D-I Round 1: UConn at Georgia Tech

ATLANTA – Is the virtual committee really this lazy?

These two played in the regular season last year and then were matched up in the 2019 tourney in the first round. Couldn’t we have tweaked this one spot or another?

Too late now, I guess.

Not to say it won’t be a decent game – the two did have a one-goal game last March – but these two seem way too similar.

D-I Round 1: UConn at Georgia Tech | https://t.co/SqQRv0g6Ks #virtualmcla20
— MCLA Tournament '21 (@MCLA_Tournament) March 23, 2020

Granted, Georgia Tech is as dynamic as they have ever been offensive. Senior attackman Conrad McEvoy was on his way to another 100-point campaign and has some nifty sidekicks in Jack Maginnes and Devin Raun.

There is a stable full of Yellow Jackets’ goalies, as usual, with junior Gino Pagliaro as the top choice heading into the postseason.

“These guys look familiar,” joked Georgia Tech coach Ken Lovic*. “Despite the familiarity, there is no discount here. We know how good UConn is.”

Seniors Reilly Damm and Kevin Carr provide enough fire power up front and the faceoff position is in the adequate hands of Nolan McAndrew.

Senior Drew Duarte is one of the best in the business and was twice named an All-American, which puts that position at even – if not a notch above – the Wreck.

“These guys again?” said UConn coach March Poalini. “Nothing comes easy when it relates to Georgia Tech, but we can grind, too.”

[*- The coach didn’t really say this. This is all made up. It’s fake]