Best One on One Defender

[big52daddy10]

Who is the best one on one defender in college right now? Personally, i gotta go with Michael Evans. I mean, the guy may not be the best stick handler but hes an animal on defense, he rarely gets burned, and beats the crap outta the guy hes guarding. Im not even a Hopkins fan and I think this.

[sirlaxalot125]

Hes my boy.
Not only that, hes good on the gloves, has some viscous stick checks, is as strong as Babe the Big Blue Ox, and is relentless. If somehow you do manage to get a step on him he will do everything he can too tear you up like construction paper in the hands of a 3 year old.

[big52daddy10]

exactly....hes the total package from that perspective.....he plays very physical, rarely gets beat, and throws everything hes got at ya.....hes also a great athlete....i would build my defense around him....

[laxhero123]

disagree, evans slides well is fast and strong but one on one im gonna go with cocziello hes just a monster, he kept mike leveille to 0 points and is always just dominating every player he is put against

[big52daddy10]

but so i evans....i mean week in week out against guys like matt danowski...i like coco too but evans is the best in my book

[laxhero123]

evans has proven himself in the championship when he needed it, but now hopkins is not doing well and neither is he

[big52daddy10]

who says he isnt doing well? its a team effort...everytime ive watched evans one on one hes dominated.

[navylax161]

jerry lambe

[big52daddy10]

dont forget lambe's teammate, Barney Ehrmann....hes been tearin it up

[Startsy]

So Far I really like all of the Defenders that have been put up as Suggestions.
I feel morally obligated to like Dan Cocoziello simply because he wears the same number as I do.

But I'm definetly gonna have to bring up Tim Kaiser
The guy has great footwork and he just throws checks like a freakin' pro.
I'd say if nothing else he's one of the best Defensemen to watch [saw him @ Homewood Stadium: UNC vs. JHU] He's also Leading UNC's Team in Caused Turnovers.

I was unimpressed with JHU's Defense when I watched them play UNC...
Pretty Lackluster, not very aggressive but I like what I hear about Evans I'd like to watch strictly just him next time I see JHU play.

[merrychristmas]

Evans takes his guy out of every game. But the rest of the defense was MIA for a few games. Danowski gets 6 assists because the Hop defender can't keep track of Greer. Same thing happened last year in the regular season game between Duke and Hop. Evans dad played at Maryland and Cottle must hate watching him play at Hopkins.

[West Genny lax9]

disagree, evans slides well is fast and strong but one on one im gonna go with cocziello hes just a monster, he kept mike leveille to 0 points and is always just dominating every player he is put against

Actually Leveille had 2 assists that game.

[big52daddy10]

yea bro, watch him in one on ones....hes a freak...i think kaiser is the most underrated defenseman in college lacrosse. him or joe cinosky from maryland. they dont get enough love for as good as they are. i think its cause they just dont make enough noise and get put up all the gaudy numbers

[lsilaxer131]

Tim Kaiser is way over rated. I watched a 5'7 attackman from Providence absolutely burn him 3 times from behind the goal. It was the same move every time. He simply can't guard quick attackers, his feet aren't fast enough. Jay Larson from Army is a sick one on one defender. He never gets beat and plays the best positional defense in D1. No one gives him any love because Adam Fullerton is the focal point of their defense. If Army had more exposure more people would know about him. Also, Jordan DiNola from Navy plays beastly one on one D.

[d25]

I agree that evans is the best 1v1 d-pole in the NCAA, but Cocoziella has to be the best when it comes to overall defender. Tony McDivett also has to be in this conversation.

[big52daddy10]

how can kaiser be overrated? he nevers gets any attention

[n00bhaxxorD23]

I like Nick O'Hara of Duke but one to look out for is P.T. Ricci from Loyola

(I play LSM =])

But I agree with Coco for close D

[big52daddy10]

pietramala is right about o'hara.....hes the best LSM gettin those groundballs on faceoffs

[The Pole]

As far as LSMs go, some guys that have been playing really well so far are:

P.T. Ricci- I've said his name before at the start of the season, and just right now people are starting to know his name. Hes just an animal on groundballs

Nick O'hara- everyone knows him, hes amazing at ground balls. nuff said

Mike Timms: his groundballs dont compare to the likes of the forementioned two, but he is an animal on turnovers, he might be the last guy I want streaking after me on the f-off.

Barney Erhmann(sp?)- best rising LSM. A combination of Timms and Ohara, except he steals the ball better than anyone. really incredible

these are just the guys who stand out to me right now. I know there are more, feel free to add.

[Startsy]

Ahhhh yeah bro! P.T. Ricci is another one of My Favorites (Also wears No. 1),
He's not a very big guy at all, I think he's only about 5'10" 180 or something like that but I love nothing more than to see a Small Longstick excell. He's definetly underrated, under the radar but yeah Its all good, hes a hard worker I'd love to see him get some more recognition.


I'm also going to have to bring up Onondaga CC Transfer and Current Syracuse Defensive stud, Sid Smith. While he's only a Junior this year I don't think he's the BEST but he def. deserves some cred.

The only other thing I don't understand is how playing Positional Defense can get you credit. IMHO its just too conservative, You need poles who are great role models who can move their feet and harass a guys hands. Thats what I look for. I NEED to watch some Highlights or something of Evans if anyone knows where I can find some? I wanna see if he lives up to his rep on this thread, he sounds like a total baller.

[lsilaxer131]

what do you mean how can positional defense get your credit? the best defenders are the ones who don't get beat, which is accomplished by playing positional defense. take panarelli from cuse last year as an example...that kid was a monster throwing all kinds of take away checks but got beat like a rented mule half the time. also, to play solid positional D you have to move your feet and be on a guys hands, or else it wouldnt be considered solid. thats just a fundamental part of the position.

[big52daddy10]

which is why evans and coco are at the top of the list...anyway, timms has got a great trail check for the obvious reasons...and startsy dude u probably not gonna be able to find a highlight reel for him, just watch jhu's games and keep an eye out for #33...thats ur best bet

[moondog]

I know he's been out of school for 6 years, but man--John Glatzel always blew my mind...

[Startsy]

what do you mean how can positional defense get your credit? the best defenders are the ones who don't get beat, which is accomplished by playing positional defense. take panarelli from cuse last year as an example...that kid was a monster throwing all kinds of take away checks but got beat like a rented mule half the time. also, to play solid positional D you have to move your feet and be on a guys hands, or else it wouldnt be considered solid. thats just a fundamental part of the position.

Alright well that definetly cleared it up.

See I've never really had the difference explained to me. I just assumed Take-Away Defenders threw checks and Positional Defenders just kinda stayed in their position not really challenging the ball at all... Kind of like a strictly Zone player so yeah I mean that works.

I'm HUGE on not compromising Body Position for a check so yeah my checks are usually pretty simple but hard... just to sneak that in there...

[uhawks2]

In my opinion, Brian farrell from Maryland is the best longpole in the country. May not be the best one on one defender, but the guy has over 12 goals in his career and hes a sophomore, he picks off passes like nobody, and he has the best instincts ive ever seen

People have to start talking about this guy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[n00bhaxxorD23]

In my opinion, Brian farrell from Maryland is the best longpole in the country. May not be the best one on one defender, but the guy has over 12 goals in his career and hes a sophomore, he picks off passes like nobody, and he has the best instincts ive ever seen

People have to start talking about this guy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dude do you go to Urbana? Yeah I go to TJ lol

[The Pole]

In my opinion, Brian farrell from Maryland is the best longpole in the country. May not be the best one on one defender, but the guy has over 12 goals in his career and hes a sophomore, he picks off passes like nobody, and he has the best instincts ive ever seen

People have to start talking about this guy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

stupidly left him off my list. Big sorry to Farrell because the one maryland game I've been able to see, he played great.

Oh yeah, and check out Il's list of the tops LSMs.

http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=173903

not too shabby, but they put a lot of close d in there, and forgot the dark horse: P.T. Ricci

[big52daddy10]

they put guys that play both close and long pole....and in terms of stick skills yea farrell definitely belongs at the top, but in terms of one on one defense id have to disagree...hes not a lockdown, shutdown defender like evans and coco are

[The Pole]

agreed, and maryland doesnt use him for that, they have cinosky heading their d unit. I was just referring to my LSM list.

[big52daddy10]

oh yea i mean as an LSM hes great...hes a matchup nightmare in transition and hes got a great stick...hes not the best one on one defender and even though hes not the most athletic guy, hes a weapon at LSM

[D-monster27]

i've only been watching lacrosse for a few years and haven't been able to see alot of the games but in the uva games i've seen mike timms is a beast. he throws sick checks and almost always strips the ball.

but then again i've only seen a few games.

[TrapDoor]

I really like how Barney Ehramm plays, the Georgetown LSM. He's got great takeaway checks that always keeps his man on his toes and isn't afraid to take it to the goal. That being said, he's also unselfish and causes lots of fast breaks. And being that he's only a sophomore, he has a good caree ahead of him.

Of course, gotta give Nick O'Hara props. Absolute groundball machine, sets the high-powered Duke offense in motion.

[Laxattack05]

i'm a huge fan of Ryan McFadyen.... he's an absolute Manbearpig...