Tyler Reilly
Men’s Lacrosse
Photos Contributed by Tyler Reilly
Warm weather, pool volleyball, burgers and lacrosse. That is one sentence that pretty much sums up what the Keene State Lacrosse spring break trip is all about. We’ve been going down to Florida for all of my four seasons as a player, and each time has been an absolute blast. It’s a full week of non-stop team bonding from the second we step off the plane in Orlando, until the second we get back to the bitter cold weather in New Hampshire and Coach Theriault always emphasizes the importance of that. He always reminds us that the week is 80% team bonding and 20% lacrosse, and after having the opportunity to experience it numerous times, he’s absolutely right.
Photos Contributed by Tyler Reilly
The trip is all about building the team into a family and what better way to do that than by packing 45 guys into three houses and getting around central Florida using only a handful of vans? Usually on the first day we go out to buy groceries and spend the week making meals for ourselves and each other, regardless of our skills in the kitchen. It’s an experience to say the least, but it’s one that you would just never want to pass up, because times like these don’t come around often after college. It’s an opportunity to get to know the guys on the team who you’re not always able to spend too much time with, as well as a chance for the players and coaches to bond away from the lacrosse field.
Photos Contributed by Tyler Reilly
Beyond the team bonding aspect, the week is a business trip. We are a competitive program and we are down there to win lacrosse games and that’s the bottom line. This year, we went 2-0 for the first time since my tenure started as an Owl. We beat Nichols College on Monday, March 13, 12-10, and went back to work two days later,putting together an incredible team effort to beat Hamilton College 14-7. The Hamilton game was as good of a game that I’ve played in since I got to this program and it was exciting to be a part of. The team’s energy was unmatched from the starters all the way down to the last guy on the roster. I think it left a lot of us in a good place mentally, knowing that we are capable of playing at that level and that we are moving forward to getting closer to where we want to be as a team.
Unfortunately, this year’s spring break has come and gone and again, but there is plenty of work left to be done and we’re looking forward to getting back into action and playing our first home game against Bates College on March 21.
