It always blows my mind how crucial the draw control is with WLAX. Dukes lost the DCs 5-22. That's insanity. If you look at the rest of the stats, we really didn't do too bad.

JMU vs UNC
Shots 19 - 32
TO's 10 - 15
Caused TO's 6-8
DC's 5 - 22
FP Shots 5 - 4
Ground Balls 14 - 14
SOG 19 - 32
Saves 9 - 10

Considering that UNC got 81% of the draw controls, the fact that the shots weren't more unbalanced toward UNC was is pretty good (even though 19-32 isn't great). However, UNC having more saves on significantly fewer shots isn't a great sign. JMU actually had more goals than draw controls, while UNC had fewer goals than draw controls.

All in all, other than the draw controls it wasn't a terrible showing. The Dukes really need a draw control ace to be able to compete against the other top teams in the country. We may be able to handle the CAA without that, but we won't be able to compete against Maryland or once we get into the tourney without a solid draw control specialist. Losing draw controls by a few still gives us a chance...losing by 17 makes it nearly impossible to stay close.

can't take my 2,018 nattys away from last year.. lot of new faces out there .. time to get better!!

Ok - we lost our best player to graduation and we got smoked by #2.


Reality Check

@ #14 Va Tech Wednesday

Last year's team had 9 seniors, that's ton. We lost a lot of best players. Our draw control percentage was 53.3 %. This year, I am hoping we learn, gel, improve in the OOC and come on strong in conference. Until then it is likely to be tough sledding.

Opening loss was a teachable moment. Next game may be another, but I’m confident the team will respond in a positive fashion.

This may be a silly question since I didn't really watch video of our women's lacrosse till last postseason. Do they ever employ a player who is a draw specialist and then subs out asap? I know that is utilized sometimes in the men's game.

(02-11-2019 07:43 PM)olddawg Wrote:  This may be a silly question since I didn't really watch video of our women's lacrosse till last postseason. Do they ever employ a player who is a draw specialist and then subs out asap? I know that is utilized sometimes in the men's game.

Yes, but it seems to happen much more in men's lacrosse, where the sumo shaped draw specialist has limited other skills. In the women's game, usually the better draw skilled players are also your better all around players. ( The draws are done differently with the men's ball on the field and low strong center of gravity is required, the women's draw is standing up and often a taller player has an advantage of getting up to the higher balls that often result.)

This year the goal should be to make the playoffs and continue to improve throughout the season.

(02-12-2019 09:40 AM)Dukester Wrote:  This year the goal should be to make the playoffs and continue to improve throughout the season.

I hear what you're saying. We did lose a good bit of multi year starters off last years team. That said, would that be the attitude of the 3 teams we vanquished on the way to the title-BC, UNC & Florida? Had they won the NC, would they settle for just making the playoffs the following year?

I can accept that this may be a rebuilding year of sorts. I just hope we can fully capitalize on winning it all last year with the press and prestige that goes with it, along w/ upgraded recruiting classes,. I don't want us to just be that "flash in the pan" team that got hot at the right time.

(02-12-2019 10:18 AM)olddawg Wrote:  

(02-12-2019 09:40 AM)Dukester Wrote:  This year the goal should be to make the playoffs and continue to improve throughout the season.

I hear what you're saying. We did lose a good bit of multi year starters off last years team. That said, would that be the attitude of the 3 teams we vanquished on the way to the title-BC, UNC & Florida? Had they won the NC, would they settle for just making the playoffs the following year?

I can accept that this may be a rebuilding year of sorts. I just hope we can fully capitalize on winning it all last year with the press and prestige that goes with it, along w/ upgraded recruiting classes,. I don't want us to just be that "flash in the pan" team that got hot at the right time.

I probably wasn't clear with my post. I'm saying with so many new players and the loss of at worst one of the best players in the nation the hope is this team will be much better come playoff time than they are now. Hopefully they will improve enough to make a playoff run, but I don't think the playoffs are a lock at this point.

Bump reminder the LAXsters face the Hokies at the top of the hour via ACC Network Extra. Go Dukes!

Very Early

Tech 1
JMU 0

2 minutes in 2-0 Tech

Not an impressive start.

Goooaalllllll

Tech 2
JMU 1

I think there’s been 15 whistles in 5 minutes. Makes it very difficult to watch

(02-13-2019 04:13 PM)#YEEHAWDUKES Wrote:  I think there’s been 15 whistles in 5 minutes. Makes it very difficult to watch

No replays makes it tough to tell, but I feel like the cHokies are at least semi-flopping. I know we play aggressive defense, but come on...

We should be winning by a wide margin if we could stop so many unforced turnovers on offense. Disclaimer: I’ve watched like 5 women’s lacrosse games

What's the score?

Did the announcer just say Georgetown is one of the great lacrosse programs in the state of Virginia?

(02-13-2019 04:39 PM)jmu98 Wrote:  What's the score?

4-4