Setting
Following a lacrosse season that competed the majority of the 2014 season in winter elements, the field at M&T Bank Stadium was somewhere between 95 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit real-feel temperature. An occasional breeze was noticeable but most likely not to the players moving on the field in equipment.
As every year, semifinals games are a mere two days before the championship. This gives the two winning teams a little more than a day’s time to recuperate, rest up, and prepare (this takes into account a Sunday practice, as well). Duke played two finals back-to-back and were naturally more prepared than Notre Dame, but neither team performed perfectly. As expected, play was a bit sloppier and scrappy than would consistently take place.
Warm Ups
I feel Duke warmed up better than Notre Dame. Whereas the Blue Devils practically performed an entire 40-minute workout prior to 1 pm, the Irish appeared to be a high school team merely performing stretches and line drills. From a perspective that excludes fatigue levels, Duke was further into the game zone mentally than the Irish.
This carried over into the match’s tempo:
Duke commanded possessions for the first three quarters. Notre Dame had their burst in the fourth quarter. If their final quarter were the same throughout entirety, the Irish would have easily fought off Blue Devil opposition.
In a perspective that includes fatigue levels, this explains WHY the Fighting Irish had a better fourth quarter than Duke. The Blue Devils had performed that workout prior to the game, and were more exhausted than the Notre Dame.
Officiating
The referees were terrible in this game. I stood on the sideline the whole game, following the ball for the best angle (photography). Officials blew whistles and penalized where none had occurred, got the possession call following the penalties incorrect, and were unbalanced in their overall flags.
1) In the third quarter, Irish are called for tripping when an ND and a Blue Devil middie were battling while in transition across the midfield line, both spinning and tripping around each other. When the Irish seemed to win the ball, the ref penalized Notre Dame for tripping. Thirty second penalty, Duke possession.
2) Following a shot from Notre Dame in the second quarter, a Blue Devil d-pole and another attackman raced to the end line. The official called it Duke ball when he ignored the third Fighting Irish attackman standing closer to the line right behind him. Though those calls are left to officiating crews, the teams should be notified which one prior to game start.
3) Timer-On: This has been a debate topic all season long. In the championship, the officials seemed to allow things to play out rarely calling timer on, and if they did it was too soon.
Anything else stick out to you? Comment below or tweet @IanNeadle
