Denver Men’s Lacrosse Releases 2015 Online Media Guide; Pioneers Have Reached NCAA Championship Weekend 3 Of The Past 4 Seasons

CLICK ON LACROSSE TO READ ONLINE MEDIA GUIDE

 

“Lacrosse Magazine” December 2014 Issue Released Featuring “Person Of The Year” Lyle Thompson & Lives Of Women’s Lacrosse Coaches

Every season, there are players that capture the attention and imagination of fans – some because they anchor championship teams, others because of amazing achievements and talent, still more for inspirational stories of how they got to be where they are at the top of the game.
But seldom is there a player which captures the world of lacrosse the way Lyle Thompson did in 2014. A once-in-a-generation talent, the University of Albany and Iroquois Nationals star also celibrates the games roots through his heritage and has made it clear that he hopes to serve as an ambassador of its growth for the rest of his life.
Corey McLaughlin visited the Thompson family in New York for the feature story on the rising senior and his family, anchoring a look back at 2014 that includes our Stories of the Year and Best of Lacrosse nominations for the online fan vote, running through the end of November on LaxMagazine.com

COLUMNS

From the Editor – Proud Coach’s Husband

by Matt DaSilva

As the husband of a woman who coaches both the University of Notre Dame of Maryland soccer and lacrosse teams after writing her name all over the school’s record books, I’m intimately aware of the sacrifices and rewards that living the dual coach/mother life brings.

His Space – Meet the Women of Walla Walla

by Bill Tanton

Another western outpost for the game springs up in an unlikely place – Walla Walla, Washington, where Whitman College begins play under Maryland transplant Kate Robinson. The game has come a long way since I first picked up a stick in 1947.

Her Space – Coaches, Moms and Mentors

by Kate Hickman

Some of the top coaches in women’s lacrosse – women like North Carolina’s Jenny Levy, Penn State’s Missy Doherty and Denver’s Liza Kelly – balance team duties with the raising of their own families. It’s a dual feat that deserves a ton of respect and an example for us all.

 

“The Changing Climate Of College Recruiting” By Tom Kovic Of Victory Collegiate Consulting

http://victoryrecruiting.com

The changing climate of college recruiting

By Tom Kovic

College athletics has changed dramatically over the past 20 years and coaches are under tremendous pressure to achieve two important goals: 1) Win and 2) Drive program revenue upward. The one directly affects the other. Alumni will enthusiastically support a winning team, but the opposite is also true. The changing climate of college athletics has had direct impact on the recruitment of prospective student-athletes and with that, a dramatic shift in organizing and managing student-athlete strategies in registering early and effectively on the radar of college coaches.

Recruitment is essential for college coaches to maximize future team advancement. This is achieved through active cultivation of strong relationships with high school and club coaches, prospects and their families. College coaches use many recruiting tools at their disposal, while abiding by strict NCAA rules and regulations.

Rewind
Twenty years ago, the majority of prospective student-athletes were simply “found” and the volume of identifiable athletes was very manageable. Nowadays and with the surge of private sport clubs, the college recruiting arena has grown to gothic proportions and with increased competitiveness.

Decades ago, college prospects could comfortably launch their recruiting effort during the junior year in high school. Now, and especially with the increased popularity of verbal offers of athletic scholarships and admission to select, non-scholarship college options, prospects need to kick start the recruiting process as early as the ninth grade.

Fast Forward
A good college coach will offer truthful and honest information regarding the university and the chances the prospect has as a potential team member and a scholarship athlete. He will work diligently to avoid gray areas, especially where it involves athletic scholarship and, in the case of non-scholarship schools, the prospects chances in Admissions. Through the use of skillful contacts, the college coach will attempt to cultivate a relationship that will hopefully result in matching a prospect with his or her institution in a mutually benefiting experience.

Likewise, a productive family effort will be well-planned and impeccably executed. It will involve a team approach that should consist of the following players: parents, prospect, high school/club coach, college advisor, guidance counselor and personal mentor. Each team player will have a specific role to play in order to ensure the prospect’s best chance in navigating the college search with success.

Advance goals should be set with clarity, purpose, and assist in the organizational structure of the recruiting process. The well-prepared approach will, in the end, have the best chance of achieving success.

The Verbal Offer
The verbal commitment is one where a Coach and a prospect agree there is a proper and mutual fit scholastically and athletically with the prospect and the institution. In many cases, there is an offer of athletic aid (scholarship), or in some cases, support by the Coach in admissions. The verbal commitment is a “gentleman’s agreement.” An old fashion handshake where both party’s offer their word to remain committed through either the signing of The National Letter of Intent or offer of admissions.

The verbal offer is “open ended” and a common question that prospects and parents have is “Can we back out of the agreement?” And the answer is yes. That said it is important to realize the flip side of the coin and although it is less likely, college coaches can back out of a verbal commitment, especially if the prospect shows a lack of progress on the field or in the classroom.

Tactical Approach
A knowledgeable consumer will have a clear edge over the general population in the pursuit of the attainment of any worthy product. I believe that the same holds true in the college search and that it is the obligation of the family to make every effort to make a commitment to accumulate pertinent information regarding this process and to execute well-designed plans.

Information is critical to the successful organization of any worthy project. Building a college recruiting information base can begin as early as the middle school years as a family hobby and increasingly grow into a highly organized, disciplined project by the beginning of the sophomore year in high school.

Begin by gathering information on potential college choices, including team and coach profiles, statistics, ranking, and academic standards. Continue to update and maintain selected e-files on your favorite college programs.

The college search for athletes has radically transformed during the past 20 years to a level where prospects need to maintain an accelerated pace with college coaches. It is a process that begins much earlier than most families realize and therefore a proactive approach to organizing early for the college search becomes essential in reaching your college goals.

College recruiting is both exciting and daunting. It requires a disciplined and yet flexible approach, especially when timelines get tight and situations become challenging. Active and regular communication is vital and the successful prospect will build mutually strong and respectful relationships with college coaches in an effort to identify and secure the ideal college match.

Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families in navigating the college recruiting process. For further information visit:  www.victoryrecruiting.com.

Denver Men Top MLL Denver Outlaws 15-7 In 6th Annual Colorado Lacrosse Showcase On Oct 18

The University of Denver men’s lacrosse team closed the game on a 9-0 run to defeat the 2014 Major League Lacrosse Champion Denver Outlaws 15-7 in the Sixth Annual Colorado Lacrosse Showcase on Saturday afternoon in-front of 1,278 at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.
“Our lacrosse community here has really grown,” head coach Bill Tierney said. “Thankfully with the Outlaws winning that MLL Championship and with the success that we’ve had here, it’s become a lacrosse town. It was a great crowd, a great showing and a great afternoon. We’re really excited about what goes on in the world of lacrosse out here.”
Sophomore transfer Connor Cannizzaro (Cazenovia, N.Y.) had a hat trick to go along with two assists to lead Denver in scoring on Saturday afternoon. Classmate Tyler Pace (Mission, B.C.) added two goals and two assists in Denver’s final fall contest. Senior Erik Adamson (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) and junior Jack Bobzien (Littleton, Colo.) chipped in two goals and an assist apiece, and sophomore Dallas Bridle (Orangeville, Ontario) rounded out Denver’s multi-goal scorers on the day with a pair of his own.
The Pioneers won 10-of-14 faceoffs in the second half to finish 17-of-26 in the category, led by 10 wins in 13 attempts from freshman Trevor Baptiste (Newark, N.J.). Baptiste finished the afternoon with a goal and an assist in addition to his performance from the X.
Senior goalie Ryan LaPlante (Fort Collins, Colo.) played 53 of the 60 minutes, recording nine saves in the victory. Pace, Bobzien, Cannizzaro and freshman Sean Mayle (San Carlos, Calif.) all had a game-high five ground balls.
“We wanted our guys, just like last week when we played a few club teams, to focus on doing what we do and staying on the same page,” Tierney said. “We lost it (the focus) a few times, but overall, I was really happy with our defense and our goalie play. I think our guys will take a lot of confidence from this game as we move into the winter.”
Denver took a 6-4 lead into the intermission, before the Outlaws took their only lead of the day at 7-6 off a 3-0 run in the first 8:47 of the third quarter. Bridle started the game-ending 9-0 run with his second of the afternoon. While holding the Outlaws scoreless in the final 21:13, eight different Pioneers found the back of the net.
The Pioneers are off until January 24 when they travel to Johns Hopkins for an exhibition.

MLL Year In Review: 2014 Major League Lacrosse Champion Denver Outlaws

After nine straight years of making it to the post-season, the Denver Outlaws have finally clinched the Championship Title. The Outlaws, who were playing in their fifth MLL championship, are the only team to have made the playoffs in each year of existence. Led by veteran coach BJ O’Hara and unstoppable veteran John Grant Jr., both of whom had previously won a championship with the Rochester Rattlers, the squad was finally able to take the Steinfeld Trophy home to Denver.
The Outlaws began the season on a regular season win streak that dated back to the 2012 season. The streak lasted 25 games until Denver fell in a 18-15 decision to the Charlotte Hounds on the road in Week 6. They would continue to flip flop between wins and losses for the rest of the season, suffering big injuries, including losing faceoff specialist Anthony Kelly towards the end of the regular season. However, led by a solid company of veterans, the Outlaws were able to find their rhythm just in the nick of time, beating the Lizards by one goal in the semifinals to lead them to Atlanta.
John Grant Jr. has long been one of the best players in lacrosse, and his skills became even harder to deny after his Coca Cola MVP performance during the Championship match. Junior started out the season slow, but came back with vengeance for the second half, becoming a major impact player for the Outlaws. What’s different about this Outlaws team is the range of players on their roster. They had multiple games where over 7 players scored, including the Chesapeake win when nine different Denver athletes found the back of the net. The offense wasn’t the only place their players shone through. Their depth is seen on all parts of the field, including in net when back-up goalie Charlie Cipriano won Defensive Player of the Week after stepping in for veteran net-minder, Jesse Schwartzman. It was the roster depth that made the difference at the end of the 2014 season.
The Outlaws not only have a solid defensive unit and stellar attackers, but they had one of the deepest midfield rosters in the league. Led by faceoff specialist Anthony Kelly, Denver sets the tone high for midfield play. Jeremy Sieverts and Drew Snider had especially impressive seasons for the Outlaws, Sieverts becoming the two-point weapon scoring seven in the regular season, more than any MLL team. The midfield was able to quickly move the ball through a variety of players’ sticks, making it easy for them to be a threat offensively no matter who made it down the field.
After finally passing over the championship title hump, the Outlaws are likely to be equally as successful in 2015. John Grant Jr. has proven he is one of the best and most consistent players of all time, and it will be difficult to slow him down. Denver will also be able to use the younger players on their roster to continue to grow, and will likely see even more impressive performances by their midfielders. 2015 could be another title year for this tenacious and skilled cast of athletes.

Lacrosse Magazine October 2014 Issue Released Featuring Denver Outlaws MLL Championship, Big Ten Conference And Fall Ball Preview

COVER STORY — At Last – Outlaws are Champs
Arguably the model franchise for Major League Lacrosse, Denver had never taken a title despite its success. But a spark from John Grant Jr. helped the Outlaws over the hump in a thrilling finals comback win over a great Rochester team.
by Theresa Smith
Online Coverage – Denver Takes Crown in Dramatic Fashion | Grant Sparks Denver | Championship Photo Gallery | MLL Leaves Mark on Atlanta
FEATURES
#Lacrosse is Trending
Social media has changed the way that teams coaches and players operate day-to-day. Who are the key players? And how can you maximize social media?
by Corey McLaughlin
Fallball: 30 in 30
The arrival of fall renews hopes for a great spring. We’ll be looking at 30 burning topics over the course of 30 days on LaxMagazine.com – follow along!
by LaxMagazine.com Staff
B1G Time
The Big Ten Conference brings deep pockets, deep-rooted rivalries, new matchups and the promise of more TV exposure to both men’s and women’s college lacrosse.
by Megan Schneider
“ALS Just Sucks”
Five years after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, Georgia high school coach Mickey Beard still embraces the people drawn to his side.
by Devon Heinen
Action Hero
Jay Jalbert, the purveyer of the swim dodge and an electrifying talent of his era, heads into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame alongside seven other greats.
by Mark Macyk
Goals Attained
Erin Brown Millon joins husband Mark Millon as the only husband-and-wife tandem in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. How did she make her mark on the game?
by Mark Macyk
COLUMNS
From the Editor: Against Better Judgement
His Space: Mitchell an LSM Trailblazer
Her Space: Lacrosse Mind Games
Boyle Point: Burn, Ballwatch and Batted Balls
DEPARTMENTS
Lifestyles
She used to make her mark on the fields for Boston University, but now her career has her working with the NFL – former Terrier Alex Mount talks about her work as a graphic designer in pro sports.
Your Edge
Get power shooting jedi mind tricks from Syracuse star Kayla Treanor, while Matt Streibel shows how players can pick the right dodge to maximize their abilities.
Give and Go
Entering his freshman year of college with one of the most famous names in the game and already a star after his MIAA career at Boys’ Latin, we catch up with Shack Stanwick in this month’s Q&A.
The Scoop
The shot clock debate comes into focus while face-off specialists have to make more changes, Brodie Merril lands in Toronto with the Rock after the Wings head to New England and we look at how systems align with the U.S. Women’s U-19 and Senior National Teams.

New England Lacrosse Journal Sept-Oct 2014 Online Edition Released Featuring College Recruiting Commitments And Club Team Guide

Click on “Journal” to view online

NCAA Releases “2013-14 Women’s Lacrosse Sponsorship, Participation, Scholarship, Tournament, Graduation Rate And Budget Report”

 CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL REPORT

 

College Lacrosse Recruiting: “5 Essential Steps For College Recruits” By Tom Kovic

http://victoryrecruiting.com

5 Essential Steps for College Recruits

By Tom Kovic

If you’re an athlete being recruited by colleges, the process can be stressful and choosing the right school can be difficult. Not only do you have to like the school, but the school has to like you. It may sound simple, but finding the perfect situation can be elusive. Luckily, there are ways to reduce the stress and increase the ease of the recruiting process. Here are 5 essential recruiting steps to help you with your college search.

1. Determine Potential Fits

Everyone has an idea of his or her perfect college experience. Identifying what you’re looking for in a school should be one of your first steps. Self-awareness is a powerful tool, and determining what most appeals to you about the college experience is critically important. Meet with your family to list your criteria—e.g., academic strength, level of athleticism, geographic location, size of undergraduate population. This will help you create your initial college list.

Research a small but equal number of D-I, II and III colleges and their sports programs. Read about each team’s level of success and dig into a few player profiles to evaluate their level of skill and athleticism. Take into account the school’s conference and the strength of their schedule. Finding the right class of competition for your skill level will lead to a more fulfilling college experience.

2. Identify Your Position of Strength

Do you want to use your strength as an athlete to gain an athletic scholarship, or do you want to leverage your athletic ability to get accepted to an academically select institution?

Just over 25 percent of college athletes qualify for athletic scholarships, and the competition is fierce. College coaches use simple strategies when recruiting prospects, and scholarship athletes are typically immediate impact, blue-chip players.

Coaches from certain conferences or divisions (such as the Ivy League) use slightly different formulas for rating potential prospects. The evaluation begins in the classroom, not on the field. Those schools seek academic information (such as transcripts, high school profiles and standardized test scores) to help them compute a rough “admissions index.” Once prospects pass this hurdle, coaches aggressively begin their athletic evaluation.

RELATED: Increase Your Value as a College Recruit

3. Know the NCAA Rules and Procedures

Understand and embrace the NCAA’s recruiting rules. Visit the NCAA Resources page to preview the recruiting manuals for each division and devote time to the chapters on recruiting, eligibility and financial aid.

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Your high school athletic director can provide you with an easy-to-understand, scaled-down version of the NCAA rules. He or she should also have experience working with former high school athletes who went on to play in college, so feel free to lean on your AD as a resource for information and insight.

RELATED: 8 Ways NCAA Recruiting Rules Have Changed

4. See the Big Picture

Your athletic career is only one part of a broader collegiate experience. It’s important to look beyond athletics when assessing schools that can prepare you for your professional field of interest.

Some “non-athletic-scholarship schools” can, in many cases, still offer significant financial assistance. It’s important for you, your family and your high school advisors to clearly understand the role of the college coach in this process and make every effort to develop a sincere and strong working relationship with him or her.

5. Communicate

Once you identify the colleges you are interested in, make an effort to communicate with the right people as early as possible. College coaches have clear restrictions to when and where they may contact recruits and their families, but you and your family may call or email a coach early in the recruiting process, with very few exceptions.

Sending a letter of introduction accompanied by a profile is a great way to begin, but it’s important to follow up regularly with significant updates that have “grip,” such as competition results, statistics and academic updates. If you practice “proactive persistence” with respect, you can a grab a college coach’s attention.

Learn more about how to maximize your communication with college coaches.

http://www.stack.com/2014/08/22/college-recruit-steps/?icn=homepage&ici=Latest_1%20newsletter

Denver Outlaws Top Rochester Rattlers 12-11 To Claim 2014 MLL Championship; 6-1 Fourth Quarter Run Earns Team First Title In Nine Seasons

The Denver Outlaws outscored the Rochester Rattlers 6-1 in the fourth quarter to win the franchise’s first MLL Championship. Drew Snider scored the game-winning goal with 56 seconds left in the game, to seal the 12-11 victory for the team and earn them the Steinfeld Trophy.
It was Denver’s fifth MLL Championship appearance in nine years as a franchise. The Outlaws are the only MLL franchise to make the playoffs in each year of existence.
John Grant Jr. was named the Coca Cola Championship Final MVP for his three-goal, four-point performance tonight.
Chris Bocklet started the scoring, netting a goal 19 seconds into the first quarter—the quickest goal in MLL Championship history since 2005, the earliest year statistical information was available for.
The Rattlers answered with five straight goals to close out the first quarter, and took a 5-1 lead into the second.
Domenic Sebastiani ended the scoring drought for Denver, to cut the Rochester lead to 5-2 early in the second quarter. Denver capitalized on a man-up opportunity after Rochester’s John Lade was called for pushing, as Bocklet netted his second goal of the night.
Junior continued the scoring for Denver, working the crease to sneak one by Rochester goalie John Galloway and cutting the Rochester lead to 6-4 heading into halftime.
Faceoff specialist Anthony Kelly was 8-12 (.667) in the first half, playing despite injuring his Achilles and missing the last two games before playoffs. He finished the game 14-25 (.560) on faceoffs.
Rochester scored two in the third to extend its lead to 8-4. Eric Law worked the crease, showing off some Junior-like moves, to net his first goal of the night and make it 8-5. Rochester answered with a goal of their own, but Sieverts found net to make it 9-6. Rochester added one more to end the third quarter and take a 10-6 lead into the final quarter of play.
Junior netted two goals early in the fourth, including his signature behind-the-back move, to cut Rochester’s lead to 10-8. On the team’s next offensive possession, Junior dished it off to Law in front of the goal for the team’s third goal in a row, to make it 10-9—the narrowest Rochester lead since early in the first quarter.