D-I Round 1: Pitt at Colorado

BOULDER, Colo. – It’s been a half-decade since the Buffaloes raised the trophy.

A roster full of studs and transfers could change all of that and bring the trophy back to the RMLC.

Senior attackman Tyler Bogart is a player of the year candidate and he runs up front with the likes of classmates Curtis Zapala and Jack Carr.
Brock Neubauer leads an offensive midfield contingent that is particularly deep.

D-I Round 1: Pitt at Colorado | https://t.co/yUM1PObq4H #virtualmcla20
— MCLA Tournament '21 (@MCLA_Tournament) March 20, 2020

John Galvin’s risk-reward defense has all of the pieces for a deep run.

“Let’s roll the ball out,” said Galvin*. “There’s no need to talk.”

They’ll have to get by the incredibly youthful Panthers who found their stride under first-year head coach Richard Rattner.

Of the 31 players on the Panthers’ roster, 26 are freshman and sophomores, including precocious freshman attackman Phillip Tarling. Steel City native son David McVey, a junior, is the engine of the Pitt offense.

What is the Panthers’ ace in the hole heading into the Colorado game? Brian Novicki.

The rookie draw man put together a dominating season and will go against one of the few weak links on the Buffs squad.

“What an opportunity,” said Rattner*, who moonlights as the owner of the best wing joint in Pittsburgh. “Playing at 5,000 feet is just one of the challenges we face, but this is why we play.”

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