The players of Men's Club Lacrosse had a successful spring, and have a lot to share about their successes, challenges, and standout moments of their winning season. 

Players who have contributed to this article:
Wesley Hovatter, Senior - President, Team Captain
Matthew Hoak, Senior - Treasurer, Team Captain
Aaron Escobar, Junior - Social Media Manager
Preston Vana, Freshman - First Year Player 

This team had a notably close bond throughout the season, which players attested to across the board as being beneficial to their team's performance and experience as practices and games went on. 

"This year we've started our chants with "I've got your back", and I think this is indicative of our mindset," tells Hovatter. Backing up his co-captain, Hoak explains, "We implemented a team culture that allowed us to have trust in our teammates on game day. No matter the situation or the scoreboard, we knew that we had our brothers behind us."

This motto was very important for this season in particular, as Vana shares, "...each team we played had more players on their team than we did, and the bonds we have with each other lead to us being able to overcome that deficit." To add, Escobar recalls, "During the games our team captains and leaders would play hard to inspire each of us to give it our all. To quote Hoak, 'leave every little bit you have on this field, I'll carry you off of it if I have to.'"

After defeating rivals, securing overtime wins, and scoring above and beyond challenging opponents, it is safe to say these men found success in more than just their mindset. Whether it be enduring through long days of travel or accomplishing team and individual goals, there are many great moments to look back on. Hovatter was able to tell a bit about the favorite games of all four interviewees:

"Beating Humboldt, our longtime rival, by an astounding 17-0 felt so amazing and was a huge moment for the team. Winning in overtime 14-13 against Biola was tense but proved we could stand up to a challenge. And beating Southern Oregon 18-8 was a great step forward for our team, since we had only beaten them once before."

Men's Lacrosse was able to successfully recruit new members, bring an audience to games throughout the season, and work on creating a digital presence, all of which are impressive for any club considering the setbacks of the pandemic. While hard work and a strong team dynamic are obviously to be credited, Hovatter wishes to thank the entire Men's Lacrosse coaching staff, advisor Mike Diaz, and Club Sports Supervisor Winston Adams on behalf of his team. Both captains also expressed their gratitude for the rest of their teammates and the bond they have been able to share.

The Club Sports and Spartan community look forward to supporting Men's Lacrosse for many years to come!