There’s no shortage of experienced veterans in DI lacrosse this season.
“You look at that All-American list, and it’s fifth-year, fifth-year, fifth-year, senior, senior, fifth-year,” Villanova coach Mike Corrado says.
The Wildcats are no exception, with a roster full of older players that returns all starters on attack and defense, plus two-thirds of the starting midfield and their top players at shortstick, LSM, face-off and goalie. The differentiator for Villanova, though, might be the minutes together, particularly on defense where they were thrust into key roles early in their careers and have blossomed into seasoned vets.
“It’s kinda huge that you can step out on the field and feel like you haven’t missed a beat because you’ve been playing together for three years,” says graduate student and close defender Zach Kryza, about the weeks of full-team practice in early February after not participating as a full group in the fall.