Even though the LSU lacrosse team was in existence as an organization for about 20 years before becoming a club sport, and has more than doubled in size since last year, some people still do not know what lacrosse is.
LSU lacrosse vice president, Thomas Laing, said that one day he was wearing his LSU lacrosse shorts and another student asked if lacrosse was a religious organization.
However, Laing is noticing more focus on lacrosse in movies and television.
“Introduction of it on television will make the game more widely viewed,” Laing said. “I think the main streaming will help the game grow.”
The LSU lacrosse team finished their season 4-5 and finished fifth out of 10 teams in division A of the Lone Star Alliance.
Two LSU students were nominated for All-League honors. Lacross president and midfielder Matt Shearer received first team All-Conference honors while Andrew Driscoll earned honorable mention from the conference.
Laing said the team is mainly composed of freshmen and sophomores, but he feels it was a successful season despite having such a young team.
“We had some growing pains, but overall we had an amazing season,” Laing said. “There were 180 teams, and we held our own.”
Laing said half the LSU players were new members who had never played lacrosse before.
“The new kids are keeping the team alive,” Laing said. “The kids that have never played before have the best attitude because they know they have to work hard.”
Laing, who is originally from New Jersey, transferred from a small school in Michigan. He finds even though lacrosse is mainly a Northern sport, it is growing in the South, especially in Texas.
“The top 10 teams in the nation are all up north,” he said.
Laing said the team has been contacted by student-athletes from across the country. He said some lacrosse athletes in the North, who have played in high school, sometimes choose to play in a club sport rather than on a varsity lacross team in the North.
“They want to play the game that they love,” Laing said. “They don’t want it to turn into a chore.”
Laing said the biggest problem the LSU lacrosse team faces is the lack of high school lacrosse teams in the South.
The team currently is working on compiling its 2003-04 schedule. They will play a few games in the fall, but their season officially will not begin until the spring.
Anyone looking for information on the LSU lacrosse team can contact Chris Landry at the Rec Center. More information can also be found at www.lsu.edu/student_organizations/lacrosseclub/main.