Postscript from Cornell vs. Virginia
After scoring 37 goals in wins against Johns Hopkins and Villanova, the Cavaliers boasted the most prolific offense in the country.
But the Big Red stood tall, holding Virginia to more than seven goals below its season average in Saturday’s 15-6 victory in the NCAA tournament semifinal at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
One of the keys was a quick-slide package centered on forcing the ball out of the sticks of Cavaliers senior attackman Danny Glading and the sophomore midfield duo of Shamel and Rhamel Bratton. Every time one of those players touched the ball, they were double-teamed and harassed into passing the ball to a teammate.
"They did slide to us early today, and they played completely different the first time we played them," Glading said, referring to Virginia’s 14-10 victory over Cornell on March 8. "We didn’t necessarily think they were going to play the same way as they did earlier in the season, but they were quick to go today."
Glading registered two goals and one assist against Big Red senior defenseman Matt Moyer, but Shamel Bratton, who scored five goals in the quarterfinal win against Johns Hopkins, scored just once and Rhamel Bratton was shut out.
"We just basically said that we were going to slide to him," said junior long-stick midfielder Pierce Derkac, who paired with junior Andrew MacDonald to handcuff Shamel Bratton. "Even when I was in good position, we said we were going to go. Especially him, his brother and Danny Glading, we were saying, ‘Just go and go early and set the tone that we’re going to be coming to these guys.’ I think that put a [hiccup] into their offense."
Other notes:
*Tasked with trying to beat that Cavaliers offense, Cornell knew it had to strike quickly and it did, scoring the game’s first three goals and six of the first seven.
"We talked about believing with our guys," Big Red coach Jeff Tambroni said. "We heard a lot from the media about how we weren’t supposed to win this game, and I think by starting strong early, our players could believe in themselves and play at such a high level."
*Cornell’s starting attack combined for nine goals and four assists. Freshman attackman Rob Pannell led all scorers with six points on three goals and three assists. Junior attackman Ryan Hurley added three goals and one assist, and senior attackman Chris Finn scored three times.
Virginia coach Dom Starsia said he thought his defense was too preoccupied with keeping an eye on the senior midfield duo of Max Seibald and John Glynn.
"A lot emanates from the fact that Glynn and Seibald can kind of soften you up front," Starsia said. "So you get caught kind of eyeballing those guys for just a little too long and Hurley and Pannell and those guys could find seams behind our defensemen as we were getting ready to try to help against those middies."
*Eager for a rematch with the Cavaliers, the Big Red get another crack at Syracuse, which defeated Cornell, 15-10 on April 7.
"We asked our guys to remain focused and to enjoy it for a little while when they see their families," Tambroni said. "But when we get back on the bus and get back to the hotel, I’m hoping that our staff and our team will get right back on board and prepare for Syracuse. We know how good Syracuse is based on its performance this afternoon."
