Shots to the Sideline

On January 27, 2013 team USA faced off against defending NCAA Champions The Loyola Greyhounds during the Champion Challenge at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The game was surprisingly competitive and came down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Normally blogs about goaltenders for these type of games would be about heroic saves or perfect outlet passes or goalies quarterbacking the defense but this year is a little different. Sure the game had all the fantastic goalie excitement of one-on-one saves and saves that we're turned into fast breaks, the goalie being the catalyst, but what stood out to me most was how the new rules affected the game.

During the first quarter, USA goalie John Galloway deflected a shot towards the sideline. Galloway being one of the quickest goalies playing today noticed Loyola star attackman Mike Sawyer running three quarter speed towards the errant shot. That's when Galloway decided to turn on the jets and attempt to beat Sawyer to the sideline. Even with the diving effort of Galloway, Sawyer was able earn possession. With the quick whistle Galloway had to sprint back to the crease but as we all know the ball travels quicker than any player. After 2 passes Greyhound Nikko Pontrello was able to score a mostly empty net goal. If this game was being played last season not only would Galloway have 5 seconds to get back to the crease but either team could have demanded a substitution horn.

Whether Galloway took a calculated risk or just forgot the new NCAA rule (not an international rule) during the heat of the battle, the lack of a 5 secound grace period will affect goalie play. During the chase for the sideline, Mike Sawyer turned his head a couple times to see where Galloway was in the race. Was last years Tewaaraton Award winner moving three quarter speed because he was baiting Galloway to continue running away from the crease knowing the quick whistle was coming? Not a bad strategy.  When it comes to taking risks outside the crease, goalies are taught "if your gonna go down, go down in flames" meaning if your going to go for the ball do everything you can to get it because whether you go halfway or all out, you are still going to be out of position so you might as well go all out.  That lesson may have to be abridged in the college game to "if your gonna go down, go down in flames unless your chasing a shot towards the sideline".