Taylor's Takes: Turnovers, Zones and Cards Define Week 1

Week one of 2024 has come and gone, and the word I can best use to describe it would be “trendy.”

There were a few trends that seemed to run true throughout the weekend in many of the games I was able to watch, and I’m so curious to see if they continue.

First and foremost, there were many, many turnovers this week. Sloppier than normal play is always a guarantee in February, especially in the first few weekends, as teams are still trying to knock the winter rust off and find their groove. That said, it’s always a bit surprising to see how many games record 10-plus turnovers for both teams. These little mistakes, while expected, are ones that teams will need to get control of quickly to guarantee more offensive possessions and a cleaner game.

I also noticed that there seems to be a theme for defense this spring: zone. I saw so many teams play varying forms of zone defense this weekend — rovers, backers and shifting zones galore. Some programs like Syracuse, Denver and James Madison are known for their stellar zone defensive schemes, so it wasn’t shocking to see them stay with systems tried and true. However, what was more surprising was seeing teams like Virginia and North Carolina, ones that traditionally play a man-to-man style, shift in and out of zones quite regularly. I’m curious to see if this is a trend that continues or if programs are simply trying to figure out what works best for their defensive groups before nailing down a set scheme.

The other trend I noticed was an increased number of cards, both green and yellow, being issued during games. I even saw a card issued for embellishment for the first time — one that I happened to agree with. I hadn’t seen the new rules in effect until this weekend, and I’m curious to see how things progress with the issuance of cards as the season goes on. The balance of player safety, game integrity and length of games is one we must find, and it will be interesting to see how everything unfolds.

Turnovers, zones and cards were trends in week one, and I’m so curious to see what week two has to bring.

TEAMS THAT IMPRESSED

Navy

Although they had quite a scoring drought in the second half against Duke, the Mids were able to earn win No. 1 of the season thanks to their grit, athleticism and confidence. I was impressed with how hard they went for ground balls and draws, two crucial stat lines they were able to dominate. The Mids won the draw battle 14-6 and edged out ground balls 21-16, areas I expect them to continue to succeed in.

George Mason

Winning in overtime at any point is huge, but to do so in the season opener is even more impressive. The Patriots were down by two goals to William & Mary with 90 seconds remaining and were able to not only tie it quickly, but secure their first victory in overtime a few moments later. It’s so difficult to have composure in overtime, especially in February, and I was excited to see how calm, cool and collected the players and staff were during those big moments.

BIG-TIME PERFORMANCES

Katie Pascale, Albany

Pascale does a great job generating offense for the Danes. She is efficient at drawing and scoring 8-meter opportunities, creates uncomfortable situations with hard dodges from versatile attacking positions and is lightning quick off the draw circle. Although Albany lost to Johns Hopkins, Pascale’s seven-point performance (3G, 4A) was a highlight for the Danes and one they can continue to build off.

Madison Beale, Duke

Having coached against Beale in high school, I know firsthand how stellar she is. Not only is she fantastic in a 1-v-1 situation, but her ability to communicate through slides and read offenses makes her a lethal matchup. A sophomore standout and leader for the Blue Devils, Beale’s two ground balls and three caused turnovers in Duke’s game against Navy did not go unnoticed. Neither did her presence in the draw circle, which could be Duke’s secret weapon as she gets more high-quality reps.

Ella Heaney, USC

Heaney’s six-goal performance was pivotal in securing USC’s first victory of 2024 over Army. I loved watching her attack the cage, using shifty moves and a crafty stick to generate space and prime shooting opportunities. Heaney primarily dodged from the crease, but she was also seen floating around the elbows and inside, which made it difficult for her defenders to get into a rhythm. Her shot selection was also impressive, and her placement was pinpoint on all of her nine attempts.

GAMES TO WATCH

Notre Dame vs. Northwestern

Whenever these teams meet up, it’s always a battle. Both play aggressive defensively and have talented veteran attack units that will look to expose weaknesses in said defenses. With the amount of talent on each offensive end, I think this game is going to be a shootout. Whoever’s more dialed in shooting-wise will be the victor.

Syracuse vs. Maryland

Like Notre Dame and Northwestern, Syracuse and Maryland have a lot of similarities this season when looking on paper. Each team has veteran experience coming back on their offensive end, a stellar center in the draw circle, and a top goalkeeper in the country on the defensive end. I believe the result of this game will come down to two areas — the circle and the crease. Whoever can dominate those areas will have a great shot of walking out of the Dome with a W.

North Carolina vs. Florida

Both of these talented teams are coming off losses to top teams and are looking to avoid an 0-2 start. UNC’s youth stepped up against James Madison in the face of three season-ending injuries to top players, while Florida relied more on its veterans against Loyola. Both teams had moments of brilliance in week one and have many positives to build off in week two. In short, this game will be a battle of underclassmen and upperclassmen, and I’m fascinated to see who comes out on top. Composure from both groups will be key.

Michigan vs. Denver

In my eyes, this will potentially be the most fascinating matchup of the entire weekend. Both programs had solid victories in week one, are known for high-level defensive play and have one of the best coaches in the game. I think this matchup will be a true battle of X’s and O’s between Denver’s Liza Kelly and Michigan’s Hannah Nielsen, and the team that executes their plan better will win. I’ve personally loved watching Michigan and Denver grow in both notoriety and success over the past few seasons and can’t wait to see how this one shakes out.