Men's lax set for success in 2010
Brian Alspaugh
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Sports
The Wittenberg men's lacrosse team looks to build off its success of last season.
Last season's record of 7-6 was the best record for the men's lacrosse team since 1999, and it also continued a streak of seasons with at least a .500 winning percentage or better.
"Having a winning record is definitely a sign of improvement and that we are starting to move in the right direction as a team," said junior defender Daniel Gaines. "Being able to say that your team had a winning record last year is important for a team that is still trying to figure out how to win and what it takes to win."
Since the introduction of head coach George Harris in 2006, the Tigers have not finished with less than six wins in a season, which is a drastic improvement for a team that went 2-11 in the season prior to Harris' arrival at Witt.
Coach Harris has the program heading in the right direction and the players are starting to take notice.
"We know that our conference is highly competitive, so year after year, we have to continue to 'up the anty' and work a little harder," said junior goalie Mark De Oliveria. "We have done this with intense lifting and running throughout the off-season, coupled with captains' practices, which really help to reinforce that team chemistry."
Being captains and also veterans to the lacrosse program, Gaines and De Oliveria both feel that they are held to a higher standard and that makes it easier to prepare and be competitive.
"It was definitely easier to push it harder in the summer and fall to get ready when the goals are higher for the team," said Gaines.
"Basically, I owe it to my teammates and coaches to be better than I was last year," De Oliveria added.
There are a number of starters and players with experience returning to this year's squad, so failure is not an option for the 2010 program.
"We have very high expectations for the upcoming season and we fully expect to finish higher in the conference and to improve on our 7-6 record from last season," De Oliveria said. "We expect to make a run at the NCAA tournament. We expect to win."
The Tigers start their season Feb. 6 with a scrimmage against the University of Michigan club team, and have their first home game March 20 against the St. Vincent Bearcats.
Last season's record of 7-6 was the best record for the men's lacrosse team since 1999, and it also continued a streak of seasons with at least a .500 winning percentage or better.
"Having a winning record is definitely a sign of improvement and that we are starting to move in the right direction as a team," said junior defender Daniel Gaines. "Being able to say that your team had a winning record last year is important for a team that is still trying to figure out how to win and what it takes to win."
Since the introduction of head coach George Harris in 2006, the Tigers have not finished with less than six wins in a season, which is a drastic improvement for a team that went 2-11 in the season prior to Harris' arrival at Witt.
Coach Harris has the program heading in the right direction and the players are starting to take notice.
"We know that our conference is highly competitive, so year after year, we have to continue to 'up the anty' and work a little harder," said junior goalie Mark De Oliveria. "We have done this with intense lifting and running throughout the off-season, coupled with captains' practices, which really help to reinforce that team chemistry."
Being captains and also veterans to the lacrosse program, Gaines and De Oliveria both feel that they are held to a higher standard and that makes it easier to prepare and be competitive.
"It was definitely easier to push it harder in the summer and fall to get ready when the goals are higher for the team," said Gaines.
"Basically, I owe it to my teammates and coaches to be better than I was last year," De Oliveria added.
There are a number of starters and players with experience returning to this year's squad, so failure is not an option for the 2010 program.
"We have very high expectations for the upcoming season and we fully expect to finish higher in the conference and to improve on our 7-6 record from last season," De Oliveria said. "We expect to make a run at the NCAA tournament. We expect to win."
The Tigers start their season Feb. 6 with a scrimmage against the University of Michigan club team, and have their first home game March 20 against the St. Vincent Bearcats.
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