Aggie lacrosse team loses season-opening exhibition
SALT LAKE CITY – A sluggish first half foiled the Utah State University men’s lacrosse team Saturday as they dropped an exhibition game to Tribal West, 10-4.
There was a scheduling conflict that prevented Texas A&M from being their regular season opponent, forcing a pick-up game with Tribal West, a non-college club team, that will not count on the Aggies’ record.
After trailing 9-2 at halftime, Utah State outscored their opponent, 2-1, in the second half.
With last year’s league scoring leader, Kyle Fiat, transferring to Towson University and more than 10 players graduating or going on missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the team is hoping to stay competitive in the midst of a rebuilding year.
With seven players returning from last year’s 11-5 team, USU will have an uphill battle. The other four members in its conference are ranked in the top 25 in the USL-MDIA A Division, a club division that does not merit NCAA status.
The Aggies’ hopes of graduating to an NCAA-sanctioned division have been hobbled by the cancellation of the women’s lacrosse team.
The women’s team was cancelled because of a lack of interest. To be NCAA eligible, the school must have both men’s and women’s teams.
“We have a good schedule this year with five home games,” club president Al Garner said, “the most we’ve had in a few years.”
Two of the home games this season will be held in Romney Stadium, against rivals Ft. Lewis (April 1) and Utah (April 16). All games are free to the public.
USU’s lacrosse team was used to disappointment before last year’s winning season – suffering through losing seasons the previous three years. But the Aggies were just one win away from .500 in 2002 and 2003.
The team’s goal this year is to have another winning season and do well in the playoffs in Greeley, Colorado April 28, 29 and 30.
Lacrosse, the oldest sport originating in North America, was born when French missionaries became intrigued watching a similar sport by the American Indians.
Utah State took up the sport in 1974, and the Aggies have been part of an organized collage club division for the past 20 years.
-caseya@cc.usu.edu