Men's lacrosse:goingfor six in a row

AMANDAFINNEGAN ASST. MANAGING EDITOR AJF724@CABRINI.EDU

The Cabrini men's lacrosse team is carrying more than shoulder pads on their shoulders this season. With five consecutive Pennsylvania Athletic Conference championship titles, head coach Steve Colfer and his players are carrying the weight of being th_ebest and staying the best.

Although the team's official season doesn't start till Feb. 26 against Lynchburg in Vrrginia, the players are already hard at work.

Cabrini began its year with almost five weeks of fall ball and a tournament at Haverford College. Senior business and administration major and co-captain Kevin Rayer said that the tournament showed them what they needed to accomplish and improve on.

Withthree of their top scorersgraduated, including PAC player of the year Mark Phillips, the freshmen have big shoes to fill this season.

"We have the talent. It is all a matter of who will step up into those spots," Colfer said.

Senior co-captain and English and communications major Matt Campbell said that the team's core this season will be defense to compensate for the young offense.

Colfer has brought in 20 eager freshmen and said it is one of the hardest working classes he has seen.

"We have a good freshman class and some very tough kids that can play ball and keep the Cabrini men's lacrosse tradition alive," sophomore sociology major Matt McKinney said.

Some of the key players this season will be returning senior captains Campbell, Rayer, and history and political science major, Nick Terlizzo. All three of the players were named first team all PAC last season. "The captains have a lot of responsibilities on and off the field. I look for them to be mentors to the younger players," Colfer said.

Also rejoining Colfer on the sidelines are assistant coaches Ryan Greer and Kevin Camp.

Like every team here at Cabrini, the men's lacrosse team is

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hoping to bring home PAC championship and an NCAA title. But few can claim as many straight titles as the men's lacrosse team can. They're. going for n!Jmber six. The team is most looking forward to facing Vtlla Julie, ranked second in the PAC, whom they defeated 12-7 in the PAC final.

"Villa Julie always plays us tough and it's a good rivalry," McKinney said.

While most Cabrini student's day is winding down, the men's lacrosse team is just starting practice some nights.

At the first practice back from winter break, co-captain Campbell yells to the team, "F;om now on, grey shirts and blue shorts to practice. We're a team so let's look like one."

The Cabrini men's lacrosse team is working on their game for the 2006 spring season and on all aspects of becoming a team. Even down to the shorts.

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