The Wake

The fastest game on two feet is played at the U. The men’s Lacrosse team was formed in 1993 and is offered at the club level. Last year the team had an overall record of 17-3, with a 7-1 record in the Upper Midwest League. The team won its league playoffs and went to the National Tournament, (held in Blaine, Minn.) where they won one game and lost two.

The Lacrosse team, however, will not be fielding the same team as last year. The Gophers will be in need of extra offense after losing Eugene Zevelev, 2005’s Upper Midwest Lacrosse League Offensive Player of the Year. But the Gophers will have the 2005 UMLL Defensive Player of the Year, Al Kestler, on the field again this season.

In a recent interview with Adam Simone, third year player and co-captain, I asked him to describe the game. Simone responded, “Intense.” I wondered how intense it could get with a small ball, an odd looking stick and a pair of nets.

When Adam was asked about the craziest injuries someone’s ever incurred while playing lacrosse, he responded, “On a D-1 team, someone actually died playing Lacrosse.” Simone added, “He got hit with the ball right in the heart and it was like the split second when his heart was beating.”

Most likely, Simone was referring to the death of George Boiardi of Cornell University who died in 2004. Boiardi was hit with a ball in the chest while trying to block a shot. In addition to the death of Boiardi, two other college students have died while playing Lacrosse. A high school player also died.. The deaths prior to Boiardi’s were caused by similar shots to the chest, which caused cardiac arrest through a syndrome known as Commotio Cordis. Fortunately, members of the Lacrosse team at the U have not encountered such tragedy.

While tragic, it’s not surprising considering protection worn during the game only includes a helmet, arm pads and a set of shoulder pads. The shoulder pads are not like ones worn in football; they are about one-third the size. With Lacrosse shots reaching up to 100 mph, it’s fortunate more casualties haven’t occurred.

After hearing about fights that happen and how physical the game was, I asked Simone about the nature of the game. Simone said, “While you’re playing you hate the other team, but afterwards it’s kind of like a brotherhood.” Simone added, “Whoever won or lost doesn’t matter, it’s just about the sport.”

These were sobering thoughts from a person who plays an extremely physical game.

The season

The Lacrosse team has two seasons, fall and spring. The fall season is for players to keep their skills up, while the spring season features league play and matches against non-conference opponents. The team will begin its spring season Feb. 24 against Northeastern on the road. But the Gophers first home action won’t take place until April 15, when they will battle their toughest opponent in the UMLL, Minnesota Duluth, on the Upper A fields located on the St. Paul campus.