack, don’t be surprised if Tambroni shuffles those guys up top. (Rival Ivy League coaches noted attackman/midfielder David Lau’s increased role in the NCAA tournament. Look at Lau for breakout potential.)

If nothing, the Big Red boasts continuity at the helm. This will be Tambroni’s 10th season. Cornell was also able to retain associate head coach Ben Deluca, who reportedly turned down an offer for the Princeton job.

Getting back on the field should also help ease the sting from the Big Red’s championship game collapse.

“What we try to hit home over the summer was to get our minds off lacrosse, but then set our sights on 2010,” said senior long stick midfielder Pierce Derkac. “We’re motivated to get back out there.”

Said Langton: “When we’re in a workout, I’m thinking I’m hurting in that last turn and I see that guy in front of me -- can I push past that guy? -- I'll think about last year. You need to work as hard as you possibly can now, so come springtime, there are no regrets.”

Fall Ball Breakdown

As leaves change and temperatures dip, lacrosse is back on the mind with what should be an intriguing fall season. Here’s a look at teams in action this weekend:

Cornell
2009 record: 13-4 (5-1 Ivy League)
Skinny: With Jake Myers and Kyle Harer out of the way, the starting goalkeeper job would appear to be Mat Martinez’s to lose. But is anyone else intrigued by Tambroni’s take on homegrown freshman A.J. Fiore of Ithaca, N.Y., as reported on Cornell’s Web site? “A.J. is a program-changing recruit,” Tambroni said. Looks like Martinez could get a run for his money.

Penn State
2009 record: 9-5 (4-3 ECAC)
Skinny: Anti-Glenn Thiel sentiment resurfaced early last year as the Nittany Lions got off to an 0-3 start that included a double-overtime loss to Robert Morris. But they ended the season on a tear, winning nine of their last 11 and finishing ranked No. 16 in the USILA Division I poll. However, Penn State suffered major blows in the offseason, with highly touted assistant Guy van Arsdale becoming the head coach at Colorado College and goalie Steven Rastivo -- the heir apparent to Drew Adams -- transferring to North Carolina. Van Arsdale did get Philadelphia-area high school goalie Austin Kaut to commit to PSU before leaving, but Kaut won’t arrive until the 2011 season. Who’s manning the pipes in 2010?

Bucknell
2009 record: 9-7 (6-0 Patriot League)
Skinny: The losses to graduation were magnanimous, including four-year starters on attack (Joe Mele) and defense (Billy Haire, PL Defender of the Year). The Bison have always been branded by defense, but they’re best chance to reload is on offense. Possessions won’t be a problem. Faceoff specialist Jake Clarke had a breakout 2009 campaign and is one of the nation’s top returning FOGOs. Not bad for a former walk-on.