'Tight-Knit' 文化 Brings Lacrosse Players 回来 For One More Run

在大学体育运动中，变化是不断的, but not for seven members of the men's lacrosse team who returned for a final season.

Faceoff specialist 和 graduate student captain Alec Stathakis.

当一位传奇的主教练退休时, it is not uncommon for athletes to transfer or opt out of their final season.

为 yzcca88游戏登录网址男子长曲棍球队然而，情况并非如此. In fact, the team has seven graduate students on the roster for the 2024 season.

Players 和 coaches alike credit the program’s culture as a big reason why they decided to return.

“They love the culture that we have here; I think it's one 这是非常紧密的联系. I think it's one where they know that they can be themselves, they know that they're going to get challenged 和 be held accountable but, 同时, 爱,“总教练 马特·布朗 说.

比尔Tierney retired following his 42nd college season in 2023—14 of which were with DU—和 Brown, 然后是进攻协调员, 掌舵. Brown (BSBA ’05) was also a four-year starter for DU in the early 2000s.

The graduate students include Alec Stathakis, 杰克埃丁格, 里奇康奈尔大学, AJ墨丘里奥教练, JJ Sillstrop, 杰克·迪·贝内代托和亚当·汉格兰.

Brown’s first task upon becoming head coach was to gauge whether the seven seniors planned to return to DU 和 take advantage of their final year of eligibility.

但这群人对此毫无疑问, 说 faceoff specialist 和 graduate student captain Stathakis.

“I think a lot of guys could have gone on 和 played wherever they wanted to— they probably had the opportunities to—but I don't think any of us even thought about or entertained that thought of playing somewhere else,他说.

“我们谈论成为一名先锋是什么. … We talk about what being a good leader is, he’s that example. It’s been awesome to have him this year,” Stathakis adds.

船长兼研究生艾丁格, Brown’s love for the game—和 his history as a coach 和 player at DU—played a meaningful role in his decision to return for one more year.

“布朗教练身上流淌着深红色和金色的血液, 和 his passion for the program was really what got me back for another year,” the short stick defensive midfielder 说.

The team has started off the season strong with a 6-1 record, most recently defeating Ohio State on March 17, 看到它的第一个No. 本月早些时候，该公司自2017年以来排名第一.

The team’s fifth-year players have provided an additional level of leadership 和 support to their younger teammates—but also to each other.

“I think anytime there's guys with a lot of experience, a lot of those younger guys can learn—especially guys that maybe get some [opportunities] later in games—they can just be sponges,艾丁格说。. “These younger guys coming in have [also] been a huge push for us.”

给球队的五年级队员, 布朗希望看到他们“留下自己的印记”,” particularly after a disappointing end to last season.

“I want them to be champions by the end of it because I know they're capable of doing it,他说. “我知道这件事结束后, when it's all said 和 done 和 the season's over, they can walk out of here saying that they've left this place in a much better place than when I first got here.”