College: NCAA DII: Queens University thrashes Coker, looks forward to Colorado Mesa

Casey Hock

Queens University thrashed Coker last night, 14-6. NorCal standout Casey Hock went off for 6 points in the game – with three goals and three assists –  leading all players in points. Coker is a middle of the pack team in NCAA DII, ranked 26th out of 50 by LaxPower, while Queens weighs in as #10 in DII. Casey is playing very well, starting all four games and leads the Royals in goals with 7 and points with 10, while being tied for 2nd in assists with 3.

The game of interest to NorCal fans takes place between Queens and Colorado Mesa on March 9th. The Mavericks, ranked 20th in DII, travel to Charlotte to take on the Royals. I've never seen the Mavericks play, but they have a strong NorCal contingent on the squad. I have seen the Royals play, though only twice, and I'll  put my money on Queens, primarily because Colorado Mesa has to travel 2/3 of the way across country to play the game.

Sadly, I won't be in the stands, as I'll be in New Haven, taking in a series of games that Yale will be playing, but a part of me wishes I could be in Charlotte for this game! Biggest aggregation of NorCal guys going at it in all of the NCAA!

College: Colorado Mesa travels to North Carolina to face Queens

In an upcoming NCAA DII Intersectional battle between two teams with NorCal players, the 20th ranked Colorado Mesa Mavericks will travel to Charlotte, NC taking on 11th ranked Queens University Royals. March 9th.

Colorado Mesa has five NorCal guys on the roster:
Mitch Flaherty Amador Valley
Eric McCosker De La Salle
Shane O'Neil Foothill
Austin Pridham Bellarmine
Guiliano Sanchez De La Salle

Queens has one NorCal guy:
Casey Hock Monte Vista

Casey has started all three games for Queens and has tallied four goals so far, playing a rugged schedule having faced #9 Post and #1 Mercyhurst.

For the Mavericks, Austin Pridham was third in goal and assists last season, Eric McCosker was third on the team in caused turnovers, and Shane O'Neil was third in ground balls in 2012. All big-time contributors!

Should be a great game!

College: Penquins clobber Argos

Dominican University met Notre Dame de Namur Saturday and the Penquins thumped the Argos, 18-3. LaxPower has a nice write-up that can be read here.

Nice comment about former Miramonte standout Brian Raaka. At the moment, Dominican is ranked #7 in NCAA DII.

College: DII Queens defeats Wingate in opener

In a nother North Carolina game, NCAA DII Queens University of Charlotte defeated Wingate, 14-5. Casey Hock, former Monte Vista standout and All-American, put up a hat trick in the victory. Six shots producing three goals is pretty impressive. Charlotte is a 3.5 hour drive for me, so I did not see this one in person. I'll get to one of his games this season!

Nicely done, Casey!

Mike Sappio at USNA

This blogger most often talks about NCAA lacrosse players from NorCal, but this blog entry is about a club player – at the United States Naval Academy – Mike Sappio. I've known Mike for a decade or more, first as one of his coaches at Lamorinda, then as a fan who watched his High School career with keen interest. Mike was not an All-American. He was not recruited to play NCAA DI Lacrosse. He played for Miramonte and was a very capable defender. He was athletic enough, he was gritty enough, and he was certainly smart enough to be a DI player. He just wasn't big enough.

He'd always wanted to go to the Naval Academy, as he comes from a  Maritime family. An allergy kept him from being admitted during his Senior year, so he ended up going to UCSB, a school that mapped to his academic prowess. But, he applied to Annapolis again – he's relentless, you see. This time, Navy couldn't resist. His grades, his character, his relentlessness – let me say that again – his relentlessness – made him irresistible to Navy. Well, that and his character and test scores! So, here is Plebe Michael Sappio, in uniform:

Michael Sappio

He made the Club team at Navy, but WAY more important than that, he's someone you can count on to defend our country. Congrats on your achievement, Mike! Can't think of anyone better than you to stand watch for us!

College: Lacrosse weekend: watching NorCal laxers in North Carolina

Ben Krebs after his stint in cage

Just back from my 3rd NCAA DI game of the weekend! Friday night, #4 UNC defeated the Air Force Academy, 16-8. NorCal standout Mike Tagliaferri – the San Ramon Valley legend – did not play, as he is still suffering a slow-healing injury.

Saturday, #6 Duke met #8 Denver and Denver prevailed. Both Dax and Chad Cohan – former SI standouts – are on injured reserve and didn't dress. Ben Krebs, Foothill's fiery and passionate goalie and scholar-athlete, dressed but saw no action.

Today, Duke took on Jacksonville and won big. Ben Krebs played the fourth quarter, until he was pulled, allowing the last goalie on the depth chart have a shot in cage.  During Ben's time in cage he faced 5 SOG and saved 4 – for a heady 80% save percentage.^ Nicely done, Ben!

So, that's my report from the East on this very first week of the season. It was a blast!
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^ The goal Ben allowed came when Duke was 2 men down.