Lacrosse club nabs first national ranking in years

The IU men’s lacrosse club has kicked off the 2008 spring season on a tear, going 3-0 and grabbing its first national ranking in years in the process. After a disappointing end to last year’s season that included the team missing its conference tournament because of scheduling issues, it is an exciting start for the club, which is looking to improve in its first season under head coach Matt Karweck. \nThe team’s biggest win so far came in a game played in snowy conditions in Indianapolis last weekend, when the Hoosiers were able to knock off conference rival Illinois 6-5. Senior attacker and team captain Brad Perez, who is leading the team in both assists (15) and total points (17), recorded assists on four of the team’s six goals to lead the way. Another senior attacker, Sam Angelotta, scored three goals of his own to seal the victory. It was the second loss to IU in four months for the Illini, a team that was ranked 18th in the nation in the preseason. The first came in a preseason matchup on the same field in November. \nBut the win against Illinois, the team’s most significant so far, hasn’t been its most impressive in the young season. \nOn Feb. 9 in their second game of the year, the Hoosiers rallied from an 8-2 deficit at halftime against the University of Tennessee to score 14 second-half goals, capping a 16-13 comeback win that energized the team. Sophomore attacker Matt Loveland led the Hoosiers with five goals in the contest, while Angelotta poured in four goals of his own in another big performance.\n“Thankfully, we were able to really get it going in the second half and made a come back,” said junior defenseman Ben Kalfas. “It was a crazy game. I don’t know if I’d seen that many goals in one half before.” \nThe club is receiving major recognition for its hot start. It’s ranked 22nd in the latest national poll and it garnered National Team of the Week honors this week from the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association, Kalfas said. \n“It is still too early in the season to be celebrating, but we are very excited to be where we are,” said senior defenseman Brennan Matthews. “We set out this season to surprise people, and I think that is what we are doing.”\nWinning is nothing new for the club, which has enjoyed some success against tough competition in the last few seasons. But Kalfas, whose two seasons with the club have been spent without a true head coach, believes the addition of Karweck might have taken the team to the next level.\n“He’s made all the difference,” Kalfas said. “We’ve had a good team the past few years, but the difference between a good squad and a great squad is organization. He’s come in here and really gotten us on the ball.”\nWith its new-found leadership on the sidelines, the club hopes to make a run at the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association conference tournament title, which will be up for grabs in May. Last season, the club was unable to compete in the tournament because the competition was scheduled too close to graduation – a problem for the club’s older players – and the end of the school year, which caused residential issues for the club’s younger players. If the Hoosiers win the conference championship, they would earn one of 16 spots in the national tournament, which is held in Dallas each summer.\nAlso circled on the club’s calendar is its annual matchup with Purdue, scheduled for April 25. \n“It’s always a big game, and it’s always competitive,” said sophomore midfielder Michael Steffen. “They’re not in our conference, but just like in every other sport, they’re our biggest rival.”\nThe team will continue to face off against premier competition when it travels to St. Louis this weekend to play Fontbonne on Saturday, and Lindenwood, which is ranked 14th in the nation, on Sunday.