Huntington News

Issue date: 5/9/07 Section: Sports

Tis' the season to feel nothing but … estranged … from the lovely world of Northeastern athletics.

The bright sun and blooming flowers are a constant reminder of how far away the hockey season is. The lack of freshman bodies on campus, along with strange schedules and the smell of fertilizer tell of spring. It also tells of inactivity in Matthews Arena.

But along Kent Street, there are whispers of a national championship. They started last September, survived the winter and almost a year later, they might come to fruition. And it's more than the boys of Friedman Diamond.

Baseball is all well and good, but look somewhere else Husky fans. Another team that calls Parsons Field home has caused some serious rubbernecking along Kent Street.

If you haven't taken the time to check out the men's lacrosse team, drop what you're doing and ask a fan. Don't be deterred by their club team status, these Huskies are deserving of some serious attention.

"But, as far as what the guys on this team do," said recently graduated captain Chris Cook, "I can't imagine being less than a varsity team."

The Huskies were No. 9 in the nation in a pre-season coaches poll and began the season with a weight on their shoulders. They proved their mettle too, defeating No. 6 Arizona early in the season to push them to the No. 8 spot. Defenders of back-to-back Pioneer Collegiate Lacrosse League (PCLL) titles, these Huskies were determined from the get-go to win a third consecutive league title and return to the national tournament.

But, as is the case with all great stories, there were a few bumps during their title defense. It was from a familiar foe - those pesky Boston College Eagles.

NU was riding high - undefeated through their first ten games with wins against Arizona and San Deigo (who finished No. 7 in the nation in 2006) while outscoring conference opponents 80-15. But the Eagles handed them a 7-6 loss in the 11th game of the season, dropping them to 13th in the nation.

"Despite the loss, they stuck to their guns - and it proved rewarding," Cook said. "I felt we were becoming complacent before that BC loss. You really find out what type of team you are after a loss. We didn't fold. We refocused; our motto became energy and intelligence. As long as we played every day with those two things we would be able to look at each other and be proud of what we did."

Six wins later they were given a second chance against the Eagles - only this time with more on the line: the PCLL championship, an outright bid to the national championships and, most importantly, bragging rights in Boston.

But their hopes were dashed when, with three seconds left, Eagles midfielder Matt Johnson scored to break a 5-5 tie. Once again, the Eagles had their number.

"Even in that BC loss, it wasn't a particular let down," Cook said. "It's just a tough way to lose. Somebody had to win that game and BC really improved and won it."

Was it time to pack it in and call it quits? Hardly.

The twice PCLL champions deserve an appearance in the national championships, which will be held in Dallas May 15-18. Of the top ten scorers in the PCLL, five are Huskies. They dominated any team not from Chestnut Hill, outscoring their PCLL opponents 188-37. They've gone 48-9 the past three years, including 3-3 in the national championship tournament.

This year's squad is the best yet, Cook said.

And despite the setbacks, the best lacrosse team to call Huntington Avenue home will be heading to Dallas, as they received an at-large bid to the tournament as the thirteenth seed.

For a team that's only played one game in weather warmer than 60 degrees, there's no better thought than a sunny day in Dallas.

"We're pretty psyched," Cook said.

By no means have these Huskies "squeaked" into the national tournament. They belong.

"The past two years, we got in by winning the conference," Cook said. "This year, we didn't win and I think we have a shot of moving forward in the tournament."

Despite the dedication - the 10 p.m. to midnight practices among a level of commitment that was about 15 hours per week since early September, there's a level of modesty to this program. Five players on the roster transferred from legitimate NCAA programs, but as much as they may appear to be a varsity team, they unfortunately are not.

They're regular students - no varsity scholarships here, or fancy recruiting visits and meet and greats with Boosters. They're like you and me.

And that's why we're all going to a National Championship Monday. And that is why a piece of all of us will be traveling to Dallas.

- Matt Foster can be reached at

sports@nu-news.com.

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