Changing the face of a program is a difficult task for any head coach. It takes years of dedication, anguish, and vision in order to eliminate bad habits. The shift from being a losing team to a team with a winning mentality is one of the hardest transitions in sports. Luckily for the University of Massachusetts Boston men’s lacrosse program, Head Coach Tyler Low is already ahead of the curve.
In his fifth year with the Beacons, Low has made tremendous strides for the lacrosse program. Prior to Low’s arrival, Beacons lacrosse had two consecutive winless seasons within the Little East Conference. When he started, Low had his work cut out for him. Despite the challenge, Low has risen to the test, and the Beacons have been on the rise since.
In each year at the helm, Low has increased his win total. During last year’s campaign, the program was a game under .500, finishing their season with an 8-10 record. Last year, and the prior year, Coach Low was able to lead the Beacons to the Little Eastern Conference Tournament. In spite of regular season success, the team is yet to post a win in the post-season. Last year they suffered a heartbreaking loss to their rivals, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 7-6.
The taste of defeat seems to still be in Low’s mouth. This year the Beacons have some lofty goals that Low thinks they can accomplish. “As a program our expectations have to be set high year in and year out,” said Coach Low. “For the 2015 campaign we set the goals of winning the LEC tournament, and getting an automatic bid in the NCAA tournament.”
The goal is in reach, now it’s just up to the team to perform, and so far they have. This season the Beacons are 3-3, suffering a loss on March 12 against Nichols College. “It was a disappointing loss, but now it’s behind us. All we are focused on is the upcoming game in Florida,” said Coach Low. “We have a great group of guys, and every player has a crucial role to our teams success.”
The Beacons split their two games in Florida, beating Bard College, 10-4, and losing to Florida Tech, 17-6. 
For a Division III program it is not ordinary to travel as far as Florida, however, Coach Low doesn’t want an average team, he wants an extraordinary team. 
“Getting down to Florida gives the team the chance to bond as a unit, have some fun at the local sights, and most of all it provides a full week of just lacrosse,” said Low before the trip. “The trip to Florida gives the team a chance to spend a week in a more comfortable climate. This opportunity ultimately strengthens our team in a variety of aspects—unity, confidence, and experience.”
Due to construction this year, the men’s lacrosse program will not be playing on its home field. Two of their “home” games are hosted off-campus, down the street, at Boston College High School. Despite the adversity, Coach Low seems to be confident about the upcoming year, considering the vast amount of talent on the squad.
As a unit, the team appears to be strong. Each player understands and accepts their role on the team. This year the squad is led by four Senior Captains, Tim Milch (Defender), Dom Fichera (Attacker), Ryan McGoff (Midfielder) and Daniel Watson (Midfielder). “All four of them represent what we want in our captains,” said Coach Low. “The four of them hold themselves and one another accountable. They are all great leaders for our program. Each captain is talented, works hard and understands how to set the tone.”
It’s not just the captains who contribute to the success, it’s each and every player. “Defensively guys like Sean LeBlanc, John Powers and Joe Johnson are important players for us, and offensively, a number of players have made an impact,” said Low. “Having two great guys in goal is helpful. AJ Collette and Craig Frehill have been great leaders and players. Their hard work and competition for the starting spot has improved both of their games.”
Overall, the teams success appears to be inevitable. Quality players combined with a knowledgeable and talented coach almost always equates to winning. The only thing left to see is how the team competes on the field. Having said that, there’s no doubt that the players will work their hard to win.
Follow the Beacons on twitter @Beaconslacrosse.