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April 13, 2007
The Cavaliers face Duke Saturday for the first time in two years. The Blue Devils feature one of the nation’s top offenses, featuring All-Americans Matt Danowski and Zack Greer. Virginia goalie Kip Turner is no stranger to big games, he won a national title last year and started in goal in the final four in 2005. Let’s see what Turner has to say as we fire off some shots on the Cavalier netminder.
Q: Unlike last year where the offense was so dominant, this year the games have been closer. Assess your play to date.
Turner: I feel like I have played consistent. I’ve tried to make the saves that I need to make, but I also think that I haven’t played my best game yet. Hopefully that is still to come.
Q: The team plays Duke Saturday. That is an offensive minded club. You have also played against teams that prefer a more deliberate pace. Do you prefer one type of game over the other?
Turner: I prefer playing a team that plays an up tempo style like us, which is the way lacrosse should be played. (I don’t think) it should be as deliberate and boring for the fans. But Duke is a high powered offensive team and it’s exciting to prepare for a team like that.
Q: Does a team that has more offensive skills force you to kind of keep your head in the game more?
Turner: It takes a lot more effort from the defense and a lot more preparation, but it’s almost good because it excites the defense in a way.
Q: How long have you been playing goalie? How did you get into lacrosse and end up playing goalie?
Turner: Ever since I was about 8 years old. My brothers used to just throw me in the net when I was little playing street hockey or playing lacrosse or playing soccer because I was the youngest of five kids. They’d have their friends over and they just say, “Kip, you put on the pads and get in goal.’ I had nothing to say but, `okay.’
Q: You played goalie in hockey and soccer. Are there some things that you can pick up from those sports that help you in lacrosse?
Turner: A lot of (playing goalie in hockey and soccer) are playing the right angles and cutting off angles, but in lacrosse it’s a lot different. Lacrosse is much more a `stay at home and react’ type of position. Hockey is a little bit of the same in the reactions but you are playing a much higher crease and you’re challenging the shooter more.
Q: What did you mom say about you being the goalie?
Turner: She didn’t mind at the time, but through middle school and high school and even more in my college career, she felt she was part of the game. She became a little more crazy as the years have gone on.
Q: What are some key attributes needed to play goalie?
Turner: Just making the first save. It’s great to have a short memory because if you forget the one you let in or even the great save you made, you know you are always trying to win the next battle and make the next save.
Q: Is playing goalie like being a kicker in football because there is an inordinate amount of pressure on that one position?
Turner: There’s pressure. It’s different than a kicker a little bit because you are more in control. You can control defense, you can control what people do and you can limit what other offenses do. But in the same sense there is a pressure that you are the last line of defense you and you have to make the save to not the let goal in.
Q: Now there are times when you make a few saves and you get on kind of a roll. Describe that feeling.
Turner: That is always a good feeling. It’s huge for the team. For example the first half of the Syracuse game (earlier this year) I saw the ball and it looked pretty much like a golf ball to me. It’s always better when you’re seeing a beach ball out there instead of a golf ball. It’s just that you see the ball better and you’re more confident. And obviously it frustrates other teams when a goalie is in a zone like that.
Q: Can you tell when the opposing goalie might be on a roll?
Turner: Yes and for some reason it has happened a lot to us recently. I think goalies get fired up to play our team and our offense because they know our offense is very, very talented and that we shoot a lot. It’s somewhat easier for a goalie playing against a team that plays a lot of offense, plays a lot of transition, to get on a roll.
Q: You replaced fellow Annapolis native Tillman Johnson in 2005 following a tough competition with Bud Petit. Talk a little about your relationship with Bud.
Turner: Bud and I have a good relationship. We cheer for each other throughout every season that we have been a part of it. He has been very supportive throughout the whole time and I wish him the best next year.
Q: How important is for a team to have more than one goalie?
Turner: Oh, it’s huge. It’s especially huge in practice for our shooters because they get repetition with great backups every day.
Q: Describe a memorable save you’ve made in your career.
Turner: I’d have to say against Syracuse (earlier this season) when there was the one on one and against (Mike) Leveille (late in the third quarter). It was kind of a game changing moment. It felt like the momentum was kind of switching our way and after the save, it was cleared to our offensive end and we got a goal. It seemed like a huge point in the game for that to happen.
Q: If you could change any lacrosse rule, what would it be?
Turner: I’d like a shot clock. I think there should be a shot clock just because with teams being so deliberate, it’s just makes the game a little too boring. I think a minute and 30 seconds would be a fair time limit.
Q: Do you have any designs on playing in Major League Lacrosse?
Turner: I’d play. I don’t know who’s going to want to draft me but whoever does, if they do, I would love to come play.