Cornell up first in Ivy tourney
NEW HAVEN — There no denying the similarities between last season’s eventual national championship team and the current version as the Yale men’s lacrosse team heads into the postseason.
Just like last year Yale has lost only two regular-season games, both in overtime, including the season-opener to Villanova.
And the Bulldogs once again enter Friday’s Ivy League tournament as one of the nation’s most highlyregarded teams — No. 1 in the national polls a year ago; No. 2 this time around — with a chance to secure a top-three seed for the upcoming NCAA tournament.
Yale (11-2, 5-1) once again faces Cornell (10-4, 4-2) in the Ivy League tournament at Columbia’s Wien Stadium. Game time is approximately 8:45 p.m., or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first semifinal game between Penn and Brown.
Just like last year, Yale defeated the Cornell in the regular season, though it was the Big Red getting the last laugh, beating the Bulldogs for the league championship.
Yet while the current scenario paints a familiar — and promising — setup for another thrilling May, Yale has forged its own unique path to success. It’s managed to overcome the losses of attacker Ben Reeves, the best player in the country, midfielders Tyler Warner and Jason Alessi, defenders Christopher Keating and Jerry O’Conner as well as FOGO Connor Mackie.
“We’ve taken a different journey, but we’re back in the playoffs,” Yale coach Andy Shay said. “We’re taking it one moment at a time, like always.”
Let us take a moment to glimpse at the bigger picture for Yale.
An NCAA bid is wrapped up no matter what happens this weekend. When the field of 16 is announced on Sunday (9 p.m., ESPNU), it will mark the fifth straight appearance and seventh in eight years for the Bulldogs. Where they land remains the question.
Yale, currently fourth in the Ratings Percentage Index, is in healthy shape for a top eight finish and first-round home game. Penn State, whose only loss is to the Bulldogs, appears to have the top seed secured. For Yale, an Ivy League title could boost it as high as the second or third overall seed.
The Ivy League tournament, established in 2010, has been a Yale hallmark. The Bulldogs are the only program that’s qualified every season, winning five titles in the past seven seasons.
Cornell handled Yale easily during last year’s finals. The Big Red, 12th in the RPI, could use a victory to secure its at-large NCAA hopes.
“(Cornell) is so talented and impressive,” Shay said. “We beat them last time. We beat them last year but the playoffs didn’t work out so well for us. We’ve got to play good fundamental game.”
FAMILY AFFAIR
Tonight’s game is another chance for Yale junior T.D. Ierlan, the Ivy League player of the year, to take on his younger brother, Chayse Irelan, Cornell’s freshman goalie.
As Yale’s faceoff specialist, T.D.’s job isn’t to score goals so there won’t be much, if any, opportunity to fire a shot on his brother. He took no shots during the Bulldogs regular season win in March, the first time the two ever played against each other.
Shots may arise — Ierlan has five goals this season, three coming in the past four games. He says he’s taken extra time shooting in practice this week just in case. More clear is the game-day attire of his parents, Mike and Karen, will feature homemade YaleCornell gear.
“My mom and dad are one of those cheesy families that wear the shirt and hat split down the middle (with Yale and Cornell logos),” T.D. says. “Even though I told my mom not to do that, she’s definitely doing it. She’s a home and careers teacher so she has to do it now. It’s going to be embarrassing. She wants him to win, too. This week my dad’s the favorite.”
Ierlan set an NCAA record in last Saturday’s win at Harvard for faceoff efficiency in a single game, winning all 26 draws. He’s also on pace to beat the NCAA record for winning percentage in a season he set while at Albany last season — he’s currently at .794, ahead of the .791 of last season.