The Ramapo Roadrunners men’s lacrosse club is anxious to kick off their season with a league game against New York University on March 1.
The program is embarking on its second season as a member of the National College Lacrosse League (NCLL) in the New York Metro second division along with Seton Hall, Monmouth University, Columbia University, Fordham University, the State University of New Paltz, Hofstra University and Stony Brook University.
The Roadrunners finished just 1-3 in their inaugural 2013 season as they tried to find their place in the highly competitive NCLL. After losing their first three games to Rowan, Monmouth and Columbia, the team fought back and ended the year on a high note with a 6-3 victory against budding rival Seton Hall.
Surviving such a rough start proved to be a positive for the club’s commitment and determination. Team founder, coach and player, Patrick Sheehan, a senior, said that while it would have been very easy to admit defeat and fold, Ramapo’s rocky start is not a reflection of this team’s true capabilities.
“We definitely have a tough schedule; there are some very good teams,” he said. “But I think we’re going to do well because were playing some teams who just entered the league, and we know we have the advantage over them as far as player skills and the fact that we have some really good athletes on the team.”
Experience and chemistry will not be a problem for the Roadrunners, as there are 14 returning players from last year’s squad. The team looks to pick up where they left off and will rely heavily on the players that have been here from the start.
Among those players is last year’s leading goal scorer, senior Alex Boden. Ramapo’s attack is predicated on his ability to score goals, and he is going to have to replicate last year’s success if this team is going to win games. Boden is not alone, as junior midfielder John DiNuzio and sophomore defender Eric Tracy have earned reputations among their peers as skillful team leaders.
Ramapo College helps RCLAX both logistically and financially, but much of the responsibility falls on Sheehan and his partner, junior Cameron Baher. Sheehan, who is one semester away from graduation, has high expectations for the club he helped establish.
“We have a lot of kids who go to Ramapo that played for very good high school teams,” he said. “I hope down the road…[Ramapo] can have a legitimate NCAA team, whether its division three or two. I’d like to see the team get to that point.”
The club is still accepting members from any experience level. The only requirement is that players have their own equipment. Students can contact Sheehan at psheeha1@ramapo.edu if interested.
The team’s first game this season is Saturday, March 1 against NYU in Manhattan. The game will be played at Pier 40 Hudson River Park, 353 West St., New York, N.Y. There is a parking garage across the street, and it is also a short walk from the Weehawken ferry.
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dkerr@ramapo.edu
