ALEXIS PADIS
Staff Writer
The Pepperdine men’s lacrosse team has had a phenomenal season so far led by first-year coach Colin Fatti and a strong roster of more than 30 men. The team started the year with a tough loss to Division I team USC, but have rebounded to win four out of their last five games.
The team has posted wins over UC Irvine, Occidental, St. Edwards and Cal State Fullerton with a combined goal differential of 28.
The Waves are led by seniors Brad Blakey, Ryan Randolph, Clint Harp, David Schwartz and Mike Hoyt. They also have a significant contribution from their freshmen who account for nearly 65 percent of the overall goals.
Blakey (17 goals), Dan Amaral (10 goals) and John Desmond (9 goals) lead the Waves in scoring so far this season. However, the Waves’ backbone is their defense, led by Hoyt, Harp, sophomore David Lubberts and freshman Stevie Padis.
After losing in the West Coast Lacrosse League championship in overtime last year, the Waves hope to make it back to the championship this year and advance to nationals in Dallas.
The team came together in early September, after the difficult championship loss, to discuss the team direction, set the schedule, and meet with their new coach. Yet the meeting resulted in something bigger for the team.
“We all just came together and realized that we should use the gifts we have been given to give hope to someone else,” said sophomore midfielder Harris Kenny.
Thus the idea was born to use lacrosse as a mean of helping others.
“At the peak of success it is important to recognize those who are less fortunate then you,” says senior defenseman and team captain Hoyt.
Sunday, the men’s lacrosse team hosts the University of Pacific at 1 p.m. at Tari Rokus Field. The game includes live play-by-play, T-shirt sales, snacks and Willie the Wave, with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to Sacred Heart Secondary School.
Sacred Heart, located in northern Uganda, is a school Pepperdine chose to sponsor early last year and the men’s lacrosse team has decided to raise money for. The school sponsorship is based on the initiative Schools for Schools started by the Invisible Children organization in 2006, aimed at ending child genocide where schools are built in order to get children back in classrooms and out of the potential child genocide.
The Waves hope to see at least 100 fans out to the game. All shirt sales, snack sales and donations will go directly to support Schools for Schools.
“If we raise enough money to support at least one child at Sacred Heart, then it’s worth it,” says Head Coach Colin Fatti. “We’d love to see the campus come out to not only support their team, but to help a cause that’s far bigger than our game.”
03-27-2008
