This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

Former West Lacrosse Star Leads Cornell to NCAA Division I Playoffs

Robert Pannell, who was named a finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy, aims to lead Cornell University lacrosse to a NCAA Division I lacrosse championship.

An opposing coach called former West lacrosse star and current Cornell University attackman Rob Pannell the kind of lacrosse player that only comes along once every 10 years. Others said the junior has the most consistent work ethic of anyone on a team that is loaded with star players. 

But Pannell mainly talks about his teammates and coaching staff, despite being named one of five finalists for college lacrosse’s highest individual honor, , the second year he's been nominated.  

“The guys around me are making me into the player that I am and they are the reason I am getting all of this acknowledgement,” Pannell said. “It is tremendous honor. But I wouldn’t be in that position if I did not have the team I have behind me. It really is a compliment to my team and my coaches, and how they have helped me out.”

Find out what's happening in Smithtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Pannell is the top player for the second-seeded Cornell squad (14-2) that will continue its quest to win the NCAA Division I lacrosse championship on Saturday when it faces the University of Virginia (10-5) at Hofstra University in a quarterfinal game. He followed-up a sensational sophomore regular season by tallying 39 goals and 47 assists, earning his second-straight Ivy League Player of the Year award.

Pannell said the team knows it can play with anyone in the country, but is not overlooking anyone as it tries to win Cornell’s first national title since 1977.

Find out what's happening in Smithtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“This is a team despite being ranked number two still feels like it has a lot to prove to everyone,” Pannell said. “We have never bought into rankings and what people say. We repeat this all the time: ‘It is not about them. It is about what we can do and how hard we can play.’”

Cornell coach Ben DeLuca said that despite Pannell’s lacrosse accomplishments, he is an even better person off the field.

“As good as a player as he is, he is an even better young man,” DeLuca said. “He leads the charge for us for community service. He leads by example in everything he does.”

Junior midfielder Roy Lang said Pannell’s leadership starts well ahead of game time.

“A lot of people will focus on his individual skills – he’s a great shooter, a great passer – but what is so great playing with Rob is his leadership and his consistency … What is remarkable is he does it for every drill [in practice], for every ground ball. It is the definition of leading by example.”

Despite facing defenses specifically designed to limit his role in Cornell’s offense, Pannell has managed to lead the NCAA in total points-per-game this year by almost a full point (5.47 PPG). His mesmerizing passes often leave fans shaking their heads in disbelief that he could make such a play, and his goal-scoring ability is well-known throughout lacrosse. 

“He is one of those guys that only comes along once every 10 years,” said Hartford coach Peter Lawrence, whose team lost to Cornell in the first round 12-5, where Pannell had two goals and two assists.

When told of what Lawrence said about him, Pannell said it was a tremendous compliment, but the accolades are not what he or his team is about.

“I appreciate what people say,” Pannell said. “But like Coach DeLuca says, ‘Stay down on the farm.’”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?