May 10, 2009
2009 Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse
NCAA Championship – First Round
Sunday, May 10, 2009 * Alumni Field * Notre Dame, Ind.
Notre Dame Coach and Player Quotes
Kevin Corrigan, Notre Dame Head Coach
Opening statement…
“We didn’t play that well on the offensive end of the field and we didn’t handle the ball cleanly and it hurt us. It was a limited-possession game you have to be selective and smart about what you’re doing on offense and we didn’t play with the discipline that we needed. Defensively, we gave up a couple that we didn’t like but we played pretty solid there.”
How disappointing it is going out in the first round…
“It’s not what we’ve been working towards for the past four months. The NCAA tournament is all about showing up and getting it done and we didn’t do that today.”
About Maryland…
“Maryland is a very good team. They are a very smart team. They have a number of different guys who can make plays and they had a very good defensive game today. I think we shot the ball very poorly. We settled in our offense and we can’t do that against a team like them because it’s not going to be an up-and-down, high-possession game and you have to make your possessions count and we didn’t do that.”
What did you say to your players after the game…
“I haven’t had chance to really talk to them, yet. After the game I told them that I’m proud of them and I love them and I’m disappointed we didn’t get in done today.”
Scott Rodgers, Sr., Goalie
About the quick goals…
“We just had to get used to their offense and we knew that they were very skilled and good shooters and we just needed a second to dig in and get used to what we would be seeing the whole game. I think our defense played very well against a very good Maryland offense.”
About shots on goal…
“I think the defense let me see the ball really well and after the goals in the first half I could still see the ball really well. That’s how our defense plays. We trust each other. They trust me and I trust them. We gave up seven goals to a very good ACC offense and we know we can play better. I think we played really well. I give the credit to the defense because they gave me good looks.”
About shots coming off the chest…
“That’s just the life and times of Scott Rodgers right there. I’m a big guy. I take them in the body whenever I can.”
Regis McDermott, Sr., Defenseman
About his career being over…
“I don’t know what I am feeling right now. It hasn’t really hit me at all. I was expecting to be here for another two weeks. I really don’t know what to think yet.”
About Will (Yeatman) and covering him…
“We talked earlier in the week and we said that when we’re on the field we weren’t going to talk during the game and we would speak after the game.”
Maryland Coach and Player Quotes
Dave Cottle, Maryland Head Coach
Opening Statement…
“Being on the other side of it, I appreciate what Notre Dame did this season going 15-0 and I don’t think our team could have done it. I am excited for our guys. The last couple of weeks we have practiced a lot better. I thought that was the best defensive effort we have played all year. I thought to hold Ryan Hoff to limited shots and to play team defense were key. More importantly, we picked the ball off the ground, we controlled the ball and I thought are kids outstanding job.”
About shots…
“We had a large task trying to get it past (Notre Dame goalie) Scott (Rodgers). He is the best goalie I have seen on film this year. I thought early on, we took some quality shots. We were up 4-1 at half but we just couldn’t get it by him. Scott did an outstanding job. But we got ground balls, we controlled the ball, we cleared the ball and we made them play a lot of defense.”
About making changes…
“We have stubbed our toe and Notre Dame has done nothing wrong (this season). So we were the ones that had to make the changes. I think we’re playing better. What else helped us was our midfield had two goals. We’re getting contributions from other guys and I think that really helps us.”
Will Yeatman, Jr., Attack
About getting up early…
“I think more than anything was us getting the confidence. I think they were a little surprised by us going up so much on them at the beginning. You could see it that once we had that momentum going they were on their heels a little bit. You don’t change the way you’re playing, you keep doing the same thing you have been doing. That’s the advantage of having that momentum. If it works you keeping doing what you have been doing.”
Brian Phipps, Jr., Goaltender
About getting ready for the game defensively…
“We had a good week of practice because our scout offensive team and Coach Slafkosky really showed us what to take away from (Notre Dame attackman) Ryan Hoff. We would double the ball a lot and I think our defense played really well and executed our game plan.”
Dan Groot, Sr., Midfielder
About getting up early…
“I thought it really helped our team to get up early because we were the bigger faster team and it really helped our confidence.”