Heartbroken in '09, Big Red Reloads for 2010
by Matt DaSilva | Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
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Canadian Jonathan Thompson is among a host of midfielders looking to help Cornell reload on its first line. © Lee Weissman
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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.
