With its victory at ASU last weekend, the Arizona club lacrosse team put a stamp on its best regular season since going 16-5 two years ago. The Laxcats rebounded with double-digit wins this season after compiling a 9-8 record in 2003.
This team, however, is far from satisfied.
"We have to continue to work hard," sophomore attackman Greg Polheber said. "Hard work got us to this point, and we have to continue doing what we've been doing - winning games - and not change anything."
Maintaining the status quo would suit the Laxcats (12-3, 6-1 Western Collegiate Lacrosse League) just fine against the Chapman Panthers tomorrow at 1 p.m. In their previous match at Chapman (9-5, 5-2) in March, both teams played evenly through the first half before a 6-1 Arizona run in the second set sealed the UA's 12-6 victory.
But with this rematch comes added postseason implications. Having limped into the WCLL Quarterfinal round with a 2-3 finish, the Panthers will be eager to return the favor this weekend at Murphey Stadium.
It's a challenge with which Arizona is all too familiar.
"It's hard to beat any team twice (in a season)," Laxcats head coach Kenny Broschart said. "They're a lot more talented than when they played us the first time."
On paper, fate would seem to favor Arizona and its high-powered offense. In Polheber, attackman Adam Paris and midfielder Jeems Lochridge, the Laxcats' roster features three players who scored 50 or more points during the regular season. By contrast, Chapman's Danny Metoyer led the Panthers with 62 points. Midfielders Matt Goto and Chad Donnelly scored 39 and 38, respectively.
Despite ending the season with eight straight games of 10 or more goals, the Laxcats have shown sloppy movement on offense of late, relying on a stiff defense to return the ball up front.
"The defense is playing a lot better now," Polheber said. "The offense is kind of slowing down. We need to pick it up again, score a lot more and get more goals."
On the eve of Arizona's first playoff game since 2002, the team's postseason dreams may depend on a few added boosts.
"Seeing how the semester's closing, it's like 'ride or die,' especially with Jeems and (defenseman) Tom Wiley leaving next year," Paris said. "They're fighting for a ring. It's really important."
"We need the attitude right now that if we don't win, that's it" Broschart said. "There's no tomorrow."