Despite early adversity, Montana lacrosse playoff-bound

Montana men’s lacrosse found out quickly every season is a marathon, not a sprint. And after the team started the year by losing five of their first six games, the team knew their mindset had to change. “We kinda met at practice and were like, this is it. We either turn it around now or this season is going to be a disappointment and I think that adversity really pulled us together for sure,” junior attack Aidan Larson said. The change head coach Tucker Sargent employed was all mental: emphasizing that good things take time. “The goal isn’t to be 4 or 5-and-0 at the start of the season,” Sargent said. “The goal is to go to the conference playoffs. So, you can look at the record, call your mom or call your girlfriend and tell them how awesome you are. But none of that means anything if you start off hot and burn out.” And although the marathon mindset is a metaphor, it is also taken literally, too. With an undersized roster and just one goalie, this year’s Montana team goes into every practice with one simple goal in mind: run for as long and as hard as possible. “They run us hard. I think that’s the number one thing is we run no matter what,” lone senior goalie Drew Moesel said. “If we’re having a bad day at passing or catching, the solution is to run. They got our feet and our legs going and I think that allows us to keep up with anybody in the fourth quarter.” When asked why he runs his players so hard, Sargent had a simple answer. “Because it’s a game based on running,” he said. “Lacrosse has to be played fast and it’s four 15-minute quarters and it’s very taxing, it’s up and down the field. There’s a lot of transition and they may complain about it, but they complain a lot less now than they did in January when we started because it’s gotten easier for them.” While the team might be undersized, there is no denying the team’s collective heart. They’re long-haired, tough, passionate, and are willing to fight for Montana Lacrosse above all else—something Sargent believes will take this team far. “You have to be gritty to play Grizzly lacrosse,” Sargent said. “I think when you look at the style of players we have, we don’t always have the top talent in the country, but we have kids that are willing to hustle and take it to the end.” And with the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League playoffs tomorrow at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, this team knows the finish line is on the horizon.