Pipes

[gopherlax27]

I know this is kind of late, but I wanted to comment on something that I hear all too often. Players always refer to how many pipes they hit when discussing an outcome of the game. It seems as though people use that as an excuse for why a team that was better lost or why a close game should have been a blowout. I think that there are a lot of things that occur over the course of a game that determine the outcome of a game. People rarely talk about failed clears or anything else that has an affect on the outcome. I guess what Im trying to get at is that just because a team hits 5 pipes, doesnt mean that those automatically result in 5 goals had those shots been more on target. I bring this up becuase people who were discussing our game against Florida State used the pipes hit stat as an asterisk for the end result. I just don't buy this because of everything else that happens from start to finish.
EZ 27

[bste_lax]

We had a kid on our team when I played, that we would always joke around, he just needed the goals to be 6'3"x6'3" and he would have been an all-star.

[isulax26]

remember mighty ducks....half an inch to the inside and it was a goal, but half an inch the other way and he would have missed completely

[brick15]

Thats my boy Gorden Bombay!!!!!!!

[the lax]

it was quarter of an inch

[Danny Hogan]

i think people just get especially frustrated with pipe shots because the shot actually beats the goalie, which is the hard part.

[UNH2001]

We used to joke about a shooter hitting the pipes multiple times during a game. Legend has it that it means you've been striking out with the ladies at the post game festivities, and you're likely to continue that streak until you start moving that shot a few inches to the inside.

[onpoint]

i think people just get especially frustrated with pipe shots because the shot actually beats the goalie, which is the hard part.

Not true, Danny - All goalies know that the pipes are part of the equipment! In all seriousness, if you are playing your angles right, all you are giving away are the pipes. If that's what the shooter is hitting, than I think the goalie is doing his job.

[benji]

unless its an empty net...

[Daniel Morris]

A miss is a miss is a miss. My players used to justify ridiculous low percentage outside shots by saying they hit pipe. I actually agree with Alex on this as well. A smart goalie plays the pipes and knows when a shot is destined to sail past, over, or ping off that metal bar. I can understand the frustration of the offense, especially since it seems some guys hit more than others, but don't blame the pipe, blame the shooter. You think these kids would learn from the life lessons taught by Emilio Estevez.

But then again, as a life long defenseman, that sweet sound of rubber on metal is like Christmas to me.

[WaterBoy]

But then again, as a life long defenseman, that sweet sound of rubber on metal is like Christmas to me.

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.

[Larsen]

i gotta side with hogan on this one. Alex, Are you actually telling me that you know where you are well enough when you are out on your arc that you know when a shot is going to hit pipe or not? You are that precise to the 1/4 of an inch that determines if the ball goes pipe and bounces in or hits pipe and bounces out?

If you are hugging the pipe and it bounces out that's one thing, but from your arc, you are trying to save anything coming your way and if it hits pipe then that ball got by you and was within that fateful 1/4 of an inch of being a goal...and I guarantee not every pipe shot comes within 1/4 inch of being a save.

[Purple Welt]

I am a past AACo, MD player that had the benifit of some great instruction through youth, HS, college. We were always told that a pipe shot often indicated that you, the keeper, altered the players shot. I will not agree that I can sense a shot is wide by 1/4 inch, however, if I play position, and more importanly, dont flinch then it was poor shot selection by the shooter.
Maybe all those Navy, Hopkins, and Marland summer camps were a waste of money after all.

[Larsen]

My point is this...if the shot was a quarter inch in the right direction, would it have been a goal or a save? my gut says at least 95% of the time, if not more, it would have been a goal.

[Danny Hogan]

I am a past AACo, MD player that had the benifit of some great instruction through youth, HS, college. We were always told that a pipe shot often indicated that you, the keeper, altered the players shot. I will not agree that I can sense a shot is wide by 1/4 inch, however, if I play position, and more importanly, dont flinch then it was poor shot selection by the shooter.
Maybe all those Navy, Hopkins, and Marland summer camps were a waste of money after all.

.

There aren't shooters at any level that alter their shots even 3'' increments and no one is shooting for pipe. They are aiming for open spots in that 36 SF. Sometimes they are a little off and hit pipe.