Schedule doesn’t get any easier for lax Danes

  Previously ranked No. 20 in the Inside Lacrosse Top 20, the University at Albany men's lacrosse team has lost that ranking with a season-opening, three-game losing streak.

   The Great Danes (0-3) haven't been able to find the recipe for success so far in the short season, losing this past week to No. 17 Delaware (4-1) and crosstown rival Siena (1-2).

   The upcoming week doesn't get any easier as the Danes are scheduled to play No. 16 Massachusetts (2-1) and Ohio State (2-1), who is receiving votes in the top 20 poll. UAlbany coach Scott Marr believes the wins will come as long as his team takes care of the little things.

   "When we do the right things with the ball and move our feet and do things properly we're a pretty good team," Marr said. "When we don't we're not a very good team, so we have to move our feet better. You're not going to win at this level turning the ball over."

   In their match Tuesday against Massachusetts, the Danes will have to be at their best immediately as the Minutemen have out-scored its opponents 15-6 in the first period.

   "It would be nice if we could win some faceoffs," Marr said. "You can certainly slow teams down if you can do that. We've just given up too many second chances by turning the ball over. That's how you get yourself in a hole in a game.

   "You can't get the ball out of your own end and you end up playing too much defense.  And when you play too much defense you're eventually going to get tired."

   UAlbany will also have to take on the task of stopping Massachusetts senior Bobby Hayes, who leads the team with 12 points on nine goals and three assists. He only had 12 goals all of last season.

  "Bobby's a good player. There's no question," Marr said. "He was someone that they thought a couple of years ago was going to be scoring this many goals for them. It's his senior season and when you run out of time in your senior year you start to play a little bit harder and a little bit better."

   Ohio State coach Nick Myers realizes that despite UAlbany's struggles in the early part of the season that the team is still potentially dangerous.

   "They're definitely a great team. There's no doubt about that," he said. "They will have our full attention. Coach Marr is one of the best coaches in the country. He will have them very well prepared."

   Myers believes that his team's defense will have to be prepared for UAlbany, pointing to a Danes offense that has scored well this year and in years past.

   "Offensively, they're one of the most dangerous teams in the country," he said. "They've proven that this year and certainly in the past. They're a team that can hurt you in a lot of different ways with their inside play and their outside shooters. Defensively, they're getting better every weekend."

   UAlbany will look to improve on their late-game play as they have been outscored 15-8 in the third period so far this season. The Danes will face UMass today at 3 p.m. at the Minutemen's field and then will travel to Ohio State Saturday for a noon matchup.