On Oct. 27, the men’s lacrosse team beat Chapman University once again in their annual fall scrimmage at home as they prepare for the upcoming season in the spring. 

Daniel Yang, a junior goalie said, “The Chapman scrimmage went well in my eyes. Anytime we play Chapman, it is a brawl, as they have been our rivals ever since we made the jump from MCLA Division II to Division I.” Yang added, “Our defense was firing on all cylinders, making stops, and getting the ball to our talented offense.” 

Garrett Burns, a senior midfielder said, “The game against Chapman was great, we showed some very good progress from the last scrimmage we had this fall and now have an even better grasp on what we can do to get better prepared for the spring season.” 

The Golden Eagles are coming off of a Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) Division I National Championship where they beat Virginia Tech 17-10 this past May. 

Burns said, “Winning the national championship was a very surreal experience. To be honest, not a lot of us were expecting it to happen because we were just focused on progressing to the next game in the tournament.” Burns added, “Once we beat Liberty in the semi-finals everyone's demeanor changed and you could tell that we were not going to leave that tournament without the trophy.”

Yang said, “From the first day of fall ball to the last day of the spring season, we poured

our blood, sweat and energy into perfecting our craft to have the confidence to know we are the

best team in the league and chase our second National Championship in the MCLA.”

“Ever since my commitment to play at Concordia, I have been discussing the possibility of winning a National Championship with one of my best friends, Christian Soriano. He unfortunately passed away in April 2022, and winning the National Championship was an achievement I could honor my best friend with,” added Yang. 

Cade Poe, a senior face off specialist said, “To win a National Championship, it felt surreal. To be ranked seventh and upset three of our four opponents was amazing. It was definitely a good way to end our MCLA journey.” 

The team will be joining NCAA DII and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) for the upcoming 2024 season. They will be the second California team in NCAA DII lacrosse. 

Burns said, “The jump to NCAA DII will be an exciting challenge for our team. We have seen the best that the MCLA has to offer, and so there is only progress to be made in the NCAA.” 

Ryan Tabor, a sophomore midfielder said, “It will definitely be a challenge, with new teams and new talent but it’s nothing we can’t handle and will be ready to compete.” 

 

Poe said, “Obviously most of the change will come from our schedule and level of competition. They’re more depth, and talent at the NCAA DII level and I’m excited to see how we stack up against them.” 

The Golden Eagles open their regular season on the road at Adams State on Feb. 10, 2024. To follow men’s lacrosse throughout the 2024 season visit cuigoldeneagles.com or follow @cuilax on Instagram.

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