Men’s lacrosse primed for spring season
With a new coach and a new system, the Utah State men’s lacrosse club finished the fall season with an 8-2 record, and the confidence to carry them into the spring.
After the first two games of the season ended with the Aggies on top, they knew they were on to something good, even with Eddie Vega in his first year as head coach.
“I came in with a whole new system, and they adapted to it right away and gave me as much as I ask for out of them,” Vega said. “They didn’t fight me on anything and they didn’t struggle learning either.”
Although they lost their next two games, the Aggies soon gelled together as a team, and went on to win six consecutive matches, including victories over Utah Valley State College, the University of Utah and the University of Northern Las Vegas.
But Vega said he had a lot of skill to work with in his first year. The top five players leading the team in points scored, each had no less than six goals, with captain Thad Nicholls and Kyle Fiat scoring 12 apiece.
In assists, Fiat and Albert Garner led the team with seven each, followed by Hans Winkler, who made his mark with four assists. Garner and Fiat also led the Aggies in ground balls, with 25 and 23, trailed by Matt Althauser, Todd Irwin and Micah Platt, who picked up a combined 58 ground balls.
“Everybody out there knows what they’re doing, even our second line,” Nicholls said. “We have a lot of depth overall.”
While Nicholls admits there is a great amount of skill on the team, he said most of the credit should go to his coach.
Last year the head coach of the team didn’t demand the respect he needed to lead a lacrosse team, Nicholls said. Even though last year’s team also had great talent, it was not able to do as well.
“Eddie had done a great job stepping up and taking control of this team,” Nicholls said. “He volunteered just to see the team succeed, and it’s progressed a hundred fold. He’s the most valuable asset on our team.”
With Vega’s new system worked into the team, he said the Aggies are feeling confident enough to do some damage.
The season helped them to know that they can play competitively against any competition they face out on the field next spring, Nicholls said.
“Going 8-2 in the fall definitely helps our confidence,” Vega said. “We’re coming off a good fall season, so we’re feeling good going into the spring.”
Most of the games the Aggies play next season are at home, he said, so they are hoping for a good showing from fans. And just to help the fans show up, the lacrosse team is planning on providing hot dogs on the sideline.
–csmo@cc.usu.edu