By Noel D’Amico
Photo by Avianna Moses
Coming off their first conference wins, the University of Tampa Men’s Lacrosse team is 10-1 and currently ranked third in the nation. As the schedule picks up and the physical demands increase, the team finds ways to keep things exciting.
At the start of another week of practice, the team gathered at one end of the field and got comfortable. They settled in for a show as two teammates went one-on-one for some friendly competition after practice. It was like recess in elementary school– you could feel the buzz and excitement.
“We stay having fun with each other,” junior defender Matt Basso said. “It’s things like that, we do fun little one-on-ones, and it gets everyone together.”
This fun doesn’t come without hard work. Since the start of the season, this team has set big goals, and they aren’t letting up anytime soon. Finding the balance between practice and spending time together off the field has been a massive part of this team’s success.
“The camaraderie on this team is incomparable; I wouldn’t change it for a thing. We all love each other,” Basso said. “It’s a unit.”
Talent + Teamwork
We’ve seen the offense come alive in the past two months of gameplay. Canyon Birch has eight hat tricks in 10 games. Andrew Milani leads the team in assists – but it doesn’t start and end there. The entire unit relies on each other to make scoring opportunities possible and capitalize on every possession.
Photo by Janie Bowers
“The offense is finally gelling; we’re all connecting,” sophomore Jackson Bashaw said. “We know where we’re going to be at all times. Getting familiar with the plays and coaching staff has been huge.”
Getting the plays down hasn’t been the only key to success for this offense.
“Stick skills is a big one for sure,” Bashaw said. Honoring and fine-tuning their talent has allowed the team to excel in early leads and come-from-behind wins.
Staying Flexible
Heading into April, it’s that time in the season when the physical toll is adding up, and the Florida heat kicks up a notch. More players head to the athletic training staff outside of practice to keep themselves in the best shape. On the field, they take some time to stretch on their own in between drills. Injuries are inevitable, though, and preparation is essential when someone goes down.
“Our team has a really big next man up mentality,” captain J.P. Robinson said. “So we’ve seen it a lot: attack guys are going in and out, and defenders are in and out, but we stress that the next guy is ready, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
Age is Just a Number
This is a veteran-heavy team that’s experienced a lot throughout the years. Some players were a part of the 2022 National Championship team, and others brought their knowledge and experience from previous schools. Then, some are just getting started.
“Getting to play with all these older guys who are so intelligent and just picking at their brains all the time, it’s amazing,” Zack Friend said.
Friend is a freshman playing with an offense mainly made up of seniors and grad students. Teammates like Owen Miller and Charlie Bolesh are part of the National Championship team and quite a few years older than Friend. But that mentality isn’t something he focuses on.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a freshman or a senior,” Friend said. You still have to play up to a standard, and Coach Clarke has a high standard.”
Photo by Avianna Moses
The team holds each other accountable. Between drills, Bolesh and Friend discuss what they’ll do differently on their next run. You can sense their eagerness to improve and willingness to help.
“Finally!” Bolesh yelled from the sideline after Friend scored his second goal as a Spartan this past weekend. When it’s time to compete, the team is always there for each other—whether on the field, giving advice, or cheering them on.
Fired Up
When it comes to game day, they’re out there together.
“I think the tightest teams go the furthest, so the better our bonds get off the field, the better we’ll be on the field,” Robinson said.
This theme is shared among the team and evident in everything they do. As I interview players after practice, their teammates can’t help but hype each other up for their friend’s moment in the spotlight.
“It’s a great team with a different bond that I’ve never experienced before, just like my boys over their waving at us,” Basso said mid-interview.
The season has been a fun one to watch, and there’s more to come. As the Spartans head into the regular season’s final month, the weather and the games are heating up.
