UMD 8, BYU 4 (Fri. 3/21) FINAL
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:54 pm#4 BYU (4-3) is coming off of a solid win against ASU. #7 Minnesota-Duluth (2-2) is looking to get back on track after two tough losses against Michigan and CSU.
Game Notes:
BYU will rely on another strong performance by attackmen, Heir and Manning. These shifty players combined for 13 points in the game against ASU. Their ability to dodge and finish make up for BYU's general inexperience on the offensive midfield. If Minnesota-Duluth can limit Manning and Heir's ability to create early slides and keep a stick on their hands, they can be slowed down. Also, M-D's goalie, Jake Launert, will have to make more saves than he did v. Michigan and CSU.
BYU will have to work hard between the boxes to control the tempo of the game. BYU gained many valuable possessions by winning 22-33 face-offs against ASU. FO Midfielder, Neil Watterson won 16-22 face-offs was dominant. His control along with strong wing play of BYU's LSMs will be very important to keep the ball away from M-D's offense. M-D has had much success throughout the season by holding the ball on offense for long possessions.
BYU's goalie, Kikumoto, will have to make saves and clear the ball effectively. BYU had many fastbreak and unsettled opportunities because their D-midfielders and LSMs pushed the ball up the field against ASU. These opportunities lead to easy goals for the attack. M-D's attack and midfielders did a great job riding and caused numerous clearing mistakes against Michigan and CSU. This is a way for M-D to capitalize on the sloppiness exhibited by BYU's young defenders against ASU.
M-D will have to do a better job when the ball is on the ground. M-D lost the groundball war against Michigan, 19-34. They need their players on either side of the field to hustle and get the ball off the ground.
M-D's offense has a great opportunity against a BYU defense that graduated two starters from last year's team. BYU's defense has had difficulty slowing down opposing offenses (evident in giving up 15 v ASU, 15 v Whittier, 16 v Chapman, 12 v Michigan, 11 v Simon Fraser) If M-D's offensive leaders (Nelson, Pitzl, Hochman) can match the efforts of ASU's Westfalls, BYU will be in for a long game. Throughout BYU's game v ASU, their defenseman were getting beat one on one without much help from slides. This was evident in the 4Q, when one of the Westfalls toasted Pat Matheson behind the net and scored without being touched.
Disclaimer: On average, BYU's defense lets up 12 goals per game. That will not make Kikumoto's All-American campaign any easier.
Game Notes:
BYU will rely on another strong performance by attackmen, Heir and Manning. These shifty players combined for 13 points in the game against ASU. Their ability to dodge and finish make up for BYU's general inexperience on the offensive midfield. If Minnesota-Duluth can limit Manning and Heir's ability to create early slides and keep a stick on their hands, they can be slowed down. Also, M-D's goalie, Jake Launert, will have to make more saves than he did v. Michigan and CSU.
BYU will have to work hard between the boxes to control the tempo of the game. BYU gained many valuable possessions by winning 22-33 face-offs against ASU. FO Midfielder, Neil Watterson won 16-22 face-offs was dominant. His control along with strong wing play of BYU's LSMs will be very important to keep the ball away from M-D's offense. M-D has had much success throughout the season by holding the ball on offense for long possessions.
BYU's goalie, Kikumoto, will have to make saves and clear the ball effectively. BYU had many fastbreak and unsettled opportunities because their D-midfielders and LSMs pushed the ball up the field against ASU. These opportunities lead to easy goals for the attack. M-D's attack and midfielders did a great job riding and caused numerous clearing mistakes against Michigan and CSU. This is a way for M-D to capitalize on the sloppiness exhibited by BYU's young defenders against ASU.
M-D will have to do a better job when the ball is on the ground. M-D lost the groundball war against Michigan, 19-34. They need their players on either side of the field to hustle and get the ball off the ground.
M-D's offense has a great opportunity against a BYU defense that graduated two starters from last year's team. BYU's defense has had difficulty slowing down opposing offenses (evident in giving up 15 v ASU, 15 v Whittier, 16 v Chapman, 12 v Michigan, 11 v Simon Fraser) If M-D's offensive leaders (Nelson, Pitzl, Hochman) can match the efforts of ASU's Westfalls, BYU will be in for a long game. Throughout BYU's game v ASU, their defenseman were getting beat one on one without much help from slides. This was evident in the 4Q, when one of the Westfalls toasted Pat Matheson behind the net and scored without being touched.
Disclaimer: On average, BYU's defense lets up 12 goals per game. That will not make Kikumoto's All-American campaign any easier.
