Jan. 27, 2008
by Clare Lochary, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
[CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE PHOTO GALLERY]
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Midfielder Ned Crotty fell down on the final possession, and the Duke men's lacrosse team fell just short of an upset Sunday, as the U.S. All-Stars beat the Blue Devils, 13-12, in the final game of the US Lacrosse Champions Challenge at Disney's Wide World of Sports.
Matt Striebel led the U.S. with four goals and an assist, in the national team's first game since losing to Canada in the gold medal game of the 2006 ILF World Championship.
"It's tough in two days, to get chemistry going," said Team USA coach Matt Kerwick. "We had a throw-together team, and we stood up to the best college team in the nation."
The U.S. All-Stars were comprised of eight players from that 2006 team, including Striebel, and 13 others from the tryout pool. All 21 players play professionally for Major League Lacrosse.
The hotly contested game had four lead changes. The U.S. took the biggest advantage of the day at 13-10 with 3:09 remaining. Duke charged back with two fast goals from attackman Max Quinzani, earning a "Let's go Duke!" chant from the crowd, but couldn't quite tie it on Crotty's possession with 8.7 seconds remaining.
But Blue Devils head coach John Danowski liked what he saw from his team, and considered the weekend an important bonding experience and a chance to experiment with his lineup.
"The competitive juices get flowing, but we played 38 guys, four goalies and had alternating attacks and midfields," said Danowski.
Some of that experimentation worked exceptionally well. Junior middie Mike Catalino, who scored eight points during the 2007 season, had three goals and an assist at Champions Challenge.
"This is our first competition as a team. We didn't play any fall ball," said Catalino. "We got some good film and we're going to be able to find out our weaknesses."
The absence of Tewaaraton Trophy winner Matt Danowski, who had foot surgery in the offseason, no doubt was part of the Blue Devils' troubles. But they also made some typical early-season mistakes, twice jumping offsides and facing six man-down situations.
Duke will need to polish its rough edges before its season opener Feb. 16 against Bucknell.
The U.S. team is looking ahead even further than that. They have their eye on the next world championship, to be held in England in 2010.
"Strapping it on with the number one guys in the league, you've got to get it done," said Stephen Berger, who scored two goals for Team USA. "The last time we wore these jerseys, we lost. This game is going to be the start of the future."
