There is optimism that this is the spring that Georgetown’s lacrosse team will return to the final four for the first time since 1999.
That is, if they can shake off a seemingly endless string of preseason injuries.
The fifth-ranked Hoyas, who open their season this afternoon at No.4 Maryland, have endured nearly every malady imaginable. Some are fairly common, such as turned ankles or tweaked hamstrings. Others — such as a mysterious foot ailment that has bothered Kevin Langtry since the fall or freshman Rob Dubas’ case of Lyme Disease — are a bit unusual.
“It’s been a real pain in the neck, to say the least,” Georgetown coach Dave Urick said. “I don’t know if it’s turf related, and some of them aren’t that acute, but they’re just an aggravation. Some of them are pulls that you have to keep an eye on. The bone pile is significant.”
The Hoyas’ injuries were exacerbated earlier in the month when a flu bug spread through the team. Urick said there was one day in which 14 of the 50 players on Georgetown’s roster did not practice.
Nevertheless, the Hoyas have one of the most experienced teams in the country. Senior Brodie Merrill, a Tewaaraton finalist last season, is arguably the best long pole in the country and anchors a stingy defense. Meanwhile, attackmen Trevor Casey and Sean Denihan and midfielder Nick Miaritis are the nucleus of an improving offense.
But Urick is cautious about the preseason hype.
“Our guys have to realize that what we’ve achieved here as program and as a team has been the result of hard work,” Urick said. “We have some talented kids, but every team we play has talented players. We have to make sure every conceivable intangible is accounted for. Sometimes I worry about our guys getting too wrapped up reading about themselves. That’s a false sense of security. That allows you to leave yourself vulnerable.”
Venue swap
Forgive Georgetown and Maryland if they show up at the wrong field today — the site has been changed three times.
The game originally was scheduled for Byrd Stadium, but concerns about the field conditions prompted Maryland officials to move it to the school’s Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex adjacent to Comcast Center last week. The site was shifted back to Byrd a few days later thanks to the fine weather the area has enjoyed for much of the month, but Thursday’s snowstorm forced the game back to the field near Comcast. The game time was changed from 1 to 3 p.m. to accommodate the Maryland-Duke women’s lacrosse game, which will begin at noon.
A similar situation unfolded at Virginia. Games against Manhattan (today) and Denver (Monday) were shifted from U-Hall Turf Field to the Cavaliers’ usual home, Klockner Stadium, earlier in the week. However, today’s game was sent back to the turf field after Thursday’s snow.
Getting defensive
Perhaps no other unit in the country has as new a look as Maryland’s defense.
Gone are first-team All-American defensemen Chris Passavia and Lee Zink, as well as defenseman David Wagner and short stick midfielder Paul Gillette — the core of one of the nation’s most efficient defensive units last season.
Coach Dave Cottle said junior Gavin Webb and Air Force transfer Steve Whittenberg will be two of his starters, while senior Tyler Hereth and sophomore Ryan Clarke will split time at long pole.
That leaves sophomores Ray Megill, Scott Slosson and Sean Sullivan and freshmen Zach Hinton, Joe Cinosky and Charlie Wiggins all vying for time at the third close defense spot and in reserve roles.
“They’re all inexperienced, so we’re going to have to get them all experience,” Cottle said. “That’s a big thing.”
Tough introduction
Today’s meeting between Beltway behemoths Maryland and Georgetown is one of the few true barometer games in the first few weeks of the season. And while there’s little doubt the rivalry is an asset for the area, it does ensure one of the teams starts in an 0-1 hole.
“I’d like to play the Little Sisters of the Poor,” Cottle said. “I asked coach Urick, ’Why do we do what we do?’ Everyone else seems to be opening with a game they can win [easily]. But what it does is you have to practice at a high level because you have such a respected opponent. You have a trophy ahead of you weeks in advance, so the kids know they can’t [mess] around.”
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