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The Daily OrangeBETTER THAN ADVERTISED: Cornell's Rob Pannell looks to exceed previous expectations with NCAA championship
By Conor Orr
Posted: 5/24/09, 2:45 PM EST Section: Sports
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Sean Keenan knew the way to get Cornell head coach Jeff Tambroni's attention.
Kennan, the head coach at Smithtown High School West, had an ace prospect in his back pocket - one of the best players he'd ever coached - and just needed the right way to introduce him to Tambroni.
So Keenan sent Tambroni an e-mail telling him that if he wanted another Tim Goldstein, a lacrosse hall-of-famer and high-power attack with the ability to take over the game, then he'd need to take on Rob Pannell.
"When I e-mailed coach Tambroni, I thought of Timmy because we played together," Keenan said. "Timmy and Rob, they both have eyes behind their head, they know when someone's open and Timmy was a 2-time All-American at Cornell and an NCAA player of the year and that's who Rob reminded me of."
In only his first season at Cornell, Pannell is on his way to fulfilling Keenan's premonition. Ranking in the top five in both assists and points per game in the nation, while putting up six points (three goals and three assists) in the Big Red's 15-6 upset of Virginia Saturday, Pannell is looking to take Cornell to a place where even Goldstein couldn't - a national championship victory.
Pannell will get that chance Monday at 1 p.m. (ESPN) when the Big Red take on Syracuse here at Gillette Stadium for the 2009 NCAA men's lacrosse championship.
"Timmy had a great career at Cornell and it was such a compliment to be compared to him," Pannell said. "I talked to Timmy and he told me to just play how I play and don't be afraid to hold back because he never did."
Just like Goldstein, Pannell understands the weak points in a defense. Something he exhibited Saturday against Virginia. After his Big Red jumped out to a quick two-goal lead on the top-seeded Cavaliers, Pannell lofted a pass into a charging Ryan Hurley for the goal, a 3-0 lead, and a surge of momentum that wouldn't be lost all game.
Although he's just a freshman, Pannell continued to manage the Virginia game like his high school coach had promised. Whether it was the pinpoint pass he fired into the lane to connect with attack Chris Finn for a score, or the instinct to take it to the cage for one of his three goals - each from a different angle on the field - it was Pannell's instinct that kept Virginia stunned and on its toes.
Kennan, the head coach at Smithtown High School West, had an ace prospect in his back pocket - one of the best players he'd ever coached - and just needed the right way to introduce him to Tambroni.
So Keenan sent Tambroni an e-mail telling him that if he wanted another Tim Goldstein, a lacrosse hall-of-famer and high-power attack with the ability to take over the game, then he'd need to take on Rob Pannell.
"When I e-mailed coach Tambroni, I thought of Timmy because we played together," Keenan said. "Timmy and Rob, they both have eyes behind their head, they know when someone's open and Timmy was a 2-time All-American at Cornell and an NCAA player of the year and that's who Rob reminded me of."
In only his first season at Cornell, Pannell is on his way to fulfilling Keenan's premonition. Ranking in the top five in both assists and points per game in the nation, while putting up six points (three goals and three assists) in the Big Red's 15-6 upset of Virginia Saturday, Pannell is looking to take Cornell to a place where even Goldstein couldn't - a national championship victory.
Pannell will get that chance Monday at 1 p.m. (ESPN) when the Big Red take on Syracuse here at Gillette Stadium for the 2009 NCAA men's lacrosse championship.
"Timmy had a great career at Cornell and it was such a compliment to be compared to him," Pannell said. "I talked to Timmy and he told me to just play how I play and don't be afraid to hold back because he never did."
Just like Goldstein, Pannell understands the weak points in a defense. Something he exhibited Saturday against Virginia. After his Big Red jumped out to a quick two-goal lead on the top-seeded Cavaliers, Pannell lofted a pass into a charging Ryan Hurley for the goal, a 3-0 lead, and a surge of momentum that wouldn't be lost all game.
Although he's just a freshman, Pannell continued to manage the Virginia game like his high school coach had promised. Whether it was the pinpoint pass he fired into the lane to connect with attack Chris Finn for a score, or the instinct to take it to the cage for one of his three goals - each from a different angle on the field - it was Pannell's instinct that kept Virginia stunned and on its toes.
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