DU Men’s Lacrosse Hopes Depth and Experience Can Lead Them to Another National Title
Author(s)
Jon Stone
Media Relations Manager
Faceoff specialist Trevor Baptiste projected to have another big year
When time ran out on the 2015 lacrosse season, the University of Denver was the last team standing. They were crowned national champions for the first time in program history.
Fast forward three years and only a small group of seniors remain from that title team, led by captains Connor Donahue, Sean Mayle and Trevor Baptiste.
“We have three great captains this year and a great senior class,” says head coach Bill Tierney. “They have been through everything before, they won a national championship as freshmen. They have been great, and not just on the field, but off the field as well, teaching the culture to our freshmen.”
Baptiste enters the season considered the best faceoff man in college lacrosse, and by season’s end, he could be the best to ever play. He is currently third in NCAA history in career faceoff wins and fifth in career ground balls.
“I try to just take it one faceoff at a time and play the best that I can for my team,” Baptiste says. “I definitely don’t like losing. Coach [Tierney] told me when I was a freshman, ‘you’ve got to keep your emotions calm as a faceoff guy. You can never let your highs get too high or your lows get too low. You have to be steadfast.’ But it definitely gives me a little itch under my skin if I’m losing a lot in one day.”
Baptiste’s teammates admit they are sometimes in awe of what he does on the field. “It’s incredible to have someone like that on our team,” says goalie Alex Ready. “Sometimes you have to take a step back and appreciate just how great he is.”