By: Stephanie Savage
Posted In: Sports
Photo credit: salve.edu
NEWPORT, R.I. – With all the snow that’s been falling over Newport this winter, it’s hard to believe that for spring sports, the season is already just around the corner.
The Salve Regina men’s lacrosse team began practicing early last week in the school’s gymnasium, getting a head start on the upcoming season. Although the team’s first official game isn’t until Mar. 3, 2009, against Anna Maria College, a new addition to the Commonwealth Coast Conference, the men are working extra hard in hopes of making it to the CCC Championship. “We are looking to make a big statement this year,” said Brian Whelan, a senior captain and leading midfield player. “The whole team has showed a great desire for success and everyone has been working really hard from the weight room to academia.” Alongside Whelan are fellow captains and senior classmates, Nick Clark and Brian Walker. As the team’s goalie, Walker already holds 589 record saves, earning him the most career saves in the team’s history. Along with a number of vital returning players, including seven seniors, Coach Cooney has taken on six new freshmen this year. Among these six athletes is Chris Walker, the team’s first high school All-American athlete and Brian Walker’s little brother. Throughout his high school career at Marshfield High School in Marshfield, Mass., Walker also boasted Eastern Massachusetts All-Star, Atlantic Coast League All-Star, Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic, Boston Globe All-Scholastic, Boston Herald All-Star, as well as Coastal Nissan Player of the month. As for this year, the young freshman hopes to earn rookie of the year. According to Whelan, Walker is expected to be a “huge part of the team’s offense.” The team will have to work together though in order to conquer the season ahead. In the past Endicott College has been the team’s biggest challenger, however as Nate Burns, a junior, point outs out, “Endicott isn’t the team to beat anymore,” Burns said. “They’ve always been a great team with a great program, but now Western New England College is the new team to beat.” Last year the Seahawks lost to WNEC in the semi-finals of the CCC Championship. While the men hope to conquer both Endicott and WNEC in the upcoming season, Whelan says that the real question is not what Salve’s chances are of beating them but, “what are their chances against us?”
