Lacrosse Strives to Bring its Best Game

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Author: Cameron Goodman

Oxy men’s lacrosse has a tough season ahead. Usually running with at least 24 players, the team has been cut down to 15 this season after losing six seniors last year. Currently, a starting attack and starting midfielder are unable to play due to injuries.

“The only thing that we lack is numbers,” Co-Captain Tom Sterling (senior) said. “On the field during a game there are 10 players for each team, we have 15. So we basically have been playing iron man lacrosse for most of our games so far.”

Head Coach Boz Crowther plays for a men’s club team in the area and took over the coaching position four years ago. “We instilled a little more discipline, a little more work ethic,” he said.

The lack of players this year has not prevented him from pushing the team to maintain their status as one of the best in the league. “We have high expectations for ourselves,” he said. Crowther has been working to bring lacrosse more attention over the years, and is grateful for the support the Athletic Department has shown. “The athletic department has been great this year,” he said. “They have been working really hard to make us more high profile.”

The team plays in Division II of the Western Collegiate Lacrosse Association, a club league that includes Arizona, California and some of Nevada. Crowther assures it is a fairly weak division in terms of talent, but Oxy will nonetheless have trouble getting the wins it needs if only for a lack of players. While teams like Cal Lutheran and UNLV look to be easier wins for the team, Pepperdine and Biola present the biggest competition.

The contest between Biola looks as though it will be the most difficult game of the season. “It’s going to be a struggle. They’re good to begin with. They’re deeper than we are. I think we have better players, we have smarter players, but there’s no substitute for depth,” he said.

Jesse Roberts (’07) returned this season as assistant coach, working specifically with the team on strength and conditioning. This new work-out regiment will prepare the team for the difficult yet decisive matches yet to come this season.

“As far as this season goes our team is pretty well stacked for talent, we have a lot of returning players who played key roles for us last year,” Sterling said. With many of the team’s top athletes gone for this season, they find themselves at a serious disadvantage with only one line of substitute midfielders.

However, the team finds hope in some of the new talent. Some newcomers have contributed a lot to the team despite lack of experience. “There are a couple of first-year guys who have been able to make a big contribution to the team,” Sterling said. “Anthony Schaeffer (first-year) is filling in for Ozzie Baron (senior) in goal for a lot of our games which is really important. Gil Ortega (sophomore) has really helped add speed and skill to our midfield too.”

Captain Ben Brown plays defense and serves as an example of the level of the team’s skill. “Ben is arguably one of the best defensemen I’ve ever seen,” said Crowther.

What the team lacks in size, they more than make up for it in heart and determination. “Our coach has been doing a great job helping us get ready for the season, and our goal for this year is to win our division and try to go to playoffs,” said Sterling.

“One thing really keeping our team going strong right now is the mix tape made by Mike Covino (senior),” Sterling added. “[It] include[s] some of his favorite songs by artists such as Whitney Houston, Journey, Sting and Jewel. Practice probably wouldn’t happen without him.”

If anyone has confidence in the team and its abilities, it’s Covino. “We are playing iron man lacrosse with only 13 players. If we had 20 players I could guarantee victory over University of Virginia,” he said.

Catch the Tigers as they return from the road to take on Pepperdine on Sat. Feb 23 at 1 p.m.

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