Since transferring from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette after his sophomore year, senior Hunter Stinson has been a driving force for the re-vamped LSU Lacrosse program.
Stinson has made an impact right away, leading LSU with 29 goals in 2014 and helping lead it to the best record in school history at that point in his first season with the Tigers.
In his final year at LSU, Hunter has taken it up a notch.
The Lafayette native has already surpassed his scoring total from 2014 this season. He is not only the leading scorer on the team, but the MCLA Division I national leader in both goals scored (35) and points (56).
This season, Stinson has been complemented by his teammate and fellow attacker Thomas Brown, who is third nationally in goals scored and second in points. Their offensive onslaught has led LSU to a 7-3 record with five games remaining..
“I’ve always dreamed of coming to LSU, so once I got the opportunity I jumped on it right away,” Stinson said. “I’m not really a vocal guy but I like to be a leader with my play.”
The cousin of former ULL shortstop, Greg Fontenot, Stinson played select baseball throughout his childhood and was poised to be a star at St. Thomas More High School, However, he attended one of the school’s lacrosse practices during his freshman year and everything changed.
“I just played one day and I loved it,” Stinson said. “I knew i had to talk to my parents about quitting baseball, which they weren’t happy about.”
He went on to lead St. Thomas More’s lacrosse team to the Louisiana State Championship in his junior and senior years.
Stinson arrived at LSU the same year as head coach Jeff Echols. The Tigers have gone 14-8 during their time together.
Stinson and Echols have led what they call a culture change for LSU lacrosse. The Tigers are on pace to have the best season in program history for the second consecutive year.
“Since he got here I knew he was gifted, and I don’t think he realizes how good he actually is,” Echols said. “He’s played a big role in the improvement of our program, and he’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached.”
Stinson said he wants to leave a lasting legacy at LSU and lead by example for his younger brother Logan, who is about to play in his first season at St. Thomas More.
“I want to be remembered as one of the top players and be a good example for my brother so he can follow in my footsteps,” Stinson said.
LSU (7-3) will take on Stinson’s former team, the ULL Ragin’ Cajuns, at 7 p.m. Saturday at Olympia Stadium in Baton Rouge.