OT: Local high School lacrosse player with 1000 face offs won...

[Ranger Dan]

my nephew plays lacrosse for Central York and I was at his county championship game tonight. I’m not well versed in lacrosse rules, but am learning. My brother in law had previously mentioned that they had a player who was great at faceoffs. Tonight, towards the end of the game, it was announced that he had won his 1000th faceoff in his career. I’m trying to do the math, but even if he started as a sophomore, that would be an impressive record. From what I saw tonight, he won just about every face off. Is this really an significant accomplishment?

 

[2PBC22]

I think it is. Team’s have dedicated players to take face offs called FOGOs (Face off / get off). Winning almost every possession is a huge benefit to a team. Just like face off % is an important part of hockey, it’s equally as important in lacrosse.

 

[massimoManca II]

I think it is. Team’s have dedicated players to take face offs called FOGOs (Face off / get off). Winning almost every possession is a huge benefit to a team. Just like face off % is an important part of hockey, it’s equally as important in lacrosse.

Ummm, Except winning a face-off is about 10x more important in lacrosse than hockey*

 

[Pardlion]

my nephew plays lacrosse for Central York and I was at his county championship game tonight. I’m not well versed in lacrosse rules, but am learning. My brother in law had previously mentioned that they had a player who was great at faceoffs. Tonight, towards the end of the game, it was announced that he had won his 1000th faceoff in his career. I’m trying to do the math, but even if he started as a sophomore, that would be an impressive record. From what I saw tonight, he won just about every face off. Is this really an significant accomplishment?

That’s very good, but would be a much more significant accomplishment in SE Pa.

 

[Ranger Dan]

That’s very good, but would be a much more significant accomplishment in SE Pa.

I thought you were being biased, but it seems that all of the state champions are coming from the SE part of PA.

 

[Ranger Dan]

I think it is. Team’s have dedicated players to take face offs called FOGOs (Face off / get off). Winning almost every possession is a huge benefit to a team. Just like face off % is an important part of hockey, it’s equally as important in lacrosse.

Yes, I was told that he was a FOGO.

 

[Pardlion]

Are you serious? York County kids play travel/club lacrosse in Maryland. Isn’t that the epicenter of lacrosse in the US? I’m not saying that this kid is the next Jim Brown. I think he has offers from Towson and UMBC, not Hopkins. I am no expert, but my impression is that York lacrosse is competitive.

I’m totally serious. Check out the results of states for the last . . . well, forever.

My guess is that York lacrosse would get smoked by the top 8 or 10 district 1 teams.

 

[Sproul]

I’m totally serious. Check out the results of states for the last . . . well, forever.

My guess is that York lacrosse would get smoked by the top 8 or 10 district 1 teams.

Piaa puts all 7 of the district 1 teams on the same side of the bracket for state playoffs just so a fake team can play for the championship. All 7 district 1 teams would beat the non-district 1 team that makes the finals.

 

[sluggo72]

my nephew plays lacrosse for Central York and I was at his county championship game tonight. I’m not well versed in lacrosse rules, but am learning. My brother in law had previously mentioned that they had a player who was great at faceoffs. Tonight, towards the end of the game, it was announced that he had won his 1000th faceoff in his career. I’m trying to do the math, but even if he started as a sophomore, that would be an impressive record. From what I saw tonight, he won just about every face off. Is this really an significant accomplishment?

well lets see, I know they faceoff before the game, and the half (I cant remember if they faceoff at the quarters) they faceoff after every score (either team) so far York Central has had at least 342 faceoff opportunities from scores (259 pts scored 83 points allowed) and another 32 from the starts of the game/half. that;s around 374 for this year alone. so if he won every faceoff for the last 3 yrs that might put him at 1100! So yes it is a great accomplishment, no matter the level of competition.

http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/central-york-panthers-(york,pa)/lacrosse/schedule.htm

 

[Delco Lion]

Piaa puts all 7 of the district 1 teams on the same side of the bracket for state playoffs just so a fake team can play for the championship. All 7 district 1 teams would beat the non-district 1 team that makes the finals.

Depends on seeding,brackets, and the year, but Manheim Twp is on par with most of the top D1 PIAA lax teams.

 

[bison13]

I would assume 25 faceoffs a game x 15 games = 375 year x 4 years would be 1500 if he took every one. Could be more as I think the overall game is way less there than in MD. Most good teams down here in MD are happy with a 55%-60% rate wonder what his % is.

 

[Pardlion]

Depends on seeding,brackets, and the year, but Manheim Twp is on par with most of the top D1 PIAA lax teams.

No, it's not.

 

[Delco Lion]

No, it's not.

Why do you say that? My son played for one of the top public school teams in D1, played for the Dukes, was headed to a top lax school until he blew his knee out in his sr year, and coached for the Dukes, and coached a top D1 hs. I've seen alot of lax and would say MT is on par with most top 10 D1 PIAA schools.

 

[Pardlion]

Why do you say that? My son played for one of the top public school teams in D1, played for the Dukes, was headed to a top lax school until he blew his knee out in his sr year, and coached for the Dukes, and coached a top D1 hs. I've seen alot of lax and would say MT is on par with most top 10 D1 PIAA schools.

Look, Manheim isn't bad--probably the one non-SE Pa team that is consistently good. But, on the other hand, they don't do well in states or in head-to-head against good D1 teams (ex: Avon Grove just beat them easily). What they do have is a bunch of groupie parents who constantly repeat that they are just as good as the D1 teams that consistently beat them.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Piaa puts all 7 of the district 1 teams on the same side of the bracket for state playoffs just so a fake team can play for the championship. All 7 district 1 teams would beat the non-district 1 team that makes the finals.

the part of your quote that I bolded is inaccurate.

In Class AAA, D1 qualifies 6 teams for States, while in Class AA, D1 qualifies 3 teams for States. (The number of qualifiers gets reset every two years. It appears that for 2019, in 2A D1 will only send 2 teams to States.)

in last year's boy's PIAA 3A bracket, 1-2 (Avon Grove), 1-3 (Garnet Valley), 1-4 (CB East), 1-5 (Spring-Ford) were in the top half of the bracket, while 1-1 ('Stoga) and 1-6 (Haverford) were in the bottom half of the bracket. In last year's PIAA 2A bracket, 1-1 (Springfield) was in the top half of the bracket, while 1-2 (WC Henderson), and 1-3 (Strath Haven) were in the bottom half of the bracket.

2017 was the 1st year where there were 2 classes in boy's lacrosse. In 2016, D1 sent 5 teams to States, with 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-3 in the top half of the bracket, and 1-5 in the bottom half of the bracket.

The overall point of your statement is correct. The D1 teams do generally dominate LAX (both boy's and girl's) in the PIAA, and there is frustration in D1 that they are mostly on the same half of the bracket. If I recall correctly, for boy's through 2014, D1 teams had only 4 loses in States to teams that were not D1 or D12 (Philadelphia and Philadelphia Catholic League, which includes some suburban Catholic teams). At that time, Manheim Township and Emmaus (2 times each) were the only non-D1 or D12 teams that had beaten a D1 team in States for boy's LAX.

 

[Delco Lion]

Look, Manheim isn't bad--probably the one non-SE Pa team that is consistently good. But, on the other hand, they don't do well in states or in head-to-head against good D1 teams (ex: Avon Grove just beat them easily). What they do have is a bunch of groupie parents who constantly repeat that they are just as good as the D1 teams that consistently beat them.

You dont like their parents... lol I too am familiar with them, but dont hold that against the kids or the program. They would be alot better if they played SE PA teams day in day out, but they have to play CP teams.

 

[LafayetteBear]

That is an incredible statistic for a FOGO to amass. Major props to him. Unless the competition is absolute garbage, he should be getting expressions of interest from college LAX programs.

 

[Ranger Dan]

That is an incredible statistic for a FOGO to amass. Major props to him. Unless the competition is absolute garbage, he should be getting expressions of interest from college LAX programs.

He apparently has offers from Towson, UMBC, and Eastern (?), but he's going to go to a two year school somewhere, I guess that means junior college, and then see what happens down the road.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

Furthermore, I’m guessing he’s probably a wrestler too. Am I right? It seems that most FOGO’s are current or former wrestlers.

My gf's son is a FOGO, but gave up lax to focus on hockey. Seems like there is a lot of overlap between hockey and lax

 

[NedFromYork]

What do you think of the Central York school district and the student population there Dan?

 

[Pardlion]

He apparently has offers from Towson, UMBC, and Eastern (?), but he's going to go to a two year school somewhere, I guess that means junior college, and then see what happens down the road.

Hm.

 

[Pardlion]

You dont like their parents... lol I too am familiar with them, but dont hold that against the kids or the program. They would be alot better if they played SE PA teams day in day out, but they have to play CP teams.

It’s more of a put up or shut up kind of thing.

 

[massimoManca II]

That’s very good, but would be a much more significant accomplishment in SE Pa.

Even more so, were it in Central NEW York

 

[Ranger Dan]

Furthermore, I’m guessing he’s probably a wrestler too. Am I right? It seems that most FOGO’s are current or former wrestlers.

I have no idea, but he was built short and stout like a wrestler...

 

[Ranger Dan]

County championship game was tonight and my nephews team, Central York lost to York Catholic in overtime. Central was outplaying them, ahead 9 to 5 at halftime. The central FOGO was injured a minute into the second half and the momentum shifted totally to Catholic. They went ahead 12-10 with 2 minutes to go, and Central tied it to send to overtime. Central won the faceoff (the regular FOGO’s little brother) and brought the ball down for a shot, Catholic got it and scored to win it in sudden death.

It’s crazy how big of a difference it made not having the good FOGO in, and it really seemed to take the wind out of the rest of the team. Also, the Catholic goalie was awesome! In the half limited number of HS lacrosse games I’ve seen, I am surprised when a goalie makes a save, with this kid, I was surprised when he didn’t save. Btw, Jon Witman’s Sons play for Catholic, and they had multiple goals tonight.

 

[ColinPSU]

That is an incredible statistic for a FOGO to amass. Major props to him. Unless the competition is absolute garbage, he should be getting expressions of interest from college LAX programs.

Fun fact: the best FOGO guys go to Face Off Academy in Long Island run by a former PSU guy Greg Gurenlian. That’s a no joke place and most who train under Greg are now premier FOGOs (Arceri included.)

 

[Delco Lion]

County championship game was tonight and my nephews team, Central York lost to York Catholic in overtime. Central was outplaying them, ahead 9 to 5 at halftime. The central FOGO was injured a minute into the second half and the momentum shifted totally to Catholic. They went ahead 12-10 with 2 minutes to go, and Central tied it to send to overtime. Central won the faceoff (the regular FOGO’s little brother) and brought the ball down for a shot, Catholic got it and scored to win it in sudden death.

It’s crazy how big of a difference it made not having the good FOGO in, and it really seemed to take the wind out of the rest of the team. Also, the Catholic goalie was awesome! In the half limited number of HS lacrosse games I’ve seen, I am surprised when a goalie makes a save, with this kid, I was surprised when he didn’t save. Btw, Jon Witman’s Sons play for Catholic, and they had multiple goals tonight.

I was going to ask you about Cole Witman. Does he play football? Looks like he would be a great LB or safety.

 

[Ranger Dan]

I was going to ask you about Cole Witman. Does he play football? Looks like he would be a great LB or safety.

I think they played football at Eastern York. The rumor I heard was that some issue with the football coach was the cause of the transfer.

 

[Delco Lion]

Look, Manheim isn't bad--probably the one non-SE Pa team that is consistently good. But, on the other hand, they don't do well in states or in head-to-head against good D1 teams (ex: Avon Grove just beat them easily). What they do have is a bunch of groupie parents who constantly repeat that they are just as good as the D1 teams that consistently beat them.

Did you see Manheim Twp won boys State lax championship yesterday?

 

[Pardlion]

Did you see Manheim Twp won boys State lax championship yesterday?

Yes. Like I said, they aren’t bad, and this was obviously their year. Not sure they would have beaten conestoga or Avon grove, but those teams choked so good for Mannheim.

 

[royboy]

On the importance of a good faceoff player, this Albany player is looking to transfer and is a very hot prospect for top LAX programs

Faceoff specialist TD Ierlan granted release by Albany lacrosse

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Faceoff ace TD Ierlan of the Albany Great Danes has been granted his release from the lacrosse program.

Coach Scott Marr said Thursday that the program appreciates all of the positive contributions Ierlan made the past two years, but "unfortunately, it just didn't turn out to be the right fit."

Ierlan was a key reason Albany advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history, excelling during a record-breaking sophomore season. He won an NCAA record 79.1 percent of his faceoffs, capturing a record 359 draws. He also easily led the nation in ground balls with a record 254, an average of 13.37 per game, also a record.

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/...e-grants-release-faceoff-specialist-td-ierlan

 

[Pardlion]

On the importance of a good faceoff player, this Albany player is looking to transfer and is a very hot prospect for top LAX programs

Faceoff specialist TD Ierlan granted release by Albany lacrosse

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Faceoff ace TD Ierlan of the Albany Great Danes has been granted his release from the lacrosse program.

Coach Scott Marr said Thursday that the program appreciates all of the positive contributions Ierlan made the past two years, but "unfortunately, it just didn't turn out to be the right fit."

Ierlan was a key reason Albany advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history, excelling during a record-breaking sophomore season. He won an NCAA record 79.1 percent of his faceoffs, capturing a record 359 draws. He also easily led the nation in ground balls with a record 254, an average of 13.37 per game, also a record.

http://www.espn.com/college-sports/...e-grants-release-faceoff-specialist-td-ierlan

Kind of weird that with such a successful record he’s leaving.

 

[royboy]

Kind of weird that with such a successful record he’s leaving.

Yeah, FWIW, some speculation on lacrosse sites include:

his younger brother is enrolling at Cornell
he wants better academics
doesn't get along with his teammates

 

[Delco Lion]

Kind of weird that with such a successful record he’s leaving.

May also want a stronger supporting cast and a better shot at a national championship.

 

[massimoManca II]

I spent the weekend in the Adirondacks with someone who has connections within WNY lacrosse and lives near the Ierlans... this guy is hearing some rumblings, among them :

A) Albany would not sign Ierlan’s release for any destination that plays against Albany (Thus, Cornell is OUT)
B) Jeff Tambroni has tentacles in NY Sec V. and has seen plenty of film on this kid (has faced current PSU attackman Kevin Hill and class of ‘22 commit CJ Battaglia) so he knows him well...
C) Ierlan will likely be playing in Panzer Stadium next year

I’ve seen Ierlan play against the best teams in NYS and, although I’m not a fan of his attitude/on field drama, it is simply crazy how he effortlessly wins EVERY faceoff...