Swami's Lacrosse This Week #05-07

Scott Boyle

Scott Boyle, a long time lacrosse referee, died as a result of a heart attack he suffered during the Georgetown-Navy game last week. The game was promptly suspended and re-scheduled for completion the next day on another field.

The Swami and Scott Boyle were friends and the Swami has sent his condolences to the Boyle family privately. Refereeing is a difficult job. Scott did it well and always maintained a high degree of professionalism on the field. Scott also enjoyed the respect of the Baltimore business community, where he was known as one of the more talented people in his career profession.

Lacrosse was Scott's passion. We will all miss him.

Last Week...
In Annapolis at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium and Rip Miller Field...
A delayed game is played out over two days...
Navy's playoff hopes face difficult weather...the Swami and Miss Venus Lee report...
With 5:15 remaining in the second quarter, Georgetown attacker Sean Denihan tucked behind the Navy goal, circling the crease clockwise, his defender step-for-step. Then he picked up another defender halfway around. He out ran both of them, only to score once again one-on-one with the defending goalie from Navy's doorstep.

And so it went for Navy last weekend in a game that tragedy spread out over two days. Moved to Rip Miller Field on Sunday after completing only the first quarter at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium Saturday, the Mids were completely outclassed by a better team.

The game opened Saturday at noon on the thoroughly soaked natural grass of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, where the first whistle blew in a driving rain. Navy pulled the worse of the two goals--on the east end of the field, where goalie Matt Russell sank more than an inch into the mud. Much of the fumbling and bumbling of both teams could be attributed to the weather, but it was obvious from the start that Navy was trying to push things a bit too much. Passes were flung wildly over teammates' heads, while the defense always seemed a step behind, or too eager to slide, leaving the open man.

Hoya midfielder Nick Miaritis scored two minutes into the game on a sidewinder from the right side, far out, on a feed from Sean Denihan. With two minutes left in the quarter, it was Trevor Casey's turn on an assist from Brice Queener.

In between those tallies Navy was unable to mount a single sustained possession and blew seven ground ball opportunities, while losing two of three face-offs.

Georgetown was penalized with just 15 seconds left in the period. It was on a pushing call, netting the Mids and extra man for 30 seconds. Navy held the ball without taking a single shot.

At the point both teams were sent to the locker room and minutes later, it was announced that the game would resume the next day on Navy's artificial facility, Rip Miller Field.

When play resumed the next day, the Swami was not surprised to see Georgetown hit the field with the realization that a few quick goals added to its 2-0 lead could quickly put the over-anxious Mids in the coffin. Hey, who could have any other game plan under the circumstances?

And Georgetown proceeded to do just that. First, an unassisted score from Nick Miraitis that bounced in from up close. Then, one minute later, Pete Cannon stuck one from the left side. A right-handed jumper from five yards out on a feed from Dan Paolisso netted Matt McBride his first tally. Then, the Sean Denihan play cited earlier. That made the score an embarrassing 5-0 and Navy began to try to push the pace more.

The Mids did not get on the board until only 3:34 remained in the half--and it took a Georgetown penalty to give Navy an advantage. But it was a beautiful goal nevertheless. Graham Gill took a feed from Billy Looney and just burned it past the shoulders of defender Craig Stevenson and goalie Rick D'Andrea.

With 31 seconds left in the half, Navy was clearing the ball from behind its own goal. Hoya Nick Miaritis, directly in front of the goal, leaped mightily and thrust his stick high in the air in an attempt to intercept the pass. Miaritis then brought his arm down in a perfect one-hand shooting motion that would have netted him a quick-stick goal, if only the ball had not sailed inches out of his reach. That said about as much to the Swami about the kind of play the Hoyas brought to the field as anything.

Navy's second goal was achieved two minutes into the second half. That, too, came on EMO. This time it was Nick Mirabito on a pass from Jon Birsner. Mindful of the damage Birsner inflicted on the Hoyas last year, Navy's prime feeder was marked much more closely last weekend.

Perhaps the longest shot of the game came next. Hoya Garrett Wilson took a feed from Trevor Casey and send a hard shot scooting just over the turf and into Navy's goal from far out on the right-center.

At this point only the most unrealistic Navy fans thought the Mids had a chance. But even their hopes were snuffed two minutes later when Derek Mills tallied on an EMO play.

Navy really began to lose it fast now. And Georgetown slowed the pace of the game noticeably, although the Hoyas never really stopped shooting.

It was 9-3 when, with only 59.8 seconds left in the third quarter Georgetown defender Reyn Garnett received a one minute sanction for slashing. Now man up, and a free face-off if they retained possession, the Mids wasted more than 13 seconds getting Billy Looney on the field for the EMO. That error, unforgiveable at any level of lacrosse, almost cost the Mids a goal. But, with eight-tenths of a second left in the period, Navy was rescued by a plebe. Nick Mirabito, Navy's freshman attacker, had the extreme good sense to know that clock was almost at zero, and one-timed a Graham Gill feed into Georgetown's net. It was heads-up all the way.

Both teams scored twice in the fourth quarter (including Navy, with 24 seconds left), but this game had ended long before and everyone knew it.

Navy is a difficult team to analyze this season. The Mids lost 55% of their scoring from 2004, but returned basically their entire defense--one of the best in lacrosse last season. Navy's depth at midfield suggested that, with so many defenders returning, the offensive firepower missing would be replaced, at least to a large enough degree so as not to impede Navy's transition game--where the team is most dangerous.

The first home game of the season for Navy, when North Carolina visited, seemed to suggest this analysis was correct, as Navy had no difficulty handling the Tarheels on both ends of the field. But then North Carolina kept losing--first to Notre Dame, then Hofstra. Now, with continued losses to Maryland, Virginia, and Hopkins, it looks like UNC will not have the prerequisite winning record for playoff participation. So, how valuable was Navy's Tarheel win after all?

In the meantime, Navy began playing its Patriot League schedule, including games with lesser ranked opponents like Lafayette, Colgate, Lehigh, and Holy Cross, losing along the way to unranked Bucknell.

So which team is Navy? The one that looked like last season's #2 ranked squad? Or one that resembles the 2003 version--18th ranked with a losing record?

After North Carolina's demise, Georgetown offered the first real test of the season for the Mids, but Navy failed that test in almost all aspects of the game.

Georgetown was 19 for 23 on clears--a success ratio .823--far above the .667 percentage that enabled Navy to enjoy a #1 ranking in that statistic. The Hoyas also shot 100% against Navy's man down defense--a first this season for a team playing Navy. But worst than all that, Navy was plain out-hustled the entire game by a determined Hoya squad that scarfed up 41 ground balls to Navy's 30. The Swami has to strain his memory to recall the last time Navy was beaten so badly in that category.

The only bright spot for Navy was in the face-off circle, and even that did not shine so brilliantly. Navy was 9 for 19 against Georgetown, with neither squad winning more than three draws cleanly. A combination of the weather and the new face-off rule resulted in almost all face-offs being resolved on the wings. And Georgetown's Brodie Merrill is a great wing.

Navy's close defense was not successful in boxing out Georgetown, and its attack looked anemic. Navy could not mount sustained possessions, and its midfield was ineffective on both sides of the ball. How Navy's coaching staff will be able to straighten all this out before Maryland arrives in Annapolis for a Friday night contest that is all-important is a mystery.

When your offense is ranked 16th against a largely weak opposition, you had better limit your opponent's scoring. Last week the Swami pointed out that something had to give in this game. Several things did. Navy's goals allowed doubled and its goals scored halved. That's a bad combination.

One thing is for sure. This weekend Maryland will be a real test of Navy's motivation.

Final score: Georgetown 12, Navy 6. It could have been worse.

In Illinois, at Evanston's Thomas Sports Complex...
Miss C. C. Ryan reports on UConn, undefeated on the road, meeting Northwestern...
Wildcat Kristen Kjellman scores 6 goals on 6 shots, then adds 6 assists to stymie the Huskies...

Kjellman, a sophomore Tewaaraton Trophy candidate,
captained a high school basketball team that went 92-4 over her career.

So I'm walking to Northwestern's lacrosse field to watch the No. 1 team in the country take on a decent BIG EAST team, Connecticut. The weird thing is, when I reach the stands, there's not really anyone there. The stands aren't that big to begin with, about eight levels of bleachers, four or five sections wide. Twenty or 30 parents of UConn players sit on the far side of the bleachers, and an equal number of Northwestern parents sit behind me as I take a seat. To my left, I see a cute elderly couple donned in NU's purple-and-white, in front there are a few parents with their kids, and then a few college students sit scattered around. That's about it.

It doesn't make sense. First of all, because this field is beautiful - on a sunny day like today, you look across the field to a pristine view of Lake Michigan. And second, this is a team that enters the game 9-0, has been ranked No. 1 for three straight weeks, and has won 22 of its last 23 regular-season matches. They have to be good, right? What makes them even more impressive is the fact that it's only the team's fourth year of existence. NU axed the team after its 1992 season but then reestablished it in 2001, when they brought in Maryland lacrosse legend Kelly Amonte Hiller to lead the team. Connecticut is a having a good season, too, not with quite as strong of a schedule but with a solid 6-2 record (1-1 BIG EAST).

So, the stats say the NU team at least should be a good one to watch, but the bleachers tell another story. At the first draw, though, the numbers prove their worth. Courtney Koester, one of the country's top draw-takers, wins, NU controls the ball with no sign of resistance from the Huskies, set up a play like they're in practice, and Donna McCann shoots a bullet over UConn goalie Jennifer Wong's shoulder. It's 1:42 in, and the Wildcats have their first goal. Next draw, Koester gets the ball again and the teams mess around, dropping balls on both sides of the field. NU clearly has more spunk and more pressure, though. A little more than 6:12 into the half, the Wildcats strike again as Laura Glassanos, left wide open on the side of the goal post, simply steps in front of the net and shoots in almost the same spot as McCann's goal.

Still in her rhythm, Koester wins three straight more draws in the next two minutes and the Wildcats score off each one. Then they get three more goals. I'm not sure where Connecticut is right now or what they think they're doing. Sure, they lost to NU 18-4 last year, but are they giving up already? UConn should be good. They're 5-0 on the road, including a win over Notre Dame just two days before.

But NU gets the 8-0 up only 12 minutes into the game, and the guy behind me not unreasonably predicts "There's going to 40 goals in this game before it's over." The woman next to me complains, "I'm going to get sick of that song," referring to the staticy NU fight song blaring over the speaker. UConn shows it's alive when it gets on the board two minutes later off a goal by Allison Tyminski, but the Wildcats aren't done. It's a ridiculous 14-2 before the Huskies pull Wong toward the end of the half. The UConn defenders are hanging back from the intense Wildcats attackers, and they look either tired or disinterested. With 11 seconds remaining in the half, Tyminski notches her second goal of the game off a free position shot (her two goals will lead the Huskies by game's end), and the half ends at 15-3.

You can tell how the game is going by the half-time formations of the two teams. The UConn players, who are quiet and have drooping, defeated shoulders, form a compact navy circle around their coach, Bonnie Rosen. The NU players sit and stand haphazardly in varying team apparel in white, gray, purple, and black, and they're relaxed - laughing, stretching, or passing around a ball. Amonte Hiller gives her speech, but it's obviously not as somber as Rosen.

If UConn has any chance at all, this is their time. Instead, NU's McCann again gets the first goal of the half to keep up the onslaught. The prettiest goal in my opinion is NU's 17th one, when Kjellman, right in front of the cage, reaches her stick up over the two UConn defenders surrounding her and nonchalantly sends the ball to the back of the net. With about 13 minutes remaining, NU empties its bench onto the field and reels in its starters. Students have trickled into the stands by now, and as each starter leaves the field, and the NU bleacher crowd cheers for her performance.

Now UConn can finally keep the ball in their offensive zone, and they beat NU backup goalie Meredith Phillip twice before the final buzzer sounds.

Final score: Northwestern 22, Connecticut 6

ccryan@laxswami.com

This Week...
Lacrosse broadcast links...
Each week the Swami notices questions on the Laxpower board about which games will be broadcast that weekend. Hey, they're all here!

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It usually takes a while to get down all the many changes that college stations make to their webcasts between seasons, so be patient.

Swami's Game of the Week:
Duke at .Johns Hopkins
"As I walk through this world
Nothing can stop the Duke of Earl
Yes-a, I, Oh I'm gonna beat you, Oh, Oh
Nothing can stop me now
'Cause I'm the Duke of Earl

--American folk hymn

Friday, April 8, 8:00 PM, Homewood Field, Baltimore, MD

1. Swami's Game of the Week: Duke (#1) at Johns Hopkins (#2)--(Friday, April 8, 8:00 PM, Baltimore, MD)--TV GAME--Don't miss this one! The Swami will be in personal attendance when Johns Hopkins hosts the mighty Duke Blue Devils this weekend. Duke's huge win over Georgetown two weeks ago was probably just one of those days for both teams, but Duke is still very much for real. There's little danger of fans nodding off during this contest, even if the Blue Jays are playing. Duke is an exciting team which can play at either a controlled pace or run-and-gun. Which Duke will hit the field this Saturday? Hey, that's always an exciting question in itself! The Swami likes Duke to surprise the Homewoodies. Duke wins in convincing style. Miss Lee takes the Jays. Thhis game will air live on Channel 2 and ESPNU, even if the program listings indicate not.

2. Denver (unranked) at Notre Dame (#9)--(Thursday April 7, 5:00 PM [EDT], South Bend, IN)--TV GAME--This a going to be a huge game! The Great Western Lacrosse League prefers to play most of its games near the end of the season, and this is the first big one. As you may know, the GWLL has a nasty tie-breaker that saw three teams tied for first place in 2003, with the champion being decided by goals scored against the other two teams. That means all stops are pulled out in these contests and no score is too large to be safe. The Swami tabbed Denver as his most underrated team this season. The Pioneers, who finished the 2004 campaign with a 10-6 record and wins over Virginia and Harvard, just barely lost the conference auto-bid by dropping a two goal nail-biter to Notre Dame and falling to Ohio State, 9-8 in overtime when an inadvertant tripping penalty put the Pioneers down a man in the extra frame. But Denver only lost two starters and 7% of its scoring from last season, while Notre Dame and Ohio State were hit much harder by graduation. Denver has been steadily improving this season and Notre Dame is probably the Pioneers' most important game this year. The Swami is predicting a huge upset here when Denver will show the lacrosse world that it will be in the playoffs this May. This game will be televised on Comcast Sports in the Midwest on a delayed basis. You'll have to check your local listings to see exactly where, but, at this time, it does not appear to be available on DirecTV. The Swami will post in on the media page if that changes.
3. Maryland (#4) at Navy (unranked)--(Friday, April 8, 7:00 PM, Annapolis, MD)--TV GAME--In the Swami's opinion, this was the best single game of the 2004 regular season. And Maryland's play in that classic match was the most unappreciated of the year. Game 2004 of this series was pure, all-out hustle on the part of both teams, with the game narrowly going Navy's way. For four years in a row Maryland prevailed in this historic rivalry by identical scores of 6-5 before Navy broke the jinx last season. The Mids had a horrible outing last week on their own home fields. Will the lethargy exhibited in Annapolis persist? Or did Navy just have a bad day? This weekend will tell the tale. Navy has only three regular season games left: Maryland, Army, and Hopkins. That's a killer lineup for three weeks. Navy still has a best win over an unranked team. With the Mids now off the Swami's Top 16 map, Navy needs a big victory to carry it to the playoffs. And which team better to secure it from than Maryland with its #3 RPI of 66.18? But last week Navy broke down all over. Poor shooting, weak defense, an ineffective midfield, and four saves in goal. It's a tall order to get those sad statistics up, and Navy always gets banged up when Army comes to town, so can the Mids have all their eggs riding in the Hopkins basket--especially since they haven't won on Homewood Field since 1969? It's do or die time in Annapolis this Friday night. The Swami likes Navy, Miss Lee takes Maryland.
4. Syracuse (#6) at Loyola (#14)--(Saturday, April 9, 1:00 PM, Baltimore, MD)--TV GAME--It seems like not so long ago that Syracuse traveled to Loyola only to suffer a 14-13 (overtime) upset at the hands of the Greyhounds. Actually, it was 2001. Loyola certainly qualifies, along with Hofstra, as one of the most improved teams since the start of the season, so the Cruisers better not take this game too lightly. With both big local games under the lights Friday, there should be a near capacity crowd on hand for this much-anticipated Saturday afternoon match-up. For those driving from Central New York for this contest, Miss Venus Lee suggests keeping yourselves occupied during the trip by playing a game. See who can correctly guess how many dirty words will be played in Loyola's rap music before the game and during breaks. The Swami and Miss Lee both like Syracuse to rise above the musical taste that prevails at Geppi-Aikens Field and win this game.
5. North Carolina (unranked) at Virginia (#3)--(Saturday, April 9, 1:00 PM, Charlottesville, VA)--Big Boy Radio Mike points out that there have been some surprises in the ACC this season. True enough. But all of those surprises involved non-league opponents. We have yet to see a regular season ACC upset of another ACC team. But you can be sure it's coming. Any ACC team, no matter how bad, can defeat any other ACC team, no matter how good, at any time. It happens in all ACC sports every year. And home field is hardly an advantage in this league. The Swami is going low on Virginia, while Miss Lee is more confident about the Cavaliers, but the Swami thinks this could be the game that surprises everyone.

6. Bucknell (unranked) at Army (#7)--(Saturday, April 9, 1:00 PM, West Point, NY)--If Army wins this game, the Black Knights are heading for Annapolis to play for control of the Patriot League Tournament. But that's just an added dimension to a huge game that is already dripping in significance. Both of these teams are tied for the lead in the Patriot League, and the Bison will hit the lacrosse map hard if they can pull off an upset this weekend. It would also almost assure Bucknell of hosting the PL Tourney on unfriendly Christy Mathewson Field, where weird things happen with regularity to visitors. Army can solidify its Top Five standing with a win, and that win may need to be one of a convincing sort in case of a Patriot League tie-breaker. This game will be a three barn-burner. The Swami likes Army, which he picked for the Final Four this season. Miss Lee agrees.

7. Harvard (unranked) at Cornell (#8)--(Saturday, April 9, 1:00 PM, Ithaca, NY)--Harvard is a much better team than most know. The Crimson have shared only one common opponent with Cornell so far this season: Penn. Harvard defeated the Quakers by a single goal, while Penn lost to Cornell by a wider (15-6) margin. Nevertheless, the Swami, while joining Miss Lee in picking Cornell, believes that Harvard can win this game. This contest, Central New York's only Division I match this weekend, should be well attended. The last time the Swami saw Harvard play at Cornell, the Crimson won the game 18-16. The icing was put on the Crimson cake with Harvard goalie Rob Lyng's length-of-the-field shot into Cornell's net during a ten man ride. It was quite a throw.
8. Princeton (unranked) at Rutgers (unranked)--(Saturday, April 9, 1:00 PM, Piscataway, NJ)--Princeton won its first game of 2005 last week with a 6-5 crushing of Penn. The Quakers are 1-8, with a 6-3 win over Air Force. As the Swami has pointed out several times already this season, surely Princeton is improved from 2004. But the mistake most fans make is thinking that Princeton is improved from a Final Four team. After Princeton lost the Ivy League championship to Swami-predicted winner Cornell last season, the Tigers were picked for an at-large berth on the primary basis of their win over Rutgers. Princeton was only able to advance due to the flukiest loss Maryland has ever given any team in the playoffs. Last year Princeton should have been ranked at about #18 at the end of the season, and the team has surely improved from that position. Rutgers, as the Swami has also pointed out several times, is a selfless team loaded with good young players and blessed with an excellent coach. But not too many teams lost more scoring that did the Scarlet Knights in 2004. Rutgers needs this year to rebuild. Princeton will win this game. Miss Lee agrees.

9. Hobart (unranked) at Penn State (unranked)--(Saturday April 9, 1:00 PM, University Park, PA)--The moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter begins to shine. Planet Hobartia is basking in the light of two hard fought losses to Georgetown and Syracuse by a total of three goals. Aside from stumbling to Fairfield, the Statesmen look like an excellent team this year. Penn State lost only one starter and only 10% of its scoring from 2004. But the Nittany Lions have only three wins to show for it. The Swami thinks that Hobart can win in University Park this weekend and Miss Lee agrees.

10. Yale (unranked) at Brown (#12)--(Saturday, April 9, 1:00 PM, Providence, RI)--Both the Swami and Miss Lee like Brown.
11. Notre Dame (#9) at Air Force (unranked)--(Sunday, April 10, 1:00 PM, Colorado Springs, CO)--TV GAME--Comcast will broadcast this game on a tape delayed basis. Unfortunately, neither the Swami nor Miss Lee think that will enable Air Force to win the contest. Notre Dame may be rebuilding this season, but Air Force has lost far too many players to be competitive with the Irish.

The "Big Boyz" go at it again...
What is the "Big Boyz" system?...
Anyone can pick the winners of lacrosse games. The lacrosse boards are full of people who pick Duke over St. Andrew's every year. There are several contests going on right now where the participants will actually pick more winners than the Big Boyz. But the Big Boyz do not just pick the winners of games. The Big Boyz use a system of weighted picks, and confine their picking to the most difficult Division I games. That enables you to analyze the degree of certainty imparted with each pick--a significant difference with other competing slates of games.

Each week the Big Boyz pick the winners of an average of a dozen games. In a typical 11 game week, winners are chosen by placing between 1-11 points on a team (with no number being used twice). If that team wins, the winner receives the number of points placed on it. So, for example, in using this system, the prognosticator would place 11 points on the team he (or she) was most confidant of winning, 10 points on the second most confidant pick, down to a single point on the game that the picker thought was most in doubt. This eliminates most ties and places a premium on upset picks. It also values a picker's win/loss record relatively, thus giving little recognition to luck.

Despite this unique and difficult system, the Big Boyz are so accomplished at picking that each of the past two seasons have come down to the final game before a winner has been decided.

Get ready for Week #7!

From Swampy...
Swampy is out of town...
His commentary will resume next week. His picks are noted in the table.

--Swampy.

From STaTs...
STaTs returns to action...

1. Duke at Johns Hopkins (GOW) -- Duke (1)

The Blue Jays aren't winning by much (2.8g avg margin of victory), but they are winning consistently. The game was a low scoring 6-5 affair last year, but Duke has a lot more fire power this year. JHU's top 3 scorers are middies??!?!?! What's going on with the historically famed Blue Jay attack?

Look for the Dukies to singe the net too many times for that Hopkins Band to keep pace.

2. Maryland at Navy -- Navy (2)

Last year Navy finally broke through with a victory over the Terps after years of close game heartbreak. The Mids NEED a win here. This is a turning point game for them. The same is true for the Terps, both teams have a lot riding on this one.

3. Syracuse at Loyola -- Loyola (3)

I still remember watching that 14-13 upset in 2001. It drove that squad into the play-offs. A win here could do similar things for this Hounds team.

4. North Carolina at Virginia -- Virginia (6)

The Cavs are looking pretty solid this year. For UNC, it's same old same old...they need to win out to go 6-6. I don't see it happening, and that is a disappointment.

5. Bucknell at Army -- Army (5)

A lot is at stake in this game. A win by Bucknell almost guarantees them the Patriot League regular season title. Army won't let that happen.

6. Harvard at Cornell -- Cornell (9)

Could be close...but I doubt it.

7. Denver at Notre Dame -- Notre Dame (7)

Major setback last week for the Domers, but I think they will be strong heading into the playoffs.

8. Princeton at Rutgers -- Princeton (8)

0-5 Princeton?!??!?!?!! No way! This hasn't happened since the 80's...in fact, I'm not even sure it happened in the 80's!!

9. Hobart at Penn State -- Hobart (4)

This game scares me, but I give Hobart the edge.

10. Yale at Brown -- Brown (10)

Watch out for a Brown Ivy League run that could propel them into the playoffs.

11. Notre Dame at Air Force -- Notre Dame (11)

ND in a walk.

--STaTs.

From Miss Venus Lee...
This weekend...
I see several possible upsets this weekend--at least enough to be statistically convinced that one or more will occur. I just don't know which. Loyola is certainly capable of beating Syracuse. The Cruisers are rebuilding after graduating one of their better teams, while the Greyhounds have improved their play enough to say that the team's largest problem is simply having confidence it its abilities. Rutgers could very easily defeat Princeton, but I don't think at this point that anyone could call that an upset. As the Swami has pointed out, there have been no accidents among ACC teams--and one is certainly overdue. Would that be North Carolina over Virginia? Harvard has got to be considered an underdog to Cornell, but I believe that the Crimson can win that game if they can get their offense into double digits. I think Denver beating Notre Dame would be a near-major upset, but the Swami is telling me to "take it to the bank." And, certainly, Air Force over Notre Dame would be an unending of major proportion, although I give that a zero chance of happening.

From Glory Days...
Another #1 vs. #2 Sea of Blue...

Well this week will tell us if the Duke Blue Devils are for real. Like two weeks ago against Virginia, the undefeated and #1 Blue Jays face the #2 and undefeated Blue Devils. I've said all year that Duke is the best young team around, except maybe for Hopkins. Rabil, Huntley and Petro's biggest surprise, Jesse Schwartzman are the young stars leading the Hop. While Matt Danowski and Zack Greer are the young guns sparking the Devils. I think that there is a slight advantage for the Jays playing at Homewood but this game will be close.

My hat is off to Mr. Lacrosse who did not hesitate to take Dartmouth over Notre Dame last week. I overruled him and lost big.

And how about those Delaware Blue Men. They continue to play well and if they can get past Hofsta this week, I like them to win the Colonial and get a pass to the dance.

A quick kudo to the Lafayette Leopards who beat St. John's to win maybe their only game this season.

This Week:

(1) Duke / Hopkins - The key to this game is the hotter goalie. Will it be Schwartzman or Fenton?

(6) Maryland / Navy - Both these teams are slipping off the map but the Mids are suffering more from the loss of Dingman. Where has Russell been this year?

(8) Syracuse / Loyola - As in years past, look for the Orangemen to get better as the season progresses. The Greyhounds still need to beat someone good to get any respect.

(7) North Carolina / Virginia - The Heels played better than expected against Hopkins but are still a 2-6 team. The Hoos crushed the Terps and have played consistently solid lacrosse all season.

(3) Bucknell / Army - This one is for 1st place in the Patriot League. I like Walker and Wagner to lead the Cadets but don't count the Bison out against a Service Academy.

(10) Harvard / Cornell - I am sticking with the Big Red to win the Ivy and Harvard seems to win games by only 1 goal...not this week.

(4) Denver / Notre Dame - I don't know what to say about the Irish. It depends on what team shows up each week. I do know the Pioneers have a problem winning games when they come off the mountain.

(9) Princeton / Rutgers - There is no way the Tigers go 0-6. The Knights have struggled all year and as bad as Princeton has been they have to snap out of this funk sometime.

(5) Hobart / Penn State - The Statesmen have really not beaten anyone good but the Lions have been dismal. State's only chance may be if the move this game indoors.

(2) Yale / Brown - Pick um. This game is to close to call. The Bruins almost got Cuse and they are playing at home.

(11) Notre Dame / Air Force - This would seems like a no brainer if the Irish don't come down with a case of altitude sickness.

--Glory Days

From American Iron Horse...
The Horse is on the road, but mailed this in...
To start off this week, the Horse would like to pay tribute to Scott Boyle and his family. Scott will be missed by the lacrosse community and his contribution to the game will be long remembered.

AIH is looking for two big wins out of Notre Dame this week, Navy to lose again, JHU to remain on top, and Hobart pulling one out this week. American Iron Horse thinks Army will continue to rise to the top and gain momentum to finish out the season.

JHU-1

UMD-2

SYR-3

UVA-4

ARMY-5

COR-6

ND-7

RUT-8

HOB-9

YALE-10

ND-11

"He rode a blazing saddle, he wore a shining star. His job to offer battle, to bad men near and far. Well he conquered fear and he conquered hate, he turned dark night into day. He made his blazing saddle, a torch to light the way."

--Frankie Lane

--AIH out.

From goygoy 21...
Last week...

...settled it, for now there are three teams, Hopkins, UVA, and Duke, and then everybody else. These three right now are playing so far above everyone else right now they have all but locked up the three top seeds for the playoffs. Of course a lot can happen between now and May but right now by the looks of things the only teams these three can lose, is to each other.

The same teams are ruining the Goy week in and week out in the picking contest. Notre Dame, Penn State, Towson, Rutgers, and Loyola need to figure out right now what kind of team they want to be, because the Goy is tired of missing games that these teams are a part of. The playoff picture has never been so cloudy at this time which should make for a great last month of the season. Almost no one is in and very few teams are out. Every game from here on out should be hard fought because with a season like this one is shaping up to be, you never know.

This past week was a sad one for the lacrosse world...

The passing of Scotty Boyle hit the Goy pretty hard this week. There is little doubt that he was one of the most likable guys in all of lacrosse. I got to know him a little bit through playing in the Gilman Summer League and there he was always quick with a joke and even quicker to join you for a post game brewski in the parking lot. I can remember many times arguing with him for a call just to get a shake of the head and a smile back from Scotty after telling me to stop whining. Everyone liked him and everyone respected him. He let the game be played and knew the line between a play on and a penalty better than any ref I've ever seen. The lacrosse world will miss him.

The Games...

1. Duke at Johns Hopkins (5)

What a game this one will be. The Goy hasn't gotten a chance to see Duke play in person this year, but by the looks of the box scores they appear to be a very dangerous team. 11-0 and putting up 21 goals against Ohio State last week is not something the Goy would like to see if he was Hopkins right now. Duke has played 5 more games then Hopkins right now and that should not be. Teams at this stage in the season should not have that kind of discrepancy in their games played. Duke will play either 15 or 16 games in the regular season this year, depending on if they make the ACC final and that doesn't make much sense to me either since Hopkins is only playing 11. It seems like the more games you play the more chances you get to pick up those all important "quality wins." With that said the Goy likes Hopkins right now because they are at home. These teams are both playing so well right now I could see this going to overtime, but overall I like Hopkins' defense to match up better against Duke's attack than anyone Duke has played so far. That will be the battle of this game, whoever wins that, will prevail.

2. Maryland at Navy (2)

Both teams would love this win and both are coming off losses. Maryland's was a little more embarrassing however and only scoring two goals is not something that you swallow very easily. Navy loves playing at home as the wear and tear their bodies take from not only lacrosse, but military training as well, makes it harder to travel for the academies than for a regular school. Even with only a 35 minute commute Maryland will be coming into a different world. Navy right now needs this win to have a realistic shot at the playoffs if they don't win their division. If they lose to MD and Hopkins, they will be struggling to get in the dance without the Patriot bid. Look for Matt Russell to play to his potential this week, and for Navy to send Maryland into the ACC tourney needing some wins.

3. Syracuse (4) at Loyola

Loyola is one of the teams that has been killing the Goy this year. It is still impossible to tell how good they are even with their four game winning streak so the Goy is going to analyze Syracuse instead, although that wont be any easier. Two one goal wins in a row to teams that they frequently handle has undoubtedly gotten to Syracuse, as has their 4-3 start. Cuse has not been in the position of needing a win this badly in a long time but its not as if they are playing against a team that doesn't need a W. Loyola might not have a final four streak that is in jeopardy, but they are at the starting point of an extremely tough end of their schedule and a win would do wonders for their playoff hopes. Cuse needs Pfeifer to step up and lead the team on defense and they flat out have not got the scoring from either the attack or midfield that they need. They are averaging 10 goals a game right now, that is not Syracuse lacrosse.

4. North Carolina at Virginia (7)

Virginia just destroyed Maryland and they still have a legitimate shot at the post season. UNC has been again a great team on paper but bad on the field. With such a talented team, your guess is as good as mine on why but their record is a major disappointment yet again. UVA will not let up and should handle UNC as well, and if they do UNC will officially be done.

5. Bucknell at Army (6)

The Patriot league may be harder than the Ivy to predict, which is saying something. These teams go through such variations week to week it is hard to put a rhyme or reason to it. Army has not been ranked higher in my recent memory but with only three of their 7 wins coming against teams with winning records, their schedule has helped them out. The Goy likes Army at home but Cara and company can be scary. This is going to be a good one with playoff implications.

6. Harvard at Cornell (10)

Cornell defends Ithaca well.

7. Denver at Notre Dame ( 9)

Notre Dame needs a strong home stand this weekend and the Goy is betting big on them. They have a lot of talent, but they need to start putting everything together. Denver is riding a four game winning streak into South Bend and is not likely to roll over for the Irish, and their 12 goals a game they average compared to the only 8 they give up is a really telling stat.

8. Princeton (8) at Rutgers

Princeton at 0-5 is baffling but Princeton at 0-6 is inconceivable to the Goy who likes them to win the Springstein/Bon Jovi Memorial Trophy.

9. Hobart at Penn State (1)

Penn State is struggling right now with the game of lacrosse and with the game of life after the tragic loss their community felt two weekends ago. They for years have been a team that can beat anyone and lose to anyone, seldom playing to a level that isn't equal to their opponent. This week they need to at home dictate the pace and avenge their loss last year to the upstate boys.

10. Yale at Brown (3)

I said earlier how hard it is to predict the IVY league and this kind of game is exactly why. Toss-Up game with the flip of the coin going to the team that just hung with Cuse and is playing at home.

11. Notre Dame (11) at Air Force

Notre Dame needs to win the Great Western and Air Force is a team they need to and should beat. Air Force has been traveling a bit and even if they do have a bit more training in aircraft than the average team, the traveling has to be taking a toll. The Goy sometimes believes that it is easier to go on the road and win in lacrosse, since fans are only of a minimal concern as opposed to football and basketball, because that team is without the distractions of home, but too much can kill a team. Too bad Boulder and Colorado don't field teams, AF and Denver could actually get a break every once and a while.

--goygoy21

From Baldo...
Here they are...

ND-11 The Irish better win in CO

COR-10 Ivyman told me to do it

SYR - 9 Every day is closer to May for the Cruisers

PRIN-8 The Tigers have to have this one

BRWN-7 These Ivy contests are tough

ND-6 Its in South Bend

NAVY-5 Home team here, too

HOB-4 Must win for the Statesmen

ARMY- 3 Pick 'em - take the home team

UVA - 2 Hoos win at home

JHU - 1 Hop in a barn burner.

--Baldo

From Ivyman...
This just in: Swami and Miss Bunny Bimbette are Splitsville!

Yes!

The Puff Piece on the New York trip last week cannot obfuscate the obvious fact that Swami has kicked Miss Bimbette to the curb and is focussing his attention on: Miss Venus Lee.

All the signs are there. Notice how often the phrase "Swami and Miss Lee" appears in last week's issue. Seven? Eight?

He was out and left Miss Bimbette on her own while he went "to his office" on business. Is that the most lame, used-up, transparent alibi there is?

And the part of the story you didn't get was what transpired when Miss Bimbette found a...um...communication...from Miss Lee in Swami's billfold. The faint circular impression worn into the soft Italian leather didn't help much either. Miss Bimbette of course is seeking legal counsel for what appears to be a dynamite palimony suit that is sure to have incredible repercussions in both Baltimore and Key Biscayne. I am not at liberty at this time to give you any further details. Attorney-client priviledged material of course. And I may not be able to update you for 1-2 weeks since I am being called to Italy to advise the Conclave of Cardinals as they consider who will be the new Pope. I am doing this service without fee, because I hope to persuade The College of Cardinals (They do NOT have a lacrosse team, but they are excited about Georgetown this year) to elect a much younger, less conservative Pope this time. It's the only way I'll be able to get six anullments.

I hope to be able to find secure internet access to provide you with some further details. Stay tuned.

Rallied up to 4th place among the Big Boyz. Gotta keep on.

Picks:

Duke at Johns Hopkins (GOW) - 6

Maryland at Navy - 1

Syracuse at Loyola - 5

North Carolina at Virginia - 7

Bucknell at Army - 2

Harvard at Cornell - 9

Denver at Notre Dame - 8

Princeton at Rutgers - 10

Hobart at Penn State - 3

Yale at Brown - 4

Notre Dame at Air Force - 11.

--Ivyman...

From Radio Mike...
Oh, what a strange week for lacrosse, and it starts in Geneva...
Well, what can I say? The Statesmen and Syracuse played in a classic that will be put in a time capsule. The fish, the crowd, the scoring, and great play...players on both teams played to their potential and left it on the field, so much that it seems that the weekend proved trouble for both of them, with Hobart dropping one to future ECAC rival Fairfield, and Syracuse able to come back and beat Brown by a goal. Perhaps this week will be different.

However, this season does not seem to be a normal one as upsets abound--or could this be the face of the game to come, with all the talent out there? Time will tell....All I know is I got burned last week! So, here are this week's picks:

Duke at JOHNS HOPKINS: Got to go with the Blue Jays, even though Duke has been playing well. Home Sweet Homewood will give the edge, though the upset Devils could be around. 7

MARYLAND at Navy: The Mids are still smarting from their recent losses. Could they rebound? I give the Terps this one in a hard fought battle. 4

SYRACUSE at Loyola: The Orange get a lot of rest, and it will show in a less talented Greyhound team. I would expect Syracuse to muzzle the hounds. 8

North Carolina at VIRGINIA: Well, the ACC is full of surprises this year, but the Tar Heels are not going to pull the wool over the Cavs. Virginia notches another ACC win. 9

Bucknell at ARMY: Army had a tough game this week, and Bucknell had the week off. This could be a factor in the game, and it should be a great one, and I would vote for it to be a GOW. However, I think even with the extra game, Army has been playing very well, and knows they need this win. Bucknell wants it badly to almost cement their regular season title. 3

Harvard at CORNELL: Ivy games are always interesting, and who would have thought Yale would have beaten Princeton this year? The Big Red are doing very well, and should have no problems with Harvard. 10

Denver at NOTRE DAME: I really don't like this game. Both teams need wins, and both have some vulnerabilities. I think the travel and home field will prevail, slightly. 6

PRINCETON at Rutgers: In the New Jersey State Championship this year, Princeton really needs a win. Really. Not in the top 20 is a strange place. I expect them to rebound off their losses. However, they get my 1 point vote this week. 1

HOBART at Penn State: A great series now made greater by ECAC play. The Statesmen and Penn State both need wins and are still stinging from last week's contests. I hope the Happy Valley is happy for the Statesmen. 5

Yale at BROWN: I really don't even want to pick this game. Yale gets a key win over Princeton, Brown loses by one to the Orange in the Dome! Brown should be hungrier and win this one. The Bears just need to be careful not to be cocky. 2

NOTRE DAME at Air Force: Even with the altitude, I see a Colorado sweep by the Irish. 11

--Radio Mike.

From Wombat...
Wombat visits Chapel Hill before it burns...
WOMBAT'S WEEK 7 COMMENTARY AND PICKS

Before entering the Wombat Zone for Week 7, I would like to take a pause for a moment. Lacrosse lost a fine official in Scott Boyle during the Georgetown-Navy game last weekend. I didn't know him, although I have probably seen him a hundred times or more during JHU games. And that is how officiating often is - unnoticed for the personalities and sometimes remembered for certain calls. But it is not a thankless job by any means. Without the officials, there wouldn't be a game. And as lacrosse grows in popularity, there is a critical shortage of officials. So hopefully more people will put on the pinstripes in the future. Scotty will be remembered, as will all those that follow. He left while enjoying and helping the sport he loved. And fans, players and coaches should all be thankful for the jobs that the officials do.

I also learned about the passing of the Pope last Saturday. He was a great spiritual leader for many peoples across many nations. Many credit the US and Reagan for winning the Cold War, but the Pope was perhaps even more important in supporting Solidarity in Poland. His influence sure had the Soviet Politburo worried. The far reaching effects of Pope John Paul II will be felt for many decades to come.

And, on that note, it is time to go into this week and talk about lacrosse. Onward into the Wombat Zone.

Wombat visited Chapel Hill last weekend. I caught the earliest Southwest Airlines flight out of BWI. While waiting around the airport, I bumped into a few Hop parents, and then I struck up a conversation with Mr. Despair, blood relative of CBB. Compared travel notes, and then I made a few comments about Chapel Hill while waiting in line to board the plane. With the UNC-Michigan State Final Four basketball game coming up later that Saturday night, I pondered out loud: "I wonder if the UNC students will burn down Chapel Hill just like the Terps do to College Park???"

I wasn't paying attention to the upper-middle-aged lady standing immediately behind me, but she happened to be dressed in a sky blue shirt. And all of a sudden, she yelled "NO!!! We aren't like that!" I turned around and smiled, and looked back over at Mr. Despair. I tried to say something nice like "I am glad to hear that UNC isn't like that." but the lady would not engage in any further discussion. She was terribly offended. I spent the rest of the basketball tournament waiting for news out of Chapel Hill and student behavior. So, after they won it all on Monday night against Illinois (and I was glad of that because I root for ACC teams), anyway, what did I see on the really late local CBS news that night?

Fire baby, fire. Many of them. People hopping over fires and stepping through them.

And let's check the local Chapel Hill police blotter:

Police log

Police arrested many area residents Monday night and Tuesday morning in connection with the assorted bonfires that leapt up after UNC won the men’s basketball national title.

Police arrested UNC graduate student [name withheld], at 2 a.m. Tuesday on one misdemeanor count of unlawful burning after police saw him burning cardboard and a stereo speaker. {Wombat hopes the speaker was blown and useless. I guess it looked like firewood.}

UNC senior [name withheld], was charged with one misdemeanor count of unlawful burning at his home when he was seen lighting a couch on fire in his yard. {Wombat says: Really, most college couches ought to be burned when you think of what might have transpired on them.}

UNC senior [name withheld], was arrested on one misdemeanor count of unlawful burning when she was seen pouring vodka onto a burning chair. {Wombat says this is a terrible waste of vodka.}

[Name withheld] was arrested on Franklin Street on one misdemeanor count of unlawful burning. {Wombat says get a permit next time.}

[Name withheld] was arrested on one misdemeanor count of illegal pyrotechnics use after he ignited bottle rockets above the Franklin Street crowd. {Wombat wonders if he bought the fireworks at South of the Border in South Carolina (I-95). Next time try to find a legal use of pyrotechnics.}

[Name withheld] was one of several students arrested for starting fires at Fraternity Court. {Wombat says this is starting to sound like College Park, MD after all!}

[Name withheld] was cited with one misdemeanor count of being careless with a fire. {Smokey the Wombat says Be Careful With Fire!}

[Name withheld], and [Name withheld], also were arrested at Fraternity Court. Police charged each with one count of being careless with a fire. {Wombat starts to wonder: if they had been CAREFUL, would it have been OK?}

[Name withheld], listed in reports as a UNC student, was also arrested at Fraternity Court in a non-fire-related incident. He was arrested on one misdemeanor count of assault on a law enforcement officer and one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest after he punched an officer below the left eye. {Wombat says: Book him, Danno!}

[Name withheld] was arrested at Franklin and Columbia streets Tuesday morning on one misdemeanor count of public indecency, Chapel Hill police reports state. He was arrested after walking around the street nude at about 1:55 a.m. {Wombat says this is getting pretty wild!}

The West End Wine Bar at 450 W. Franklin St., was the victim of vandalism Tuesday morning, Chapel Hill police reports state. According to reports, a brick was thrown through the window at about 1:49 a.m. {Wombat says book him for careless use of a brick. Ever try getting a fingerprint off of a brick? Call CSI!!!}

Well, anyway, I left town Sunday morning and had nothing to do with any of the above episodes. And to that lady who was behind me at BWI, uh, now what do you have to say for yourself and UNC?

I am glad to see that the Rt. 1 in College Park is not the only place where stupidity can break out after the last whistle... The Terps and the ACC should be proud of their fellow Tar Heel brethren and sisters. And the mothers of all of them should be proud too. (I am convinced that the person behind me at the airport was a Tar Heel Mother.)

So, upon arrival at Raleigh Durham International Airport, I quickly scooted off to pick up the Wombatmobile surrogate rental car, from Thrifty. Finally a shuttle arrived to take me to the offsite car lot.

Then there was a disturbance at the rental car counter. A man and his wife were having issues with the rental agent. Somehow they had gotten off the shuttle and left their luggage on the van, while trying to deal with something at the counter. And then the shuttle van took off toward the airport with their luggage onboard and without them.

This prompted the man to say, as as a threat to the rental agent: "Well, now I can no longer answer the question that I have been in possession of my luggage at all times!" The agent looked over in a dumb way, and this started to catch my attention.

And then he repeated it: "I am going to tell the airline that I have NOT been in possession of my luggage at ALL TIMES!!!"

I am bored, but this was sure to be a cure for writer's block this week, so I perked up and chimed in: "Sir, the airline employees do not ask that question any more. You don't have to say that."

"Oh yes they do ask it, and I am going to tell them that I have NOT BEEN IN POSSESSION OF MY LUGGAGE AT ALL TIMES!!!"

I looked back at him. He seemed sincere. He seemed hell bent at creating chaos at the airline counter.

Wombat thinks to himself: "Just great... I have been in North Carolina less than 30 minutes, and I have already encountered my first moron! "

[We pause this issue of the Wombat Zone to list off most of the geographical areas that Wombat has offended so far this year: Australia (or at least the brewers of Fosters), France, Canada (well, French Canadians, and anyone who brews non-Canadian beer in Canada and exports it to the US), Finland, and now North Carolina.]

This guy was dropping off the rental car and leaving NC though, so I am not sure what part of the country he is from. So, North Carolinians, lighten up. This guy could have been from Texas and maybe distantly related to the President. Besides, I used to live in North Carolina, so it is OK for me to make fun of you because I am from there (well, Greensboro).

Anyway, I looked at this guy one more time, and I spot the real problem. He is wearing a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle ball cap. So that is what is wrong with him.

[We pause the Wombat Zone once again to ask: Where the heck is Wombat going with this story, and how does it relate to lacrosse???]

Well, here is the gist of it. Here at Swami Enterprises, Incorporated, several of us are trying to think of how to grow the sport of lacrosse. How do we get the sport to the national attention that it deserves. We are leading up to the big Army at Navy game coming up two weekends from now. That game will be televised throughout the armed services. It will be HUGE. And that gets more and more people's attention.

My personal thoughts is that the game needs to be brought to the attention to the general sports-watching public. General folks, like folks who wear Harley-Davidson clothes and caps. People who argue at rental car counters.

If you can tie a major college lacrosse game into a Harley-Davidson gathering, road show or sales event, wow, now you are talking. Lacrosse will start appealing to that portion of the population that have slightly redder necks than your current average lacrosse fan.

Lacrosse is growing in the Midwest (Ohio, Colorado, Texas) and out in California. I remain convinced that what is really needed is for it to take off in the DEEP SOUTH.

North Carolina and Florida were the major areas that gave rise to the growth of NASCAR. If lacrosse starts appealing to the NASCAR fans, it can really take off like wildfire nationwide. The key is south, not west.

So, grow it there, get the attention of the NASCAR and Harley-Davidson fans, and off lacrosse will go. Football in the fall, lacrosse in the spring. Two sport athletes, just like the old days on college campuses.

And with those slightly twisted thoughts, we have realized that North Carolina isn't so bad after all. Yet, I am exhausted and I am glad that March Madness is finally over...

This week's beer recommendation is an answer to the question: So Wombat, out of those 100 different beers that you drank from August to January, preparing for this year's lacrosse season, which beer was the first one out of the 100?

The answer to that is simply Guinness! And, (as in the TV ads), it was BRILLIANT!!! Drink 100 beers!!! BRILLIANT!!! Gain 20 pounds!!! BRILLIANT!!! Don't tell the Wombatress what you are doing!!! BRILLIANT!!! Get found out when the Wombtress wants to go to the Rams Head Tavern, scene of the 100 beer drinking education where the bartenders and barmaids now know you by name, and I am only up to beer #87... BRILLIANT!!! (Well, maybe not so brilliant because...) Get in to the Wombatress DOGHOUSE big time!!! BRILLIANT!!! Get permission to finish up to beer 100!!!! BRILLIANT!!! Swear off beer until I drop my weight from 222 back down to 185 pounds!!! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, what the heck was I thinking when I promised that!?!? DUMBARSE!!! I haven't had a beer since mid-January and I am down to 208 pounds. Looks like it is going to be a dry Memorial Day weekend. Wait, I can still drink wine! BRILLIANT!!! Anyway, if you have never had Guinness, I recommend that you at least try it once in your lifetime. It will be worth it.

Now, let's move on to my picks this week. Not So BRILLIANT!!!

I will have more on the growth of lacrosse next week as we lead up to the Army-Navy game. But first Army has to deal with Bucknell, and Navy hosts Maryland. Which brings us to this week's major showdown... It's simply the best of what's around...which is...

Wombat's Game of the Week:

Duke at .Johns Hopkins

Wombat's Cracked Crystal Ball is turning blue as we look to this week's featured game!

1) Duke at JOHNS HOPKINS [11]

Wombat will be at this one for sure, and it should be a great game. Barn burner at the start, but JHU should pull away in the second half. Faceoffs will be crucial, and the five headed beast known as the JHU tag team faceoff squad (Harrison, GPeyser, Braun, Koesterer, and SPeyser) makes it particularly difficult to prepare a strategy. Each one of the five can burn you and eat you alive. Fenton had a great game against JHU last year, which was a 6-5 win for the Jays on the road. This time, Jesse has shown he can put up the huge save numbers too. So, is this a toss up? Wombat thinks this game will only settle who is #1 for now, and JHU will pull away at the end with a score of something like 13-8. Duke will put up a heck of a fight though. Wombat likes the Blue Jays.

2) MARYLAND at Navy [5]

A battle for the State of Maryland. But both of these teams have been schizophrenic at times, so who knows what the state of these two teams are after last week's poundings by 10-2 on the Terps by the Hoos and by 11-6 by Gtown on the Mids. Well, I still think Navy is unproven with what assets they have this year, and Maryland is more offensively dangerous and Alford is solid in goal. Russell is having some off games. So, I think Maryland has the edge here, by a score of 11-9. Wombat likes the Terps.

3) SYRACUSE at Loyola [6]

Loyola is on a winning streak, but so is Cuse, and Cuse needs each win despite winning ugly at times by scores that are not that convincing. Loyola could pull an upset here, but I think if these two teams play ten games against each other, Loyola wins 2 and Cuse wins 8. The question is which will happen on Saturday? I think the pride of Cuse carries the day - they are the defending champs and have that little thing of the streak in the back of their mind. Syracuse by a score of 12-7.

4) North Carolina at VIRGINIA [10]

This is where you stick the Fork in the Tar Heel and pronounce them DONE. Right now, with six losses, UNC has to win their ACC Semifinal game in Baltimore in late April, or at best they wind up with a 6-7 record and no at large bid to the NCAA tourney, because a .500 record or better is required. Now, if UVa beats them this week, UNC still has some life, but they will have to win the whole ACC tourney and all their remaining games just to get to a 7-7 record. With an ACC tournament championship, UNC might get in. But they have to avoid that 8th loss (or 7th in the ACC Semifinal game). Else it is toast for the Heels. UVa is on a mission though. When you have a chance to drive a stake into your conference opponent, then now is the time to do so. No upset here. Wombat likes the Wahoos big, by a score of 13-7.

5) Bucknell at ARMY [2]

This is an interesting game. Army is healthier now than when they lost to SU in the dome to start the season. Bucknell is still a big factor from their early season win over Navy and can put a stranglehold on the Patriot regular season by pulling off this big win. Both teams are winning some close games, and Army seems most vulnerable to an upset. But Wombat doesn't see it. He sees a big build up for the Navy game coming, and Army will not look past dangerous Bucknell. Wombat likes Army by two, 11-9.

6) Harvard at CORNELL [8]

Cornell sees a door opening with Princeton faltering, and now is the time to drive a truck through it. Harvard will be a test though. The Crimson did beat Bucknell early. So this game

RANK	TEAM	RPI
1	VIRGINIA	68.22
2	DUKE	66.89
3	MARYLAND	66.18
4	HOPKINS	66.08
5	GEORGETOWN	66.03
6	SYRACUSE	64.77
7	TOWSON	61.61
8	UMASS	61.58
9	ARMY	59.85
10	ALBANY	59.50