2/27/2003 - Men's Lacrosse
Carolina In Town, Brighter Days Ahead For Midshipmen
BY PETE MEDHURST
A year ago Navy and North Carolina seemed headed to a
seventh overtime period in a lacrosse matchup in
Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Navy goalkeeper Jon
Higdon had just made his 19th save of the game and was
attempting a clearing pass when North Carolina's Pat
Jackson one-handed it out of the air and fired it in
to wide open net from 40 yards out to win the longest
game in NCAA history, 11-10.
It was only the third game of the year for Navy, but
it effectively ended the Mids season.
Friday night at Rip Miller Field, Navy will have a
chance to right that wrong, again in game three.
Faceoff is slated for 7pm, with the game to be
broadcast live on 1430-AM WNAV.
"That early in the season you don't expect that to
effect you the way it did. We didn't play well after
that for the next few weeks, even in the games we
won," Navy head coach Richie Meade said. "There's no
question that game took a lot out of us,".
This year, Carolina, winners in its opener, 13-3
against Bucknell, come in a slight favorite. "They are
a very talented team. That's been well documented, but
we will come ready to play," Meade said. "Faceoffs
will be a big key. They won all but two against
Bucknell and scored 13 goals against an all-american."
For Navy, Chris Pieczonka and Chris Dingman have
combined to win 65% of their faceoffs through two
games. More importantly, The Mids have more depth up
front than in recent years and found a way to come
from behind against Ohio State, something the Mids
have struggled with in the past.
"We have a few more weapons than in the past. We're
deeper, we're aware of what we're supposed to be doing
and to come from behind was very encouraging,'' Meade
said.
Encouraging, it should be. Exciting it could be.
This Navy team can score. They are as athletic as
they have been in a long time. That is what has
seperated the top teams from teams in the middle of
the pack in lacrosse. For instance, Virginia goes and
gets a John Christmas, and of course Syracuse has been
led by the talents of Mike Powell. Not only good
lacrosse players, but great athletes and now more
teams have great athletes all over the field.
Navy has responded to the challenge set forth by
Georgetown and UMASS to get better in the ECAC. Rumors
persist that UMBC will head to America East and Navy
will head to the Patriot League in 2004.
The good fortune for Navy fans is that they will
still be able to play a lot of the great teams they
play year in and year out. That means they'll be able
to recruit quality players, and also stand a good shot
at playing in the NCAA's on a consistent basis. The
wave right now in lacrosse is to be in a league. There
are no gurantees the ECAC will stay afloat, so if Navy
and UMBC leave, credit them for taking steps ahead of
what could be a disaster if they wait until the league
folds.
The good news is, while Navy would end playing Holy
Cross and Lafayette among others, they will still be
able to write more chapters in in its great rivalries
of the past.
Friday night should be another thriller.
