Opportunities.

This weeks post comes from a guest writer, Finn Hadlock. A Maine state high school standout, Hadlock is now a midfielder on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Men's Lacrosse team. If anyone knows anything about taking advantage of your opportunities it would be a freshmen on a top tier collegiate team. Absorb the wisdom.

Lacrosse, like any sport, is one where you need to take advantage of your opportunities. It starts by earning playing time. Almost all of us have been lower on the depth chart than we want to be during our careers and the fastest way to move up is by playing well. You may only get a minute or two of playing time so you need to make the most of every second. Learning how to deal with this pressure you put on yourself to perform can be challenging and frustrating but it is important to stick to your fundamentals and to work as hard as you can.

Being a New Englander, I have grown up idolizing Tom Brady and he is the perfect example of a player making the most of the opportunity given to him. In 2001 Tom Brady started of the season as the 3^rd string quarterback and was almost cut, but due to the injury to New England’s franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe, Tom Brady got his chance and as they say the rest is history. He made the most of his opportunity by being ready to play and performing when he got his chance.

One way to make the most of your opportunities is by picking the right times to take chances. Going up against the other team’s best defender the first time you touch the ball is a good way to end up back on the bench. It’s important to take advantage of matchups within the game. If you believe you have a good match up, take advantage of that opportunity within the game to show not only that you can outperform your opponent but also have the intelligence to know when to dodge, take a shot, throw a take away check, etc.

Take advantage of every second of playing time by understanding your match ups as well as working as hard as you can. Just like being opportunistic can help you move quickly up your teams depth chart, being lazy will put you in the dog house and limit your opportunities. No matter what, enjoy the game and keep playing hard.

WInning Face-offs From the Wing

Possession is key. The longer the ball is in your teams stick, the better chance you have to win. Face-offs are where you win that extra possession that could change the game. The face-off player is fighting at the X but the wing players are just as important. The wing players can make and break the work of the face-off guy.


As a wing player, your objective is to get the ball of the ground and too your offense. Simple as that.  Many times wing players run straight down the half line right at the X, this doesn't help your teammate. You aren't allowed to touch either player facing off and it wont matter who wins the draw anyways, it will now be a six guy free for all. Communicate with your face-off guy, know where he is going to try to put the ball and get to that space. But getting to that space is useless if the other team is right on your hands, make seperation from your opponent; lean in and V-cut, use your body to box out and gain position. Be aggressive but be mindful that if you lose the ground battle you will be on D-fense. Don't put your self in a position where you will jeopardize your ability to play sound D-fense.


The middies shouldn't be the only ones getting involved in the face-offs. Attack and Defense should both be ready to help get that ball. Obviously attack and defense have to wait for the possession call to leave the restraining box. The moment the ball is picked up by the other team the attack should ride as hard as they can to the mid line. If you are able to get back the ball that is another possession for your team, and one less for your opponent. An extra possession could be the difference between a win and loss, so don't take face-offs lightly.