Below is the full transcript from Head Coach Jim Stagnitta's Week 3 MLL Conference Call with the media:
On his evaluation of the team through two weeks
“I think we’re continuing to progress. We’re getting pieces back each week – new people who we certainly need to get acclimated into the lineup. It’s our third game in a row on the road. It’s tough to win games on the road in this league. We’re really pleased to be 2-0 right now and looking forward to continuing to improve from a consistency and shooting standpoint. I think we had over 50 shots last game – and they weren’t bad shots – I just think we need to convert at a higher percentage on that end. I think we really solidified defensively last weekend and played more controlled and in a team patter than we did in the week prior. We add some new components this week that give us even more depth.”
“I think we’re continuing to progress. We’re getting pieces back each week – new people who we certainly need to get acclimated into the lineup. It’s our third game in a row on the road. It’s tough to win games on the road in this league. We’re really pleased to be 2-0 right now and looking forward to continuing to improve from a consistency and shooting standpoint. I think we had over 50 shots last game – and they weren’t bad shots – I just think we need to convert at a higher percentage on that end. I think we really solidified defensively last weekend and played more controlled and in a team patter than we did in the week prior. We add some new components this week that give us even more depth.”
On winning games early in the season
“I think it’s important to win early. I learned that last year. I think last year when it went to eight teams, it made a difference where you could probably stub your toe a few times early and make up for it later. The fact that there are eight teams now, these early games are important. We tried to build our roster last year and were successful with it and we tried to build our roster this year to try to be able to supplement for those indoor guys that we weren’t going to have and those pieces of the puzzle that we were going to be missing for a couple weeks. We feel that it’s very important to win these games and to get out of the box quickly and get these under your belt. Padding your win-loss record with wins certainly takes some of the pressure off down the stretch – but we also expect to be playing our best lacrosse down the stretch. We’re far from that now, but have been good enough these first two weeks to come away with some wins on the road.”
“I think it’s important to win early. I learned that last year. I think last year when it went to eight teams, it made a difference where you could probably stub your toe a few times early and make up for it later. The fact that there are eight teams now, these early games are important. We tried to build our roster last year and were successful with it and we tried to build our roster this year to try to be able to supplement for those indoor guys that we weren’t going to have and those pieces of the puzzle that we were going to be missing for a couple weeks. We feel that it’s very important to win these games and to get out of the box quickly and get these under your belt. Padding your win-loss record with wins certainly takes some of the pressure off down the stretch – but we also expect to be playing our best lacrosse down the stretch. We’re far from that now, but have been good enough these first two weeks to come away with some wins on the road.”
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| Defensemen Lee Zink |
“We just went back to basics. We tried to do some things to accommodate Eric and his skillset. That didn’t necessary work the way we’d hoped it would. We didn’t match Lee up the way we have in the past. We use Lee Zink in a way that it allows us not to have to make big adjustments for other team’s great attackmen. We went into last week and put Lee on Steele and said we’re not sliding and we’re just going to let Lee handle that matchup. And he did. He did a great job on Steele last week. That’s why he’s one of the premier defensemen in the world. We were just able to play team defense and we were able to follow our slide schemes. We gave up eight goals – and two of those goals were to a faceoff man running down the middle of the field. We have to do a better job with that, but I was very pleased with what we did – not just with the close defense. Our short-stick D-middies have been terrific. I think we even get better there this week when we add Greg Downing to the mix.”
On leading the league with 101 shots through Week 2
“I don’t think we’ve shot particularly well. But I also don’t think we’ve taken poor shots. It’s not like Jeremy (Sieverts) is launching two-pointers. We’ve taken good shots. I think that’s a credit to the balance in our team. We have been able – and we had to do it in the second half – had to make some adjustments to get our D-middies, who have been terrific. Justin Pennington has been phenomenal this year. I’ve always said it’s important for us to have those D-middies who can get to the offensive end quickly. Those guys have created a lot of offense for us early in the shot clock. We’ve been able to get opportunities. One of the reasons we’ve probably taken 101 shots is because we’ve missed the cage so often on good opportunities. I feel like we have midfielders who can attack the cage from different areas. Will Mangan has been a terrific addition for us. (Drew) Snider hasn’t even hit his stride yet, but he’s been very good. (Justin) Turri has added a lot to our team – particularly coming from the defensive to offensive end. Then you still have (Terry) Kimener and Sieverts. It’s a combination of No. 1 – depth and quality of depth and No. 2 – it’s hard to really focus and try to focus your defensive approach on one player. Obviously (Brendan Mundorf) is going to draw a lot of attention, but I feel like we have a lot of guys who can get off shots and beat their men and create offense on their own. When you look at it, we have a pretty good number of assisted goals. That is a stat that we do look at.”
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| Midfielder Jeremy Sieverts |
“Boston is a talented group and a veteran group. We’re expecting that they’re going to come out with more purpose and more passion than they have thus far. Their backs are against the wall a little bit. They have talented players with a lot of pride and a lot of ability, so we’re expecting that it’s going to be a tough game from the first whistle.”
On giving Boston an 0-3 record with a win on Saturday
“I think our guys know that this is a big early-season game. It’s a challenge. They know the quality and the history. They don’t look at this as going against a team that has two losses and is trying to get on track. Our guys are looking at this as it’s Denver vs. Boston, a game that is always big on our schedule and always important. It is kind of one-week seasons for us and we’re approaching it one week at a time. This week is Boston and it’s big for our guys. They understand it. It doesn’t matter what their record is. It’s about us getting a win over Boston, a third win for our team on the road. I think that is as big of a deal for us as it is for Boston to get back on track. If you can get three wins early in the season on the road in this league, I think you’re doing pretty well. I think we’re just hitting our stride and we’re still adding pieces to our lineup every week.”
On defending Cannons attackman Ryan Boyle
“It’s easier said than done on these calls when I talk about Lee. He just gives us an element that a lot of teams don’t have the luxury of having. Again, he has been able over the years to consistently control or at least handle the toughest matchups. Obviously Ryan is a quarterback of that team and he is a guy that makes the adjustments on the field and has an unbelievable lacrosse IQ. That is going to be our Lee Zink matchup, certainly. We are lucky enough too that Dillon Roy has become a real force in this league. I’m not sure people realize just how good a one-on-one and team defender he is. We really feel like we’re strong and stable down there. Ryan is the key to the attack and (Paul) Rabil is the key to the midfield. If we can control those two guys, it is going to go a long way to giving us an opportunity to win that game.”
“I think our guys know that this is a big early-season game. It’s a challenge. They know the quality and the history. They don’t look at this as going against a team that has two losses and is trying to get on track. Our guys are looking at this as it’s Denver vs. Boston, a game that is always big on our schedule and always important. It is kind of one-week seasons for us and we’re approaching it one week at a time. This week is Boston and it’s big for our guys. They understand it. It doesn’t matter what their record is. It’s about us getting a win over Boston, a third win for our team on the road. I think that is as big of a deal for us as it is for Boston to get back on track. If you can get three wins early in the season on the road in this league, I think you’re doing pretty well. I think we’re just hitting our stride and we’re still adding pieces to our lineup every week.”
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| Defenseman Dillon Roy |
“It’s easier said than done on these calls when I talk about Lee. He just gives us an element that a lot of teams don’t have the luxury of having. Again, he has been able over the years to consistently control or at least handle the toughest matchups. Obviously Ryan is a quarterback of that team and he is a guy that makes the adjustments on the field and has an unbelievable lacrosse IQ. That is going to be our Lee Zink matchup, certainly. We are lucky enough too that Dillon Roy has become a real force in this league. I’m not sure people realize just how good a one-on-one and team defender he is. We really feel like we’re strong and stable down there. Ryan is the key to the attack and (Paul) Rabil is the key to the midfield. If we can control those two guys, it is going to go a long way to giving us an opportunity to win that game.”