Lacrosse Lounge Episode 18- Mike Cerino

In episode 18 of Lacrosse Lounge, Charlotte Hounds head coach Mike Cerino joins me to talk about the first two games in team history, guys that could be breakout players, the goalie controversy in Charlotte and what his first season in MLL is like.

"Charlotte has the right weather and the right demographic, I think, and it was an event. It was an event. I think our team was a little disappointed when the score swung because we wanted to give those fans a winner so bad, we really did right out of the gate. Those guys played so hard. It was an exciting night. I know they're looking forward to getting back against Ohio and rewarding those fans for that kind of loyalty. ... The community of Charlotte is excited for lacrosse."

Episode 18 aired live on May 7, 2012.

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Charlotte Hounds Claim Eric Lusby Off Waivers

The Charlotte Hounds continued to add to their offensive arsenal Wednesday morning when they claimed Loyola attackman and 2012 NCAA men’s lacrosse championship most outstanding player Eric Lusby off waivers.

Since the team started making roster moves, management has been aggressive in getting familiar names and known-talent, especially on the offensive-side of the ball.  This transaction continues that trend.

Lusby wasn’t drafted to the league, but part of that could be due to the fact that unlike other drafts the MLL Collegiate Draft is held before a player’s senior season not after it.

Before this collegiate season Lusby was a player that had missed all but the first two games of the 2011 season because of an ACL injury and no one had seen him on the field since then.

Had the draft been after the season, teams would’ve seen a player who played and started all of a championship-winning team’s games, a team that won a record-tying 18 games this season. They would’ve saw him score a team-leading and school record 54 goals as well as putting up team-leading 71 points, the most since for a Loyola player since the school joined Division 1 in 1982.

Teams would have seen a player that got hot at the most important time of the season. Lusby scored 17 goals in the four games of the NCAA men’s lacrosse championships, an NCAA record, including four in the final game.

Prior to this season Lusby was known as a dangerous outside shooter, but possibly a one-trick pony. Lusby improved his dodging and stick skills however and proved to be able to create his own shot and finish.

He finished his collegiate career with 89 goals and 26 assists for 115 points.

The biggest concerns on the Hounds roster are at goalie and face-off. Lusby does not address either of these issues. But he does add another weapon off the bench and a team can never have too many players that can make plays and score.

What helps him is that he will back-up players like Matt Danowski, Billy Bitter and Jeremy Boltus so there isn’t as much pressure to perform immediately. He can take time to develop and continue to grow into an even better.

Does adding Lusby turn the one-win Hounds into sudden championship contenders? No.

But he does give them more depth, another scoring option and makes them even more exciting to watch and interesting to follow.

Photo credit.

AP Photo/Gretchen Ertl

Lacrosse Lounge Episode 3- Matt Danowski

In the third episode of Lacrosse Lounge, Charlotte Hounds attackman and former Duke Blue Devil Matt Danowski talks about joining an expansion team and his love for the New York Giants.

"Even though we are an expansion team it's not like we're a team made of rookies. If you look at the roster there's a lot of experience on that team, there's a lot of talent on the roster already. Even though we are an expansion team I don't think we're going to be at the bottom of the league, the bottom of the barrel, just because it's our first year playing. I think we have the talent to play with anyone in this league."

Episode 3 aired live on January 23, 2012.

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Photo from Charlotte Hounds Facebook page

Charlotte Hounds Making an Immediate Presence in Major League Lacrosse

The Charlotte Hounds are entering Major League Lacrosse with a bang.

In putting its inaugural roster together the expansion club is sparing no expense at making a splash. Management has been aggressive in putting together an offensive minded roster with plenty of big-time names.

The biggest move the team made was during the expansion draft, when they traded with the Long Island Lizards for perennial MVP candidate Matt Danowski.

“We decided to make a move that would provide us with MLL-ready players for training camp at the start of the season,” Hounds Director of Sales and Marketing Wade Leaphart said in an interview with MLL.

Danowski, a four-time All-American at nearby Duke University (where his dad also coaches), comes back to the state of North Carolina with an impressive professional career resume. He was an All-Star his first season in the league (2008) and has been every year since.

Last season Danowski finished fourth in the league in points, first in two-point goals and tied for second in game-winning goals continuing to show every week how dangerous he is on offense. He had at least two points every game. Danowski is also a starting attackman for the U.S. national team.

Charlotte scored big time in getting Danowski. The team acquires a player that is extremely talented, has a high profile and can bring in fans (he’s the star of Warrior’s “Manchine” commercials) and is a guy with local ties that will help with community relations. He’s also only 26-years-old so he can be the cornerstone of the franchise for a number of years to come.

The Hounds didn’t stop with Danowski though. In the deal to bring the attackman to Charlotte the team also received All-Star midfielder Stephen Berger. Berger has been a staple in the Lizards midfield since 2005 and was in the top-15 in points last season.



Another name joining the former Lizards is attcakman Billy Bitter, traded to the team from the Denver Outlaws. Bitter is another collegiate star from the state of North Carolina as an alumnus of the Tar Heels. He scored 12 goals in his rookie season to go along with four assists in only nine games.

“I’ve basically been down in North Carolina the past five years. I’ve grown to love the state a lot,” Bitter told MLL. “I have a lot of close people down here so I’m real excited…to be part of this organization.”

Rounding out a pretty talented and deep attack is 2011 MLL Rookie of the Year Jeremy Boltus. He was selected away from the Hamilton Nationals with Charlotte’s first selection in the Expansion Draft. Boltus scored 19 goals in 12 games last season and had a total of 30 points.

As the roster continues to fill out there is plenty here for Charlotte lacrosse fans to be optimistic about.

Much like the team has been aggressive in acquiring talent they have the makings of a dynamic offense that should not only be entertaining to watch but that could help make the Hounds a very competitive team, even as an expansion club.

Photo Credits.
Matt Danowski (top): Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Billy Bitter (right): Jim Rogash/Getty Images