Hi ILWT Readers,
Apologies for the lateness of this post, it has been a crazy week at the office. As such, I will probably keep this week’s update shorter than most….
With Chris Eck graduating from the Fuqua School of Business (Duke University), I was awarded the opportunity to dress against the Denver Outlaw in Week 3. Needless to say, I had difficulty focusing on my work and studies all week knowing that I would be getting my first start as a Cannon. But once Friday afternoon rolled around, my mind was purely focused on lacrosse, with all other distractions falling by the way side. I knew that I would be facing Anthony Kelly Saturday night, who must be one of the largest and longest tenured face off guys in the MLL. I met AK back in 2008 while coaching a camp in New Jersey, and have since faced him in 2012 when I was with Rochester and in 2013 during the NALL championship game. My respect for AK extends beyond the playing field, as he has always been extremely supportive and helpful as I navigate my MLL career.
MLL veterans and coaches always emphasize that each team will get its share of ‘runs,’ or, teams will score goals in bunches throughout the course of a game. The key is maximizing scoring runs when you have the ball and stifling an opposing team to prevent their scoring runs. Looking back at the game against the Outlaws, this theme rang true. Each team put together stretches of two to three goals, but never anything more. Just when it felt as if one team may take a commanding lead, the opposing defense stepped up and the opposing offense countered with a run of their own.
As a fan, the final minutes of the game certainly provided incredible lacrosse entertainment. Following a four-goal run by the Outlaw, the Cannons scored two goals with under three minutes left in the game to force an overtime period. With the first scoring chance in OT, Kevin Buchanan set his feet from a great angle. The shot ricocheted off of Jesse Schwartzman’s leg sparking a quick transition opportunity for Denver. Chris Bocklet’s first shot off the fast break rang off the pipe, but the ball one-hopped off the turf right back to Bocklet, who stuck his second attempt. With that goal, the Outlaw secured the overtime victory and extended their regular season winning streak to 23 games.
Without a doubt, the effort and desire needed to be successful in this league are in place for the Cannons. This week, as we take on the Charlotte Hounds at home, the emphasis will be on playing a complete game. The Hounds are fresh off their first win of the season and it’s expected that their starting goalie and captain, Adam Ghitelman, will make his season debut. I am excited to get back on the field Friday night and compete at the highest level with the best athletes in our sport. “Limits, like fear, (are) often an illusion,”–Michael Jordan.
Crush the week.
Regards,
Craig
