ESPN

Jon Brand

  (1:03 PM)

Hey guys, we are about to get underway with the guys from Fairfield, who have a big ECAC game tomorrow against Hobart...

T Sizzle (Columbia, MD)

When you consider guys like Sam Peterson, Brad Tarr, CJ Kemp, Mike Kruger, obviously Fairfield boasts an impressive lineage of goalies. Can you guys comment on the play of Charlie Cipriano six games into his freshman season? What has he meant to the team thus far?

Matt Petre

  (1:08 PM)

Charlie is unbelievable and he has continued to surprise me with his poise and composure. He has made some big time saves this year that have bailed out the defense. I look forward to seeing him grow and improve.

John Snellman

  (1:09 PM)

charlie has been playing on his head from day one. Every game he is coming up with big saves that really help boost our teams moral on the field.

Mike, Hersey PA.

This question is for John. You come from Connecticut which is a state where lacrosse was only really established 30 or so years ago from coaches like Guy Whitten (Wilton) and Howard Benedict (New Canaan). How has the transition from CT HS lacrosse to NCAA D.1 lacrosse been?

John Snellman

  (1:15 PM)

the transition took a while to get used to, but now that we are half way into the season I have gotten used to it and I am becoming more comfortable with the faster pace of the game.

Scott (Washington, DC)

Matt,Awesome job shutting down several of the nation's best offensive players so far this year. What's your secret? How have you been preparing and handling these matchups each week? Also, how is life different under Coach Copelan versus Coach Spencer? Do they have contrasting coaching styles? GO STAGS!!!

Matt Petre

  (1:15 PM)

We watch a lot of film on each opponent and we try to simulate what they do in practice. Shutting down the nation's best offensive players is a task the entire defense takes on, not just one player. Each coach does things a little differently and I am enjoying playing for Coach Copelan as I did for Coach Spencer.

Trevor (Fairfield, Ct)

Hey Matt and John,Great job so far, question for Matt, rumor has it you have some of the best calves in division 1 lacrosse, any tips on how to improve my calves and any socks you prefer?

Matt Petre

  (1:18 PM)

Haha. I have to credit my calves to Coach Spellman, our strength and conditioning coach, and good genes.

Steiny (NYC)

John, who is the coolest Matt. Plominski, Scanlon, Petre or Lanzaro?

John Snellman

  (1:19 PM)

That is a tough one to answer. Matt Plominski is the most unique of the group, Matt Petre a.k.a captain america, i never really got to know Scanlon and i have been friends with Lanzaro since we were kids so im going to have to go with him.

Robby

Snellman, what was it like losing the 2006 class L lacrosse state championship to fairfield prep? have you recovered yet?

John Snellman

  (1:20 PM)

Well Robby, it has taken a while to recover but i think i have finally gotten over it.

Kevin Long Island NY

As a leader and captain of the Fairfield Defense, are their any comic book heros that have inspired you to such greatness?

Matt Petre

  (1:22 PM)

Well Kevin, no there are not any comic book heroes that have inspired me.

Bobby

John, coming from Norwalk, both you and Brent Adams are making huge contributions to the team, where did this talent come from, are there any others?

John Snellman

  (1:24 PM)

i would have to say it all started at Veterans Park in Norwalk, CT eight grade youth lacrosse. Brent and I along with Matt Lanzaro were on the same team and it has just progressed trough high school and now college.

mike mortenson greenwich conn

I have been a lacrosse fan for a long time and have been following the stags for a while now. Having played defense myself in high school i think your defense is awesome. Matt your a great defenseman did anyone in your family ever play d1 lacrosse or any brothers or sisters playing lax? And what are your plans after college maybe turn pro?

Matt Petre

  (1:28 PM)

Thank you Mike. No one in my family ever played lacrosse except for me and my younger brother Greg Petre who is a Jr. at Somers High School. I havn't really thought about my plans for after college but if the opportunity presents itself I would certainly welcome it.

Too Pretty, Snake, Larson, Fatwell, Sciss, Freak, Wooby, Birdman

Please list the top 5 nicknames on the 2008-09 squad?

John Snellman

  (1:30 PM)

1. Captain America 2. Crumb cake 3. bag-o-dounts 4. old man honovich 5. miguel espinoza

Fat Delia

This question is for snellman, What do you think makes this young offense tick?

John Snellman

  (1:32 PM)

I would have to say hard work, selflessness, and great coaching.

joe NY, NY

How is the support from the student body? I'm sure winning a couple close games sparked some interest in the season. Good luck this weekend!

Matt Petre

  (1:33 PM)

We have great support from the student body. We're looking forward to our last few home games and hope they come out in big numbers. When they are there making a lot of noise it provides us a lot of motivation.

greg

I finished reading the article about mike banks and realized he was from Norwalk as well, seems like theirs a lot of players that fly under the radar from that area, what do you think? how was going up against him in highschool?

John Snellman

  (1:38 PM)

There has been a great amount of talented guys that have come from our area. Mike Banks is a good friend of mine and for some reason no matter what, in season, summer league and camps we were always matched up against each other, and it definitely made me a better player.

Pat Greenwich CT

Although you and senior Billy Honovich are the leaders of a soild defensive unit, I hear that Coach Conry holds a special place in his heart for youngsters Chris Creighton and Brendan Mctague, what role have you played in molding these rising stars?

Matt Petre

  (1:41 PM)

Brendan came in as an attackman and converted to defense at the end of last season so Billy and I tried to work with him to help to smooth the transition. He's a great athlete and you would never know he has only been playing defense for less than a year. Chris is another great athlete and we're just trying to help him adjust to the college game.

Adam "AG" (Norwalk, CT)

I heard a couple of your teammates like to have raisin brand crunch before the games and are especially protective about it? What do you like eat pregame to get that extra boost? GO BEARS!

John Snellman

  (1:43 PM)

Well "AG" a few guys are big fans of raisin brand crunch, however i like to go with two plain bagels with cream cheese and as much water as i can get before games to get that extra boost.

Craig, DC

Hey guys,I watched the team for four years as a student and was so happy with what the team did to arrive on the national scene (NCAA's in 02 and 05). What can the team with Coach Copelan do now to move up to the next level?

Matt Petre

  (1:44 PM)

All our coaches work really hard to make sure we're prepared everyday. I think if we continue to work hard and take it one game at a time we will be able to achieve our goals and help the program continue to grow.

Jon Brand

  (1:45 PM)

Ok, Matt and John have to hop on a bus to Hobart for tomorrow's game. Thanks to everyone who left questions and sorry we couldn't get to them all. Be sure to follow all the lacrosse action this weekend on InsideLacrosse.com.