Lacrosseplayersshareknowledgewithkids

by Chris Nielson staff writer

In a true showing of Cabrini spirit, the men's lacrosse team has spent part of their last couple of Sunday afternoons helping children learn their favorite game. While the team can usually be found practicing for another year of Pennsylvania Athletic Conference competition, they can now also be found giving something back to the community.

Field hockey coach Jackie Neary's husband, Joe, works at the Sportsplex in East Goshen. The clinic features an introductory lacrosse camp for boys from second through third grade.

Through Neary, an invitation was sent out to members of the Cavs lacrosse team to help share their knowledge by coaching the next generation of lacrosse players.

"I only expected a couple of the players to show up, and nine or 10 did," said Neary.

"It was great to see the busy college students giving up their free time."

Due to the unexpectedly large rumout, the children got to receive individual attention from the players. There ended up being 12 kids there, with eight Cavs to coach them. The players taught the youngsters the ba- sics of the game for an hour every Sunday morning, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Sophomore Ryan Greer had a special reason for participating. Mr. Neary was Greer's Little League coach years ago in Ridley Township.

Greer saw the clinic as a great opporrunity to "thank Joe for the time he spent with us."

Besides giving back to the community, the experience was also a great way to grow as a team, according to senior Brian Bugey. He stressed that the service was on a strictly voluntary basis and they received no compensation.

Sophomore Alex Muellar seemed to speak for the whole team when he said, "It was really fun." Indeed, all eight of the players who attended considered it a worthwhile experience.

This year, the Cavs hope to maintain their dominance in Division Three PAC competition. The team expects to be just as strong as they were last year.

By maintaining the core of last year's team, they are still considered to be the favorites to win the PAC title.

Now, thanks to their charity work, the team can brag about being winners off the field as well.