On one possession during last month’s 13-5 win over Western New England College, a speedy opposing attackman searched in vain for a clear path to Wesleyan’s net. Frustrated, he resorted to carrying the ball behind the crease and into the area that Matt Smith ’06 patrols for the Cardinals’ zone defense. Smith – no slowpoke himself – chased the stickhandler down and jarred the ball loose with his long pole as his opponent tried to juke around him. After fighting off the hacks of several other WNEC attackers, Smith emerged with possession and the Cards’ lacrosse team went back on the offensive.
That’s how the Cards’ zone defense and the close defender known chiefly as “Smitty” have stifled offenses all season. The 10-1 Cardinals hold opponents to less than six goals per game, as their defensive scheme forces foes to both the wings and the outskirts of their offensive zone.
“Basically, the zone defense forces the offense to take outside, low-quality shots,” Smith said. “It’s less one-on-one defending and more defending of an area. The reason we are having such success this season is because of the outstanding goaltending of Charlie Congleton [’07] and the familiarity of our defenders.”
Though the zone requires less man-to-man defending, it is crucial for each defensive player to understand his individual role for the system to prove effective. Smith knows where everyone needs to be at all times.
“Matt is one of the most coachable players I have ever had,” said head coach John Raba. “He understands every little detail about our defense and how it works.”
It is this attention to detail that vaulted Smith to his current role as a starting close defenseman. Like many others, “Smitty” saw inconsistent minutes during his first two years as a Cardinal.
“He kept working harder and harder each year and has become an outstanding defender,” Raba said. “Matt always understood that nothing is ever given to you free and that you have to work for everything. All of Matt’s hard work has paid off, and he has been a key ingredient to some of Wesleyan’s best lacrosse teams.”
Recently, Raba gave Smith the responsibility of handling face-offs, something he has not done since high school. Not one to back down from a challenge, Smitty relished the chance to take draws against Amherst’s All-American face-off man last weekend.
“I like taking the face-offs,” Smith said. “It gets me more into the game.”
The face-offs add to Smith’s already ample opportunity to show off the physical side of his game. People are still talking about his linebacker-like leveling of an Amherst attacker last weekend.
“When he steps over that white chalk, he becomes a rabid Bengal tiger honing in on a gazelle,” said Steve Binswanger ’06. “I think it is that intensity which gives him an edge on the field and allows him to throw ridiculous checks like ‘The Alabama Crab-Dangler.’”
But don’t be fooled by his hard-nosed play, Smith is nothing if not a kind soul.
“When you see Matt walking around with four popped collars, neatly pressed khakis, boat shoes, and those really awesome aviator sunglasses, it’s hard to believe how gentle a soul he really is,” said Nate Byer ’06, Smith’s teammate and housemate. “Unless provoked, Smitty defaults to candle lit dinners on our peaceful front porch, sipping wine out of crystal glasses and doing a great deal of holding.”
Smith’s tranquility undoubtedly stems from the comfortable surroundings of his house on 188 Cross Street.
“I have a good home life,” Smith said. “[Housemate] Morgan Blum [’06] makes beautiful homemade Kosher meals. If it weren’t for him, where would I be? Probably in the gutter.”
Like his Wesleyan lacrosse career, Smith’s living situation is not without some adversity. He and Byer often gripe about whose turn it is to wash the dishes. Even so, they don’t let this off-field issue affect their play when the whistle blows, a testament to their maturity.?“Despite dishwashing issues at 188 Cross, Byer and Smitty put their differences aside for the good of the team,” said housemate Anthony Gray ’06.
Smith still yearns for balance in his life, though, and in a Tiger Woods-like turn of events, his new significant other has pushed him to greater heights as a player.
“The addition of a stable woman friend has really helped Smitty’s play,” Blum said.
But with success comes fame – a problem that Smith’s teammates are more than happy to encourage.
“If any of you lovely ladies out there would like a shot at Matt’s title, you should know that he loves to be cooked for,” said tri-captain Jordan Funt ’06. “His favorite food used to be delicate and spicy Asian noodles, but recently he’s been eating a whole lot of Country Club sandwiches and Maryland crab cakes.”
Smith is sure to be especially hungry through the rest of the season as the Cardinals chase the top seed in the NESCAC tournament. If they capture the regular season NESCAC title, the Cards will receive a first-round bye and then host the tourney’s Final Four, and there is no better place to put their cohesive zone scheme and Smitty’s tiger-tough, intelligent defense on display.
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