Men's lacrosse unites for success

By Kelly Spencer

In 1998, the men's lacrosse team transitioned from varsity to club status, nearly dissolving in the process due to financial and recruiting setbacks.

This season, the motivational drive of team captain Brian Boitano has combined with team emphasis on internal unity to produce the program's dramatic turnaround.

Boitano, a third team all-American last season, serves as a crucial driving force for the team. He has played the game for nine years and understands the dynamics inside and out - not to mention the game's historical development.

"Lacrosse started as a Native American sport on the eastern seaboard and up into Canada," explained Boitano. "They would play for two to three days up to a week."

Needless to say, current game length is significantly shorter. But the popularity of lacrosse remains on the East Coast. Because the West Coast fails to appeal to many serious high school players, Boitano's expertise and passion is proving essential.

"He's the greatest player," said teammate Eric Jordan. "He's also motivational. He knows what to say and when to say it."

Said sophomore Alex Scanlon, "Brian's really good at talking the younger guys through the motions. For a lot of guys who don't know what they're doing out there, it helps to have an extra boost in the right direction."

Scanlon, one of the few players to have played lacrosse in high school, chose to attend Santa Clara partly because of the opportunity to play lacrosse.

"I only looked at schools that have lacrosse as a sport," said Scanlon.

"It's hard as a club sport to recruit, especially lacrosse on the West Coast," said Jordan. "I think our advantage is that Santa Clara's a great school, so we can draw those kids looking for a higher education who also want to play lacrosse."

Although some players have high school experience, the majority of the team is new to the sport. Consequently, the team's strategy has shifted, catering more to younger players' developmental needs and focusing on cultivating a team dynamic.

"We want everyone to play well together and not necessarily divide it up into individual play," said Jordan.

After junior team co-captain Tommy Payne endured a broken collarbone during competition against Sonoma, the need for team unity has become much more of a priority.

"Tommy was a pretty integral part of the team," said Jordan. "We had to shift some other guys into his position. It just throws off the rhythm a little bit."

There are many other injuries that are acting as roadblocks for the team. During Sunday's game, Jordan suffered a concussion after an illegal hit above the shoulders. Transfer student Brad Ehikian tore his shoulder, impairing his mobility. The team has also had to look for the talent and experience essential in a goalie as Ed Kirby battles leukemia. As a result, the team's emphasis on winning as a team has become essential.

"Developing a team-oriented approach to playing, not having to rely on individuals as much, was a goal," said Boitano. "Now it's a necessity."

Still, replacing key players has not been easy. Luckily, the commitment of younger players offers promising hope that the team will sustain the setbacks. Young and relatively inexperienced players does not equate to a lack of skill.

"This season there is an exceptional amount of talent," said Scanlon. "We're just tying all the strings together to see how far we can go."

Undoubtedly, Boitano's presence will be a significant part of that equation. Boitano's older brother Dominic, Santa Clara of 2001, was largely responsible for Brian's introduction to lacrosse. Having played lacrosse alongside Brian during his Santa Clara career, Dominic shares the team's admiration for Brian's valuable combination of talent and dedication.

"He goes 110 percent the whole time," said Dominic. "That's what makes him good. He possesses an inner fire and he's not afraid to get in somebody's face if he feels it will better the team."

"He's a really tough and determined player," said Payne. "He carries the team on his shoulders."

Said Jordan, "[Brian] puts it on his shoulders to produce if the whole team's struggling. He takes it upon himself to do that. That picks us up and motivates us to start playing better."

The team hopes their focus on molding and developing existing talent combined with Boitano's leadership abilities will take them to the national lacrosse tournament in St. Louis.

Until then, concentrating on a healthy team dynamic to build a stronger program overall still offers considerable challenges.