Thu Feb 11 2021 | Patrick Stevens | College
PHOTO BY JEFFREY A. CAMARATI
Lucas Cotler (No. 34) has three goals and one assist over three games.
Denver coach Bill Tierney ranks among the most experienced people in college lacrosse. And for this moment, anyway, he’s dealt with coaching in a pandemic more than anyone in the sport.
The Pioneers have played three games well before most of Division I has taken the field once. The Pioneers opened with a Jan. 30 defeat of Utah, then dropped games at Duke and North Carolina in a three-day span over the weekend.
Tierney considers the work his university has done to keep the Pioneers as protected as possible to be “mind-blowing.” He marvels at how much his staff and team have adapted to the situation, including effectively running two practices a day so everyone on a 66-man roster gets some work in.
Photo Jeffrey A. Camarati/North Carolina Athletics)
It was reasonable to expect Denver to come out like the sharper team vs. North Carolina on Sunday a.m. Quint said as much on the broadcast. After all, the Pioneers were playing their third game, whereas the Tar Heels were making their 2021 debut. Denver had come out hot vs. Duke on Friday. Face-off specialist Alec Stathakis looked to have sorted out the adjustment to the new rules vs. the Blue Devils.
Point of fact, the Pios did come out like the sharper teams midfielder Jack Hannah split left to right and canned a sidearm shot to open the scoring and make progress toward ending his shooting slump.
PHOTO BY PEYTON WILLIAMS
Mac O Keefe, one of the most lethal scorers in lacrosse, led the country in goals in 2019.
The 2021 Division I Men s Lacrosse Season from A-to-Z
Mon Feb 8 2021 | Patrick Stevens | College
Few people in lacrosse possess a better sense of perspective than Denver coach Bill Tierney. So back in the latter stages of autumn, when it was anyone’s guess just what the season would look like, it was apt to ask him just what 2021 would bring for the sport.
“It could be the greatest year ever of lacrosse because of the talent that is now five years deep instead of four,” Tierney said. “It could be the biggest disappointment ever if we don’t have a season for those fifth-year guys who got shut out of one last year.”
Monday February 8th, 2021 8:30am
We rejoice in the return to play. The healing characteristics of lacrosse the physical and mental health benefits for the participants, coaches, families and fans.
2021 will be a week-to-week endeavor. Expect stops and starts, a bumpy road, unpredictable and imperfect. Celebrate your negative tests. We ve seen at least three programs (UMass, Johns Hopkins and Michigan) affected because of campus spreads of the virus. Set a good example. Be the great citizen. Don t be afraid to explain to people that your health and safety and that of others on campus is critical right now. And when you earn the right to take the field and compete, do so with appreciation. Hit the reset button at the end of the week. Last week s success means nothing today; there s no carryover.
Monday February 1st, 2021 8:00am
(Photo by Natalie Ledonne/Duke Athletics)
You’ll be provided lots of excuses in 2021. The storyline of who didn’t play because of COVID will be a weekly lede. It’s everybody’s headline, but you’ll hear it conveniently used by losers, those that came up short.
On gameday, you have all you need. Adapt. Be flexible. Overcome. Enjoy.
A trio of games will be televised this weekend 3 p.m. Friday, Denver at Duke; 4 p.m. Saturday, Towson at Virginia; and 11 a.m. Sunday, Denver at North Carolina. Networks should be ACC Network Friday and Saturday and ESPNU for Sunday. Schedules are apt to change and shift, so be cognizant.