An Appalachian player chases after the ball during The Mountaineer’s game against the 49ers in 2008. Photo by Holt Menzies

by MARC WALKER
Intern Sports Reporter

Rain or shine, the ASU men’s club lacrosse team was determined to contend for the top spot in their annual King of the Mountain tournament last weekend.

The team had a much larger turnout this year than last year, and managed to include Lees-McRae College, who played with a varsity team.

Some of the proceeds resulting from the tournament were donated to the HEADstrong Foundation, an organization designed to supplement funds for research and treatments concerning cancers of the blood. This foundation also provides grants and scholarships to students who are looking to major in the medical field.

Although the team went 1-2 at the tournament, the fall season is about working on primary elements of the game, deciding player’s positions and growing as a team.

A drenching weekend did not stop any competition from occurring at the tournament, although it did influence the field of play in almost all aspects of the game.

“We don’t use it as an excuse because both teams have to play in the same conditions,” club president Matthew M. Youngblood, sophomore international business major said.

With two games left in the fall season—Nov. 8 against UNCG and Nov. 14 against UNCC—the players are excited about the match against Charlotte.

UNCG has been placed in a different league than Appalachian, allowing for an easier match, but Charlotte has beaten ASU in previous years.

“We have a really good balance between offense and defense,” Tyler A. Southern, club president and junior healthcare management major said. “Not one side of the game dominates, we play our game to get what we want.”

The team will continue to play together through the spring, eager to reach the conference playoffs in April—unlike the previous two years.

“We have very high expectations for the spring and we expect to make it to the conference playoffs at the end [of April],” Youngblood said.

With a new practice attendance policy being implemented and two new coaches, this could be the year the team makes it to the playoffs.

“We try to play as fundamentally sound without making mistakes,” junior history secondary education major Justin T. Leath said. “More importantly, we go out and leave it on the field, playing 120 percent all the time.”

Photo by Holt Menzies  |  Chief Photographer

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