Jon Brand

  (12:31 PM)

Hey everyone, welcome to this week's chat. It's a two-parter today, with Duke's Parker McKee and MD's Jeff Reynolds joining us first, followed by Mike Gvozden of Hopkins and Princeton's Mark Kovler at 1:30. Parker and Jeff are here, so let's get chatting...

Tom (Penn Yan, NY)

Parker ... my son went up against Manley day in/day out in practice 2 and 3 years ago ... and it really helped my son step his game up to the next level ... I was just wondering if this kind of development is a part of Duke practices as well? ... Thanks ... just curious in Penn Yan

Parker McKee

  (12:35 PM)

Yes tom. We do several one on one, two on two, four on four, and six on six drills everyday to work on individual skills. Every player plays against different people which helps everyone get better.

Hunter (Towson)

to Jeff Reynolds, how do you look to keep up that offensive production from last year. You were on fire for a while there at the beginning.

Jeff Reynolds

  (12:36 PM)

I continue to try hard and word hard within the offense. Offensively, we have a lot of talent that I feed off of. It helps playing with those guys because it creates opportunities.

Steiny (NYC)

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

Jeff Reynolds

  (12:38 PM)

influence on your career? This being my fifth-year at Md. it's given me a lot of opportunities to play with a lot of great middies. Offensively, guys like Bill McGlone and Brendan Healy and defensive guys like Jimmy Borrell.

Jeff Reynolds

  (12:38 PM)

Jim really pushed me in the weight room, especially now with his beach muscles.

Parker McKee

  (12:39 PM)

Casey Carroll. He was a senior when I was a freshman and taught me a lot about defense. He taught me everything from how to play better position defense to how to throw checks. He was also the kind of guy that you wanted to sell out for because he demanded it of you. He is now an Army Ranger.

TerpsLove (College Park, Md.)

For Jeff, what's the key to playing defensive midfield? Also, who's taking the MIAA this year? YOur Cardinals look tough.

Jeff Reynolds

  (12:40 PM)

Let's hope it's the Cardinals. I'll agree they are looking pretty good. The key to playing defensive midfield is knowing the other team's personnel.

Jeff Reynolds

  (12:41 PM)

It also helps to get to know the other defensive guys to get some chemistry. I try to work hard. I take pride in being a good defender.

John Marco, Durham, North Carolina

Hey Parker what's going on? I have a question about how you do you whirling dervish in the middle of the field. I heard a rumor that you were taught by another Connecticut guy on the team named Tucker Virtue. Is there any truth to this rumor that goes around in the stands as Koskinen? Good Luck this Saturday

Parker McKee

  (12:43 PM)

John, I made up the dangle early in high school. I played hockey all my life so it was natural for me to carry the ball at my feet. It just happened one time and I thought that it would be an effective move so I began using it. A guy like Tucker Virtue has a different type of move - it's called the Toe Walk.

Chris, Baltimore

Hey Jeff and Parker -- did you guys watch the UMd-Duke hoops game last night?

Jeff Reynolds

  (12:44 PM)

Yes. It was close, but unfortunately Duke pulled away at the end. Hopefully, we'll have better luck on Saturday.

Parker McKee

  (12:45 PM)

yea it was a good game. We won 78-67. It was a sick win especially after they beat UNC earlier in the week. we have 12 guys on the team who live right next to each other in apt's so we usually hang out together and watch all the games.

joe (annapolis)

Jeff, How's it playing with Yeatman. How has he fit into the squad so far this year?? Good luck against Duke!

Jeff Reynolds

  (12:46 PM)

Thanks. Will has ben an integral part of the offense. He draws a lot of defensive attention, so it creates opportunities for the rest of us. He's got a great attitude and has really fit in well. He's also got a great work ethic and he's fit in really well in a short amount of time.

Bob (New Fairfield, Ct)

How well has CJ Costabile fit into the team's defensive strategy given he is only freshman?

Parker McKee

  (12:49 PM)

Every freshman faces the learning curve. I did too! You can't get away with the same things that you did in high school. So it comes down to how quickly can you buy into the system and play within it. CJ has done great so far. We have expected a lot from him in our first three games which I think will pay off down the line because he will have more and more game experience.

Jeff (Glover Park, DC)

For Parker and/or Jeff, Do you guys have plans to follow the UVa-Cuse game on Friday night?

Jeff Reynolds

  (12:50 PM)

I plan on paying attention to the game. UVa and Cuse are both great teams and it should definitely be a good game.

Parker McKee

  (12:51 PM)

No, I'm not sure if it is on TV or not but we are focused on Saturday's game. I'm sure our coaches will get a copy of the game and we will see the box score over the weekend, but we are focused on the Terps

arthur (N.Y.)

Jeff You guys lost to G'town for only the second time in school history last week. How do you rebound against Duke?

Jeff Reynolds

  (12:56 PM)

Well first of all you have to give credit to Georgetown they played a really good game, but I think our team has moved on from that and now focused on Duke. It is easy to move on to the next game when your opponent is a big time rival. We have prepared ourselves all week and we're looking to have some fun on Saturday.

Augie (Cheshire, CT)

Dear Parker, what do you think about the rapid Performance Enhancing Drugs problem in our sports country. Is LAX free from this issue?

Parker McKee

  (12:58 PM)

I am a big baseball fan and a Yankees fan so it sucks to hear how players are 'cheating.' These drugs take away from the spirit of the game and why it is played - for fun. The issue of money and breaking records has overshadowed the foundations the game was made on. I know many professional sports have tweaked rules to help create offense to sell tickets. I think that is ok, but Performance Enhancing Drugs crosses the line. I have never heard of anyone using these kinds of drugs in the lacrosse world. I think for now we are safe.

Uncle Rico (Baltimore)

Each of you plays with a DI football player. What kind of athletes are Yeatman and McFadyen? What can each of them bench press?

Jeff Reynolds

  (1:00 PM)

Well he is definitely is the largest athlete i have played with. So far he has been pretty impressive in the weight room and I would say he has quite a few plates on the barbell. Him and Ryan Young really hit it off in the weight room, I would say Young has the edge.

Parker McKee

  (1:01 PM)

them bench press? McFadyen is a monster. He is 6"7' 265 and he reps 315 on the bench. Talk about a TUFF guy. He is also scary with the pole. Because of his arms, legs, and the stick he can take two steps and cover 13 yards

Rock (Hudson Valley)

Jeff and Parker? Which is the most memorable game you each have played against this weekend's opponent?

Parker McKee

  (1:04 PM)

My freshman year 2007 we played in Byrd Stadium on a Friday night. This was the first ACC game we played and the older guys on the team always said that this game is one of the gauges they will use to predict the season. It was an awesome experience playing in MD and we pulled out the W that night.

Jeff Reynolds

  (1:07 PM)

Well considering I have only beaten them twice in my career, and they we're both pretty memorable games, I would say the game that dates way back in 05 in the ACC tournament. We beat them to win the ACC's in M&T Bank stadium. Hopefully we'll have the same luck in Ravens Stadium.

Phil (DC)

Parker you ever play pickup hoops with Ned Crotty? I heard he's really good.

Parker McKee

  (1:08 PM)

Crotty is a great athlete and his jump shot is on point. But he always talks about his hockey career and how he was NJ player of the year. I'd like to lace 'em up and play hockey with him some time

Jon Brand

  (1:09 PM)

Ok, guys. Parker and Jeff have to get ready for practice. They'll meet on the field Saturday, when Duke plays Maryland at 2:30 pm in the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic in Baltimore. Go to faceoffclassic.com for more information or check InsideLacrosse.com/events.

Jon Brand

  (1:10 PM)

And STAY TUNED... We'll be back with the second half of The Show in about 20 minutes. Mikey G from Hopkins and Mark Kovler are the guests...

Jon Brand

  (1:30 PM)

Ok, we've got Mike and Mark here...let's get chatting. They'll face each other this Saturday at 12:00 p.m. in the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic.

Tommy Dixon (Bethesda, MD)

Mark, growing up in the nearby Washington DC area, what will it be like playing infront of friends and family?

Mark Kovler

  (1:34 PM)

It's always great to play near the Washington, DC area. When I was a kid I always went up to Baltimore to watch college lacrosse, so its kind of cool to be on the other end. Hope to see some Bears out there Saturday.

Kelly Anderson from Acme

Mike, you are one of my favorite players to watch in goal. would you consider yourself a lax rat or just a major fan of the game?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:34 PM)

haha whats up kelly...im a complete lax rat.

Brian McMurray from SP

Mike, What kind of agility workouts do you do to maintain your cat-like reflexes in cage? ladders, dot drills, etc?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:35 PM)

Coach Mac...I do a ton of jump roping and a lot of juggling. More so than making myself quicker i work on relaxing in the cage so that I don't move before the shot is taken.

BlueJayFan (Washington, D.C.)

Mike, any big changes for you as a defensive leader this year? More pressure, more working after practice, more tape?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:36 PM)

I think that the goalie is always the leader of the defense, because that is his job. Mike Evans is our emotional leader, but it is my job to organize. I think that I have found a comfortable niche with my work ethic and as far as the pressure...its only the pressure I put on myself to succeed.

Clark Appleby, Granville, Oh

This questions for Mark Kovler. Hey Mark. I am originally from the Washington Dc area. I have been following you as well as the prestigious program Mr. Bordley has created at Landon since you were a youngster. The man is a legend. What are the one or two things that have learned from him which you covet most?

Mark Kovler

  (1:38 PM)

Clark, great to hear from you. Mr Bordley is an incredible coach that has built an amazing program at Landon. I believe it to be unlike any other program in the DC area because of the strong tradition. One thing I have learned from him is a hard work ethic. The other would be to not lose your sense of humor. He was always trying to be funny and interested in our high school girlfriends and social lives, which makes practice fun every day.

Jim Beardmore from Severna Park

Michael, you have had many coaches mentor you over the years. who has had the greatest impact on your maturation as a goalie?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:39 PM)

As a goalie, Mike Bellotte. No one has spent more time helping me grow.

GMan (Baltimore)

To Mike, how do you prepare to play in a big stadium like M&T Bank or up in Boston?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:41 PM)

I think its important to play just like any other game. I have a routine that I go through before every game. I developed it before the Maryland game last year and it has helped me stay comfortable in the cage.

Derek Rawlins from Bethesda

hey Mark, when you work out, do you do anything specific to work on shot speed and getting that laser?

Mark Kovler

  (1:44 PM)

Derek, I think there are a lot of different aspects of fitness that go in to shot speed. First and foremost is just getting out there and shooting as much as you can. Another thing is to work in the weight room especially on your forearms. Jason Gallucci and Angie Brambley have put together some awesome forearm competitions for our team...Brendan Reilly won our hang challenge with an astounding time of 4:29

Kevin Strange from New York, NY

Mike, who are some of the best/fastest shooters you have faced in a game?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:44 PM)

Some of the best shooters that I have faced are middles like Mark Kovler, Steven Brooks, and Paul Rabil. But the two shooters that drive me the craziest are Kyle Wharton and Jake Byrne.

alex (b-more)

Mike, Got to ask - you have anything crazy going on in your pregame ritual? Good luck against Princeton this weekend...

Mike Gvozden

  (1:45 PM)

Thanks buddy! Im not sure about crazy, maybe weird...I listen to "The World's Greatest" and "No Air." I also wear pink spandex.

Jake Samperton(Washington D.C)

For Mark Kovler, Mark- I have always modeled my game after yours both on and off of the lacrosse field. What is the secret to all of your sucess?

Mark Kovler

  (1:46 PM)

Jake, I think you and I both know that game off the field is just as important as game on the field. If I was you, I would focus on asking questions and being a good listener. Both on and off the field, when you have a good thing going, don't screw it up!

James (boston)

Mikey, i know you've got one more season, but any plans to go pro?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:46 PM)

Playing more lacrosse after I graduate is something that I would love to do. I love the sport and dont want to hang up the stick for a long time.

Top Chef 1!

Mark! I heard you are an avid viewer of the BRAVO channel. What is it that attracts an athlete like you to a the other end of the cultural spectrum? What is your favorite program?

Mark Kovler

  (1:47 PM)

Top Chef, let me tell you, BRAVO has some great TV shows. My roommates Jerry, David, and I enjoy watching the same shows every week. The best show is Real Housewives of Orange County followed closely by Millionaire Matchmaker and Top Chef, to name a few.

Drew from Baltimore

Hows the ACC going to come out Mike?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:48 PM)

out Mike? The ACC is very strong this year, as it is every year. We have a stretch of 4 games in the middle of the season that include 3 ACC teams. They are certainly loaded with talent.

fiasco (boston, MA)

For both the guys: how did you get started playing lax?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:49 PM)

I was sitting down in the outfield at baseball practice watching my friends play a lacrosse game. I told my Dad it was time to get rid of the baseball glove and he couldn't agree more.

Mark Kovler

  (1:49 PM)

I started playing lax after attending Landon Boys Day Camp. I noticed that if you wanted to be one of the cool kids at camp (like Gibbs Fogarty), you had to play lax, so that's what I did. That is also where I first experienced true fear of Rob Bordley, who was camp director at the time.

bob (ellicot city)

Mike, I know you're keeping the D strong, but how's the new-look offense w/o Rabil, Peyser et al.

Mike Gvozden

  (1:51 PM)

The new offense is fun to watch. There are a lot of new faces in there which is always good to see. Coach Benson does a great job with them.

Rock (Hudson Valley)

Mike, How hard is it to do the "hang ten" gesture with lax gloves is on?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:52 PM)

Dude, so easy. Then again I do it quite a bit so I guess my gloves are broken in.

Gurmail Thagad

Mark, Have you seen the movie Slumdog Millionaire? If so, do you think that your team is destined to win, just like Jamal in the movie?

Mark Kovler

  (1:53 PM)

Gurmail da'nail...great to hear from you. Slumdog is an awesome flick that I saw with my family over break. I do believe that we are destined to win, like Jamal.

Killin it in Bmore

Hey mikey g ? Lax is life, or life is lax?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:54 PM)

lax is life....bra

Maude Lafontaine (Connecticut)

This question is for Mark Kovler. Hey Mark growing up in connecticut i've always followed greenwich native goalie christian blake. A teamate of yours this year. I'm rooting for the tigers this weekend and wonder how your prepare to shoot on goalies in games and what you do in practice.

Mark Kovler

  (1:56 PM)

Well, Mauda. We happen to have two goalies from Greenwich on our team, Christian Blake and Nanu Ashra. Both are great goalies and clearly there is something in the water up there in Greenwich. Christian is an integral part of our team and does a great job of preparing us for other teams' goalies, such as Mike Gvozden.

Steiny (NYC)

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:57 PM)

My parents...hands down. They have been to nearly every single game I have ever played. They are interested every night in how practice went. When things arent going so hot, they are just as upset as I am. I couldn't be luckier to have them on my side.

rob from DC

mark - i hear you do the pterodactyl to keep up the team morale. what is the pterodactyl?

Mark Kovler

  (1:58 PM)

Rob, the pterodactyl is an acrobatic stretching exercise that I believe you are very familiar with. Although I have never performed it myself, I believe your best reference with regard to the pterodactyl will be Jarvis Frederique, Landon '05.

Chris Thomas from Columbia MD

Mike, did you follow Hopkins lacrosse growing up?

Mike Gvozden

  (1:58 PM)

I was an absolute Hopkins fanatic. I began watching them when I was 8. I memorized rosters, painted my scrawny 12 year old chest for games, and pretty much worshipped the ground they walked on.

Sarah Steele (long meadow, Mass)

This question is for Mark and Mike? Just out of curiosity, what are your favorite colors? Tiger Orange Mark? Hopkins Blue Mike?

Mike Gvozden

  (2:01 PM)

Blue has always been my favorite color, but im not going to lie, Princeton has some pretty sweet colors.

Mark Kovler

  (2:01 PM)

Sarah, great to hear from a familiar face. My favorite color would have to be Tiger Orange. There's no better color than the color you are wearing on your jersey. But I also really enjoy the color red. I think it portrays a certain sense of self.

Adam (N.Y.C.)

Question for both: Mike, how do you prep for a great shooter like Mark? Mark, how do you scout Mikey G?

Mark Kovler

  (2:02 PM)

Most of my scouting of goalies comes from my coach Dave Metzbower. He breaks down the film every week and no one in the game can pick apart a goalie better than Coach Metz...just ask Nikhil Ashra

Mike Gvozden

  (2:02 PM)

Aside from keeping my eyes on the ball while its in his stick, I pray that he misses the cage.

Mark (Balti)

Mike, What's your go-to activity when you have a day off?

Mike Gvozden

  (2:05 PM)

Longboarding....just went for a ride actually.

Angie Bramz, Princeton NJ

Mark, Who has the strongest bench press on the team?

Mark Kovler

  (2:05 PM)

Well, thats an interesting question. I think in the fall I was up top, but now that football player Jon Meyers is back with us, I think he might take the cake, but I'm not sure. However, that does not mean that he has the best body on the team. Dan Cocoziello still holds the record on the assault 5 bench press routine that we do.

jackson (va. beach)

Guys, What are each of you driving these days?

Mark Kovler

  (2:07 PM)

My parents were kind enough to let me sport a blue Toyota Highlander a couple years ago. Most importantly, it has all of the seven safety features that my father insisted upon, as well as perfectly functioning seat belts and great tire pressure. Safety 1st.

Mike Gvozden

  (2:08 PM)

The "anti-chick magnet"- 97 Toyota Rav 4...stick shift, purple windows, ugly seats.....I have nowhere to go but up

Cheyrl Stevens: Double Tree, NJ

Mark and Mike, Who has the best luck with ladies and are you guys single?

Mike Gvozden

  (2:11 PM)

Cheyrl, as a matter of fact I am single...410 991 1728

Mark Kovler

  (2:13 PM)

To all the single ladies; I am single. In terms of guys who have the best luck with the ladies on the team, I'm going to have to say Richie Sgalardi (Sorry Josh Lesko). The man has a distinct ability to attract females of all kinds--I don't know how he does it. Other honorable mentions would be Tyler Moni and Josh Lesko; the two have been battling for best looking guy on campus since September 2007.

michael cummings (Baltimore, MD)

hey shmike how do you stay concentrated during a game?

Mike Gvozden

  (2:13 PM)

concentrated during a game? Seamus you are my best friend you should know this...I do a circuit of breathing exercises and focus on the ball only.

tommy (d.c.)

What are you guys looking forward to about the big game this weekend at M&T Bank? Should be a sweet crowd...

Mike Gvozden

  (2:15 PM)

The Face Off Classic is an extroardinary event. Konica Minolta and Inside Lax do a great job putting it on. I am personally looking forward to the large crowd and huge locker rooms

Mark Kovler

  (2:15 PM)

The thing we are looking forward to most is to continue the season with a strong start. The crowd and stadium are great, but the game is what its about. The Princeton-Hopkins rivalry is awesome and can't wait till Saturday to just play the game.

Jon Brand

  (2:20 PM)

Ok, the guys had to run off to their practices. This was a great day of chatting, lots of great questions and some good guests. Check these guys out in action on Saturday, either by coming out to M&T Bank Stadium or watching on ESPNU. If you need tickets, head to faceoffclassic.com. See you all next week!