MENS LAX NEEDS CHANGE

[Polito]

Starting it right now - no more leeway, no more excuses, no more chances - enough is enough.

[dutchalum01]

Agreed Polito. It's time for a change.


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[HofstraPride1]

I'm also very frustrated but let's see how this season plays out. This Princeton game will tell us a lot.

[HofstraHockey]

Does it matter? I guess if they run the table, we'll all look back an laugh, but if you can't pull off a win against what is still a new program, that showed you up in your own building a year ago, in your home opener, then I really don't know what the rest of the year is going to tell us. Again, unless they make a SERIOUS run the rest of the regulaar season, kiss an at large goodbye again.

[HofstraPride1]

Last year they lost to Marquette and then to Princeton and then rebounded with an 11-3 record the rest of the way and were the last team left out for an at-large. Marquette I think is shaping up to be a decent RPI this season I don't think this loss will be as much of a killer as it was last year, but obviously still frustrating to lose the way they did no matter who you are playing.

[stuball888]

I think at the end of the year we make an evaluation. Anything short of a NCAA bid is unacceptable.. I know this maybe unfair but what is Seths record for NCAA bids as oppossed to John Danowski.

[joeg1]

I get the feeling Seth is pretty secure in his job. At the Northeastern game, he walked over to James Metzger's courtside seat and the two shared a warm hug.

[Polito]

Absolutely not Stu, NO MORE PASSES - this season opening loss is insult to injury - he should absolutely not be comfortable in his job, he hasn't produced ANYTHING - this stuff has to stop being acceptable - this isn't HU cross country - this is one of HU's POWER FLAGSHIP programs

Not saying a change should be made midseason, but I'm sorry a change NEEDS to be made. This staff has done an abysmal job with this program IMO. HU Lax is a SHELL of what it once was - ST is getting beat by his own proteges - that is a red flag if I ever saw one

And if the excuse is because the landscape changed, then they should be replaced for not keeping up and adjusting with it - people have to reinvent themselves in changing industries all the time - get the frigging job done - that's like saying oh we couldn't win because the other team was too tough

The Lax world isn't going to lay down a clear beautiful paved path for HU to rise - HU needs to aggressively elevate themselves - this program has gotten left behind, and guess what, that falls on the staff

Of course if this team turns it all around, wins the CAA, and finally makes it back to the NCAA's, ST and co. can change their fortunes and actually EARN a pass, EARN their jobs, EARN respect - I'm totally with that - but no more waiting to see how it plays out - everyone's BEEN waiting for YEARS.

If this is the best team HU has had in yrs then they should feel heat for EVERY single loss with this weak a$$ SOS.

[stuball888]

polito what part of my post is unacceptable to you. I said at years end if he doesnt make the NCAAs he is gone. Where do you disagree. Please re read my post.

[HofstraHockey]

A midseason change if there was a real candidate in the wings would be one thing, but I don't see anyone that could completely turn things around.

But Stu did say that all he wanted to do was wait until the end of the year, and make a change if there's no NCAAs.

[LaxPhan]

I can appreciate the frustration. I think we need to take a deep breath and relax. Yes the Pride are 0-2, but all is not lost and there is no need to talk about major changes, especially to the staff. In my opinion, the losses this season are on a number of the players. Its not the coaches. Against Marquette the team was too emotional the first half, then too deflated and undisciplined in the second half. Too many penalties, too many failed clears, not enough from the EMO. Marquette by the way is a pretty worthy opponent. Look at the box score, no D1 team is going to win with those stats.

I was at the Princeton game, don't draw too much from that because the conditions were just awful. The Pride offense put up 12 points despite not being able to create offense off the dodge, it's bread and butter. The EMO was great, so was Clarke at faceoff. The game turned on one bad decision, one bad play by a sophomore on the extra man opportunity. He passed it inside when he shouldn't have and it was a dumb decision. Not the coaches fault. You get to play at this level you should be experienced enough not to make a boneheaded pass that turns the game. That's on him, not the coaches. Plus, you have some new defenders that didn't play well. They slid way too early and created offense for Princeton. That is fixable.

The Pride shouldn't pin their hopes on an At Large bid with the schedule it has. There are 4 more games until CAA play starts. I have faith things will get corrected. ST was right in the post game interview when he said there is a good lacrosse team in that locker room. I think we will see that over the coming weeks.

[Jojogunne]

Good points, LaxPhan. I think the team will come together over the next few games. G'town will be a touch match-up, though.

When I was watching the PU game (on ESPN3, not in person), I was waiting for us to change the goalie in the second half, but that move never came. LaxPhan, what do you think of that? I know that would have put a freshman in goal. Also, do you think we have the right players on close D? I wonder if the coaches will try some other combinations vs. Manhattan.

[HofstraHockey]

I mean if you're going to try to get the kid some playing time, might as well do it now. As a coach, I always had a quick trigger to change the goalie.

[Polito]

As isaid in the other thread, appreciate your feedback LaxPhan

But now let's get real. There are a myriad of reasons to demand change, ESPECIALLY to the coaching staff - the top one is POOR PERFORMANCE. This staff has done an abysmal job with a once power program.

ST guided teams have done NOTHING - except of course blowing leads, crapping the bed late in games, choking at the end of the yr when it matters most, etc etc etc - it goes on and on

You are defending losing - that's BS and I'll call you and anyone else out for that crap - trying to sell that losing to Marquette being ok is like Michigan basketball defending losing to NJIT (another D1 STARTUP) - you can bet your rear that was a bomb in Ann Arbor and never once considered ok or excused

It's an embarrassment to the HU Lax for this program to lose to a STARTUP that has no business playing lax in their weather, and its a slap in the face to every all American to ever go through here to lose AGAIN the very next yr at HOME - to excuse that is absolute horsesh!t and you know it

If you're telling me that MARQUETTE has better players and better coaching in yr 2 than HU then cool, I want the staff replaced NOW mid season because that's a fire able offense - be careful how you're trying to spin this, it's only adding fuel

All that you've said makes sense LaxPhan.... In YEAR ONE - it's YEAR *5* - not acceptable. You're talking about getting things together against MANHATTAN - are you for real?? Manhattan? thats what its come to and you're trying to defend that?? Sorry but that's like HU basketball neededing Suffolk CC to fix things for D1 season - uh no.

Not ok there, and not ok here - and it is ALL ON ST, PERIOD.

[HofstraHockey]

And to be fair to the HU basketball team, they were completely destroyed and ripped apart- they had to start from the lowest of low and work their way back. That is not the case for the lax team- they were in good shape when he was left with them.

[stuball888]

Polito I understand your frustration but changing captains mid season is not the answer. Would rather wait till the end and see who is available. The pool will be larger and the quality of coaches better than what is out there right now.

[LaxPhan]

Well Polito we will have to agree to disagree. ST and staff went 13-5 last year, were one goal in a 3 OT game away from taking the CAA championship. Not sure what more you can ask for. I was as frustrated as you at the 0-2 start. I am not making too big a deal over yesterdays win over Manhattan. Having said that, I can see this team righting the ship and going on a nice run. All we should care about is making it into the CAA tournament and peaking as a team at the right time. I am optimistic.

As far as the post on pulling Selva, that's a tough call. I could have seen doing it against PU, but it has its consequences. A goalies confidence is huge and putting in a cold goalie in those conditions would be dicey. The issue against PU wasn't Selva, it was a lack of coordination and experience with some new long poles. Sliding too early created offense for PU. These are the growing pains that come with freshman and sophomores that are now getting playing time.

Here's what I am encouraged about; Clarke at FOGO is doing well. The first midfield line is strong. Llinares is one of the best, and most under appreciated attack man in D1. Kavaugh and Kopecky show promise. The EMO is improving. The rope unit, the 2 short stick d mid's and long pole middy (Reicherter/Romano/Reilly) are strong and Selva is a capable goalie. If Finn Sullivan, the experienced long pole can play with a bit more control the Pride should be ok for CAA play. The young pups need a little more time to develop.

[Polito]

You know players and talent way better than me so if you're encouraged by the talent that's a good thing to me

But they went 13-5 against poor opponents - their SOS last yr and this one is a joke compared to yrs past - and they STILL blew the season at the end like clockwork for ST - losing to PSU (awful) and then blowing the CAA tourney as usual - so even with a totally weak schedule they still couldn't produce anything in the end

Better than what they did previously for sure, I was glad to see them at least win a lot of games - but all for not if you don't win the conf and/or make the postseason - it's years and counting...

When was the last time ST beat ND? UNC? Hopkins? REAL teams - When did they even have them on the sched??

You guys can pretend that HU isn't at that level BUT THEY WERE - they were a CONSISTENTLY TOP 15 program - maybe you guys don't remember that or you're just dismissing it - but this compared to that is a joke. Frustrating to see.