Ualbany looks to improve vs. No. 2
Ualbany, coming off a loss to Syracuse, meets NCAA finalist Cornell
Coming off a 13-goal loss in the season opener at Syracuse, University at Albany men’s lacrosse coach Scott Marr is simply looking for improvement.
It won’t be easy with Cornell, the nation’s second-ranked team, coming to Albany. The Great Danes (0-1) face the Big Red, the highest-ranked opponent to visit Casey Stadium, in Ualbany’s home opener at noon Saturday.
“Right now, I honestly don’t want to look at the outcome for Saturday,” Marr said. “I just want to play better. I want to play more to our capabilities than we did (against Syracuse). I don’t think we’re that bad. It was disappointing that we didn’t play as well as we could have played. I want to make plays and just improve this week and approach the next week after that.”
Saturday’s match is the opener of a doubleheader, followed by the Ualbany women (0-1) vs. Cornell at 3 p.m. on John Fallon Field.
The Ualbany men began their season with a 20-7 setback to the Orange on Feb. 10 at JMA Wireless Dome. Syracuse went on a 7-0 run to end the match.
“You hate to say that that score is deceiving, but it kind of was,” Marr said. “It just got away from us toward the end of the fourth quarter, for sure. (Syracuse) played very well. They shot very well. I don’t want to take any credit away from how they played. I just thought that ... we made too many self-inflicted wounds.”
It’s the season opener for Cornell, which lost to Maryland in last year’s national championship game. The Big Red are No. 2 in the Inside Lacrosse media poll. Maryland was ranked third when the Terrapins beat Ualbany 12-11 at Casey Stadium in 2016.
“Our guys pay attention,” Marr said. “They know Cornell played in the national champi
onship game last year. They know they’re very good. They know where they’re sitting in the polls, but they’re ranked No. 2 from last year’s team. This is a different team for Cornell as well.”
The Big Red beat Ualbany 16-8 in last year’s opener in Ithaca. Cornell returns junior attack CJ Kirst and senior defenseman Gavin Adler from that team. Both players are on the watch list for the Tewaaraton Award, given to the top player in college lacrosse. Big Red senior goalie Chayse Ierlan is the younger brother of former Great Danes faceoff standout TD Ierlan.
Marr said Wednesday he was uncertain which goalie he’ll start. Senior Tommy Heller started against Syracuse and made two saves and allowed nine goals. He was pulled in favor of junior Jack Vanvalkenburgh, who made seven saves and gave up 11 goals.
“Tommy’s played better in practice this week again,” Marr said.
Marr said his team’s injury situation is largely unchanged from before the Syracuse opener. Starting defenseman Will Pepe is still out with a broken collarbone. Midfielders Conner Fingar (knee), Patrick Mai (hip surgery) are done for the year and midfielder Jacob Moran (hamstring) is also out. Attack Camden Hay (knee) also has a seasonending injury.
The midfield injuries forced freshmen Justin Lee and Alex Pfeiffer into significant action in their college debuts at Syracuse.
“I thought they played fine, and it is a great experience for them,” Marr said. “You’re a kid following college lacrosse your whole life and your first game is at the Dome against Syracuse. That’s unbelievable experience. It’s a lot easier to jump into the Cornell game knowing you played Syracuse the week before.”
Ualbany plays its next five games at home. Marr’s next victory will be the 200th of his career.