A win in the pocket?

- October 19, 2009

lacrosse
Dalhousie University Men's Lacrosse team plays in the Maritime University Field Lacrosse League's (MUFLL) league. (Nick Pearce Photo)

The SMU Huskies, the Acadia Laxmen and the Mount Allison Mounties have all given it their best shot, but it hasn’t been enough to beat these Tigers.

The Dalhousie men’s lacrosse team is going strong this season, with five straight wins and no losses. Although this season is looking like a walk in the park, the Tiger’s real battle is yet to come.

Coach, captains and team players alike are looking ahead to the home game against the St. FX X-Men this Sunday.

“We met them in the finals last year and just barely won,” explains team captain Mike Diener, 21.

Upcoming games

Maritime University Field Lacrosse

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m.: SMU Huskies vs. Acadia Laxmen at Raymond Field, Wolfville

Saturday, Oct. 24 4 p.m.: Mount A Mounties vs. UNB Generals at College Field, Fredericton

Sunday, Oct. 25 2 p.m.: St. FX X-Men vs. Dalhousie Tigers at Wickwire Field, Halifax

Saturday, Oct. 31 5 p.m.: SMU Huskies vs. St. FX X-Men at Oland Stadium Turf

Sunday, Nov. 1 2 p.m.: Acadia Laxmen vs. Mt. A Mounties at Landsdowne Field, Sackville N.B.

Sunday, Nov. 1 3 p.m.: Dalhousie Tigers vs. UNB Generals at College Field, Fredericton

Last year, the Tigers were the first team in the Maritime University Field Lacrosse League to get through a season undefeated.

“We’ve just got to keep working so we can get better for when we play St. FX,” says Malcolm Westhaver, a freshman to the Dal team, who is taking nothing for granted. “They have a very good team.”

“We did a lot of extra training this year, like off-fields, dry land training, so I think, hopefully, by the end of the season we will be in equal to or better shape than last year. That’s our plan,” said Mr. Diener, after a landslide 20-0 victory against Mount Allison on September 26.

A few weeks ago, the team amped up the number of practices per week to five, from two.
“We do have a lot of motivated guys who take it very seriously,” says Nick Bradley, interim head coach.

Mr. Westhaver says the late-night practices are difficult, but lacrosse is his favourite sport. “I love the physicality of the game.”

Mr. Bradley notes that the game can be extremely rough and aggressive, but it is also very technical. Moving the ball and executing set plays can be difficult. He says that everyone needs to be on the same page and know where your teammates are.

LINKS: Lacrosse at Dalhousie | Maritime University Field Lacrosse League


Comments

All comments require a name and email address. You may also choose to log-in using your preferred social network or register with Disqus, the software we use for our commenting system. Join the conversation, but keep it clean, stay on the topic and be brief. Read comments policy.

comments powered by Disqus