As promised, I wanted to send out a brief email about our game down in New London on Sunday.  Moving the game back a day was definitely the right call.  The temps got up into the 30’s and even though the wind was howling, at least the sun was out and we were able to get the game in!

As I may have mentioned before the game, Conn has the 1^st team All American/1^st team All NESCAC face off specialist returning from last year and we knew it would be an uphill battle with him going in.  On top of that, we were without John Jackson (2^nd Team All NESCAC last spring) at the x as he’s still working his way back onto the field. It was not an ideal match up and introduction to college lacrosse for our first –year face off specialist, Jake Madnick. 

To me, the story of the game was how Jake responded after going 1 for 8 in the first half of his first college game.  Jake came out in the 2^nd half and went 6 for 10 at the x. This included a clean win in the most crucial face off of the game after we scored an empty netter with 30 seconds remaining.  I hope it’s a sign for not only how Jake responds to a challenge but how our team will when we need to the rest of the way. 

The game itself was tight the entire way with us either tied or trailing until late in the 3^rd quarter when we finally took the lead on a goal by senior Jake Schneider. Tight would be the right way to describe us on offense over the course of the game.  We generated 47 shots and enough good looks to have scored 12-15 goals but their goalie played well and we simply didn’t finish some great opportunities in transition.

Our defense and goalies all played very well for our first time out.  Yes, I said goalies.  Will Ernst played the first half and played very well with 8 saves to go with only 3 goals against.  The plan going in was to play our first year keeper, Will Perry as well and he also did a great job for us in the 2^nd half.  We are fortunate to have a deep and talented group of goalies this year.

Overall I was pleased with how our team competed in the opener, on the road, and against a good opponent.  We obviously needed to do a better job of finishing and looking for our transition opportunities coming out of the Conn game.  The good news was that we wouldn’t have to wait long to get back out on the field with Endicott coming to town on Tuesday.