James Christy
The back-to-back Division II National Champion Men’s Lacrosse team at Merrimack College is gearing up for the most exciting and demanding season to date. With the school’s move to Division I, joining the Northeast Conference, their schedule is looking tougher than ever.
The Warriors lead with their daunting attack force, consisting of attackmen Charlie Bertrand, Christian Thomas, and Sean Black. They have dominated the DII scene and are looking to be just as dangerous this year. While there is a great amount of talent slotted in Merrimack’s schedule, there are a few games that significantly stick out. The Warriors are fresh off a win against the Michigan Wolverines, which was officially their first DI win.
They have another high profile game on March 31 against Yale. Yale has been at the top of DI Lacrosse for years now, so this will be a massive test for Merrimack.
“The main thing is to have the willingness to put in the extra time and effort,” said goaltender Peter Brown.
“We cannot just rely on our skill; we have to stay focused and dedicated,” team manager Ben Lewis added. “The biggest thing for us is to make sure we do not take our opponents lightly. With the higher level of competition, each game will be a battle.”
Both Brown and Lewis believe that since their coaches have long held them to a high standard, they will remain competitive and can expect some success regardless of the opponent.
The Merrimack lacrosse schedule goes all the way until April 25 with 12 games during that span. They sit at a 1-3 record with a goal differential of -4.
They compete hard, giving themselves the chance to win each week. They look like they belong among the best in the conference and even the nation. Their record does not do them justice in terms of how well they are playing early in this season against high-end competition.
The confidence and swagger the Merrimack Men’s Lacrosse team carries is well warranted. After dominating the competition in D2, they have their sights set on bigger things. There is a lot of hype around the team and they are prepared to deliver. This team brings effort, skill, and entertainment to each game, and they plan to take the nation by storm.