Photo Credit: Di Miller
On Sunday November 2, Metropolitan State University of Denver Men’s Lacrosse (5-1) took on rival Johnson Wales University at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. It was a cold night and factoring in the time change, made for an interesting game. Turf field #8 that MSU calls home is poorly lit making the late start to the game a challenge for both teams. MSU ended their spring season with a victory over JWU by the score of 9-8 and with their new squad decisively defeated JWU by the score of 22-11.
The game started off with JWU taking the opening face-off down the field, dodging defenders when #33 sent the ball past net minder Bryson Olejnik #21 only 2:31 into the first quarter. This of course fired up the JWU players right off the bat. But it would be MSU would score three unanswered goals within 90 seconds. Max Rogers-Jackson #9 midfielder would get MSU on the board less than 30 seconds later. Joshua Davis #2 attack for MSU would score twice in the first; and Drew Lazar #18 attack would have one goal and one assist. JWU would see two of their players #33 and #11 both score twice in the first quarter. They would hit net for the second and third time about halfway through the quarter; and their final goal of the quarter tying the game would come with 1:33 on the clock. Score at the end of the first: 4-4.
Heading into the second quarter, MSU would break the tie only 1:12 into the quarter. But JWU didn’t take long to tie it back up when #33 would get his third goal of the game giving him a hat trick. For the remaining 13 minutes of the first half, the score would teeter back and forth. Davis from MSU would get his third of the game giving him yet another hat trick on the season; and was also the first and last to score in the second. MSU would see goals by Sam Houser #17 midfielder; Lazar would hit net assisted by Chris Jasen #14 midfielder. The only two players who seemed to find net for JWU in the first half were #11 and #33. Score at the end of the second quarter: MSU 10—JWU 7.
MSU would start off the second half when Houser had a spectacular break-away, wound up and when he blew it past the goalie looked like a player from the MLL. When Houser comes down the field his 6’5” frame is a force to be reckoned with; he makes good passes; is strong on caused turnovers; and once he has his momentum and winds up for the shot, goalies cringe, and defenders duck out of the way. Lazar would hit net with an amazing behind the back shot giving him the hat-trick and his first of two goals in the third. Phillip Garand #24 midfielder would find the net with an assist from Lazar; and defenseman Chris Gerken #15 would score MSU’s final goal of the quarter assisted by Kyle Miller #16 midfielder. Again, JWU would have goals by #11 his third giving him a hat-trick; and #33 who had five on the night. At this point in the game, MSU had the momentum and JWU was scrambling for ways to get around the defense of the MSU squad. MSU had gone up by the score of 15-10 at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter was all MSU. They were on a scoring spree and would cap off the fourth with seven goals. MSU midfielder Mitch Larson #3 would score three times in the fourth giving him the hat-trick; Davis would get his sixth of the night; Jasen #14; and Corbin Korsgard #13 midfielder would also find net for the first time in the game; and Rogers-Jackson who scored the first goal of the game would score the final unassisted goal for MSU with less than six minutes on the clock. JWU would score only once in the fourth when #9 finally hit net with 4:24 left in the game. For the remainder of the game, MSU would control the ball not only on offense, but their defense protected Olejnik in goal keeping JWU from scoring for the first ten minutes of the fourth quarter. Final Score MSU 22—JWU 11.
The play was scrappy, somewhat along the lines of how the game originally started with the Native Americans; not the type of game you would see played on the east coast. Each team scrambled for ground balls; there were a lot of turnovers; the referees were missing a lot of penalties on both sides, not only calling penalties that were questionable, but also missing many that were obvious. All-in-all it was an exciting game to watch and the momentum never stopped.
The MSU players have been practicing their behind-the-back shots as I saw at least four attempts with this JGJ trickery throughout the game with only one hitting net. This would be the third time in as many games that MSU has been successful in BTB shots. Their defense is solid, however their offense needs to work together better as a team. In watching the game many times there were open men in front of the net with opportunities to score and instead of making the pass according to the plays called, there was some show-boating going on. Obviously this is only fall ball, but when it comes down to the regular season, the MSU offense is going to have to be better on following the plays set up and must remember that it’s teamwork that wins games; and they will all benefit in the end if they follow that methodology.
MSU would have five players with at least 5 SOG; four players with hat-tricks; they dramatically improved their GB’s with 54 in the game; almost equaled by SOG with 56. They were just over 500 in the clear category with seven successful and five failed clears. They’ve upped their stats in the FOW category bringing them to .500%. Olejnik in net has been a key to the success of the MSU game; he’s been amazing on saves, sees the ball well and keeps his head on a swivel knowing at all times where the opponent is.
If MSU can keep up this level of play, when they do begin the college season in 2015 with their full roster, this is going to be one hard team to beat. They’ve got tall; fast; strong; and knowledgeable players on the roster this season, not to mention the fact that they have almost doubled the size of their team in the last five months; and still have at least one-third of the squad who aren’t playing until the spring season begins.
MVP of the game goes to Drew Lazar #18 attack. He had 9 SOG, 4 G, 4 A and 5 GB not to mention the fact that his BTB shot was the only one to hit net and score for MSU.
Although many people consider MCLA DII lacrosse a lesser game, watching MSU over the past two months has brought the MCLA back to life here in Denver, Colorado.
Postgame Interview:
