Junior Evan Downey is a midfielder on the men’s lacrosse team. He has been playing since he was in the third grade.
“You need to be ready to go at all times,” Downey said. “You have to process so many different things in such a short amount of time, and if you don’t, the other team just scored 3 goals.”
“I started because my two older brothers played, I basically played any and every sport that they played,” Downey said. “My parents started the program in our town to allow us to play so I can never thank them enough for giving me the opportunity to play.”
One of his favorite things about playing lacrosse is the pace of the game. The speed of it keeps him on his toes and he has to make sure that he is ready for whatever comes his way.
Downey loves playing for Cabrini because of the challenge that it gives him.
“I have had the chance to play with and against some of the best players in the game,” Downey said. “At Cabrini we have one of the toughest out of conference schedules in Division III. We get the chance week in and week out to prove our worth.”
“That is what it is all about you come to Cabrini to play lacrosse,” Downey said. “You play the best teams in the nation.”
Having such a tough conference schedule does not come without its difficulties. It is very demanding both physically and mentally.
“You have to really take care of your body during the season,” Downey said. “Coach Colfer and Coach Malandra always tell us to stay on top of our sleep, nutrition, and hydration.”
“The trainers do a great job of taking care of everything we need,” Downey said. “If we have a problem, they do everything they can to get us back out there as fast as possible.”
Like most sports, the time commitment is also quite large and can sometimes be stressful for athletes. However, as a junior, Downey has three years of experience under his belt and knows the way to balance school, work and lacrosse.
“I definitely wouldn’t say it is easy,” Downey said. “You really have to be on top of everything. Time management is huge, every part of the day needs to be bro- ken down to get all of my school work done.”
On top of regular practice and schoolwork, he is also a co- captain with his teammates Dan Hopson, Steve Halko and Brian Kittredge.
“It is definitely more difficult than what most people think,”
Downey said. “You have to know that everything you do your teammates are going to be watching so I always have to be mindful of what I am doing.”
“You also have to hold everyone else accountable,” Downey said. “It is our job to make sure everyone is bought in on our goals for the season.”
Also his teammates view him as a great addition to the team.
“He is a natural born leader on and off the field,” Steve Halko, junior midfielder, said. “As a person, Evan displays responsibility and a great work ethic in everything he does.”
“I think what sets him apart is that he’s always working hard and setting an example,” Dan Hopson, senior midfielder, said. “Being on the team with Evan kind of gives me a break as one of the leaders. He takes a lot of weight carrying the team in certain situations.”
Downey is a hard worker and a great leader on the team. He is passionate and gets along great with his team. He is both a great player and a great friend.
“On the field he is one of those guys that has a large presence,” Halko said. “He is a great person to have as a friend and teammate.”
