Friday’s clash with Delaware will be more than just another game on the schedule for the No. 20 Massachusetts men’s lacrosse team. It’s more than the final regular season game or the conclusion of the Colonial Athletic Association regular season schedule.
The Minutemen and their fans will pay tribute to seniors Ryan Hantverk, Brett Newgaard, Casey Rahn, Travis Tripucka, Mael Walkowiak, Mike Wilus and Stephen Zorkers for their commitment and contributions made to the program prior to the team’s 7 p.m. faceoff at Garber Field.
UMass coach Greg Cannella believes that the class’ legacy goes beyond the stat sheet.
“They’ve done a lot more in terms of leadership then they have in what you see out there on the field,” said Cannella, who emphasized the importance of the seniors’ positive effect on the team both in the locker room and out on the field.
The class of 2011 includes a pair of players on the offensive end. Hantverk, a team captain from East Rockaway, N.Y., has played in 53 games, starting 33 of them and has tallied 39 goals and 21 assists during his tenure. Wilus, a North Wales, Penn. resident has seen action in 33 games during his career and scored three goals during his tenure at UMass.
The majority of the senior class operates in the defensive end. Newgaard, a Sterling, Va. resident, has played in 30 games for the Minutemen. Rahn, also a team captain and resident of Princeton, N.J., has appeared in 53 games, starting 15 of them, and provides constant hustle and determination on the field.
Tripucka, has been one of the anchors of the defensive unit this year, starting 17 of 43 games during his career. The Boonton Township, N.J. native was also a long-snapper for the football team in the fall. Walkowiak transferred to UMass from Queens University for his junior and senior seasons. Midway through his junior season, the Salem, Mass. resident changed positions from a goalie to a defensive midfielder and has appeared in 11 games as a Minuteman.
Zorkers rounds out the senior class. A Quincy, Mass. native, the midfielder has played in 54 games and started all 15 contests in his sophomore season.
The seniors have experienced a rollercoaster ride during their careers. Over the past four years, UMass has a 30-25 record, including an Eastern College Athletic Conference title in 2009, triumphing over Rutgers, 11-10, in overtime to qualify for the NCAA tournament. The conference title was one year removed from the team’s 5-9 campaign in 2008, when the seniors were freshmen.
Cannella believes that Senior Night allows him to reflect on the time spent and bonds formed with his graduating players, calling it a “rewarding feeling.”
“These guys are like your kids for four years,” said Cannella. “You watch them grow up from 18 to 22 years old … and now they’re men and they’re ready to move on with their lives. It’s an incredible feeling. When you step back and think about that, the effect that you’ve had on each other … it’s really why you’re in coaching.”
Friday’s game will be played under the lights, marking the first night game at Garber Field since April 9, 2004 when UMass topped Manhattan, 16-4. The later start figures to draw a greater turnout from students as opposed to the team’s typical Saturday afternoon affairs.
Cannella believes the atmosphere will create additional intensity for both sides in what is sure to be a competitive game.
“I think the lights will bring both teams fired up,” said Cannella. “It adds a lot of juice to [the game], but [I] hope that our guys can handle that and stay composed.”
Stephen Sellner can be reached at [email protected].
