North Carolina 2010

[maddog9718]

Looking to 2010....

Returning starters:

Attack: Bitter, Petracca

Mid: Delaney, Dunster

Def: McComas, Flanagan


Returning contributors:

Attack: Wood, Federico

Mid: Burke, DiPietro

Def: Jarvis, Piegare

G: J. Petracca, Madalon

D-mid: Burns, Hunt, Morton, Layne, Staines lsm


New additions:
Ian Braddish
Stephen Burns
Marcus Holman
Stevie Kirkup
William Leighton-Armah
Greg McBride
Kieran McDonald
Ed Prevost
Conor Steidle
Sean Taylor
Zander Walters
Cam Wood

One move that Breschi made that I really liked was giving younger players a decent amount of PT. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the incoming freshmen get some good looks.

[CarolinaGuy]

Here's what I was thinking for a starting lineup:

A: Bitter, Petracca, and Prevost. Have never seen Prevost play, but from what I've heard, he's gonna be a contributor. I feel for Federico, who seems to have become lost in the mix during the coaching change. If good enough, Holman will get time. Also, look for Wood to spell some of the starters.

M: Delaney, Dunster, and Burke on the first line. Pretty solid there. Difficult to find a guy on the attack or first midfield to shortstick. Dunster may have a breakout year a la Bitter this past year. The second line shows what in my mind will be a problem, i.e. midfield depth: DiPietro, and possibly McBride and Braddish? Mostly based on rep, the two youngsters are inserted here.

FO: Burns. He did a solid job in Shane's absence a year ago, but took hardly any fo's in 2009.

LSM: Jarvis, Staines, and Lyles. Some want to move Jarvis to close, but I really like his speed, checks, and stickwork at lsm.

SSDM: Hunt is back and did a good job. Maybe he gets more offensive runs? Layne started playing a lot the latter half of the season. For my third guy, I choose local boy Logan Corey, who is a very good athlete.

D: Flanagan, McComas, and Piegare. Top two guys are absolute studs (to paraphrase one of my favorite t-shirts: ya'll chose the right one, baby!). I'd really like to see Piegare play, given the hype coming out of hs.

G: Petracca. Hopefully, James works on actually catching the ball in the offseason. I don't think Madalon will challenge for the starting spot.

I like the Heels top guys, but their depth is lacking (unless there's guys on the bench I don't know about, or some of the new guys are studs). FO's could be an issue. Goal is iffy. Otherwise, I look for a similar performance to this past year, hopefully advancing one more step. The Heels are one more year away...

[maddog9718]

I agree with a lot of those thoughts, CarolinaGuy, though I would prob. fill Jack Ryan's spot with Jarvis. I thought he did a really good job as his replacement- he had some great checks at the end of the season.

I think Breschi will be forced to play some freshmen at the middie spot given our lack of depth (and that Delaney, Burke, DiPietro all graduate next year). I read in an article that Prevost has played midfield this past season, so perhaps Breschi sticks him there, if needed.

Kirkup sounded like one of the top attackmen in the MIAA 2 yrs ago, but I think he sat out this past season with an injury.

I think our ssdm's played pretty well this season, esp. on clears. I was particularly impressed with Tyler Morton on gb's. I found myself looking at the roster several times to figure out who #7 was.

[10 10 2]

William Scroggs recently re-committed to the Tar Heels. He is possibly the best player from North Carolina that has lived there their whole lives. Having Willie Scroggs as your dad helps I guess.

Next year looks very promising but also will look very different. I feel like guys like Bart Wagner, Ben Hunt, Grant Zimmerman, and Shane Walterhoefer were stalwarts of the program since they were freshmen. I have also heard rumors that Gavin Petracca is not returning as a redshirt senior next year either. This does not mean that 2010 doesn't look bright for the Tar Heels though. There are some terrific incoming freshmen and also a few guys that have been waiting for their turn to show what they can do. You also can't forget about the guys coming back either.

My starting lines and top back-ups:

Attack:
Billy Benz Bitter
Gavin Petracca (if he returns)
Ed Prevost
Kevin Federico (if petracca doesn't return)


Midfield:
Sean Delaney
Jimmy Dunster
Sean Burke
Cryder Dipietro
Thomas Wood

SSDM:
Chris Hunt
Tyler Morton
Chris Layne

LSM:
Michael Jarvis
Mark Staines
Milton Lyles

Defense:
Ryan Flanagan
Charlie McComas
Sean Jackson (looks to have a promising year from what I saw at the end of the 2009 season)
Kevin Piegare

Goalie:
Chris Madalon
I have seen this guy play and I believe he is an all around better goalie than Petracca.

Guys who I believe can make a splash next year:
Ryan Kotowski - Injured twice during his high school career with ACL injuries. He has a great shot on the run and I think could be on the 2nd midfield that appears wide open. The kid is an imposing figure at 6'3".

Marcus Holman - Awesome attackman and son of current volunteer assistant and goalie coach Brian Holman. AA from Gilman and I think he can get a good chunk of PT his freshman year and even could start if Petracca does not return.

Ian Braddish - Freshman from West Islip and is a star there. Great shot on the run and very athletic. He reminds me a bit of sophomore Jimmy Dunster.


It always appears that guys who don't really seem to have a lot of hype have phenomenal seasons at this program. Guys like Billy Bitter, Jimmy Dunster, Charlie McComas, Michael Jarvis, and Chris Hunt all stepped up big time in 2009 and I'm sure that there will be more guys to fill in roles and step up for the Heels in 2010.

[FrontierLax]

Prevost is a great player. I think you would have seen him do a lot more if OCC didn't have some of the players it did this spring, meaning the Thompsons and the Printups. The Thompsons are in another league, even if they never play D1. But Prevost is a very solid player, with a lot of field sense. Nice snag for UNC. He comes there already developed, in my opinion, and ready to contribute. I see him getting playing time immediately, if he is not starting.

[CarolinaGuy]

I have also heard rumors that Gavin Petracca is not returning as a redshirt senior next year either. This does not mean that 2010 doesn't look bright for the Tar Heels though. There are some terrific incoming freshmen and also a few guys that have been waiting for their turn to show what they can do. You also can't forget about the guys coming back either.

My starting lines and top back-ups:

Attack:
Billy Benz Bitter
Gavin Petracca (if he returns)
Ed Prevost
Kevin Federico (if petracca doesn't return)

I heard similar rumors about G. Petracca earlier this year. More recently, I've heard from a pretty good source that he is planning on coming back. Of course, nothing's for certain, and we'll have to see. I certainly hope he does, because he is a good finisher, and complements Bitter nicely.

[Quicken]

I have also heard rumors that Gavin Petracca is not returning as a redshirt senior next year either. This does not mean that 2010 doesn't look bright for the Tar Heels though. There are some terrific incoming freshmen and also a few guys that have been waiting for their turn to show what they can do. You also can't forget about the guys coming back either.

My starting lines and top back-ups:

Attack:
Billy Benz Bitter
Gavin Petracca (if he returns)
Ed Prevost
Kevin Federico (if petracca doesn't return)

I heard similar rumors about G. Petracca earlier this year. More recently, I've heard from a pretty good source that he is planning on coming back. Of course, nothing's for certain, and we'll have to see. I certainly hope he does, because he is a good finisher, and complements Bitter nicely.

Could Gavin Petracca be pulling a Zach Greer and transferring to Lebanon Valley to play for his old coach...

[wooden sticks]

I still wish we could have seen what UNC could have done this year with Zimmerman in goal. James Petracca was simply not an acceptable high-level goalie.

I'd have to think they'd have beaten Duke in the NCAA Tournament

[maddog9718]

Milton Lyles and Mike Burns recognized as the top two "olympic sport" athletes at UNC (i'm guessing that means non-football, basketball).

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/genrel/060409aab.html

[10 10 2]

Milton Lyles and Mike Burns recognized as the top two "olympic sport" athletes at UNC (i'm guessing that means non-football, basketball).

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/genrel/060409aab.html

Now if only he could improve his stick skills and quit running to the goal every time he get picks up the ball (Lyles).

[twoin]

Squatting 565 pounds? That hurts my knees just thinking about it.

[maddog9718]

incoming freshmen...

Zander Walters - NJ Player of the Year

Cam Wood - NJ Midfielder of the Year


http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/2009 ... to-offer--

[10 10 2]

Nice. Player of the year (who happens to be a midfielder) and midfielder of the year. This is certainly a talented group of midfielders coming in with Walters and Wood along with UA All Americans Greg Mcbride and Ian Braddish.

I looked up some highlights of Wood (#7) and Walters and found these videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROlEub--UKs (Walters, Bergen Catholic)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISz6RXj6824 (Wood as a Junior)

I'd say they definitely have potential.

[10 10 2]

Just watched Galasso play in the Class A title game for WI. Wow, can't wait for him to arrive in Chapel Hill. 4 goals and 4 assists as a junior in the title game. I find it hard to believe that this kid won't start immediately and I shudder to think what him, Billy Bitter, and whoever else will be able to do in 2011.

[maddog9718]

Just watched Galasso play in the Class A title game for WI. Wow, can't wait for him to arrive in Chapel Hill. 4 goals and 4 assists as a junior in the title game. I find it hard to believe that this kid won't start immediately and I shudder to think what him, Billy Bitter, and whoever else will be able to do in 2011.

I saw the game too... he has ridiculous vision. Can't wait for him to get to CH.

[Gladhe8er]

Milton Lyles and Mike Burns recognized as the top two "olympic sport" athletes at UNC (i'm guessing that means non-football, basketball).

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/genrel/060409aab.html

This is interesting....and scary! Did you see those squats and bench presses of the female softball players and track & field athletes?!

[10 10 2]

stumbled upon this while looking at the syracuse recruits thread and saw three guys from the all-cny with interest in UNC (and 'Cuse obviously, and Maryland). http://highschoolsports.syracuse.com/ne ... -lacrosse/

It seems like the two rising seniors(Miles Thompson and James Cathers) don't have that big of a chance of going considering that class is stacked as it is, and I'm sure there is zero scholarship money left. Lyle Thompson would likely follow wherever his brother goes. Any of them would be a huge grab and you can't ever have enough very talented midfielders/attackmen. I don't think there are any players from CNY even on the UNC roster.

[realist20]

Ian Braddish should play immediately. The kid is D1 ready.

[10 10 2]

http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-la ... 09aaa.html

UNC and Brown to face off in the first NCAA D1lacrosse meeting in Northern California on October 10th.

[Gatsby]

The ever-name-changing Director's Cup standings are released. UNC is the #2 sports school again, behind Stanford, whom nobody has dethroned for 15 years straight:

1. Stanford 1455.00
2. North Carolina 1184.25
3. Florida 1172.75
4. Southern California 1137.75
5. Michigan 1131.80
6. Texas 1105.50
7. California 1072.00
8. Virginia 1059.00
9. Louisiana State U. 1029.00
10. Ohio State 1015.80
11. Washington 1010.25
12. Arizona State 1001.75
13. Texas A&M 976.00
14. Minnesota 975.75
15. Florida State 945.00
16. UCLA 909.25
17. Duke (N.C.) 891.80
18. Georgia 866.50
19. Penn State 813.10
20. Illinois 808.75
21. Notre Dame 775.13
22. Oregon 757.25
23. Tennessee 746.25
24. Arizona 738.50
25. Arkansas 730.00
26. Auburn 720.00
27. Michigan State 708.05
28. Maryland 668.80
29. Oklahoma 656.50
30. Alabama 650.60
31. Nebraska 639.30
32. Louisville 625.50
33. Baylor (Tex.) 611.75
34. Kentucky 607.80
35. Oklahoma State 605.25
36. Missouri 585.30
37. Wake Forest 580.25
38. Purdue 569.63
39. South Carolina 560.75
40. Princeton (N.J.) 537.00
41. Wisconsin 535.50
42. Texas Christian U. 528.00
43. Miami (Fla.) 491.00
44. Northwestern 483.00
45. Iowa 474.30
46. Virginia Tech 459.25
47. Brigham Young (Utah) 453.75
48. Georgia Tech 452.38
49. Boise State 449.30
50. West Virginia 442.50