It really was a nice day.  Beautiful blue skies (the same color as the blue in Lynn’s uniforms), a nice breeze and a great environment. Even the seats looked like sky blue. Sitting on the makeshift press stand in the first half I had a nice view looking at the bleachers, seeing the combination of excitement and curiosity. I’d say half the people there were knowledgeable about the game and others were just plain curious. All gathered for an event.  Not just a game.  Before this game it didn’t really feel official.  Pope John Paul was a nice host, but who wants to be a guest for their own home games? Today it finally felt official.   Quick Questions – What are these people going to be known for? Tom Hurley Tyler Janvrin William Port Joe Moreno Collin Brooke Kevin Ross Answers at the bottom.   The game score didn’t really matter to me.  Lynn is struggling this year as predictable.  Coach Kingsbury got a late start recruiting for this season and had to make some tough choices before the season started.  And he made the right decisions too.  By the time these freshmen are seniors the program will be humming along.  A great lacrosse conference to play in (which is going to get better if the rumors about Palm Beach Atlantic today are true), a great facility and a smart philosophy.  So what if they lost to a Top 10 program with SEVEN Division 1 transfers? And the school went all out too. Drum and Bugle Corps.  Bagpipes.  Even Lexi Luca, Palm Beach County resident and The Voice auditioner, to sing the National Anthem. Field is named for Gregory Malfitano, located in Bobby Campbell stadium, with the two seating sections also named . . . sorry, I forgot to write down the names of the two sections. Darn good pizza from Four Alarm.  Two slices and a drink for $5.  When I was in elementary school that cost 70 cents . . . The voice of the Fighting Knights reminds me of Ray Scott from my youth.  Booming voice, perfectly suited for the sport.  But I doubt we can use the phrase ‘frozen tundra’ down here.  How about manicured fairway?  I could have hit a driver off the ground on that field.  Maybe we can take up a collection to build a soccer stadium so lacrosse doesn’t have to share it? One puzzling thing . . . The Panthers were selling tickets?  Rather have the Lynn Lax gear instead. A mild reminder to the statistician – a clear isn’t successful until you have control in the box. Thank you Olivia for taking care of me in the first half.  Saw John Westerman and caught up with him too.  Brian walked over too.  Wearing my shirt style . . . I think he likes it here. Sat in the stands with the fans in the second half.  Ran into Lynn player Cole Borg’s folks.  I’ve known Cole since he was 10 years old and he was a teammate of my son Alex on Boca Jets Lacrosse.  His Dad Dean was the coach.  It’s really Dean’s fault I’m here right now.  Starting about 6 years ago in the stands at Saint Andrew’s games, rooting and kibbitzing.  And that fateful day a few years ago when he introduced me to one of the owners of this site. So Dean, time to get even . . . Just kidding. Cole is the epitome of this year’s team.  I’ve followed Cole’s playing career for quite awhile.  Worked hard to get where he is.  Never really got enough playing time in high school because of the players in front of him and a staff that didn’t go deep enough into the bench at times.  Never let it get him down or tired of playing.  Kept coming back for more.  And made a Division II roster because of that hard work. Gets some playing time.  And still does whatever he can to stay on the roster.  Even if he never becomes a star he will always be someone who helped get the program going.  Keep plugging Cole.  I admire your efforts.  And I want to keep watching games with your folks for as long as I can. I sat near some of the other parents and in front of a couple of kids who obviously play, probably in high school but I didn’t bother talking to them. Probably should have.  But the atmosphere took over and it was just ‘let’s watch some lax’.  Got a little sun and saw Lynn score some nice fourth quarter goals.  They’ve struggled to score lately. By the way, Taylor Ferrino is the real deal.  Hope he doesn’t get too shell-shocked this year.  He’s from the Buffalo area and reminds me a lot of another freshmen goalie from there named Jackson Brown at my school.  They probably played against each other in high school.  Taylor starts for his team, Jackson does not.  Last year I suspect the publicity went the other way.  Shouldn’t have. Tyler Janvrin looks like a keeper too.  Needs some help with others dodging to take the pressure off him. Brian Kiel is starting to look more comfortable too.  Long Island kid, from the last stop on the LIRR before you change trains (those of us from LonGuyland know that one).  Hope he’s an Islander fan . . . ESPN760 was here to film a short interview with William Port that was broadcast on WPTV Sunday night.  A Marine.  What a role model for the freshmen. And thank you for your service to this country.  Hope you get a hat trick before the season is over. Christopher D’Angelo is pretty good on face-offs.  As a freshman.  Bloomfield Hills – Brother Rice? Two years from now we will likely see a number of the kids today coming off the bench.  That’s the nature of building a new program.  Not a knock, just a likelihood.  The experience they gained this year will mean a lot then, when they are the leaders. I can’t wait. I hope the students will really come out by then and make the place the home field snake pit this team deserves. Oh, by the way, Colorado Mesa won the game.  I didn’t write down the score. Yesterday was about a beginning, not a final. A beginning that looks to have staying power.   Quick Answers – What are these people going to be known for? Tom Hurley – Colorado Mesa player who scored the first goal in stadium history Tyler Janvrin – Lynn player who scored the first Lynn goal in stadium history William Port – Took Lynn’s first penalty in stadium history.  Where’s that military discipline? Joe Moreno – Colorado Mesa player that scored the first EMO goal in stadium history Collin Brooke – Colorado Mesa player took the first visiting tam penalty in stadium history Kevin Ross – won the first face-off in stadium history.  Looks like he can still FOGO.  The only player out there that played in the famous PJP upset of Saint Andrew’s in 1989.  How did I know that?  He reminded me of it at every chance he could . . . but he forgot to introduce me to Brian. Go get ’em Fighting Knights!