Photo Credit: Ian Neadle
Denver has been knocking on the door for the last five years to the title game. This season could be their best chance to raise the Championship Trophy. How will they be able to get there?
It starts with Wes Berg and the attack. The attackmen that have been coming through the ranks of the Pioneers have done great things for them. Berg’s 2014 season nearly racked up 50 goals, just come two shy of the half century mark. With his World Game experience with Team Canada, he is posed to bring a second title home in one calendar year.
Berg’s 48 goals aren’t the only major source of scoring returning to Denver. Sophomore transfer Jack Bobzien had an enormous impact on the offense in 2014. His points nearly matched point production of Berg. Bobzien looks to have an even more impactful presence.
The attack may have just added a lucrative piece with the addition of transfer Connor Cannizzaro. He had a strong presence on the Terp offense heading into the NCAA Tournament. Cannizzaro could break down defenses and get to the goal against some of the best defenses in the nation. All three attackman could draw the number one defenseman against any opposition.
The midfield is equally deep, even with the graduation of Jeremy Noble and Harrison Archer. Both had great seasons and Noble was asked to play all the positions a midfielder could for a team. Harrison had 25 goals that needing replaced as well.
Zack Miller played both midfield and attack, but he saw his best matchup against midfielders. Against midfielders, he worked them over with a variety of moves and scored tough goals. As a midfielder, he would be able to producing at alarming rate against opposing defenses.
If their opponents choose to put the long pole against Miller then Erik Adamson will be walking on easy street. Adamson ended the season with 44 goals, second in the nation to Drexel’s McIntosh and his 48 goals. In the crop of senior midfielders that are on the priority list of MLL General Managers, he might be quietly the strongest contender for best in the nation.
The defense has returned intact as well and can only get better from a year together. In goal, Ryan LaPlante has the cage to himself. The platooning system is over and it is his to take the reigns and lead the team. In sharing the goal for the last two seasons, he had a limited time to make an impact and would even get benched if he was doing well. Now it is his for the year and the college lacrosse faithful will see just how good he can be.
Cason Cannon returns at defense alongside Christian Burgdorf and Teddy MacKenzie. They started the final game of the season against Duke and will have a chip on their shoulder when its comes down to their 2015 season. They were a few stops away from making a run to the national championship game, so they want to prove that they can limit any team they face this year.
Head Coach Bill Tierney is a wealth of talent, which not long ago was thought to be a land too distant to attract good players. His defensive system has won championships and Matt Brown’s offense has proved it can score on a consistent basis. A year removed from the Final Four will only have the Pioneers wanting more from their 2015 season.
What a difference a decade makes if Tierney could take the title home to Denver, which will be its first time away from a state touching the Atlantic Ocean.
Brian Davies
@briandavies15
