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The Daily OrangeON THE ATTACK: Like in high school, Duke's Crotty leaps from midfield to attack before final season
By Meredith Galante
Posted: 5/22/09, 12:23 PM EST Section: Final Four '09
Ned Crotty has been asked to make this switch before.
Crotty played exceptionally on the lacrosse field at the mifield position at Delbarton School in New Jersey. Then in his senior year, Crotty showed up two weeks late to lacrosse practice because it overlapped with hockey season, and his high school coach asked him to switch to attack to replace the starters the team lost to graduation.
Crotty had no objections, but no real preparation either. He also had little problem adjusting. He ended his senior season as the State Player of the Year honoree. As an attack.
After his senior year of high school, it was off to Duke. Crotty played midfield and forgot about hockey. He earned All-American honors his junior year at midfield. Then, before this season, his college coach, John Danowski, asked him to replace Matt Danowski and Zack Greer at attack.
Crotty stepped up once again, and experienced plenty of success. He calls it "ironic" that the same switch happened twice.
His 76 points this season is good for a team-best and good enough to have him as one of the 2009 Tewaaraton Trophy finalists. His personal accolades have boosted his team into the final four. Duke (15-3) will take on defending national champions Syracuse (14-2) Saturday (noon, ESPN2) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
"It was a bit of a leap of faith to move him from midfield to attack," John Danowski said. "He was a proven commodity at midfield. He was an All-American midfielder. It was not guaranteed he would make the transition."
Crotty currently sits second in points-per game in the country behind only Syracuse's Kenny Nims. Crotty averages 4.22 points per game to Nims' 4.25.
But Crotty thinks he still is struggling at attack. There's a new hurdle every day at his new position.
"Everything having to do with playing attack is an obstacle," Crotty said. "I still haven't gotten used to it. Everyday I'm still learning. It's the way you look at the field, and where you dodge. Everything is different."
Crotty played exceptionally on the lacrosse field at the mifield position at Delbarton School in New Jersey. Then in his senior year, Crotty showed up two weeks late to lacrosse practice because it overlapped with hockey season, and his high school coach asked him to switch to attack to replace the starters the team lost to graduation.
Crotty had no objections, but no real preparation either. He also had little problem adjusting. He ended his senior season as the State Player of the Year honoree. As an attack.
After his senior year of high school, it was off to Duke. Crotty played midfield and forgot about hockey. He earned All-American honors his junior year at midfield. Then, before this season, his college coach, John Danowski, asked him to replace Matt Danowski and Zack Greer at attack.
Crotty stepped up once again, and experienced plenty of success. He calls it "ironic" that the same switch happened twice.
His 76 points this season is good for a team-best and good enough to have him as one of the 2009 Tewaaraton Trophy finalists. His personal accolades have boosted his team into the final four. Duke (15-3) will take on defending national champions Syracuse (14-2) Saturday (noon, ESPN2) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
"It was a bit of a leap of faith to move him from midfield to attack," John Danowski said. "He was a proven commodity at midfield. He was an All-American midfielder. It was not guaranteed he would make the transition."
Crotty currently sits second in points-per game in the country behind only Syracuse's Kenny Nims. Crotty averages 4.22 points per game to Nims' 4.25.
But Crotty thinks he still is struggling at attack. There's a new hurdle every day at his new position.
"Everything having to do with playing attack is an obstacle," Crotty said. "I still haven't gotten used to it. Everyday I'm still learning. It's the way you look at the field, and where you dodge. Everything is different."
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