The men’s lacrosse team won their senior game against Carroll University on April 20 with a score of 11-5. This win over Carroll University created a special moment for the seniors on the team, including Elijah Graesser.
“It was nice, since my class didn’t get a senior day in high school due to COVID,” Graesser said.
Leadership plays a crucial role in guiding a team. The seniors have played a crucial role throughout this season and have helped Head Coach Jon Paul transition to the Augustana lacrosse community.
Captain and senior Gus Magnusson has helped guide the team throughout his leadership skills.
“Being able to set an example for the other kids and seeing their progress has definitely made me a lot happier in my leadership skills,” Magnusson said.
Captain’s practices have also been a time in which the upperclassmen have shown their leadership skills and helped the team grow in a positive way.
“They start practice in the fall, which is considered offseason, and don’t officially start until later in the season,” Paul said. “They have captains’ practices that are just helmets and gloves and stick work that is strictly not contacted.”
With the team having had their last game on April 26, the pressure was high among players and they gave it their all. Magnusson has a way of handling pursuers in the environment he’s in.
“There are a lot of high pressure and a lot of high stakes, but that is an environment where I thrive continuing,” Magnusson said.
Junior Graham Shap also felt these pressures in the last game of the season. He said slowing down and taking the time to recognize mistakes is a key way that he relaxes mentally.
“If I feel like I’m making mistakes, I just try to slow myself down mentally and not rush through everything,” Shap said. “I go through the motions and make sure I’m doing what I need to be doing.”
Making mistakes is common in gameplay and on any team. However, making fewer mistakes is crucial because the team is working as one.
“When we started the season, we weren’t working as a unit in pretty much any aspect of the game, whether it was offense, defense or clearing face-offs,” Paul said. “Working together in that sense has been huge for us, and we’ve gotten a ton better at it throughout the year.”
As the season progressed, the men’s lacrosse team was able to find their groove in working together as a unit. This aided just in time for their final home game of the season.
“I work with my teammates since it is a team sport,” Graesser said. “No one should have to deal with the pressure alone because it’s on all of us equally.”