First Class Lacrosse Podcast

In this episode of the First Class Lacrosse podcast, hosts Deemer Class and Matt Dunn interview Joe Alberici, head coach of Army Men's Lacrosse. Alberici, who is in his 21st season, has led the Black Knights to significant achievements including multiple Patriot League titles and a number one national ranking in 2024. The discussion explores Alberici's coaching journey from Duke to West Point, his defensive strategies, and his commitment to player development. Alberici emphasizes the importance of discipline, mentorship, and vulnerability in building a strong team culture. The conversation also touches on the evolution of lacrosse tactics and the significance of relational coaching. Alberici shares insights into his practice planning methodology, highlighting the importance of adaptability and continuous learning in achieving success on the field.Timecodes0:00 - Workout Discipline8:55 - Career & Coaching Outlook21:15 - Toughness & Vulnerability37:00 - Practice Philosophy 47:00 - Defensive Mindset1:06:10 - The Modern Game1:12:50 - Army's Success---Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Matt Dunn and Deemer Class welcome University of Maryland women's head coach Cathy Reese. Celebrating her 20th season, Reese discusses her journey from a Maryland player to becoming the all-time winningest coach in Maryland's women's lacrosse history. The conversation covers her coaching philosophy, the importance of culture, player development, handling adversity, and the evolution of the sport. Reese also shares insights into her leadership style, mentorship, and personal connection to Maryland lacrosse. The episode highlights coach Reese’s unparalleled success, with a focus on her commitment to fostering individual growth and team cohesion.Timecodes0:00 - Terp To The Core11:45 - Learning To Lose17:40 - Return To Maryland30:30 - Advice &  Affirmations37:00 - Skills To Develop46:00 - Trail Of Interest54:00 - Maryland LAX Family---Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Deemer Class and Matt Dunn interview University of Richmond men's lacrosse head coach Dan Chemotti. Coach Chemotti shares his journey of building the Richmond lacrosse program from its inception in 2014 to becoming a national contender with multiple NCAA tournament appearances. He discusses the importance of assistant coach Paul Richards in the program's success, his coaching philosophy emphasizing fundamentals and skill development, and the significant influences from his father and his mentor, coach Mike Messere. The conversation also touches on the unique dynamics of coaching alongside long-time friends and mentors, the strategies for player development, and the validation of achieving the program's first NCAA tournament win. Throughout, Coach Chemotti underscores the importance of discipline, attention to detail, and the cultural aspects that drive the program's success.Timecodes0:00 - Intro6:45 - Dan's Background18:00 - Attention To Detail24:30 - Skill Development41:20 - Building Richmond52:50 - Peer Support58:30 - Playoff Validation---Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Deemer Class and Matt Dunn sit down with Navy coach Cindy Timchal. A legendary figure in women's lacrosse, Timchal shares her journey to becoming the all-time wins leader in Division I women's lacrosse, with over 578 victories and eight national titles. The conversation explores Timchal's early influences, her approach to coaching, and the key lessons she's learned. They discuss the importance of mindset, player development, and specific coaching philosophies that have contributed to Timchal's success in building successful programs at Northwestern, Maryland, and the United States Naval Academy. The episode also highlights her significant impact on the sport and her strategies for mentoring the next generation of coaches.Timecodes0:00 - Background4:45 - Why Lax12:00 - Being Demanding18:00 - Program Building28:00 - Mindset Evolutions42:45 - Continue Success51:00 - Drill Development1:01:15 - Feedback Loop1:11:00 - Coaching at Navy1:15:30 - Coaching Advice---Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Season two of the First Class Lacrosse podcast, hosts Deemer Class and Matt Dunn sit down with Joe Amplo, head coach of the United States Naval Academy men's lacrosse team. Amplo, who is entering his seventh season at Navy and has extensive experience building successful programs, shares insights into his leadership style, passion for the sport, and journey in lacrosse. He reflects on his upbringing in Long Island, his influences from mentors like Duke's John Danowski, and his experiences starting the Marquette lacrosse program. Additionally, Amplo discusses the challenges and rewards of coaching at Navy, emphasizing the importance of relationships, teaching, and building a cohesive team culture. The conversation also touches on his personal anecdotes, such as his family's Italian culinary traditions and the upcoming lacrosse facility at Navy.Timecodes0:00 - Intro4:00 - Joe's Background14:15 - Defensive Mindset19:45 - Learning Styles26:45 - Never Stop Coaching31:45 - Building Marquette40:25 - Tales of Kris Amplo44:00 - Navy Is Special---Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe---Deemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss, and Matt Dunn break down the men's and women's Final Four weekend, highlighting key games, players, and performances. The men's Cornell vs. Penn State and Maryland vs. Syracuse matches are examined, focusing on strong team cultures and standout players like CJ Kirst and Logan McNaney. The episode also covers the women's champions, UNC, and the standout performances of Chloe Humphrey and other key players. Moving forward, the hosts provide recruiting advice for the class of 2027, including email strategies, timeline expectations, and the importance of mindset and self-reflection in the recruiting process. The episode concludes with a discussion on setting realistic expectations and adjusting to the recruiting landscape.Timecodes0:00 - PLL Musings7:00 - Cornell Wins Men's Title25:30 - UNC Wins Women's Title36:00 - Recruiting Season Begins

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe---Deemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss and Matt Dunnare breaking down an exciting weekend of lacrosse quarterfinals across the men's and women's brackets. They review tight contests, highlight standout performances, and preview upcoming semifinal and championship matchups. The team delves into pivotal games such as Syracuse's high-scoring battle with Princeton and Penn State's remarkable comeback against Notre Dame. They also discuss strategic insights, including defensive slide packages, use of zones, and offensive schemes against various defenses. On the women's side, Deemer provides a detailed preview of the semifinals, emphasizing key players and matchups. Additionally, the episode touches on the outstanding individual performances driving the race for the Tewaaraton Award, covering both men's and women's lacrosse.Timecodes0:00 - Cornell def. Richmond4:45 - Syracuse def. Princeton12:45 - Penn St def. Notre Dame26:15 - Maryland def. Georgetown31:50 - Syracuse vs Maryland Preview39:15 - PSU vs Cornell Preview47:45 - UNC vs Florida Preview51:30 - BC vs Northwestern58:30 - Final Thoughts

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe---Deemer Class, Matt Dunn and Stephen Rehfuss discuss recap the first round of the 2025 Men's NCAA Lacrosse Tournament. They review last week's episode with Pat Kavanaugh and focus on a range of games including Richmond's breakthrough win over UNC and Georgetown's surprising victory against Duke. They also highlight the strong performances of star players like Aiden Carroll and Liam Matthews. The conversation shifts to quarterfinal matchups, emphasizing games such as Richmond vs. Cornell and Georgetown vs. Maryland. The hosts wrap up by emphasizing the cultural and emotional aspects of playoff lacrosse.After the break, UNC's Ashley and Chloe Humphrey join the podcast. The sisters discuss their current season's success, including setting multiple records and being the top seed as they prepare for the NCAA quarterfinals against Princeton. They delve into their journey to UNC, overcoming injuries, and the impact of COVID on their athletic careers. The episode also covers their on-field synergy, practice routines, and how they handle adversities like face guarding. Both sisters emphasize the importance of perspective, teamwork, and relentless preparation in achieving their goals. They also reflect on the influence of admired players like Kayla Treanor and share their experiences of growing up obsessed with lacrosse.Timecodes0:00 - Tournament Time Nostalgia10:30 - Richmond def. UNC17:00 - Georgetown def. Duke21:10 - Notre Dame def. Ohio St27:10 - Syracuse def. Harvard32:20 - Penn St def. Colgate36:20 - Maryland def. Air Force39:00 - Quarterfinal Preview42:10 - Player Perspective: Humphrey Sisters

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe---Deemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss, and Matt Dunn are joined by special guest Pat Kavanagh to discuss his experiences at Notre Dame, transitioning to professional lacrosse, and his family's lacrosse legacy. They delve into Pat's recruiting story, his perspective from playing at Notre Dame, and his insights on the current team. The hosts also preview the upcoming NCAA men's and women's lacrosse tournaments, including key matchups such as Richmond vs. North Carolina and Georgetown vs. Duke on the men's side, as well as Clemson vs. Navy on the women's side. They examine the implications of the selection criteria and seeding processes, the role of team culture, and the expectations for teams in the tournament.Timecodes0:00 - Pat Kavanagh's Journey51:00 - Bracket Set1:05 - MLAX Richmond vs UNC1:12:20 - MLAX Georgetown vs Duke1:15:45 - MLAX Notre Dame vs Ohio State1:21:30 - MLAX Harvard vs Syracuse1:28:00 - WLAX Clemson vs Navy

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe--Deemer Class, Matt Dunn and Stephen Rehfuss are joined by special guests, Cornell attackmen Michael Long and CJ Kirst, who share insights into their chemistry, growth over the years, and the high-level principles that drive their play. The episode covers key segments such as the Two-Minute Drill, notable games and players from recent weekends, and a breakdown of offensive strategies against defensive slides. The podcast wraps with a preview of upcoming crucial games, including the ACC and Ivy League tournaments, setting the stage for an exciting lacrosse weekend.--Timecodes0:00 - Weekend Recap4:35 - Mike & CJ Join The Pod45:15 - GPUs52:30 - Breakdown: Dodging 1:13:50 - Looking Ahead

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribeDeemer Class, Matt Dunn & Stephen Rehfuss welcome Adam Lamberti, Director of FCL Media and PLL Draft Analyst to this week's pod. The discussion kicks off with a two-minute drill recapping notable men's and women's lacrosse games from the past weekend, including highlights from the Ivy League, ACC, Big Ten, and Big East. Key games include Cornell's victory over Harvard, Duke's win over Syracuse, and Maryland's victory against Hopkins. The podcast then transitions to a player's perspective segment, exploring the balance of being versatile versus specializing in specific skills, featuring insights on training and role development. Adam Lamberti joins to provide an in-depth look at the PLL draft, analyzing top prospects and their potential impact at the professional level. Additionally, the hosts preview upcoming notable games in the men's and women's lacrosse schedules, underlining the excitement and unpredictability leading into the tournament season.Timecodes0:00 - Recap6:00 - Player Perspective: Focused Training26:15 - GPUs36:15 - Adam's PLL Draft Board1:05:00 - Weekend Preview

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribeDeemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss, and Matt Dunn welcome FCL Athlete and Princeton sophomore Nate Kabiri to the podcast! The episode kicks off with the Two-Minute Drill, covering notable games from the past week, including highlights from Penn State, Michigan, and Notre Dame. The hosts delve into Player Perspective with Kabiri, discussing his development and transition from midfield to attack. They move on to the Games, Players, and Units (GPU) segment, highlighting standout performances and team efforts from Yale, Cornell, and Michigan. The Breakdown segment focuses on passing accuracy and the impact of delivering precise passes for team success. The episode wraps up with a look ahead to upcoming games, featuring key matchups like Rutgers vs. Penn State, Johns Hopkins vs. Maryland, and Syracuse vs. Duke.Timecodes0:00 - Intro & Recap5:20 - Nate Joins The Pod35:00 - GPUs50:25 - The Breakdown: Passing Accuracy1:06:00 - Weekend Preview

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribeDeemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss, and Matt Dunn break down the latest in college lacrosse. The episode starts with the Two-Minute Drill; recapping notable games from the past week, including Duke's victory over BU, Harvard's win against Dartmouth, and Loyola's first win of the season against Bucknell. The discussion then shifts to Player Perspective, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a 'zero-zero' mindset throughout games. The hosts also examine key statistical trends such as shooting percentage, save percentage, and face-off percentage, exploring their impact on team performance. The episode wraps up by looking ahead to upcoming games, highlighting matchups like Hopkins vs. Penn State, Maryland vs. Ohio State, Syracuse vs. Cornell, and Virginia vs. Notre Dame.0:00 - Recap8:30 - Player Perspective: 0-0 Mindset30:45 - GPUs40:45 - Trends To Watch: Statistics58:55 - Preview

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribeDeemer Class, Matt Dunn & Stephen Rehfuss are joined by Mckenna Davis from Boston College, discuss notable performances and upcoming games in college lacrosse. The show kicks off with a 'Two-Minute Drill' recapping recent games and standout players. Mckenna then shares insights into her team's preparation for a high-stakes match against North Carolina this weekend, emphasizing the importance of visualization and mental skills. The hosts also dive into their 'Games, Players, and Units' segments, highlighting impactful performances and tactics. They conclude by previewing key games slated for the upcoming weekend, including top matchups in both men's and women's lacrosse.Timecodes0:00 - Recap9:45 - Mckenna Davis Joins41:20 - GPUs52:00 - Trends1:03:15 - Weekend Preview

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribeDeemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss, and Matt Dunn discuss the recent weekend's college lacrosse highlights, including notable games, player performances, and emerging trends. They are joined by special guest Billy Dwan, a standout defender from Syracuse, who shares insights into his career, defensive strategies, and the importance of film study. The episode also explores the increasing use of the 10-man ride and upcoming exciting games. Other highlighted topics include key matchups in men's and women's lacrosse and predictions for standout teams as the NCAA Tournament approaches.Timecodes0:00 - Weekend Recap3:00 - Bill Dwan Joins The Pod22:10 - GPUs37:00 - Deep Dive On The Ride45:30 - Weekend Preview

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribeDeemer Class, Matt Dunn and Stephen Rehfuss discuss the recent weekend's major games and player performances in college lacrosse. Cornell and Maryland achieved significant wins, while Ohio State continued their undefeated streak. The episode features segments such as the Two-Minute Drill, a discussion on players engaging with coaches about playing time, highlights from various games, and trends in offensive dodging and defensive approach angles in lacrosse. Key games, notable players, and unit performances are dissected, with special mentions going to individuals like CJ Kirst and teams such as Army and Maryland. Future matchups in men's and women's college lacrosse are previewed as the guys provide insights and predictions for the coming weekend's games.Timecodes0:00 - Weekend Recap20:00 - Player's Perspective: Playing Time32:45 - Games, Players & Units44:15 - Dodging Angles51:45 - Weekend Preview

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribeDeemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss, and Matt Dunn discuss recent lacrosse weekend highlights, focusing on notable games, player performances, and team strategies. The episode includes an in-depth segment called GPUs (Games, Players, and Units), featuring breakdowns of standout matches. The guys also delve into trends such as ball reversals and offensive strategies, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and feel for the game. They round off the discussion by looking ahead to upcoming matchups and providing insight into how teams can optimize their performance.Timecodes0:00 - Intro1:00 - Top Performers7:30 - Player's Perspective (Recruiting Rankings)25:45 - GPUs40:00 - What Makes A "QB1"51:30 - Trends1:02:40 - Weekend Preview

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribeDeemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss, and Matt Dunn discuss Maryland's victory over Notre Dame. They also highlight notable performances from players and units across the college lacrosse landscape, share insights on the dynamics of inverting in lacrosse strategy, and offer recruiting advice for uncommitted high school juniors and sophomores. The episode concludes with a look ahead at anticipated matchups for the upcoming weekend.Timecodes0:00 - Intro5:00 - Weekend Takeaways11:30 - Player Perspective25:30 - GPUs38:45 - Hot Topics1:00:45 - Weekend Preview

Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribeDeemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss and Matt Dunn are joined by Harvard's Sam King. The team discusses Harvard’s significant win against Syracuse and dive deep into topics such as big attack performances, inverts, tryouts, and the dynamics of zone offense/defense. Sam shares his experiences and perspectives on team leadership, preparation for major games, and the challenges of college lacrosse. The podcast also highlights notable games and players from the past week and looks ahead to key upcoming matchups in college lacrosse, including a preview of Maryland vs Notre Dame, a rematch of last year's national title game.Timecodes0:00 - Intro3:15 - Sam King Joins25:40 - Player/Parent Perspective37:00 - GPUs47:00 - Hot Topics1:04:15 - Notable Games

In this episode of the FCL podcast, hosts Deemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss and Matt Dunn are joined by special guest AJ Larkin. The episode kicks off with a review of recent lacrosse matchups and notable performances, including Maryland's win over Syracuse and Princeton's overtime victory against Penn State. On the women's side, Syracuse won against Maryland and BC defeated Northwestern in a significant game. AJ Larkin discusses a day in the life of a Maryland lacrosse player, sharing his daily schedule, the transition from high school to college, and his decision to redshirt his freshman year. The discussion highlights the team's preparation under coach Tillman and a breakdown of Maryland's tactical approach in their recent game against Syracuse. The hosts also cover the weekend's most anticipated games and provide advice to parents and players navigating tryouts and playing time issues. The episode concludes with insights on the increasing use of the 10-man ride in lacrosse and a deeper dive into innovative offensive strategies, particularly Villanova's three-man below goal line extended approach.