Cat Baker
Contributing Writer
Although the Fighting Scots men’s lacrosse team had a difficult start to the season, they pushed through their upward climb and are able to look back and reflect positively on their season so far.
Starting on Saturday, Feb. 23, the team lost their first five games of the season to St. John Fisher College 20-3, Otterbein University 14-8, John Carroll University 12-10, Albion College 13-9 and Trinity College 22-6.
Their first win was on Saturday, March 16, beating Western Connecticut State University 13-9. After this much of a setback so early in the season, some teams might hang their heads and admit defeat — but not this team.
Joe Citera ’22 expressed that “losing the first five games was not the way we planned the beginning of our season to go, but getting our first win against West Conn. was huge. We finally knew what it felt like to put a win together as a team. It was a step forward.” This can-do attitude was echoed by fellow teammate Zack Martin ’22. “Losing to St. John Fisher was deflating. They were a good team, but should not have been a 17-point margin loss,” Martin said. “We realized we had a lot of work to do after that game, but thankfully it came right at the beginning of the season. We’ve developed a lot as a unit since then.”
After losing to Capital University 12-9 on Wednesday, March 20, Wooster came out on top again just three days later, when they defeated Hiram College 16-4. According to Joe Rotarius ’22, “[the game was] a good confidence booster and enjoyed playing everyone on the roster.”
The next week, they lost to Baldwin Wallace 15-11. However, that loss was not all for naught: it was actually Max Livingston ’22’s favorite game of the season. “Even though we lost, it seemed as if everything that we worked on in practice was coming together,” said Livingston.
The next game held on March 30 was a big win for the Scots, when they overpowered DePauw University 10-8 on their campus in Greencastle, Ind. In fact, Livingston, Cullen Kuhn ’20, Martin and Sebastian Boivin ’22 were all in agreement that that win was the best moment of the season so far. As Livingston put it, “the best moment of the season was beating DePauw. They came out cocky and loud, so we punched them right in the mouth and they didn’t talk for the rest of the game.” After the DePauw game, the team only lost one more game, to Ohio Wesleyan 19-9 on April 5.
Kuhn credits the team dynamic for some of their success. “We’re definitely a young team, with 16 first years, but the team dynamic is great. You can tell the guys really want to give it their all for the guy next to them, and the younger guys have bought in, matured quickly and stepped up huge in some really important games,” said Kuhn.
It is clear that all of the hard work and determination that every single one of the players puts in to each practice really makes the team live up to the school’s mascot, putting the “Fighting” in “Fighting Scots.” Martin elaborated further on that thought, stating that they are a family of brothers. “It sounds cliché, but we treat each other like family. We’re able to have fun and work hard at the same time. I think it has helped us really bond together and play as a team on gameday, win or lose,” he stated.
Besides making the conference playoffs and having the opportunity to compete for an NCAC Championship title, Livingston has another goal in mind for the team. “My goals are to pick up 100 ground balls and collective make our team the No. 1 one ground ball team in the country,” Martin said. But for now, the boys will keep working hard and doing their best to improve their game every day, bringing the energy every practice.
The men’s lacrosse team will play Oberlin College on April 20, and will play Kenyon College on April 23. The team hopes to finish their season on a good note and have fans there to cheer them on!
(Photo from Wooster Athletics)