2025

[Degaz-RU]

Recognizing that there’s still a portal season upcoming, and so the roster is not complete, if the season started tomorrow, what’s the starting lineup? I don’t know enough about the young guys and the incoming recruits, but based solely on playing time the past two seasons, it seems to me the following guys will at least be in the mix at each position:

ATTACK:
Logan Peters
Dante Kulas
Shane Murphy
Brady Kurdyla
[IN EDIT - maybe Colin Kelly?]

OFFENSIVE MIDFIELD:
Colin Kurdyla
Duke Richman

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD:
LSM Ryan Splaine
LSM Conor Udovich
SSDM Andrew Macheca

CLOSE DEFENSE:
Ben McKelvy
Tommy Mendyke

GOALKEEPER:
Cardin Stoller

FOGO:
??

 

[bigmatt718]

I'm more concerned with us dismissing one or both of our assistants. Team has regressed the last 2 years.

 

[loyalson66]

If I am not mistaken, Kelly red shirted his first year at Canisius, so that would give him one more year of eligibility.

 

[Degaz-RU]

If I am not mistaken, Kelly red shirted his first year at Canisius, so that would give him one more year of eligibility.

That would be fantastic.

 

[Caliknight]

Recognizing that there’s still a portal season upcoming, and so the roster is not complete, if the season started tomorrow, what’s the starting lineup? I don’t know enough about the young guys and the incoming recruits, but based solely on playing time the past two seasons, it seems to me the following guys will at least be in the mix at each position:

ATTACK:
Logan Peters
Dante Kulas
Shane Murphy
Brady Kurdyla
[IN EDIT - maybe Colin Kelly?]

OFFENSIVE MIDFIELD:
Colin Kurdyla
Duke Richman

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD:
LSM Ryan Splaine
LSM Conor Udovich
SSDM Andrew Macheca

CLOSE DEFENSE:
Ben McKelvy
Tommy Mendyke

GOALKEEPER:
Cardin Stoller

FOGO:
??

This is all before any portal activity but you got the attack right. I’d say Colin Kelly, Brady Kurdyla and either a portal lefty, Shane Murphy or Peters. Peter’s is big and athletic but he really needs to get more slick with the stick. The polls are there. Maybe you run him out of the box again.

You got the d mids right. I’d add Zeller who was really popping before he got injured. He has a real offensive game which would allow us to play more NASCAR. I would add Justin Lawler. He was playing very well in practice. I believe there were considerations to burn his red shirt because of it.
Going to have to find a portal guy or move an O guy which I wouldn’t be opposed to.

D will be interesting to see who gets that third spot. Staff is high on a couple of young guys but I think if you can get a good portal player you do it.

OMid is going to obviously be Kurdyla. From there it’s anyone’s guess. Would be surprised to see a few portal adds.

Goalie is obviously Cardin.

Desamaris showed flashes. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a. Portal guy brought in too.

 

[mattkamish]

Portal gets thinner this year…unless you’re landing some IVY guys, you’re in more of a “we hope this guy translates” strategy…

You can grab a D3 guy or two but understand that for every Ronan Jacoby you’re gonna get 2 or 3 that just don’t measure up at the high D1 level…really need to go convince or pay (NIL) some IVY kids to play a year at RU…much better odds they work

We can load up on portal just to load up…but we’ve seen the last couple years that some of the guys from even lower level D1 or D3 just can’t cut it at the highest level

Lots of work to do this off season

I do know this…the leader of our program works his a$$ off and will continue to work to get RU back to the NCAA and championship weekend.

 

[Caliknight]

There are some Ivy kids we are in contact but so are a bunch of other schools. Some of our young scholarship guys were hurt most of the year which you hate to see but that will pay dividends down the road with their redshirts. We played a lot of depth guys year when you start to really drill down. My way too early outlook for next year is going to be a building block year. A lot of young guys will play getting valuable experience. Our D will be better. We will have some highs and lows. It’s 26 that I think we might see the next break out. Of course, that is all subject to change depending on the portal and a couple of other things potentially in the works.

 

[Local Shill]

Imperative to show improvement next year. A third straight 1-4 in conference and a third straight one-and-done in the Big Ten tournament won't cut it. Can't be basically out of the at-large NCAA discussion in early April again.

 

[Caliknight]

This is just me spitballing but a lot will depend on the portal and if we can grab a few more difference makers. The downside of all the injuries that wasn't spoken about much were a number of freshmen scholarship guys either didn't play at all or were limited. It's going to have an impact. Great on the backend when they are fifth years but there will be some growing pains. We will likely be really young next year either way. Good news is so will a lot of other teams. We are down to only Ivy and D3's with a Covid year. We will see some normalizing of rosters, including the ages of many of the players. When you think about the FF team in 22 that was essentially a quasi pro team. Those guys were men and talent was stacked at every level. We aren't going to see those types of teams in college again. Maybe one school will grab all of the Ivy kids to make it one more year of a super team but that's coming to an end.

Got to give Brian and staff a lot of credit. They saw that before everyone. Brian isn't afraid to be different that's for sure.

 

[rufamily]

Kelly
Kurdyla
Peters
Kurdyla
will be a good start on offense, probably move Peters back to midfield

 

[Wagram97]

This is just me spitballing but a lot will depend on the portal and if we can grab a few more difference makers. The downside of all the injuries that wasn't spoken about much were a number of freshmen scholarship guys either didn't play at all or were limited. It's going to have an impact. Great on the backend when they are fifth years but there will be some growing pains. We will likely be really young next year either way. Good news is so will a lot of other teams. We are down to only Ivy and D3's with a Covid year. We will see some normalizing of rosters, including the ages of many of the players. When you think about the FF team in 22 that was essentially a quasi pro team. Those guys were men and talent was stacked at every level. We aren't going to see those types of teams in college again. Maybe one school will grab all of the Ivy kids to make it one more year of a super team but that's coming to an end.

Got to give Brian and staff a lot of credit. They saw that before everyone. Brian isn't afraid to be different that's for sure.

Great point on the ‘22 team being a quasi pro team. Look at ‘21, our breakthrough team. AC was on his 6th year, and Mullins and Kirst were on their 5th years. That’s crazy, just not going to see that again.

 

[Caliknight]

Yep. The 21 team was too.

That UNC game, even though we came up short, was the catalyst. We proved that day we had the systems and talent in place to compete at the highest level. That team had so many ballers on it. The kids left everything they had on the field that day. Couldn't have asked for more. That was exactly the day you knew Ross Scott was going to be a great one. We knew about Shane and David Sprock. Our DMids were all over the field that day and some of the plays by the Kirst brothers whether that was a timely save or huge goal, just elite players all over the field, on both sides, making elite plays. You knew getting a taste of it was going to propel the 22 team to greater heights.

 

[Degaz-RU]

One positive thing I think we can take from this season is the fact that the defense seemed to play better in the last several games. Not sure if it was just better coaching on when to slide and then the rotations, or just that the close D guys like McKelvy and Mendyke -- who didn't have a ton of experience before this year -- just got better the more they played. I think they both solidified their spots on next year's D, but we're certainly going to need another close D guy from the portal.

 

[Caliknight]

I am sure we will go after a portal guy if he is really good but the staff is definitely high on some of the young guys. Would't be at all surprised if we see one them starting.

 

[mattkamish]

Great point on the ‘22 team being a quasi pro team. Look at ‘21, our breakthrough team. AC was on his 6th year, and Mullins and Kirst were on their 5th years. That’s crazy, just not going to see that again.

It will normalize now. The movement in the portal will drop off this year and even more next summer as Cali points out

You still will have the odd case…AC was an odd case with both Covid year and medical situations…

With that said, some kids might have a potential medical year they could use but are ready to move on with life…I know someone that could probably pursue that path but I’m pretty sure real life is calling 😏

 

[mattkamish]

Yep. The 21 team was too.

That UNC game, even though we came up short, was the catalyst. We proved that day we had the systems and talent in place to compete at the highest level. That team had so many ballers on it. The kids left everything they had on the field that day. Couldn't have asked for more. That was exactly the day you knew Ross Scott was going to be a great one. We knew about Shane and David Sprock. Our DMids were all over the field that day and some of the plays by the Kirst brothers whether that was a timely save or huge goal, just elite players all over the field, on both sides, making elite plays. You knew getting a taste of it was going to propel the 22 team to greater heights.

That’s a game we had in our hands…probably the only time in both 21 & 22 that I think the team looked at the scoreboard and clock late in the game while either leading or tied late and the moment got a little big for us…we had UNC on the ropes…and that was a great, and very old/veteran UNC team…but that experience proved well for us as in the exact same situation a year later we beat Penn with excellent Q4 play…down 2 at the 10 min mark, we stepped on their throats and didn’t make 1 mistake in the last 10 minutes

 

[Caliknight]

Agreed. It was invaluable for the team. From an experience perspective and from a confidence perspective.

UNC won that game and made one more play than we did. I would also urge people who soley look at recruiting rankings to see how flawed they can be.

UNC quite literally had an entire team filled with 4 and 5 star players. We had a few 4 stars. If you watched that game though few people would say the talent level on the field wasn't very even. AC had some monster goals that game, and it was definitely a coming out party for Ross Scott.

Rope unit played lights all day. A couple of hiccups but by that time those boys logged a ton of miles. That game was proof our schemes can hold up and the style of play we want to employ is effective.

There aren't any losses I will ever watch again but that is one. Someone had to win and someone had to lose but that game meant a lot to the program even in a loss.

 

[mattkamish]

Agreed. It was invaluable for the team. From an experience perspective and from a confidence perspective.

UNC won that game and made one more play than we did. I would also urge people who soley look at recruiting rankings to see how flawed they can be.

UNC quite literally had an entire team filled with 4 and 5 star players. We had a few 4 stars. If you watched that game though few people would say the talent level on the field wasn't very even. AC had some monster goals that game, and it was definitely a coming out party for Ross Scott.

Rope unit played lights all day. A couple of hiccups but by that time those boys logged a ton of miles. That game was proof our schemes can hold up and the style of play we want to employ is effective.

There aren't any losses I will ever watch again but that is one. Someone had to win and someone had to lose but that game meant a lot to the program even in a loss.

44 has never watched that game and said he never will. If there is one game that hurts the most…it’s UNC. He doesn’t like to even talk about it…so I don’t…that’s a tip for you the next time you guys are golfing 😏

Youre right, the rope played a lot of hard minutes that day vs a very old experienced UNC midfield group that went 2.5 lines deep with no drop off

If I recall UNC was averaging 16.5 goals a game and we held them to 10 in regulation…the 11th was the OT dagger…

 

[dconifer]

That’s a game we had in our hands…probably the only time in both 21 & 22 that I think the team looked at the scoreboard and clock late in the game while either leading or tied late and the moment got a little big for us…we had UNC on the ropes…and that was a great, and very old/veteran UNC team…but that experience proved well for us as in the exact same situation a year later we beat Penn with excellent Q4 play…down 2 at the 10 min mark, we stepped on their throats and didn’t make 1 mistake in the last 10 minutes

I remember where I was when I watched that game (a bar in Tropicana Casino) and was so disappointed in the outcome. I thought you guys had that one.

I remember hearing for three months that the B1G teams weren't nearly as good as their records, but had benefitted from playing each other (or some other nonsense). Next thing we knew, the B1G had two final four teams...

 

[Wagram97]

One other thing on that ‘21 team, is that they played a conference schedule only season. Some of the B1G teams that year may have not been as good as usual, or had injuries like PSU, but those teams still had some of the best of the best on those rosters that were playing. I said before, Dugenio was my MVP that season, going against some of the best FOGOs not once but twice. That had to really cause some wear and tear.

Yet with all that, still battled that #1 UNC team.

 

[mattkamish]

I think we have sidetracked the 2025 thread going down memory lane from 2-3 years back…

We will get in back in track 😜

Gotta pack for my flight back to BWI in the morning. Big game tomorrow night at Navy Marine Corp Stadium…I’ve been nervous all day and it’s not even tomorrow yet

I think we should start a lacrosse post season thread for all the lacrosse junkies. I know we’re all disappointed about the RU finish but as fans of the sport, we’re gonna see some great games the next 3-4 weeks

 

[mattkamish]

I remember where I was when I watched that game (a bar in Tropicana Casino) and was so disappointed in the outcome. I thought you guys had that one.

I remember hearing for three months that the B1G teams weren't nearly as good as their records, but had benefitted from playing each other (or some other nonsense). Next thing we knew, the B1G had two final four teams...

100%. That was all the talk from our friends at ESPN…your Terps were elite that year and Rutgers wasn’t far behind

 

[dconifer]

100%. That was all the talk from our friends at ESPN…your Terps were elite that year and Rutgers wasn’t far behind

My last derail of the 2025 thread: I realized last night that I was conflating events from 2021 and 2022 into the same season (I think). But you and everybody else were too polite to call me out, ha ha...

 

[Wagram97]

Getting back to 2025, was thinking about what will happen with transfers. While I think the impact will be limited, when you look at 2024, the play of the transfers was not that bad - at least better than I thought. Lot of the transfers contributed when injuries didn't cause issues. Really just two misses, with Krummenacher and Sidorski maybe not contributing that much. Per the below, looks like most of the transfers helped out. Thinking the situation with the transfers seemed worse than it was since the two big pickups, Kelly and Rizzotti, were injured for most of the season.

Maybe we do see more of the same for 2025, now more about depth, if you don't get that home run transfer(s).

Cole Brams, FO, Utah 2 goals, 51.9% FO
Mason Edwards, DM, UMBC Played in 9 games, 1 assist, 8 GB's and 3 caused TO's
Seamus Fagan, G, Hamilton Clearly backup, got in 4 games
Donnie Howard, DM, Boston U. Played in all 14 games, 8 GB's, 5 caused TO's
Harris Hubbard, D, Washington & Lee Played in 9 games, started 7, 6 GB's and 6 caused TO's
Brandon Hund, DM, Towson Played in 13 games, 1 goal/3 assists, 20 GB's and 2 caused TO's.
Tanyr Krummenacher, A, Amherst 9 goals/3 assists, did have 12 GB's but also 5 TO's.
John Sidorski, A/M, Lehigh Played in 14 games, but only 8 goals/4 assists (though these status mostly just from 4 games)
Matt Soutar, FO, Monmouth 55.2% FO.

Colin Kelly, A, Canisius INC Injuries
Connor McDonough, A, Towson INC Only 2 games, and did have 2 goals, believe this was injury issues.
Peter Rizzotti, D, Dartmouth INC Injuries, saw what he could have done in that PSU game.

 

[Caliknight]

Hubbard was injured most of the season too. Edwards we just never saw him at full strength. He got injured in the first minute of the first game and just never fully recovered.

 

[Caliknight]

Amish sounds like he’s going to cry on the telecast lol. Too funny

 

[rufamily]

So the question becomes do you hit the portal hard again or do you let the homegrown talent get some run this year?

 

[DowntownT_Brown]

Unless we can pull in home runs similar to the Kirsts, I say let the homegrown talent play.

My exception will be for a fogo as it is feels like we have not recruited that position well since Nardella and have done pretty well with transfers.

 

[Caliknight]

So the question becomes do you hit the portal hard again or do you let the homegrown talent get some run this year?

Probably both. I think they will be much less active but could see a few takes.

 

[Caliknight]

Unless we can pull in home runs similar to the Kirsts, I say let the homegrown talent play.

My exception will be for a fogo as it is feels like we have not recruited that position well since Nardella and have done pretty well with transfers.

They like the freshmen we have and the incoming player. If we can get a proven commodity I can see them taking him though.

 

[mdk01]

So the question becomes do you hit the portal hard again or do you let the homegrown talent get some run this year?

The available help through the portal is rapidly declining (numbers not talent), with another big drop after the last of the Ivy 5th years this year. I think it will be more and more program development with portals being tapped to plug holes/weaknesses. I just don't see schools adding 10-12 players to the roster each year through the portal.

 

[mattkamish]

The available help through the portal is rapidly declining (numbers not talent), with another big drop after the last of the Ivy 5th years this year. I think it will be more and more program development with portals being tapped to plug holes/weaknesses. I just don't see schools adding 10-12 players to the roster each year through the portal.

Portal numbers will be much lower this year across the entire landscape. They will drop off even more next year.

You’ll get one or two that might plug and play, but that’s it

Gotta have young talent deliver and show up

 

[Caliknight]

Biggest need is at SSDM.

I saw Justin Lawler two years ago in practice and he really popped. He wasn't ready though. I know towards the end of this year he was playing so well in practice they almost burned his redshirt. He's a prototype is terms of size. It will be interesting to see how that position is attacked from there.

Him and Machecha will start. Machecha is a great kid. I expect him he's going to have a big year in 25. Colin Zeller too. That kid is going to be a stud.

Going to need more though.

 

[DowntownT_Brown]

They like the freshmen we have and the incoming player.

Yeah, I am also hearing good things about our incoming guy but with the toll on these guys bodies it is nice to have a couple extra pieces to spread the joy.

 

[Caliknight]

Hate dropping morsels without the meat but there are some potential happenings with a couple of guys that could be really good for us. We will see how things progress over the summer.