Matt RubinOn a national level, the sport of lacrosse is finally getting publicity (regardless of whether or not it’s for all the wrong reasons). The Washington University club lacrosse team would like the same respect. After a crucial and exciting 12-9 victory over Purdue University last Sunday, the Bears’ current record stands at 8-2.
The team is not only full of talent and a true love for the game, but also filled with hopes of a conference championship and a trip to nationals this year. They have made a great deal of progress over the past few years.
“Since its inception, Washington University’s men’s lacrosse team has grown from a disorganized group of guys who happened to have played in high school to one of the most respected teams in our conference,” said sophomore Eric Jensen, the club’s vice president.
The team competes in a conference that consists of other competitive club teams, many of those at schools with primarily Division I athletics. The team plays squads such as the Iowa Hawkeyes, SMU, Illinois, Mizzou, Lindenwood, Purdue, and Texas Tech.
“[It’s] actually pretty amazing considering that we are a club team beating teams that draw players from a pool of D-I athletes,” said Jensen.
Despite the increasing competitiveness of the conference and higher level of respect for the Bears within it, this team seems to believe that the school could be doing a lot more to support them.
“The biggest thing we lack is support,” said sophomore goalie Jonathan Yianilos. As with many other sports here at the University, students aren’t exactly flocking to Francis Field for the lacrosse games.
“Fans would be nice,” Yianilos commented. “It’s a shitty feeling to look up at empty bleachers. Last game our loudest fans were our coach’s three toddler nieces.”
Jensen also acknowledged that the lacrosse team doesn’t draw the largest of crowds but said, “Neither does football or men’s soccer, no disrespect [to those other teams].”
The truth of the matter is that Washington University is not a Big Ten or ACC school so enthusiastic support of the athletic programs can’t exactly be expected.
“I think that the life at Wash. U. creates a difficult atmosphere for athletic teams to draw large crowds without some other incentive aside from the competition itself,” said Jensen. “I wish that sports were supported more in general at Wash. U., but I don’t think that will ever happen with the rigors of scholastic obligations [here].”
The issue of academic rigor, however, extends far beyond the lack of fans in the stands.
“A couple guys couldn’t take an exam a day early to be at a game,” Yianilos said. “The teacher said it’s not technically a ‘school-sponsored’ event.”
This frustrates some of the team members because they believe are putting in comparable hours of practice, game, and travel time to that of Division III athletes.
“I just want the school to know that we’re legit,” Yianilos said. “We play teams like Auburn and Purdue, not some shitty B team either; those teams are [at] the highest level their schools have to offer.”
Although school support seems to be lacking, the nature of club sports is incredibly conducive to creating a strong sense of friendship and unity among teammates. “As with any club sport in general, the athletes who participate are there entirely by choice and because they love to play the game,” said Jensen. He said that most of the University lacrosse players “are the people that played in high school and loved the game enough to want to fit it into their busy schedules [in college].”
Yianilos said his favorite part about being on this team is “the guys on [it].” He said, “I feel a strong bond to all the players and coaches, especially my D [defensemen] guys.” Yianilos described the unique nature of team-oriented bonds by differentiating them from other types of friendships. He noted that while he doesn’t even see many members of the team off the field, club lacrosse is still, ultimately “about the friendships formed. That’s what makes a team worthwhile.”
The Bears are working hard to continue to improve and expand their program.
“Playing against a school like Purdue with a multitude of athletic students at their school is difficult,” said Jensen. “So each year, we spread the word about the team, and hope that kids with heart and talent will join.”
He added that the demographics of the University’s applicant pool have really helped out.
“This actually has worked out rather nicely since Wash. U. gets a multitude of applicants from the East Coast, where lacrosse is more popular than football in the South,” he said.
As vice president of the team, Jensen said he in particular feels it’s his “prerogative to spread the word to prospective students who come and visit the school.” He encouraged interested students to check out the “Wash. U. Men’s Lacrosse group” on TheFacebook.com. He says they have already seen improvements from last year to this year.
“I have been approached by four prospective freshmen from all over the US about playing,” he said. “One of which, from Kentucky, wants to come with us on an away game trip the weekend he is visiting this semester. Our team is growing and becoming more talented each year; there [are] only good things to come in the future.”
Jensen spoke about his love for the game, saying, “I played lacrosse, basketball, and soccer in high school and lacrosse is by far the most exciting sport I’ve ever engaged in.”
The claim that lacrosse is nothing more than football is far from accurate, but there is certainly an equal if not higher level of exhilaration that comes from both playing and watching lacrosse. Yianilos said that if lacrosse had to be compared to any sport, basketball and hockey are much better comparisons.
“It is far more similar to basketball or hockey than you would ever expect, he said.” He cited things like face-offs, jump balls, and transitions that make lacrosse comparable to basketball and hockey.
Yianilos agrees that there is something special about lacrosse.
“Experiencing a perfect transition, a dominating defensive take-away or even a few crisp passes is better than sex,” he said. “The greatest compliment my high school coach could offer was, ‘Now that looks like lacrosse.'” Yianilos noted that lacrosse’s slogan is ‘The fastest sport on two feet’ and that’s what spectators and players love.
With all of the progress and improvements the team has made over the course of the season, along with their respect for each other, close friendships, and love of the game, these Bears believed they have what it takes to bring home a championship this year.
“Winning the conference championships and getting the invitation to nationals has been one of our goals all season,” said sophomore center Dave DuPuis.
The road to the conference championships won’t be easy, but the toughest games will be the ones they’ll have to play when they get there.
“We’d have to beat some pretty tough teams that we haven’t faced yet this year,” said DuPuis. “We are definitely planning on going to conference championships; the top six teams go and we should be one of them.”
The Bears are currently one of the top five teams in their conference. Unfortunately, their next four games are against what amounts to be the remainder of the top five.
“Lindenwood and Illinois are really good this year so it’s probably somewhat of a longshot to make it,” DuPuis said. “But if we play consistently at the conference championships and play as well as we can then we can beat those teams.”
The next University lacrosse game is against Mizzou on Sunday at 6 p.m. at Francis Field.