The University of Puget Sound does not merely play host to varsity athletics. Its fields are also home to a variety of club teams such as rugby, men’s lacrosse, Ultimate Frisbee and soccer. The athletes that make up these teams are just as talented and skilled in their sport as the varsity athletes on this campus, if not, dare it be said, better.
However, these teams do not receive the same recognition as the varsity sports on campus. Varsity sports are given priority in terms of field time yet this does not deter club athletes from practicing until the lights go off on lower Baker.
This past weekend, one of Puget Sound’s club teams demonstrated just how true the saying “practice makes perfect” is.
The men’s lacrosse team defeated school rivals Pacific Lutheran 15-8 on the Lutes’ home turf, and earned their first win of the season in the process.
Junior Andrew White (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) lead the Loggers with five goals and two assists during the match. Senior Dan Leininger (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and senior Brett Hennessy (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) each contributed three goals while senior Brian Burger (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) added two to the board.
Sophomore Thomas Overton (Portland, Ore.) added one goal for the Loggers as did junior Peter Engh (Minneapolis, Minn.). Logger goalkeeper senior Brendan Witt (Denver, Colo.) also had noteworthy performance with 12 saves for an average of .750 for the win.
Although the previous games have resulted in Logger losses, this win is a testament to how practice and dedication can turn losses into victories.
Perhaps if the team were given more attention and more time to practice, their performance against Pacific Lutheran could be mirrored in every game played.
The team was not able to keep their momentum going in their next game, however, as they fell 16-3 to Gonzaga University on Sunday, April 7.
Despite the loss to a much larger school, the Loggers have to feel the weekend a success.
The team snapped their four-game losing streak to begin the season, and doing so against a rival is that much sweeter.
The team will travel to Ellensburg, Washington this Saturday, April 13 to face off against Central Washington.
