After a grueling loss against Clairmont High, the Preuss boys lacrosse team debriefed at In-N-Out together. The 9-8 game had gone down to the wire, with Preuss nearly pulling off a comeback before Clairemont took the win in overtime.
The atmosphere remained charged with emotion long after the game ended.
“Being emotional after a game makes sense,” said An Lam, an experienced Preuss player and one of the top scorers. “We just barely lost when we were this close to winning.”
Currently midway through their season, the Preuss lacrosse team is competing in Division 3 with a record of 3-2. Games are defined by high stakes action, split second decisions, and exhausting finishes.
“If you know about hockey, lacrosse is just that but in the air,” explained Lam.
Ten players per team compete over four 12 minute quarters on a soccer sized field, using sticks with nets to catch, carry, and shoot a ball past defenders. Teams include three attackers, three defenders, a goalie, and three midfielders who rotate. Players sprint up and down the field, dodging checks and fighting for possession at a relentless pace.
The sport requires a combination of coordination, boldness, and speed that demands physical and mental toughness.
“Lacrosse is one of a few sports that has a perfect balance of physicality and challenge that really forces players to confront all sorts of uncomfortable things,” said Mr. Brazelton, who has coached Preuss lacrosse since 2006. “Players develop a confidence and type of grit that is really essential not just for the sport, but for many other things they might encounter throughout their life.”
Part of the discomfort also comes from the literal contact.
“For a lot of players, they have to overcome just literally the fear of getting hit,” Brazelton explained. “It’s something you have to get comfortable with and it’s really uncomfortable.”
Brazelton also emphasized the equally challenging mental side, amplified by exhaustion. “Fatigue will make a coward out of you. Players are bumping up against that upper limit of what they mentally think they can handle.”
Juggling all these issues in a high pressure environment can be difficult, especially for new players. Small issues can compound into major problems, as exemplified in the Clairemont game.
“Throughout that match, we made minor mistakes that built up,” An explained. “We put an offensive player into defense, and they didn’t really know what to do. That later on got them the win in overtime by 1 point.”
Although players are passionate about the game, the team’s approach focuses heavily on improvement over winning. Practice sessions usually start with “Quarter Zero,” a 10-12 minute scrimmage that gets the energy up and mindset right.
“My goal, and I hope my team’s goal, is ultimately to improve and have fun together,” An said. “Winning is good also.”
