Lacrosse has been a game that always been in me since I was young. I’ve been lucky enough to play this game since I was nine years old, and other than missing some time one year with a knee injury unrelated to lacrosse, I had mostly good memories playing youth lacrosse, except for losing to this team of private school kids every year in the finals. So when it finally came time to play in high school, it came when I was transferring to that very same school. The whole idea of “You either die the hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Yeah that was me in my freshman year of high school. That first year playing against my old teammates was the most interesting game I played at the time. Then sophomore year came, and the worst possible thing that could've happened to me happened.
Cut from the team.
It got to me so much I refused to even attend a single game that year. It was something that stuck with me the rest of my time at my high school. I gave up on ever playing again for my high school. The next two years I decided to be manager for the team, to at least support the team and go to all the games. I was happy with the decision, until the team won the County Championship my senior year. Being on the sidelines for that moment made me want to play again. I knew I wasn't as good as much of the rest of my friends to get scholarship offers, and the school I was supposed to go to didn't have an NCAA team, but little did I know they had a great club team. So when I saw a poster promoting Duquesne's Men's Lacrosse, I knew that this was for me. I didn't care if I got cut, I just wanted the chance to get back in the game.
I got to the first practice fully expecting the worse, however when I got there i realized something, these guys are great. Not just good lacrosse players, but great guys to be around. Even though I may not be one of the best players on the team, they still accepted me into the fold, and encouraged me to get better. As opposed to dreading the thought of practice, I now looked forward to it, even if it's freezing cold or snowing outside, to keep pushing myself to try and get better, and maybe even score a goal or two out there. This team has gotten me excited to play this game again. I look forward to what we will accomplish this year.
It’s go time boys. Roll Dukes Roll.
