Big game on Bestgate this afternoon. Prediction 16-8 Spalding
- attack: edge heavily in favor of AS
- mid: edge heavily in favor of AS
- def: edge slightly in favor of SM
- goal: edge slightly in favor of SM
- fogo: edge slightly in favor of AS because of depth
Looks like a good game on paper, but Spalding has too many scorers. St. Mary’s depends on 2 or 3 guys to make plays.
Guess we will see, won’t we? Will you be posting a halftime update?
Spalding has better balance and depth but SM has more experience in big games. St. Mary's is playing at home in front of a raucous crowd (not in the stadium but up on the hill) and may have the hometown advantage with the zebras. The Saints as a Program are used to this type of game while the crew from New Cut Road are relatively new to this type of pressure. Having 2-3 great poles may not be enough for the Saints as Spalding can score from all six positions. Its going to come down to the role players and in game coaching adjustments. For SM, its about the SSDMs and the less heralded offensive players and for Spalding, its going to be about coaching adjustments and not allowing the vaunted defenders at SM to disrupt their transition and settled offense. The face-off X is a toss up although one of Spalding's FOGOs can initiate a break. Both goalies are solid: if one gets hot that can swing the game as well.
