The Cabrini men’s lacrosse team won 13-6 in their annual alumni game at Edith Robb Dixon Field on Friday, Oct. 1.
The alumni game is an annual tradition where recent graduates of the lacrosse team come back to play the current team in a fun-filled scrimmage.
Within the first two minutes of the game, the current players took an immediate lead by scoring a goal.
“It’s a great atmosphere coming out here every year with the alum coming back,” Eric Zarzecki, sophomore goalie, said. “We started out early, we put a lot of goals back in the net and finished out strong in the end. It’s a good way to see all of the freshmen play, and just get ready for the season coming up.”
Steve Hill, a 2006 graduate of Cabrini College and current alumnus of men’s lacrosse, said that having the alumni game shows all the support from the old players so the current players now know what the team meant and currently means to everybody.
With a casual yet serious atmosphere setting the mood in the stands, the current and alumni players played a toughly fought game. Nearly early every time a goal was scored by Cabrini, the alumni team answered.
“I thought it was a nice atmosphere and everybody was having fun, but we were working on our game at the same time,” rookie Patrick Nolan said. Nolan said playing against the alumni really strengthened his game and that “playing in a game situation definitely helps.”
Some players explained how important an alumni game is to them.
“It’s a great way to bring all the alums back to share stories and have a great time,” Zarzecki said. “It’s a great way to get to know a whole new bunch of people.”
“When you play offense against the same defense everyday for practice, it’s nice to go against another defense,” Bobby Thorp, sophomore attack, said. “We like to give back to out alumni, to get back on the field a little bit, and it’s fun to let them play against us.”
“It’s so much fun,” Thorp said. “Those guys are great. They look after us.”
Current and alumni players alike were excited and enthused to play in the men’s lacrosse alumni game.
“It’s fun, it’s competitive but at the same time we want to have fun,” Hill said. “It’s good to see all the old guys you played with; a lot of guys aren’t around anymore. It was competitive but fun at the same time; a lot of talking back and fourth but just for fun. It’s fun, especially if you know a few of them. I coached a few of the guys in high school too.”
Hill later said that he coached at Ridley High school and knew some current players that he coached.
Nolan said that having an alumni game helps bring together everyone who has played and maintains a good family of lacrosse players.
“There was definitely a sense of camaraderie [in the game]. Most people knew everyone who played,” Nolan said. “And many of the freshmen were meeting alumni for the first time.
The alumni game also brought camaraderie.
Thorp said the game definitely brought the team together.
“A lot of the young guys don’t know most of the alumni. It makes everybody a little more united.”
Throughout the game, the Cavaliers’ offense relentlessly went after the alumni team. By halftime, the Cavs were winning 8-3 and at the start of the fourth quarter, the 11-5 score all but sealed the alumni’s fate.
Prior to the start to the game, there was an intense focus on both sides of the field as the warm ups began but it was plain to observe that both the current and former Cavaliers were excited to play. In the stands, the laid back atmosphere of the alumni game was obvious as children were running around and parents were cheering on their sons for the first time this season.
Hill said the team looked good on the field.
“I think they will have a good season this year and continue to win,” Hill said.
