New-Look Duke Beats Bucknell, 11-7

By Jesse Baumgartner | Special to Lacrosse Magazine Online

Ned Crotty had five assists as Duke entered the post-Danowski/Greer era. Photo: Joe Rogate

DURHAM, N.C. – There’s no doubt this is a different Duke team.

No one loses Matt Danowski and Zack Greer without feeling significant effects – specifically on the offensive end of the field, of course.

And Saturday’s matchup against No. 20 Bucknell at Koskinen Stadium provided a good test for No. 8 Duke, as it tries to carve out a new identity after entering the season with question marks.

The early verdict? Some highs, some lows, but in the end, a solid 11-7 victory to start 2009 on the right foot and provide a base from which to build.

“We had our good times and our bad times, both offensively and defensively,” senior attackman Ned Crotty said. “Offensively we had some times where we really looked great, we were moving the ball well, great in transition. And then we had other times where, [we had as] basic problems as getting the ball around.”

Many of those good times came from Crotty, who has switched from a midfield to attack and figures to be key for the Blue Devils if they are to make some noise this year. He may be new to the position, but that wasn’t evident for much of Saturday, as he piled up five assists and a goal.

“We know we think what he could become, but we don’t know what he could become,” Duke coach John Danowski said. “If he does play like he played today, I would be delighted. But we don’t try to put pressure on any one individual.”

Still, Crotty said the coach has looked to him to fill Matt Danowski’s shoes, and he’s talked with the former Duke star after recent scrimmages as he grows into his new role.

Crotty wasn’t perfect, but he provided plenty of highlights while pacing his squad’s attack. Two particular assists stood out the most, the first coming to open the game’s scoring when the senior held the ball behind the net and found Steve Schoeffel just to the left of the goal.

But he upstaged that in the second period with the Blue Devils ahead 4-2. Standing well out from the goal and to the right, Crotty fired a gorgeous crossing pass straight through the heart of the Bucknell defense to Max Quinzani (the leading returning scorer) for a picture-perfect goal to put Duke up three.

The Blue Devils ended the game with seven different scorers to total their 11 goals (about four worse than last season’s 15.2 average), but there were plenty of turnovers mixed in between that will have to be ironed out as the season continues.

“I don’t know,” Crotty said when asked how long forming an offensive identity would take.
“I think it kind of works to our advantage. We don’t know what we are yet – neither do other teams … For so long we always had Matt and Zack, so that was always a constant we had every year. And this is the first year we don’t have that. So this is our first step to really figuring out who’s who and how we’re going to play together, and hopefully the sooner the better. But it’s still a work in progress.”

And as the offense tries to find its rhythm, there will definitely be an added emphasis on defense. Crotty even said he expects some tighter games at the beginning of the season.

The defensive unit came up huge in the second half during two three-minute unreleasable illegal equipment penalties on senior Sam Payton – giving up two goals during the first and none during the second, while the offense scored a short-handed goal.

Though they had trouble with Bison senior Joe Mele (five goals), the defense never allowed Bucknell to tie the game and benefitted from seven saves by goalkeeper Rob Schroeder.

“Being able to hold things down, because we don’t have the offensive power anymore, is going to be one of our focuses,” senior defenseman Parker McKee said. "We’ve always stressed defense, and this year it’s a little more.”

Meanwhile the offense will look to grow from Saturday, because while their first post-Danowski/Greer game was a win, there is certainly work to be done.

“I just thought that we didn’t value the ball as well as I would have liked,” Danowski said. “And I thought that we made some pretty neat looks and some pretty neat plays, but I thought just overall that, you know it will take time – no doubt about it. But this is who we are now, and I’m OK with that. I’m more than OK with that.”