The NC State men’s club lacrosse team has faced a difficult 2018 season, but is looking to find some positivity this weekend in its last game of the season versus Elon.
The team plays in the SouthEastern Lacrosse Conference, which is a division of the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association, and is home to 16 Division I teams and 13 Division II teams. The Wolfpack won the SELC Northeast Division, which includes Clemson, East Carolina, Elon and South Carolina, in the spring of 2016, but hasn’t been able to find the same success since.
This spring the Wolfpack is 2-8-1 overall, with the two wins coming against the University of North Florida and Appalachian State.
“We had players transfer to other schools, suffer season-ending injuries and decide not to play,” said senior Cody Stanford. “This has been a difficult year … but despite the challenges on the field, there are always bright spots on the field. It is a great group of guys who have been through a lot together.”
The last game of the season for the Wolfpack gives the team an opportunity to end the season on a high note. On April 13, the Pack will travel to Elon to face the Phoenix in yet another divisional game.
The Wolfpack is 0-3 in the Northeast Division so far this spring, as it has already dropped three close games to the East Carolina Pirates, the Clemson Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Pirates edged the Pack in a thrilling 8-7 victory, the Tigers pulled away late to notch a 9-5 victory and the Gamecocks barely put it away in a hard-fought 8-5 win.
Senior Miller Barbour has been one of the stabilizing figures on the field for the Wolfpack, leading the team in assists (0.778), goals (2.556) and points (3.333) per game.
“There is a strong rivalry between us and our divisional opponents,” Stanford said. “These games are the only decider in who makes the playoffs, as top two in the division make playoffs. These games come with much more preparation and nerves than other games in the season.”
While this season has been disappointing, the final game will give the Pack an opportunity to make its presence felt in the Northeast Division once again and potentially build up momentum for fall ball next semester and for the program as it continues to progress. Senior leader Jack Sarle had high hopes for the future of the team.
“Ideally in five years, it would be awesome for the team to actually be a real varsity sport here at State,” Sarle said. “With Duke and UNC being so close, it makes sense for State to make the jump from club team to varsity team. Additionally, a more realistic goal would be to have the team make it to national playoffs.”
