Men's Lax in the Playoffs!

[Jojogunne]

We made it!

FIRST ROUND (times will be determined Monday afternoon):

Saturday, May 10
Army (8-7) at #1 Johns Hopkins (11-1)
Penn State (7-6) at Towson (8-5)
Albany (10-5) at #4 Princeton (10-3)
Mount St. Mary's (10-7) at #2 Virginia (11-2)

Sunday, May 11
Georgetown (10-3) at Rutgers (10-4)
Ohio State (9-4) at #3 Maryland (10-3)
Dartmouth (11-2) at Syracuse (8-5)
Hofstra (11-5) at Massachusetts (12-2)

[Rob]

from ncaasports.com

http://www.ncaasports.com/lacrosse/mens/story/6353179

Definitely a "make up call" for last year. I truly think that the selection team was embarrassed last year and being that HU was on the bubble certainly helped our cause this year.

Now go make some noise in the tourney!

[stuball888]

Agreed that this is a make up call. I would like to thank TBL for turning us on to the reverse curse. By saying Hofstra would not make it we ensured our spot in the NCAA tourney. Now lets see if it will work for our womens softball team. :wink: :wink: :wink:

[Eric]

Great news! Doesn't exactly make up for 2002 (that team could have made some serious noise...) but great news!

[Justin]

Congrats to the team and Coach D. Awesome!!!!!!!

Press Release:
http://www.hofstra.edu/PDF/sports_mlax_050403.pdf

[HofstraAndrew]

I am extremly happy and relieved to see us sneak in as the last at large team. It doesn't make up for last year, since those 12 seniors careers ended way to prematurely, and probably nothing will but it definetely eases the pain from last season's snub slightly. UMASS is a very explosive team def and a very tough matchup and I do not feel too confident about it but I think it will be much closer then March's blowout. It's too bad we didn't win the CAA because then Towson would have been out and we probably would have gotten the home game against Penn State instead of them. Even though UMASS is not a great draw I will take anybody after last year's travesty. If we can somehow upset them then Maryland would be a tough but very winnable game in the quarterfinals. Whatever tournament experience this young team can get will be very valuable for next year.

[mat1992]

Congrats on a well-deserved bid, but Andrew you guys aren't going to play Maryland, unless it's at Ravens Stadium. I think you'll beat UMass and then play at Towson again in the quarters vs. Virginia. The school that go the tough draw was #3 Maryland who has the toughest odds of any school making the quarters, assuming they beat Ohio State. They will have to play 'Cuse in the Carrier Dome, if the Orange get past Dartmouth in the same place. How many Final Fours in a row has it been for them? Close to 20?

[Justin]

Newsday article about the selection:

http://www.newsday.com/sports/lacrosse/ ... Dheadlines (http://www.newsday.com/sports/lacrosse/ny-hlax053269167may05,0,4285124.story?coll=ny%2Dcolle gesports%2Dheadlines)

CAAzone.com broke the news first and let Hofstra know they were in. :wink:

[Polito1]

SWEET!!

This is awesome - nice accomplishment for this team

no expectations here - our team should go into this very loose, no pressure, just have fun - let UMass have all the nerves of being expected to win

if we go in w/that attitude, we have a good chance of winning the game

either way, this a GREAT experience for our young team that will surely pay dividends in the future

congrats Dutch!

[Eric]

You know...I was under the impression that the NCAA tried NOT to schedule re-matches in the first round...

Oh well...here's hoping we can get our revenge!

[TMC]

"our team should go into this very loose, no pressure, just have fun - let UMass have all the nerves of being expected to win

if we go in w/that attitude, we have a good chance of winning the game"


I agree! Our guys are playing with house money.
Get on the board early and give UMass every opportunity to choke.
Terrific coaching and great season.

[stuball888]

Regardless of the outcome, this season has been a pleasent surprise. This team was expected to go 8-7 at best. We have a resilent team here. We should go out on a high note and throw caution to the wind. Guys just go out and have fun. The big glaring weakness is we dont matchup well with teams that have great faceoff men. This is what we should work on in the offseason. To bad Matt Danowskis teammate Engeleke is going to Towson. He is a faceoff machine!

[mat1992]

Sorry, I didn't know that the NCAA bracket was screwed up when they first released it. According to the first release, you were playing at Towson if you won against Virginia. Playing Maryland up there, will give you better shot at making the Final Four.

[Jojogunne]

One of next year's recruits -- Bill Peters of Bridgton Academy and Darien (CT) HS -- is a face-off specialist.

[Jojogunne]

According to the UMass Web site, game time Sunday is 1:00 p.m.

http://umassathletics.ocsn.com/sports/m-lacros/spec-rel/050403aaa.html

[stuball888]

Jojo we will need him. I dont know what our PCT was but I am sure it was not better than 42%. Does anyone know what it was?

[Justin]

45%