

First Class Lacrosse Podcast
First Class Lacrosse
The official podcast of First Class Lacrosse!
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Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 26, 2025 • 1h 20min
Cindy Timchal: Leadership Lessons From The Winningest Coach In Women's Lacrosse
Deemer Class and Matt Dunn sit down with Navy coach Cindy Timchal. A legendary figure in women's lacrosse, Timchal shares her journey to becoming the all-time wins leader in Division I women's lacrosse, with over 578 victories and eight national titles. The conversation explores Timchal's early influences, her approach to coaching, and the key lessons she's learned. They discuss the importance of mindset, player development, and specific coaching philosophies that have contributed to Timchal's success in building successful programs at Northwestern, Maryland, and the United States Naval Academy. The episode also highlights her significant impact on the sport and her strategies for mentoring the next generation of coaches.Timecodes0:00 - Background4:45 - Why Lax12:00 - Being Demanding18:00 - Program Building28:00 - Mindset Evolutions42:45 - Continue Success51:00 - Drill Development1:01:15 - Feedback Loop1:11:00 - Coaching at Navy1:15:30 - Coaching Advice

Sep 12, 2025 • 53min
Joe Amplo: Lasagna, Leadership & Lockdown Defense
Season two of the First Class Lacrosse podcast, hosts Deemer Class and Matt Dunn sit down with Joe Amplo, head coach of the United States Naval Academy men's lacrosse team. Amplo, who is entering his seventh season at Navy and has extensive experience building successful programs, shares insights into his leadership style, passion for the sport, and journey in lacrosse. He reflects on his upbringing in Long Island, his influences from mentors like Duke's John Danowski, and his experiences starting the Marquette lacrosse program. Additionally, Amplo discusses the challenges and rewards of coaching at Navy, emphasizing the importance of relationships, teaching, and building a cohesive team culture. The conversation also touches on his personal anecdotes, such as his family's Italian culinary traditions and the upcoming lacrosse facility at Navy.Timecodes0:00 - Intro4:00 - Joe's Background14:15 - Defensive Mindset19:45 - Learning Styles26:45 - Never Stop Coaching31:45 - Building Marquette40:25 - Tales of Kris Amplo44:00 - Navy Is Special---Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe

May 30, 2025 • 59min
Final Four Recap + Recruiting Season Begins
Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe---Deemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss, and Matt Dunn break down the men's and women's Final Four weekend, highlighting key games, players, and performances. The men's Cornell vs. Penn State and Maryland vs. Syracuse matches are examined, focusing on strong team cultures and standout players like CJ Kirst and Logan McNaney. The episode also covers the women's champions, UNC, and the standout performances of Chloe Humphrey and other key players. Moving forward, the hosts provide recruiting advice for the class of 2027, including email strategies, timeline expectations, and the importance of mindset and self-reflection in the recruiting process. The episode concludes with a discussion on setting realistic expectations and adjusting to the recruiting landscape.Timecodes0:00 - PLL Musings7:00 - Cornell Wins Men's Title25:30 - UNC Wins Women's Title36:00 - Recruiting Season Begins

May 23, 2025 • 1h 4min
2025 Final Four Preview
Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe---Deemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss and Matt Dunnare breaking down an exciting weekend of lacrosse quarterfinals across the men's and women's brackets. They review tight contests, highlight standout performances, and preview upcoming semifinal and championship matchups. The team delves into pivotal games such as Syracuse's high-scoring battle with Princeton and Penn State's remarkable comeback against Notre Dame. They also discuss strategic insights, including defensive slide packages, use of zones, and offensive schemes against various defenses. On the women's side, Deemer provides a detailed preview of the semifinals, emphasizing key players and matchups. Additionally, the episode touches on the outstanding individual performances driving the race for the Tewaaraton Award, covering both men's and women's lacrosse.Timecodes0:00 - Cornell def. Richmond4:45 - Syracuse def. Princeton12:45 - Penn St def. Notre Dame26:15 - Maryland def. Georgetown31:50 - Syracuse vs Maryland Preview39:15 - PSU vs Cornell Preview47:45 - UNC vs Florida Preview51:30 - BC vs Northwestern58:30 - Final Thoughts

May 16, 2025 • 1h 10min
NCAA Quarterfinal Weekend + UNC’s Ashley and Chloe Humphrey
Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe---Deemer Class, Matt Dunn and Stephen Rehfuss discuss recap the first round of the 2025 Men's NCAA Lacrosse Tournament. They review last week's episode with Pat Kavanaugh and focus on a range of games including Richmond's breakthrough win over UNC and Georgetown's surprising victory against Duke. They also highlight the strong performances of star players like Aiden Carroll and Liam Matthews. The conversation shifts to quarterfinal matchups, emphasizing games such as Richmond vs. Cornell and Georgetown vs. Maryland. The hosts wrap up by emphasizing the cultural and emotional aspects of playoff lacrosse.After the break, UNC's Ashley and Chloe Humphrey join the podcast. The sisters discuss their current season's success, including setting multiple records and being the top seed as they prepare for the NCAA quarterfinals against Princeton. They delve into their journey to UNC, overcoming injuries, and the impact of COVID on their athletic careers. The episode also covers their on-field synergy, practice routines, and how they handle adversities like face guarding. Both sisters emphasize the importance of perspective, teamwork, and relentless preparation in achieving their goals. They also reflect on the influence of admired players like Kayla Treanor and share their experiences of growing up obsessed with lacrosse.Timecodes0:00 - Tournament Time Nostalgia10:30 - Richmond def. UNC17:00 - Georgetown def. Duke21:10 - Notre Dame def. Ohio St27:10 - Syracuse def. Harvard32:20 - Penn St def. Colgate36:20 - Maryland def. Air Force39:00 - Quarterfinal Preview42:10 - Player Perspective: Humphrey Sisters

May 9, 2025 • 1h 30min
Notre Dame Alum Pat Kavanagh, NCAA First Round Preview
Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe---Deemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss, and Matt Dunn are joined by special guest Pat Kavanagh to discuss his experiences at Notre Dame, transitioning to professional lacrosse, and his family's lacrosse legacy. They delve into Pat's recruiting story, his perspective from playing at Notre Dame, and his insights on the current team. The hosts also preview the upcoming NCAA men's and women's lacrosse tournaments, including key matchups such as Richmond vs. North Carolina and Georgetown vs. Duke on the men's side, as well as Clemson vs. Navy on the women's side. They examine the implications of the selection criteria and seeding processes, the role of team culture, and the expectations for teams in the tournament.Timecodes0:00 - Pat Kavanagh's Journey51:00 - Bracket Set1:05 - MLAX Richmond vs UNC1:12:20 - MLAX Georgetown vs Duke1:15:45 - MLAX Notre Dame vs Ohio State1:21:30 - MLAX Harvard vs Syracuse1:28:00 - WLAX Clemson vs Navy

May 2, 2025 • 1h 16min
The Last Ride with CJ Kirst and Michael Long & Conference Tournament Time
Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe--Deemer Class, Matt Dunn and Stephen Rehfuss are joined by special guests, Cornell attackmen Michael Long and CJ Kirst, who share insights into their chemistry, growth over the years, and the high-level principles that drive their play. The episode covers key segments such as the Two-Minute Drill, notable games and players from recent weekends, and a breakdown of offensive strategies against defensive slides. The podcast wraps with a preview of upcoming crucial games, including the ACC and Ivy League tournaments, setting the stage for an exciting lacrosse weekend.--Timecodes0:00 - Weekend Recap4:35 - Mike & CJ Join The Pod45:15 - GPUs52:30 - Breakdown: Dodging 1:13:50 - Looking Ahead

Apr 25, 2025 • 1h 9min
How To Focus Your Training, Conference Tournament Time & Adam Lamberti's PLL Draft Big Board
Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribeDeemer Class, Matt Dunn & Stephen Rehfuss welcome Adam Lamberti, Director of FCL Media and PLL Draft Analyst to this week's pod. The discussion kicks off with a two-minute drill recapping notable men's and women's lacrosse games from the past weekend, including highlights from the Ivy League, ACC, Big Ten, and Big East. Key games include Cornell's victory over Harvard, Duke's win over Syracuse, and Maryland's victory against Hopkins. The podcast then transitions to a player's perspective segment, exploring the balance of being versatile versus specializing in specific skills, featuring insights on training and role development. Adam Lamberti joins to provide an in-depth look at the PLL draft, analyzing top prospects and their potential impact at the professional level. Additionally, the hosts preview upcoming notable games in the men's and women's lacrosse schedules, underlining the excitement and unpredictability leading into the tournament season.Timecodes0:00 - Recap6:00 - Player Perspective: Focused Training26:15 - GPUs36:15 - Adam's PLL Draft Board1:05:00 - Weekend Preview

Apr 18, 2025 • 1h 18min
Princeton’s Nate Kabiri + The Big Ten's Big Weekend & The Art of Accurate Passing
Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribeDeemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss, and Matt Dunn welcome FCL Athlete and Princeton sophomore Nate Kabiri to the podcast! The episode kicks off with the Two-Minute Drill, covering notable games from the past week, including highlights from Penn State, Michigan, and Notre Dame. The hosts delve into Player Perspective with Kabiri, discussing his development and transition from midfield to attack. They move on to the Games, Players, and Units (GPU) segment, highlighting standout performances and team efforts from Yale, Cornell, and Michigan. The Breakdown segment focuses on passing accuracy and the impact of delivering precise passes for team success. The episode wraps up with a look ahead to upcoming games, featuring key matchups like Rutgers vs. Penn State, Johns Hopkins vs. Maryland, and Syracuse vs. Duke.Timecodes0:00 - Intro & Recap5:20 - Nate Joins The Pod35:00 - GPUs50:25 - The Breakdown: Passing Accuracy1:06:00 - Weekend Preview

Apr 11, 2025 • 1h 8min
Conference Play Heats Up, Having A “0-0 Mindset” & Going Behind The Stats
Checkout our newsletters!Coaches Corner: https://fclcoachescorner.beehiiv.com/subscribeWeekly Thought: https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribeOn the Run: https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribeDeemer Class, Stephen Rehfuss, and Matt Dunn break down the latest in college lacrosse. The episode starts with the Two-Minute Drill; recapping notable games from the past week, including Duke's victory over BU, Harvard's win against Dartmouth, and Loyola's first win of the season against Bucknell. The discussion then shifts to Player Perspective, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a 'zero-zero' mindset throughout games. The hosts also examine key statistical trends such as shooting percentage, save percentage, and face-off percentage, exploring their impact on team performance. The episode wraps up by looking ahead to upcoming games, highlighting matchups like Hopkins vs. Penn State, Maryland vs. Ohio State, Syracuse vs. Cornell, and Virginia vs. Notre Dame.0:00 - Recap8:30 - Player Perspective: 0-0 Mindset30:45 - GPUs40:45 - Trends To Watch: Statistics58:55 - Preview