Johns Hopkins senior goalie Jesse Schwartzman has been publicly challenged by Blue Jays coach Dave Pietramala and even benched in the middle of a game this season.
But, most of those decisions by Pietramala are very calculated, as he knows he needs Schwartzman to be at his best if Johns Hopkins is going to beat Duke at 1 today in the NCAA men?s lacrosse national championship game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Schwartzman frustrated Delaware for nearly the entire game Saturday as Hopkins won in the semifinals, 8-3. In the game, Schwartzman finished with 10 saves as the Blue Jays allowed the fewest goals ever in a semifinal contest.
“He wants to win and have fun,” Pietramala said. “He?s taken a lot of grief from a lot of people this year and I think he?s answered his critics well the last couple of weeks.”
Pietramala added Schwartzman is the type of player that enjoys the spotlight and has the ability to step up in big games when he has to do so. During the Blue Jays national title run in 2005, the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder led the nation in goals against average (6.68) and was third in save percentage (.626). He was also the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA tournament.
But, Schwartzman has had his struggles this season, including allowing eight goals while saving just four shots in a season-opening 8-7 loss to Albany. He also nearly got pulled in the second half following a rough start in Hopkins? 10-9 win over Navy April 21.
Then, after allowing two goals in a span of 13 minutes, Schwartzman was benched in what developed into a 15-3 win over Mount St. Mary?s April 30. He has 160 saves, a 7.89 GAA and a .560 save percentage in 16 games this season.
“[Pietramala] has always stuck by me in my three years here,” said Schwartzman, a Pikesville High graduate, following Saturday?s win. “He pulled me [in the regular season finale] against Mount St. Mary?s, but that was to motivate me and send a message that this team needs me. I think I played like a senior today. I?m in my hometown in Baltimore and win or lose I?m going out in Baltimore and I want to go out on a good note.”
