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Gloucester football and hockey players flock to lacrosse

Thursday, May, 08 By Richard Slate
Staff writer

Boys lacrosse is starting to gain popularity on Cape Ann, with the organization of the relatively young youth and the Gloucester High programs, and given that some of the sport's most fundamental elements are easily recognizable to local hockey and football fans.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Gloucester players from both the Super Bowl-winning football team and the NEC North-winning hockey team make up a majority of the high school team's lacrosse roster. Seven players each from the hockey and football teams are on the lacrosse team.

Juniors Jared Toye, midfielder, and Dylan Morrissey, a defenseman, play all three sports.

"The lateral speed defensively is similar in all three," said Morrissey, who's a offensive lineman in football and forward in hockey. "There's also a lot of cross-training that carries over for each sport."

Among other things, the game of lacrosse combines the physicality of football and hockey, the stick work of hockey and the bursts of speed that are necessary in football and hockey.

"Hockey and lacrosse are very similar," remarked Gloucester senior attackman Jeremy Fanning. "They both take heart; you've gotta want to win. I like them both for certain reasons: it's nice out during lacrosse and it's great to be in a rink with all the people screaming. Hockey gets me ready for lacrosse season, mentally and physically."

One of the great things about lacrosse is that you don't have to be a certain size or have a certain skill-type: defenders are most often the intimidators who possess 6-foot long sticks; midfielders are usually the best athletes as they play both offense and defense, while attackmen are the best shooters and passers. The roles get even more specialized at the higher levels as most college teams carry a face-off specialist, offensive and defensive midfield lines and long-stick midfielders.  

Fishermen senior midfielder Adam Quinn noted, "in football, you have to train a lot with your explosiveness. There's a lot of leg work which carries over to lacrosse. When you're lining up a guy and you want to make a quick face dodge (juke), then that comes into effect big time. Every bit of athleticism from football works in lacrosse."  

Similar to football and hockey, lacrosse rewards outstanding hustle. If a team takes a shot and it misses the net, the ensuing possession is determined by which player is closest to the end-line where it goes out. Also, ground balls, which are a staple of boys lacrosse contests, are usually won by the players that fully commit to taking the body and communicating with their teammates.

Like any sport, the intricacies of lacrosse can't be picked up overnight, but if you already play football or hockey, odds are you'll enjoy lacrosse in the spring. The younger you start playing, the better chance you give yourself to develop into a solid player.

Morrissey, Fanning and Quinn all started playing lacrosse in middle school. Morrissey and Quinn were influenced by their older brothers, who had all taken up the sport. Drew Dominick, the Gloucester boys head coach, was even Fanning's youth coach so they've known each other for a long time.  

There are obviously unique parts of each sport, as Fanning pointed out. "It's a lot different, going from down here (having your stick on the ice in hockey) to here (having the stick in the air)." However, quick hands around the net are invaluable in either case.

In their own ways, the nature of the games also helps to bond teammates together. A linebacker and offensive lineman, Quinn explained, "I was a captain in football so that was a leadership role where you have 100 kids and the whole city behind you. Lacrosse is just 20 guys and it's a lot more laid-back."

Lacrosse has always been huge in Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and Long Island, but it's starting to make real progress in New England beyond just prep schools. The University of Massachusetts men's team made the NCAA championship two years ago;  and the NCAA Final Four, and Div. 2 and 3 championships,  are all taking place at Gillette Stadium this year and next year on Memorial Day weekend. Finally, Major League Lacrosse is the professional league, with the Boston Cannons playing at Harvard Stadium in the summer.  

Richard Slate may be contacted at rslate@gloucestertimes.com.