Wednesday, November 5, 1997
Exploring the world of UCLA’s lacrosse team
CLUB Sport has received little very exposure, but team members
play on
By Alvin Cadman
Daily Bruin Contributor
Walking by Drake Stadium late one afternoon, one would catch a
glimpse of what is considered by some to be the fastest sport on
two feet. No, it is not intramural football or track. Who could
these athletes be? They’re part of UCLA’s men’s lacrosse team.
Though it is technically a club team, don’t tell the athletes
that.
For the unacquainted, lacrosse is a combination of soccer,
hockey and basketball. It is a grueling and brutal test of stamina,
strength and endurance. The game was developed by North American
Indians as early as the 15th century. Indians played the game to
settle tribal disputes and to toughen warriors for fighting, as
well as for recreation. UCLA plays for the latter reason.
There are 10 positions in the game of lacrosse; there is one
goalie, three attackmen, three midfielders and three defensemen.
The object is to put a 5-oz. hard rubber ball, approximately the
size of a racquetball, into the opposing team’s net, using a
long-handled stick with a triangular pocket at the end, while
keeping the opponent from doing the same.
In addition to being a team that is not recognized by the NCAA,
the rugby team gets little financial help from the school it
represents. Therefore, the players have to pay annual dues of $150
and contribute each time there is a road trip. Moreover, the
players must purchase their own equipment, which includes cleats,
chest protector, helmet, stick and jerseys.
"Most of the people that play lacrosse do it for the love of the
game because we are not getting the perks that other people are
getting," sophomore goalie Peter Abbott said. "It’s just for fun
and for the competitive atmosphere of playing at the collegiate
level."
Like soccer, lacrosse is played on an open field with goals at
both ends; like hockey, the players carry sticks and can roam
behind the net; and like basketball, the offensive players set
picks and run patterned offenses and fast breaks, while defenses
are set in man-to-man or zone formations.
The team practices in the fall to polish the fundamental skills
of lacrosse, particularly passing and shooting. Other drills
include groups of three to seven players fighting for a loose ball
on the ground. With the stick as the players’ only means of
retrieving the ball, physical contact can be rough and has been
likened to that of a mosh pit.
The team members scrimmage against each other to execute game
strategy and to get a feel for game situations. Last year, the home
field for the UCLA men’s lacrosse team was located behind the John
Wooden Center. But, due to the recent construction projects, the
team has been forced to relocate to the intramural field. Still,
the enthusiasm that each player possesses drives the team toward
their goals and successes.
This year’s UCLA men’s lacrosse team, led by head coach
Paul-Wayne Mahlow, a UCLA alumnus, look forward to the upcoming
season, which begins two weeks into the winter quarter. Led by
sophomore attackman Matt Hill, the second leading scorer in the
league last year, senior captain Dustin Mark who patrols the
defense, senior captain Brian Gilson who oversees midfield, and
with sophomore goalie Peter Abbott protecting the net, the men’s
lacrosse team has much leadership that they hope will trickle down
to the younger members of the team.
With the large amount of running that the sport of lacrosse
demands, a sound cardiovascular base must be established long
before the season begins. "During the fall and off-season, we will
practice about 10 hours a week," defenseman Mark said. "During the
winter, when the season begins, we work about 20 to 25 hours per
week. I enjoy the intensity in lacrosse. It is constantly moving.
You could be down four goals and still think that no lead is
secure. With the physical play, lacrosse is like war."
Most of the competition that men’s lacrosse will face this
season is comprised of teams on the West Coast including Stanford,
Cal Poly, San Diego, rival Loyola Marymount and nationally-ranked
Whittier College. The team will compete in fall competitions in
preparation for the real season after winter break. The Jesuit
Classic Tournament at Loyola Marymount on Nov. 15-16 will feature
the top teams on the West Coast. UCLA won the tournament last year
and is favored to repeat. With the dedication and commitment of
each member, the men’s lacrosse program hopes to succeed in getting
this predominantly East Coast sport more widely recognized here on
the West Coast.