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lacrossehub
03-20-2008, 01:45 PM
Wesleyan Vs. Tufts, Saturday, March 22nd
This Saturday, Wesleyan and Tufts meet in an early season NESCAC battle. Wesleyan is coming off of two tough losses and looking to get back on track. Tufts needs to show that their big loss against Roanoke was a fluke. The weather forecast calls for sun, with temperatures in the high 40s.
Game Notes:

After Tufts gave up 20 goals against Roanoke and 12 goals against Eastern Connecticut, Wesleyan's offense should be able to score goals (at least more than 5). Tufts has two sophomore defensemen who are getting significant time after playing minor roles on the defense last season. Tufts' youth should give Wesleyan's attack more chances to dodge and create scoring opportunities. Wesleyan will need midfielders, Chris Jasinski and Lonny Blumenthal, to contribute like they did against Nazareth.

Tufts goalie, Matt Harrigan, will have to rebound after getting bombarded against Roanoke. Roanoke took 50 shots, scoring 20 times. Harrigan made 10 saves. Statistically, it looks worse than it really was; most of the shots were from within ten yards. Harrigan will need to make big stops and lead the young defense.

Wesleyan face off efforts improved against Nazareth (8-16). Senior Bobby Goulding went 6-11 and has the opportunity to win a majority of the draws on Saturday. Tufts had difficulty in their last two games, losing 23-31 against Roanoke and 10-15 against Williams. If Wesleyan can control the draws, their offense will have more possession opportunities on offense.

Wesleyan has been sloppy with the ball. They have only played three games and are still gelling, but they need to decrease the amount of mistakes in between the boxes. In the first half against Nazareth, they were successful on 9-15 clears. If Tufts rides well, they will be able to pick up a few goals in unsettled situations.

Tufts offense has had success against Wesleyan's zone. Early last season, they defeated Wesleyan, 9-6. Tufts offense lost some of its firepower due to graduation and injury. In the past, Tufts players like Mark Warner and Bryan Griffin had success pressing the corners and feeding through the zone. Tufts offensive leaders, Chase Bibby and Connor Ginsberg, will try to do the same, but will be without their favorite target, Clem McNally.

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ItalianStallion
03-21-2008, 02:17 PM
the Nescac is a great division

CTLacrosse
03-22-2008, 08:10 AM
go Wesleyan! Some Connecticut pride right there. Go cards.

Wesleyan's coach is great, one of the camps I'm going to this year is at Wesleyan.

Tuck Fufts!

lacrossehub
03-24-2008, 03:13 PM
LacrosseHub's Weekly Poll

1. Middlebury - League Record 3-0 Overall Record 4-0 - Midd should roll through their schedule until they meet Wesleyan April 19th and Tufts April 26th

2. Wesleyan - League Record 1-0 Overall Record 2-2 - After poor offensive performances against Endicott and Nazareth, Wesleyan poured it on a stunned Tufts squad.

3. Tufts - League Record 1-1 Overall Record 3-2 - After a blow outs against Roanoke and Wesleyan, look for Tufts to bounce back against Conn. College and Trinity

4. Bowdoin - League Record 1-1 Overall Record 3-2 - Lost a tough one against Middlebury in double OT, their games against Endicott and Wesleyan will show that they deserve to be in the top 4 in the NESCAC

5. Conn. College - League Record 1-2 Overall Record 3-2 - Lost two games to Middlebury and Bowdoin but beat what many thought was a strong Williams team

6. Colby - League Record 2-0 Overall Record 4-0 - Perennial cellar dweller surprised with wins against Trinity and Williams - They will handle MIT and should be able to give Middlebury a game

7. Williams - League Record 0-3 Overall Record 1-3 - Lost one goal games to Colby and Conn College and a low scoring affair with Tufts - Williams should get its first win against Bates

8. Trinity - League Record 1-1 Overall Record 3-2 - Beat Bates and lost to Colby, 9-7 - Will have to play much better to compete with Tufts this Saturday

9. Bates - League Record 1-2 Overall Record 2-5 - Lost to Midd and Trinity, Beat Amherst, has out of conferences losses to Gordon and WNEC, their game against Williams will have implications on who is in the running for bottom playoff spots - Could push Williams to 0-4

10. Amherst - League Record 0-1 Overall Record 5-1 - Lost to Bates - Although they are 5-1, their 5 wins were not impressive. They will probably lose against Skidmore and Conn. College. By April 12th, they should be 6-6.