5 Takeaways from the Cornell Men’s Lacrosse game versus UVA
Article and Photography by Celeste Cirillo-Penn
1) Cornell is more than Pannell:
Rob Pannell fights for a ground ball against Dartmouth last season.
A few months ago, I was in Colorado and somehow the topic of Cornell lacrosse came up. Naturally, the man with whom I was talking immediately brought up Rob Pannell’s dominance last season. There is no denying Pannell’s talent. Pannell holds the records for both Cornell and Ivy League scoring. In his first Major League Lacrosse season, he won Cascade Rookie of the Year and was selected for the MLL All-Star team. However, with his graduation, one major question remained for Cornell Lacrosse; could the team continue its dominance without him? The answer is yes. With a 12-9 victory over No. 2 University of Virginia, the Cornell Men’s lacrosse team proved that the program is more than one player.
*Fun side note: Rob Pannell’s brother, James, is a member of the Virginia squad and recorded 2 goals in his side’s loss to Cornell.
James Pannell, brother of Cornell alum Rob Pannell, lines up for U. Va.
2) Cornell is good at Lacrosse:
Junior, Connor Buczek scores a goal for the Big Red.
Going into the game against No. 2 Virginia, Cornell was ranked No.15. While on paper Virginia may have seemed to have the advantage, Cornell showed its talent. Both teams were undefeated going into the matchup, but Cornell was able to prevail, and consequently will rise in the rankings. However, the matchup was more than just numbers. The team proved that it has numerous players that can contribute to continued success. Seven players scored for the Big Red, including Connor Buczek and Dan Lintner, both of whom scored hat tricks in the game. Freshman, Christian Knight, put up a strong performance in goal to add to the team’s success. With a variety of offensive threats and a strong defense, Cornell will not be easy to shut down.
3) Coaching controversy does not define the Big Red:
The team huddles during a timeout.
There was much controversy this fall surrounding the firing of the team’s head coach, Ben DeLuca. DeLuca played a large role in bringing the team to a NCAA final four finish last season, and the announcement was met with much shock. However, the team has gotten off to a solid start under Interim head coach, Matt Kerwick, proving that the controversial coaching decision will not negatively define Cornell lacrosse.
4) The team has energy:
Senior, Dan Lintner celebrates a goal.
If there is one element that stood out about the team in the game against Virginia, it was the energy level. Even when the men were behind on the scoreboard, they played with a fire that was clearly visible. If the men can keep up that type of energy and momentum, they will be a force in NCAA lacrosse.
5) Men’s Lacrosse games are fun:
Members of the band cheer during the game.
Contrary to popular belief, Cornell Hockey is not the only sport that can draw a crowd. The atmosphere was electric at Schoellkopf on Saturday, as fans chanted and the band blared. Another bonus was that Cornell Athletics in conjunction with the Cornell Sports Marketing Group provided Cornell Lacrosse Knit hats to help ward off the chilly temperatures. Those elements, plus the exciting victory, made the game a blast. I highly suggest that you come out to support the squad on April 8 at 7pm when the men take on lacrosse powerhouse, Syracuse.
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Photography by Celeste Cirillo-Penn
After 5 years of watching my nephew and niece (Roy and Kelly Lang) play, I can resume being a just a regular RED fan as I have been since 1967. Great turnout this past Saturday!!