After its 3-1 start to the 2020 season, the Oswego State men’s lacrosse team was another team put in the backseat because of the global pandemic. Now spring sports have been granted the go-ahead from the SUNYAC to return to play after such a long and difficult waiting process. For coaches and players like Kevin O’Donnell, they have not even scratched the surface of what they envision their expectations to be.
“It means a lot to myself, and to our team in general, especially after playing only four games last year,” O’Donnell said. “I think there are a lot of people on the team who had not realized how much they really missed the sport until we came back and had 10 months off.”
In four games last year, O’Donnell totaled 57 saves on a .620 save percentage throughout the shortened season. The senior said his defense is the cause of his increase in saves and is a big reason he is able to perform at the level he does.
“I will credit my defense very heavily for that,” O’Donnell said. “We have a majority of our defensive [midfielders] back from a year ago. I would say that my increase in save percentage from sophomore to junior year was from my defense.”
Leadership from the captains on this team goes a long way in terms of benefiting its culture. This upcoming season, O’Donnell and junior Weston Gray plan on instilling the great things they have learned from their teammates over the years to incoming freshmen.
This year, the process for new teammates to be acclimated into the team is a different and new process for every team returning to its respective sport. For the captains on this team, communicating advice to new roster members is a main priority.
“Socialize and learn as much as possible from the older guys. We have a great group of seniors and a great group of captains,” O’Donnell said. “I think we have done a great job establishing the culture in the last three years, and I think there is even more to improve on.”
New members of the team will be at an advantage with players like O’Donnell anchoring the defense. For players like Gray who are in a leadership position, having another captain like his goaltender makes life easier on the field.
“Having Kevin to look up to as a captain and a senior makes it easy on me to be a captain,” Gray said. “To me he is the best goalie in the SUNYAC, but like he said, we have a great defense that helps out a lot. It is great for the offense.”
Head coach Drew Bezek described O’Donnell’s attributions to the team as an expectation since he has been a constant for the team throughout the past four years. For Bezek, this whole process of having a season taken away is something he had never endured. One thing that can be said for Bezek is that he is excited to work with his goalie again.
“It is a huge luxury from a coaching standpoint to have a few guys that are knowns, that know what we are getting with our captains who have been consistent for four years,” Bezek said. “They understand what our expectations are, and it allows me to coach more on the team oriented things with the younger guys and lead by example.”
The theme going into this season is capitalizing off of everyone’s energy and excitement to return to a somewhat normal season.
With a fast start to the previous season, players and coaches are just excited to get back at it and continue to strive to be the best versions of themselves. Keeping a good energy around the team should not be a big issue considering the anticipation to return to the field.
“That energy really breeds victories,” O’Donnell said. “We can go a long way if we can keep that going.”
Graphic provided by Oswego State Athletics
