Duluth Dominance

by **highheat...** on Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:16 am

Is there anyone in the UMLL that will be able to upend UMD this year with the Bulldogs arguably having the most talented team in team history? Keep in mind that UMD lost 2 playing seniors and replaced them with numerous freshmen including 2 mn all americans. Also, is there any reason why the All UMLL team for next year shouldn't be 95% Duluth players?...you thoughts....

**Sponsor**

by **Jolly Roger** on Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:12 am

I'm sure the coaches in the league appreciate the bulletin board material.

by **Rob Graff** on Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:24 am

I love it when a 2 post water boy comes into the forum and starts talking trash.

Here are some reasons why the inferred conclusions in his/her post are presumptuous:

1. Duluth lost more than 2 contributing players. We lost Chris Maubach, Mike Thiry, Matt Mathiason, Pat Berger, and Eric Rehder. All 5 were important contributors. Two other starters decided to not come out for the team. And Duluth has not been able to practice with 2 of its captains all fall. Another top line middy from last year has been out with an ACL tear all fall, and may redshirt this spring.

2. UofM has finished their "transition year" from Chris Larson to Brian Hurley/Adam Gamradt. This will result in improvement. And has had a strong recruiting year (Brian Berger to name one). And last I saw, they only graduated 3 players (Campbell/Onken/Kessler) who saw significant time and they get Gerry Kegly and Alex Patterson back from injury. Kevin Bice returns, and his shoulder injury looks to have healed. Eamon Dillon returns. A Rohrer twin returns from injury. Their goalies have another year of experience. Their roster is immense.

3. St. Cloud returns most of their team, only losing 4 players. But 3 of them were Joe Grannes, Nick Hanson and Adam Christenson.

4. Mankato has hired a coach.

5. Marquette returns.

6. ISU enters it's second year under the Tim Rourk regime. Again - expect improvement. And they draw heavily from Chicago and St. Louis -two midwest lacrosse hotbeds.

And there are many teams with players who will challenge for All League honors. Here are some - not including incoming freshmen of whom I know nothing:

ATTACK
Kevin Bice (UofM) (must be considered for offensive player of year, along with others)
Trevan Sheppard (Mankato)
Jason Hendrickson (Mankato)
Greg Olson (St. Olaf)
Alex Patterson (UofM)
Jess Nagan (ISU)
MIDFIELD
Eamon Dillon (UofM)
MacKenzie MacEntyre (St. Olaf)
Gerry Kegly (UofM)
Chris Wilt (Iowa State)
Josh Fast (UWSP)
Marquette had a couple of nice midfielders that I saw at Hot Dish - but I didn't get their names.

DEFENSE/LSM
Eric Voegele (St. Cloud)
Pat Albersman (UofM - LSM/Close)
Kevin Commerford (ISU - LSM)
Peter Rorher (UofM)

Goalie:
Phil Hutchinson UofM
Tom Schmidt UofM
Tommy Johnson ISU

Games are won on the field. Not on paper. Or on electronic message boards.

Rob

by **Gopherlax29** on Sat Nov 25, 2006 5:06 pm

Thank you Rob. I have not been to this site in quite some time, but I love that you are still the first (or in this case the second) to defend the entire league. I am not being sarcastic or anything of the like. I, believe it or not (haha), made some stupid posts in the past about random things, but that was long ago and Rob is always there to make sure the league can grow. Everyone must respect that. I just hoped on here to read just that Rob, a league preview of good players, from around the ENTIRE league. Not just UMD or the U, but EVERYONE. I may not play anymore but I like to see the who's who of the UMLL. Hopefully 2 teams make the big dance this year. That has to be the goal of the league. Good luck to all...