Bucknell University Athletics
2009 Patriot League Men's Lax Semifinal #2 Post-game Quotes
4/24/2009 8:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
April 24, 2009
2009 PATRIOT LEAGUE MEN'S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal Game 2: No. 3 Navy 9, No. 2 Colgate 8
Records: Navy (10-4), Colgate(9-5)
Quotes
April 24, 2009
Navy Head Coach Richie Meade
(Opening comments)
“Obviously, it was a very hard fought game. I thought that Matt Vernam did a very good job on Brandon Corp. I think he got one in the beginning. I thought that defensively, after the first quarter, we played very well. We got one in transition when Crown came in and
“I don't think we played very well in the first half, in the first quarter, but then I think we just kept fighting. In the fourth quarter, I was impressed with the fact that when we were down 8-6, I didn't see anybody's head drop. They were all very focused. “
“I thought we had more chances to win the game than they did. When you go into overtime and they've got Brandon Corp and Kevin Colleluori, you get nervous.”
(On Lennon's game)
“I thought he shot it in a lot at the end. Joe's a good player. He plays hard and you've got to play good to score four goals. I'm happy that he's on our team.”
(On midfielders getting 8 of 9 goals)
“They (Colgate) played much better today than they did last week defensively, and their goalie played much better. We knew last week that he didn't have a good game. We thought we could attack them from up top. We didn't know if Timmy (Harrington) was going to be able to play and we tested him a bit, and he wasn't playing at the level he needed to. I thought the attack did a pretty good job of not making a lot of mistakes. I thought they moved the ball well, they distributed it. I thought Brendan Connors was in position to score several goals that he didn't execute. Obviously, our midfielders have always been a big part of our team, to have that group come on a bit at this time of the year helps us. Colgate played last week. We watched the game, we knew that they weren't as bad defensively as they showed in that game, and they scored 11 goals. And we knew that we weren't as bad defensively as we showed last week against Johns Hopkins. We knew all these games were going to be very close, and obviously we were fortunate to win.”
Navy junior Joe Lennon
(On keeping the season alive)
“It's a great feeling to be playing some more. We just want to keep the seniors around for another game. Personally, I want to keep playing with my brother, obviously. It just seems a little early to end the season, so we're just happy to be playing on Sunday.”
(On the feeling on the sideline, down 8-6)
“Personally, I was a little worried. I don't want this to be our last game. We felt like we just needed to get the stops. That was the biggest thing. We had confidence on offense, we just needed the ball. Once we got to 8-7, we made a great stop with about two minutes to go and that gave us another chance. From then on, our defense made the plays. They had some good looks, but our defense kept getting us the ball back.”
Navy senior Andy Tormey
(On extending the season a few more days)
“It's unbelievable. I can't describe how it feels like right now. What we focused on in practice the day other was, not necessarily Colgate, but the fact that we walked off the field, not victorious last time with five seconds left in the game. To get this win right now, everyone played out of their minds. It's an unbelievable feeling. I can't even describe it right now. It's beyond words. I'm really excited for Sunday. We've got to get a lot of rest. We've got the NFL Draft on Saturday to watch while we rest up, so that's good. It was an unbelievable effort from everybody.”
(On reversing tough losses)
“It's a great feeling. That's what we focused the whole week on. We lost three games by one goal this year. We didn't come out on top those times, but playoffs are when people come out to play and when people play their best. I think we all played our best tonight. Give a lot of credit to Matt Vernam. He played unbelievable on Brandon (Corp). I think we held those two top guys out of the scoring column for the most part. To make up for that one loss, we have a little unfinished business left, so we look forward to that on Sunday. It was a great win for us.”
(On responding to Colgate's quick three goals early in the game)
“We're so poised as a team. I was thinking to myself, it was 3-0 and 4-1, and they scored that goal at the end of the first quarter with just a second left, it's just the first quarter. We're more of a second half team. We wanted to come out to a quick start, but everything doesn't go your way all the time. We just dealt with it. We get so behind at school, between academics and the military part, we're such a poised team, nothing really gets us down. No matter what the situation is, we're going to come to play and nothing's too big of an obstacle to overcome, just like in the fourth quarter, when they were up two with three minutes left. We got a couple of bounces that went our way and that's all we needed to pull it out.”
(On midfielders' and Joe Lennon's play)
“I can remember a few times off the top of my head we came up with a big defensive stop, we need that goal, that possession time, and they're there for us. We relied on them a lot, they relied on us a lot. It's just a whole team effort tonight. Joe Lennon played out of his mind. All around, hustle wise, they played unbelievable and that's what we need on Sunday, too.”
Colgate Head Coach Jim Nagle
(Opening Comments)
“It was just a great game. They're (Navy) a great team. I like the way our kids responded after a tough loss last weekend. “
(On whether Colleluori and Corp had an off night or Navy was stronger defensively)
“I don't think Kevin (Colleluori) or Brandon (Corp) played off. They're just a good defensive team. I felt like, looking back on it, Brandon's dodging and getting some great looks at the cage. Ian Murphy hit the pipe in overtime. Nick Monastero hit a pipe. I don't think he had a bad day at all. He just didn't get the breaks.”
