After a slow start at the conference, University of Massachusetts Boston Coach Tyler Low is tasked with the challenge of propelling Beacons Lacrosse into the Little East postseason. For UMass Boston, April marks the last month of the regular season. With just five conference games left, the Beacons are marching into vital territory, and every second counts. Despite the difficult mission, Low seems extremely confident that his team will rise to the occasion.
Currently the Beacons are 0-2 within the LEC and 4-6 overall. The results have not been indicative of UMass Boston’s level of play, and some losses have been unfortunate results. “We need to find a way to stay consistent 100% of the time,” said senior Dom Fichera. “We can’t play great for three quarters and slip up in the fourth, we need to be steady across the board. Our game against Salem (a 16-13 loss) was a game I felt we let get away, we can’t let that happen moving forward.”
Fichera is right. Consistency is crucial, especially in a geographic hot spot of talent. For lacrosse, the Northeast and the LEC are home to some of the most dominant teams in the east coast, not to mention the entire U.S. The NCAA Division III tournament is riddled with east coast universities. “The Northeast is home to some of the best lacrosse power houses. Especially at the Division III level,” said Low. “In order to compete we need to be prepared both mentally and physically. Execution is a key to our team’s success. Every game we play is against a solid competitor.”
UMass Boston may have their work cut out for them, but the squad is riddled with experience. The Beacons are loaded with upperclassmen which definitely helps with preparation and execution. “We have some great senior talent here,” said Low. “The upper classmens’ experience and mentality has helped establish our culture and our team identity.”
Staying consistent and executing for the remainder of the season is vital. Considering the team is made up of over 50% upperclassmen, it appears the Beacons have the experience to make a late season push. Due to the intense competition within the LEC, the last five games will be no cake walk.
In order for UMass Boston Lacrosse to reach the postseason they need to string together a few big wins. Having said that, the team is not concentrated on future games. They are solely focused on their next match up. “Our biggest rivals within the LEC are UMass Dartmouth, Southern Maine and Western Connecticut State,” said Fichera. “We need to have big games against those teams, but we aren’t thinking about those games ahead of us yet. We are focused on the next game. It all starts with tomorrow at Western.”
So what’s to expect?
The upcoming games against the likes of Western Connecticut State, Keene State, and Plymouth State should be intense, but expect the Beacons to shine bright. “For us to make the postseason we need to secure sixth place in the Little East Conference,” said Low. “It should be a challenge, but people should expect to see us there.”
If the Beacons do reach postseason they could easily be the next Cinderella Story. In the LEC tournament, the Beacons only have three games between them and the NCAA Tournament. In postseason play, seeds one and two get bye weeks, and seed three plays six and four plays five. Following that, it becomes a four team single elimination tournament. As Fichera stated, “Anything can happen once we get on a role. We just need to focus on the current day and things will fall into place.”
For Beacons Lacrosse, the season does somewhat rest on this next stretch. Getting wins will relieve pressure, but more importantly, it will give the Beacons some momentum moving towards the postseason. Overall, once teams reach the postseason we all know anything can happen.