BEAR LAX TRAX FAX 02/13/24 by John Nichols

The 2024 NCAA lacrosse season is underway and we got a couple of surprises right away.  Denver (Ryan Giles) traveled to Homewood Field and pulled off an overtime upset of host Johns Hopkins.  Navy (JT Thomas III, Preston Luger) is showing a bit more offensive punch while still defending well.

D-I

February 3 Games

DENVER (Ryan Giles) 13 OT

Johns Hopkins 12

Denver got the first goal of the game and that proved to be their only lead of the game until the Pioneers netted the winner in overtime.  The Blue Jays led by four at the half as they dominated the final minutes of the second quarter.  Hopkins extended their lead by one in a low scoring third quarter, but then Denver erupted in the final frame.  Initially, scoring was scarce in the fourth quarter, but the Pioneers offensive erupted in the closing minutes of the game, including two goals in the final minute, to force overtime.  The tying goal came off a restart with less than two seconds left in the match. 

Denver started the overtime period with a one-man advantage from a penalty that carried over from regulation, but the Jays neutralized that advantage by winning possession off the face off.  While the Jays were able to work back to even sides, they could not get the game winner.  Denver took advantage of a Hopkins turnover and then scored on their second shot of overtime.

Ryan played in the game.

NAVY (JT Thomas III, Preston Lugar) 19

Mount Saint Mary’s 6

The Midshipmen ran out ahead in the second quarter with a six-goal run—the first three in two minutes of game time, the second three in just under a minute of game time.  Navy had two big scoring runs in the second half, four to start the half and another six to close it out.

Preston played in the game.

OHIO STATE (Cullen Brown)11

Utah 8

The Buckeyes were down early, having surrendered five of the game’s first six goals.  They patiently worked their way out of the deficit and took a one-goal lead late in the third quarter.  Utah tied the game up with the last score of the third quarter and the first of the fourth.  However, that was the last time Utah would lead.  Ohio State rallied with three quick scores to secure the win.

Cullen started on defense for Ohio State, creating five ground balls (second best for the Buckeyes) and causing two turnovers.

February 10 Games

DENVER (Ryan Giles) 11

Air Force 9

Denver’s three-goal run in the first period created and early lead for the Pioneers, but Air Force closed out the half with four straight scores to go up by one at halftime.  The Flacons extended their lead with the first score of the second half, but Denver closed out the third period with their own run of four to flip a two-goal deficit into a two-goal lead.  After the teams traded single goals to start the fourth, Air Force tied the game with two scores in a minute.  Denver’s defense then clamped down and shut out the Falcons the rest of the game while their offense scored twice to earn the win.

Ryan had two ground balls and two caused turnovers.

HOBART (Jackson Galiani) 11

Colgate 16

Colgate took over the game early with two three-goals in the first quarter.  Hobart pulled to within three in the third quarter, but Colgate iced the game with a four-goal run.

MICHIGAN (Hunter Taylor, Graham Hertzberg) 11

Virginia 19

It took a while for the teams to break the ice in this match, but Virginia dominated the first half, thrice going on three-goal runs that were broken by single scores for the Wolverines.  The teams traded goals to start the second half, then Michigan earned its first back-to-back scores.  However, the ‘Hoos responded with four straight to extend their lead. The Wolverines bounced back with a run of three, which was answered by UVA’s final two of the day.

Hunter had thirteen saves on the day and Graham played as well.

NAVY (JT Thomas III, Preston Lugar) 16

Hofstra 8

Navy and Hofstra matched goal for goal to start the game, but the Middies closed out the first half with a run of six straight goals to lead by six at the break.  The second half played out much the same with the teams swapping single scores before Navy ran off another six straight.

OHIO STATE (Cullen Brown) 13

Cleveland State 6

Ohio State spotted Cleveland State the first three goals of the game, then ran off seven straight scores to take the lead for good.  Over the balance of the game, the Buckeyes did not allow successive goals to Cleveland State, while making short runs that served to extend their lead.

Cullen started on defense for Ohio State.

D-I USILA POLL

1. Notre Dame

2. Duke

3. Virginia

4. Maryland

5. Cornell

6. Army

7. Syracuse

8. Denver

9. Yale

10. Johns Hopkins

11. Princeton

12. Rutgers

13. Michigan

14. Penn State

15. Delaware

16. Richmond

17. Loyola

18. Penn

19. North Carolina

20. Boston University

THIS COMING WEEK

The Ivies (Penn (Stephen Bou), Harvard (Joey Graham), Dartmouth (Will Cohen, Cameron Brown, and Zach Oehlerking), and Yale (Jake Cohen)) start play this weekend and we will have the season’s first Bears versus Bears match as Michigan(Hunter Taylor, Graham Hertzberg) hosts Hobart(Jackson Galiani).

D-III

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY 9OwenHegadorn

Christopher Newport 15

Hampden-Sydney took an early lead with three straight scores but the Captains took over the game, closing out the first half with five in a row to go up by two at the half.  Christopher Newport continued the onslaught with the first four goals of the second half to extend their lead to six.  Hampden-Sydney cut that lead in half with three straight scores but would get no closer.

D-III USILA POLL

1. Salisbury

2. Tufts

3. RIT

4.Christopher Newport

5. Dickinson

6. Middlebury

7. Washington & Lee

8t. Lynchburg

8t. Gettysburg

10. Bowdoin

11. RPI

12. Union

13. Amherst

14. Denison

15. York

16. Saint Lawrence

17. Swarthmore

18. Stevens

19. Babson

20. Williams

THIS COMING WEEK

Denison (Will Savoy), Dickinson (Will Single and Andrew Atkins), Ohio Wesleyan (Quinn Laughlin), and Washington & Lee (Will Bou, Will Abramson) kick off their 2014 seasons on Saturday.