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SPORTS

Divelbliss, players look to make lacrosse season a winner

By Eric Murphy
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Last season, the Norwich Men's Lacrosse team made it to the playoffs under second-year head coach Brian Divelbliss. The Cadets are more dedicated than ever to do what it takes to make it back to the playoffs for the second straight year.

Three of the players who helped take the team to the playoffs for the first time in two years have graduated, and they are missed. Despite the loss, the Cadets are returning approximately15 players from last year.

The Cadets went 6-7 last year, and they continue to play under Coach Brian Divelbliss, who led them to the playoffs his first year as head coach.

“To make the playoffs the first year as a head coach is something you can’t put into words,” Divelbliss said. “You have to be there; it makes you feel very fortunate for the opportunities you have been given.”

As the upcoming season approaches, the Cadets remain confident of their return to the playoffs for a second consecutive year.

“What I have gathered from the captains is, we will be physical on defense and, offensively, we will have a lot of threats, and we’ll be quick,” Divelbliss said.

“We are going to excel offensively and defensively,” said Arthur Joia, 22, a senior communications major from Mashpee, Mass. “We have a lot of big players and a lot of speed.”

Making the playoffs this year won’t be enough, this year, for the team. They are determined to go back to the playoffs to prove that last year was not a fluke and that Norwich lacrosse is on the map, Joia said.

“The team’s competitiveness will increase this year. We can go out there and win,” Joia said.

Although the team has 15 returning players, the team is just beginning.

“This year’s team is going to be fairly young, because we are just starting to grow as a team,” said Jay Dulka, 20, a sophomore communications major from Scituate, Mass., adding that the team is, “Working real hard to get a chance to go further in the tournament.”

Since making the playoffs, the attitude and the competitiveness of the lacrosse team has changed from fall practices and the lifting in the off-season.

“We are taking things a lot more serious this year,” Dulka said. “The captain’s practices are more serious. We are getting a jump-start on the season for a better chance in the tournament.”

The key to the Cadets’ success last year was the leadership of Nick Dolpe, Jesse Roy, and Nick Atwood, and the “don’t give up” attitude that the Cadets had all season.

The Cadets’ expectations are higher than before, because they are not going to be satisfied with just making the playoffs. They want to show the league they can make it past the first round and that they are a playoff team.

“We start the season out shooting for the stars, and that we are going to win the conference, and we go into every game believing that,” Divelbliss said.

“Our expectations as a team are to make the playoffs, to be a higher seed in the tournament, and give ourselves a better chance to go further into tournament,” Joia said.

“I am definitely looking forward to the season, especially after the success we had last season, and the players are looking forward to the season, also,” said Divelbliss. “It doesn’t really matter what the coach’s vision is, but the players’ vision and what they see in the upcoming season.”

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, 158 Harmon Dr, Northfield, VT 05663. www.norwich.edu/guidon.