Bucknell University Athletics
Streep Makes Immediate Impact on Bison Men's Lacrosse Program
2/15/2010 7:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Feb. 15, 2010
By Jon Terry, Bucknell Athletic Communicatons
Dateline Lewisburg, Feb. 28, 2009. The Bison men's lacrosse team had just seen 12th-ranked Navy explode for four straight fourth-quarter goals to wipe out all of a 7-3 deficit. Just five seconds remained on the Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium scoreboard, and the Bucknell players were huddled up on the frigid sideline during a timeout waiting for head coach Frank Fedorjaka and offensive coordinator Judd Lattimore to disclose their strategy. When play resumed, the Bison would have possession deep in the right corner, near the end line. They needed someone to make a play. Almost in unison, Fedorjaka and Lattimore turned their heads in the direction of Charlie Streep.
The coaches had plenty of good options at their disposal in that situation: All-American and feeder extraordinaire Austin Winter, a 100-goal scorer in Joe Mele, a big-time finisher in Tim Brandau, a hard-charging senior middie with a rocket shot in Perry Menzies, and the list went on. Instead, Fedorjaka put the ball in the stick of a freshman playing in just his third collegiate game.
As Streep trotted out for the re-start, he was greeted by a short-stick defensive midfielder. A nice break, he thought, knowing that it would be easier to dodge a "shortie." What he did not fully understand at the time was that the defender was Geoff Leone, an All-American and one of the best defenders on one of the best defensive teams in all of college lacrosse. The play called for Streep to make a break for the goal, and with only five seconds remaining he would probably have to find someone to pass to.
But Streep got such a good jump on the referee's whistle that he found himself with a step on Leone and was nearing the crease area with enough time remaining to try something spectacular. Streep hurled himself toward the slot and flipped a remarkable diving shot past stunned goalie RJ Wickham just as the clock flipped to all zeroes. There was a moment of uncertainty as to whether the shot beat the horn or not, but the officials quickly ruled it a good goal, and bedlam ensued. The Bison had an exhilarating 8-7 win, paving the way for a perfect 6-0 Patriot League record. And not coincidentally, a star was born.
Infused with confidence, Streep went on to post 25 goals and seven assists while earning First Team All-Patriot League and Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors.
"I just remember being really nervous," Streep remembers of the now-legendary Navy finish. "I really didn't know if I could get the ball to net that quickly, but it really solidified my own confidence in my ballcarrying ability, and I think it gave the coaches confidence in me. I am just grateful that I was given the opportunity to be put in that role as a freshman. It was a really exciting moment, and it was great to get that win."
As the 2010 season rapidly approaches - the Bison open against No. 1 Duke on Feb. 13 in Atlanta - Streep is now considered one of the best young midfielders around. Fedorjaka recently called him "one of the most talented middies in the country, the kind of guy who can take over a game." College lacrosse guru Quint Kessenich, in a video posting on InsideLacrosse.com, said that Streep is "one of the quickest and best split-dodgers that you haven't seen play."
As his reputation has grown, Streep figures he will have to adapt his game to stay one step ahead of the scouting reports.
"My role on the team will not necessarily change, but how other teams see us may change," he says. "I may draw more long poles now, but we have so many amazing players and that would just free up somebody else who can score. I'll be ready to distribute more if I need to."
Streep's assessment is accurate. Bucknell has typically been known as a defense-first program, and while the focus on defense will not change, the Bison are now loaded with offensive firepower. Mele and Menzies were the only losses among the team's top eight goal-producers from a year ago.
"We have really come into our own offensively," Streep says. "Coach Lattimore really has everyone on the same page. We all understand the flow of the offense."
He was recruited as an attackman, but with the three veterans in front of him, Streep was moved to midfield about halfway through his first fall ball season. The adjustment took some time, as he was trying to learn a new position while also getting used to the speed and intensity of the college game, but ultimately Fedorjaka could not help but find a way to get him on the field.
"I didn't even anticipate being able to play right away," Streep recalls. "I felt lucky just to be able to rotate in as the fourth attackman. Then they moved me to midfield and I was rotating in with the first midfield unit. It took a little while to adjust to the position, but my comfort level kept getting better and better, and I had a couple of big games early in the season. I think it made things easier getting [defended by] a short stick with no pressure from a long pole. It gave me more confidence to play my style."
Surprisingly, the New Canaan, Conn., native's path to collegiate prominence was not clear-cut. Streep, whose aunt is Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep (she is the sister of his father, Dana), made the varsity as a sophomore at New Canaan High School. But in the final game of that year he tore his ACL against Darien High. Coincidentally, the Darien defender marking Streep when he made his ill-fated cut was future Bison All-American Billy Haire.
The injury forced Streep to miss his entire junior season, and even though he came back to play very good lacrosse as a senior - he was a high school All-American after a 30-goal campaign - the Division I college recruiters were not quite convinced. Streep decided to do a post-graduate year at the Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Conn. Not only was he an all-league selection, but the extra year allowed him to showcase his talents at two additional summer camps. Fedorjaka didn't need long to see his potential, and Streep and Bucknell proved to be a perfect match.
"I had heard nothing but really good things about Bucknell," Streep remembers. "I never had my heart set on anywhere else, and it's lived up to everything I thought it would be. The tailgates with the parents are great, and the guys on the team are fantastic. Austin Winter and Tim Brandau have been constant inspiration and motivators, and we had an incredible senior class last year that made my transition easy."
Now firmly entrenched as one of the team's go-to players, Streep and his mates have soaring aspirations in 2010. He rattles off a second straight undefeated league season, a Patriot League Tournament win and even a Final Four berth as items on the team's goal sheet. A rash of one-goal losses, including a heartbreaking 9-8 setback to Navy in the Patriot League championship game, has given the team a sense of unfinished business heading into 2010.
"Those may seem like lofty goals," he says, "but looking back at last year we know we're close. We want this to be a program that is in the NCAA Tournament every year."
A few more 30-plus-point seasons from Streep would go a long way toward getting them there.
Note: This story appeared in a recent edition of the Bucknell Basketball Gameday Program.
