The "X Factor" faceoffs........

[canalacrosse]

Ok here it goes......
I was at the league meeting and I beleive that a member of CU's team proposed the adding of "faceoff stats" to the website. The league agreed and yet there is still no area for this to be put in. Is faceoffs not important to any team? Does no one see that to a key or part of winning?

The way i look at it is what starts a game?What gives a team possesion?What gives a team a fast break?

I would answer a good faceoff midie? Or even in like CU's case a "faceoff specialist". Let me know your thoughts on this position or the importance of faceoff midies. Just wanna know, what teams value or view in this area, also what teams have standout players in this position and area?

[Weberlax12]

I think it is a very valuable spot because in most games it is the team that can with the face-offs that wins the game. in close games you cant lose a face-off because it puts you on defense when you need to be attacking the goal.

I also think that just having a great face off midfielder, or a fogo you still need good wing midfielders or you chances of winning also diminish.

[byualum]

Now that I'm in my third year coaching, I'd take a dominant face-off man just behind an outstanding goalie.

The biggest reason is momentum. If we give up a goal, but I know we'll win the next face-off, we've got a chance to get right back in the game. If we've just scored, let's step on their throat and get another. I love a good face-off guy.

[Weberlax12]

I agree totally with you. This is my first year as an assistant coach and we had a game were my face-off guys sucked and we lost in the last seconds.

[canalacrosse]

There are non-beleivers on my team that seem to think if you don't score goals then your not a all conference player or a main contributor. To have people speak about face offs as a pivotal part makes me think there is hope. Lol what about any standout players or even teams as a whole that are dominating in this area?

[bste_lax]

Lacrosse is a game of possessions. You lose by 1 or 2........that's one or two possessions where you got outplayed. My high school basketball coach was a firm believer in that and stressed importance with every possession (but relating it to basketball, you lose by 5, thats 2-3 out of 60 or so you have where you messed up). FOGO's can change a game. I was in a club game a couple week's ago where we dominated the other team in about every facet, but they won 90% of face-offs and beat us by 3 or 4. Those extra possessions can be deadily.

[Kyle Berggren]

I can give you a recent example of how faceoffs can hurt. We just lost to Montana 6-9, and won maybe 4 draws all day. We scored quickly during an EMO with a 1 minute unreleasable, lost the faceoff, and they killed it. As frustrating as it can get when you score a goal, and end up back on defense.

[monkeylax]

Absolutely, positively, YES! Face-offs can be the largest momentum builder and can guarantee you that you will get an offensive possession. I had always taken good face-off players on my team for granted until I played for a team that couldn't win a face-off. There is nothing more discouraging to a team then getting dominated in the face-off category, talk about a come-back killer! A good face-off squad can take the wind out of any opponents sails.

[Bronco1]

I don't understand how anyone can say that face-offs aren't important. Hasn't anyone watched the top Division A teams duke it out? The BYU vs. CSU game come to mind for one. BYU was up in the third quarter by two or three goals thanks to fast breaks created by their face-off guys. Then at the start of the fourth quarter, CSU came back and scored three or four goals in about a minute thanks to THEIR face-off guy. Momentum can shift throughout a game, but it usually starts at the X.

[Kyle Berggren]

I forgot about the Boise game, that's another game faceoffs killed us. They had atleast 3 guys that could consistently beat us! Everyteam I've played for and coached has had a dominant faceoff guy that I knew was important, but took the possessions for granted. You can't win too many games without a good goalie, and a faceoff guy has to be right up there. It's a difficult problem to overcome.

[canalacrosse]

UI wish the league followed through with what they said they would do during the meeting i.e ading a faceoff catogory to the website cause i keep my stats and its for my keeping but i cant lie if i guy is dominant come all conference or post season recognition most teams will do this number "what was that one guy on that one teams number who was really good at faceoffs?" Therefore the real recognition can be lost. I know its a team sport but its always nice to see people that arent on the "Top scorer in the league" mindset i.e. assists leader, groundballs, or yes FACEOFFS to get deserved kudos.

[Ben Shuman]

R U JOKIN ME...YES... face-offs are a very important part of any lacrosse game they are a great time for fast breaks as well as a momentum killer or starter. It is my belief that a good FOGO can have a direct effect on the outcome of any game, ie. BSU vs. PLU because of a lame penalty my team started off the game with a 3 minute unreleasable penalty and score started in PLU's favor, but with some quick actions taken by Alex Deppert #22 on face to tie the game back up which you can not tell me didnt help lead to a rather pleasing outcome as far as I am concerned with a BSU win. OH AND I HELPED MIDDIE # 3

YOU THINK YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH...

[canalacrosse]

R U JOKIN ME...YES... face-offs are a very important part of any lacrosse game they are a great time for fast breaks as well as a momentum killer or starter. It is my belief that a good FOGO can have a direct effect on the outcome of any game, ie. BSU vs. PLU because of a lame penalty my team started off the game with a 3 minute unreleasable penalty and score started in PLU's favor, but with some quick actions taken by Alex Deppert #22 on face to tie the game back up which you can not tell me didnt help lead to a rather pleasing outcome as far as I am concerned with a BSU win. OH AND I HELPED MIDDIE # 3

YOU THINK YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH...

I was just wondering what the last part of your message meant and what middie #3 it was directed to?

Also i highley agree with the momentum killer or starter we had 4 fast break goals back-back-back-back essentially because of the face offs won. I was just seeing what each team saw or thought on the topic. I'm glad a topic got a new person involved and posting though good to see it keep the posts coming shuman.

[Ben Shuman]

the last little part of my previous post was pertaining to the fact that when I took over on face offs for Deppert late in the first quarter, PLU only beat me only twice the rest of the game and the middie # 3 is my position and my jersey number (so i was bragging, sorry wont happen again but no one has ever called me humble). and i am glad that you agree with what else i had say and i am glad that we are now on the same page.
peace

face-offs 4 life

[onpoint]

CU won the majority of the face-offs against CSU this weekend and still lost the game. Just some food for thought.