After finishing the 2004 season last spring without a playoff berth, a postseason appearance in 2005 would have marked a vast improvement for the UCSD men’s lacrosse team. Instead, the team not only competed in the league playoffs this season, but also earned a trip to Minnesota for a chance to capture the national championship.
Walk softly:
The Tritons’ victory over Chapman University on Feb. 12 made apparent that the team was not the same squad that opposing teams had seen in years past. The Panthers had beaten UCSD in each of the last three seasons.
“Beating Chapman at the beginning of the season was huge for us,” sophomore P.J. Masterson said. “We knew that we had a very special team.”
As the season progressed, the Tritons were recognized for teamwork as well as many outstanding individual performances.
Senior Phil Smith contributed offensively to the Tritons’ scoring attack as a midfielder. Smith maintained his presence on the field even though his goal total decreased compared to last season.
“Phil is clearly the most vocal leader on the team because everyone listens to him,” Masterson said. “His impact cannot be measured by statistics.”
Head coach Jon Hughes echoed Masterson’s comments.
“Phil decided this season to sacrifice his goals for teamwork,” Hughes said. “He shifted his concentration from scoring to leadership.”
Freshman Dave Piccinati also impressed many players and coaches with a different role than the one that was expected of him. Piccinati went into the season as the back-up goaltender, but eventually took over the starting position during the regular season.
“He surprised everybody on the team,” Masterson said. “He really earned his way to the starting position.”
Piccinati was not the only rookie to have a huge impact on the team’s successful season. Freshman midfielder Eric Price was ranked in the top 10 for scoring in the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League and was a valuable offensive asset for UCSD.
“The rookies definitely did a great job for us on the field,” Hughes said. “Their contributions cannot be overlooked.”
No one on the team had a greater impact than junior attackman Nick Dean, however. Dean was not only the top scorer for the team, but also for the league.
“If Nick was not specifically guarded, we would have blown the team out,” Masterson said. “He always gives us a chance to win.”
Dean was also presented with first team all-league honors as the WCLL’s Offensive Player of the Year, and as the UCSD sports club Male Athlete of the Year. He received the UCSD award for the second straight year. The award has been given to a member of the lacrosse team for three years in a row.
“Personal recognition is great,” Dean said. “But you also have to remember that the awards reflect the help of my teammates.”
Hughes also stressed the importance of Dean’s exceptional play on the field.
“He makes everyone out there much better,” Hughes said. “Nick’s play on the field reminds me a lot like the way Barry Bonds can read a pitch before it even leaves the pitcher’s hand because of the fact that he can sense what will happen before it actually does.”
Dean’s performance has been noticed throughout the country. He is often recognized by the lacrosse world as one of the top three attackmen in the United States.
“Nick is not only a big, tall [and] outstanding athlete, but he is also well-conditioned,” Hughes said. “This combination has allowed him to be one of the best players I have ever coached in my 12 years at the collegiate level.”
After only losing three games during the regular season and being ranked as the eighth-best team in the nation, the Tritons earned a spot in the league playoffs. They were able to beat Chapman for the second time of the season in order to earn a spot in the final four in Berkeley.
However, the Tritons were beaten by Sonoma State, which eventually lost to UC Santa Barbara in the championship, but finished second at Nationals.
Following its excellent season, the team was awarded a trip to the national championship tournament in Blaine, Minn.
“It was great to go from a nonplayoff team one season to a team with a chance to win a national championship,” Dean said. “We owe a great deal of our success to the coaching staff.”
In addition to Hughes, the team was guided with help from coaches Mike Dewan and Albert Man.
Ross Stensrud, a former player, was also on the sidelines coaching during games.
“He was key to organizing all of the pieces during the game,” Dean said. “Ross made sure we were always emotionally pumped.The coaching staff put us in a position where we could win games that we could not have won in the past. They are the main difference from this year and last year.”
Hughes was honored as the WCLL conference Coach of the Year, the UCSD sports club Coach of the Year and also as the National Coach of the Year.
“These awards really go out to my entire staff,” Hughes said. “It could not have been done without them.”
However, before going to the national championship, the team first had to find a way to pay for the trip with only two weeks before they had to leave.
“We never expected to go to Nationals,” Hughes said. “And as a result, we were not prepared to pay for it.”
After contributions, fundraisers and help from the players’ parents and sponsors, the team was able to raise the $17,000 needed for the trip to Minnesota.
Unfortunately, the team did not come home with a national title, but it did come back with a new goal for next season.
“We better win it all next year,” Dean said. “We have a better chance than ever before.”
With only three players graduating, and a strong group of freshman recruits, the Tritons will have a strong core to work with.
“Even if something might go wrong next season we have a solution for it, because we have Nick Dean,” Hughes said.
