At 6 feet 4 and 195 pounds, Jeff Brown is a physical and athletic long-pole defender for the University of Denver men’s lacrosse team.
Cohasset’s Jeff Brown has used his size and athleticism to the University of Denver’s advantage. (Rich Clarkson And Associates)
He knocks down passes, he has a good stick, and his presence on the back line has been pivotal in tightening up a defensive unit that was pretty soft early on.
The first few weeks of this season, however, the former Cohasset High standout was a step behind, just trying to earn regular playing time, and justifiably so.
Last fall, as his Pioneer teammates were introduced to their new mentor, former Princeton coaching legend Bill Tierney, in a five-week short season, Brown was studying abroad in Greece.
“He was learning the ropes, it was a rough spot for him, but he kept working hard,’’ said Tierney of his junior defender, who has made seven straight starts and played 10 games overall. “Our defense was giving up too many goals. Since he has stepped into the lineup, he has been playing very well.’’
And so, too, have the Pioneers.
After a 1-3 start, Denver (12-4) has won 11 of its last 12 games, including a 12-4 victory over Loyola (Md.) to clinch the ECAC title and secure a spot in the NCAA tournament. The Pioneers, just 7-8 a year ago, will play at Stony Brook Saturday afternoon at 1 in the first round of the tournament.
“You set goals, but at 1-3, dreams of the NCAA tournament seemed far-fetched,’’ said Tierney, who guided Princeton to six NCAA titles in 22 seasons.
The Pioneers have lost just one game since mid-March, a 14-7 loss to Notre Dame. And Brown, who led Cohasset to back-to-back Division 3 state titles, has been immense.
“We have some big defensemen, but of the guys that start, he is the biggest, and he is left-handed, which really can give opposing players a different look, ’’ said Tierney. “The previous coaching staff here did a good job finding him.’’
The previous coaching staff utilized a defensive style that “was akin to a full-court press in basketball,’’ Tierney said. “I wasn’t comfortable with that; we emphasize a more supportive team defense. Jeff is a bright player, he has bought into it, like the others. It took a few weeks for everyone to get comfortable.’’
Now the Pioneers, just one of two Division 1 programs west of the Mississippi along with Air Force, head east for a rematch against a Stony Brook squad that they defeated 13-12 earlier this season.
“That game was the first win in our streak of nine wins, and the natural conclusion is that everything changed in that game,’’ said Tierney. “But we have come so far since then, but I’m sure they have, too. But this is real exciting, this is where you want to be, playing on [the East Coast], playing in the tournament, because people there know the game so well.’’
http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/articles/2010/05/13/cohassets
_brown_tightens_defense_for_university_of_denver_mens_lacrosse/?page=full
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