MN ELITE UPDATE

[MNLaxFan14]

Any word on today's game this AM?

Rob

Minnesota beat Southeast All Stars 14-12 yesterday and are playing for 5th place in Division I this morning.
http://eteamz.active.com/mnelitelacrosse/

[MNLaxFan14]

Minnesota fell to Arizona in a tough 13-12 overtime loss to end the Vail tournament. They posted a 3-3 record and finished in 6th place of the upper bracket.
http://eteamz.active.com/mnelitelacross ... ews3482334

[LAXBALLER42]

What at tournament. I have to say the underlying theme through out was the first 3-5 minutes of each game. We played catch up in every game due to the first few minutes of each contest.

Ohio scored 4 in 2 minutes, So Cal scored the first 2, New England scored the first 3, Colorado scored the first 5, the SE All-Stars went up 3 by the time we woke up, and we spotted AZ 4 before we started to play.

On the flip side the fact that we won 3 of the games and battled to the end in two others show's the character and heart the boys demonstrated in not giving up and playing their hearts out.

I think it was a mixture of over confidence (which I tried whole heartedly to break before we even took the field for practice on Monday), face off's, goal tending and defensive ball watching. I blame my self as a coach for allowing each of those games to start slowly. I'm not sure what I should've or could've done differently, but the kids just weren't ready come game time. I can honestly say that the boys were well behaved on the trip and did not participate in any activities that would have chemically effected their play (I've already been asked if they "partied too much"). Most nights they were in bed before curfew.

As I said we were down 4 to Ohio before we started to wake up and do the little things right. Ohio was good, big and fast. We got within 1 on several occasions including a 5-4 score after we went on a 3 goal rampage. Every time we got within one and scored they would answer on the following face off. Problem was our face off guys were stubborn and kept doing the same move over and over despite losing. We also were lazy on gb's often not running through them or trying one handed scoops.

We were able to play everyone vs the Cali team once we got on role. The win was never inquestion. They scored most of their goals vs our reserve players, but even they were putting the ball in the net! Running time makes it hard to manage playing time since as soon as you want to get someone else in 5 minutes have already passed.

Ohio beat NE handidly leaving our fate in our own hands. We win we go to DI we lose we go to DII. We spotted NE 3 before the kids took some initiative on themselves during a TO. This is where I got to see my true leaders; Michalski, Costello, Ficken and Hurley. We won this game with true heart. NE was fast and spun the ball quickly. They were also gritty as one would expect a NE team to be, making this a truly difficult challenge. We started Blue at attack on the crease and moved Kip to midfield for this game which seemed to make a huge difference as Blue finished with 2 goals and Kip won us some possessions at the X where we were struggling all day.

Colorado has the biggest team I've ever seen. Not numbers but size of their athletes. They made Whites and Alden look SMALL! We spotted them 5 but battled to within 2-3 at times. We were so close we could taste a come back at times, but just could not close the gait, I would say were were 5 down 80% of the game. We inserted a zone defense that worked spledidly with the exception that we couldn't regain possession of the ball. They would shoot and we would win the back up or make the save but couldn't clear the ball, regiving them possession. If we could've cleared the ball this would've been perfect, they only scored 3 on the zone the entire game. Kip won most of his face offs but we couldn't pick up a GB it seemed as if the ball went right into their sticks uncontested. Also we go 0 help from teh officials until the 3rd quarter. Once their D was 1 ft out of bounds and the official on the sideline wouldn't call it. We got called (rightfully so) for lot's of pushes, but when those same pushes came against us we got 0 calls. While the officiating was horrendous, even with fair officiating we would've lost, just not by 13. Also we were only down 5 with 3 minutes left when I decided to start subbing everyone in and we just got hammered. I couldn't believe thier coach was allowing them to press the ball that much when it was obvious were were subbing everyone in. Not only that but they celebrated each of those goals like it was a superbowl win. Not the best sportsmanship in my opinion.

Against SE we, i felt played down to thier level. We spotted them goals to start the game, had to battle back and take the lead and let them hang around. I played everyone this game from the start which is why we allowed the quick goals (I started several kids who had barely played the entire week). Once we found our rythym we were fine, I just wish we didn't let them hang around. I finallyl saw Libras sweet shot this game, been waiting all tournament for him to do what I knew he was capable of.

VS AZ we gave them 4 to start and had to battle back. In the 2nd quarter I could sense the boys about to give up, but then the gian woke, athletes showed their leadership skills and wouldn't let their team mates give up. We had to run the zone as we would get beat whenever we ran 1-1, only this time we were able to clear the ball. We had numerous man up opportunities that we just weren't capitolizing on. Hurley shot the ball about 20 times in the first half and couldn't find the net. I told him to keep shooting and get his team mates involved. Once he fed the ball a couple times and we capitolized on then his shots were more open. We did score before the horn went off, but as indicative of all tournament the officials were uncertain of the call and "to be safe" called it off. Another bad call by the officials early in the game was when I used 4 shorty's to clear the ball. We were onsides, but because he counted 3 attackmen and 4 midfielders he gave us a penalty for too many on the field. I tried to point out that I only had 2 poles but he was uncertain, once he saw the two poles you could tell he realized he made a mistake, but it was too late and he wouldn't over turn his own call. Crap, just crap. We lost in OT as an attackman dove from behind, seemed to be in the crease and rolled a ball past the pipe, goalie never saw it go in, may have even kicked it in I don't know.

Over all the tournament was a great time. I would like two of the games back. All tournament coaches were complaining of the officiating, I couldn't believe that they couldn't get more experienced officials out there for this, several told me they just recently started and some told me they'd never seen a live game! I thought the sportsmanship by all teams was wonderful with the exception of the last 3 minutes of the Colorado game. In hindsite I'm going to get committment from the selected players before I committ to the tournament. After committing several players that would've been key influences in this tournament bailed. I also won't take any developmental players next year as this is just way over their head. Our best can play with their best, but newer players are exposed real quick and taken advatage of immediately. I also will emphasize goaltending next time we come. I thought we could win with a strong D, but both goalies had their moments up and down, however we didn't have consistency that a team needs to win these types of games.

I had a pleasure to coach each of these kids, and the seniors it will be the last time I get to be on the field with them! That last AZ game was the hardest, especially for the AHA and Blake kids I've come to be so close with the past three summers. The hotel said they were the best behaved HS team they've ever had, and as I mentioned earlier most were sleeping before curfew. The worst they did was play the elevator game and pack 21 kids (with the Cali team) into the elevator (I have no idea how 21 kids fit in that elevator, with was only 4x6!!!). Each kid had to pay $24 to fix the elevator, but alas if chasing girls and cramming an elevator are the worse they do, we're in good shape!

Thanks for being fans. Hoban is taking the Elite to Notre Dame in two weeks. I'll be on a cruise I was given at work so unfortunately I won't be there.


Attack
Vince Wigdahl
Dan Jones
Zach Blue

Van Horn
Brett Hartman
JJ Greisinger

Tom Cykana

Mid
Joe Costello (fo)
Jordan Seivold
Cory Childs

Alex Fong (fo)
Todd Baxter
Jack Hewitt

Eric Elgin
Robert Moore
Scott Stark (fo)

Bill Mauzy
Benner Schleider
Monroe Vibbard

LSM
Brian Kyrillis
Peter Johnson

Katkov

Defense
Patrick McMahon
Tony Donna
Bill Straus

Michael Richards
Nate Katkov
Peter Johnson

Goalie
Kenny Fleming
Joey Slattery

[LaxRef]

I had a pleasure to coach each of these kids, and the seniors it will be the last time I get to be on the field with them! That last AZ game was the hardest, especially for the AHA and Blake kids I've come to be so close with the past three summers. The hotel said they were the best behaved HS team they've ever had, and as I mentioned earlier most were sleeping before curfew. The worst they did was play the elevator game and pack 21 kids (with the Cali team) into the elevator (I have no idea how 21 kids fit in that elevator, with was only 4x6!!!). Each kid had to pay $24 to fix the elevator, but alas if chasing girls and cramming an elevator are the worse they do, we're in good shape!

I would have spun this as, "Overall the team developed a real sense of closeness as they attempted to achieve new heights, and they were willing to pay the price to get there."

[LAXBALLER42]

At first I thought you were referring to my heart ache of a game, but as I read closer I realized you were being creative about the elevator... very well written and creative... we should post that quote on the website and see if any of the athletes get it... LOL

[Laxman5112]

Try not to rip on your players in a public forum. When its your players that have gotten you all the wins and pay for the trips.

[MNLaxFan14]

Any update on the how the lads are doing at the Notre Dame camp?

[BB]

Who was ripping on players?

[MNLaxFan14]

Minnesota Elite took 4th place at the Notre Dame Midwest Challenge with a 4-3 record. Check the website for more details --> http://eteamz.active.com/mnelitelacrosse/

[MNLaxFan14]

First day of action has MN Elite with a 2-0 record beating Chicago Select and Milwaukee Select.

http://eteamz.active.com/mnelitelacrosse/

[MNLaxFan14]

Minnesota Elite lost MN bragging rights to the Minnesota Select (Lax Loons) team (7-3) last night in a game shortened by bad weather, but they are in the championship game this morning against a team they lost to previously. Updates at http://eteamz.active.com/mnelitelacrosse/

[troche]

Anybody have the rosters of the 2 Minnesota teams?

[MNLaxFan14]

They won 12 straight before an 8-6 championship game loss. Check the website for more information --> http://eteamz.active.com/mnelitelacrosse/