UVU lacrosse prepared for spring season
The UVU lacrosse team will begin a promising spring season playing top competitors in the MCLA Vegas Full House Tournament Feb. 19-20, followed by a game against local rival Brigham Young University on Feb. 27. This will be the first spring season game opposing BYU in at least five years.
On March 13 the Wolverines will take on the Westminster Griffins in Salt Lake City. UVU dominated Westminster twice in fall ball and emerged victorious in a dogfight opposing the Griffins in spring of 2009 as well.
The team will travel next to Salem, Oregon to play Willamette University, Western Oregon University and the University of California-Santa Cruz. After returning home, UVU will play Fort Lewis, 2009 conference champions University of Northern Colorado, Metro, Northern Arizona and Montana.
On April 17 the team will travel north to play Utah State in Logan, followed by rival University of Utah in Salt Lake City.
Sixth year Utah Valley head coach Kevin Perkins has high expectations for the spring season. After the team’s riveting fall season, (12-2) including tournament play, the team is prepared for a successful season to say the least.
The spring season team consists of 29 returning players with 11 new and a record 19 freshmen of the 40 players overall. Freshman standouts include Blake Porter, Jake Hansen, Shawn Carter, Brian Tyrrell and Quinton Jorgensen. Returning standouts include Tyler Spendlove, Kyle Harper, Chad Frost, Austin Nielsen, Clark Harris and Trevor McCann.
The senior squad is a talented group that took last year off. Now back and refocused, Cam Peterson anchors the attack with his ability to lead and finish, Ryan Cantwell and Skyler Bentley control the defensive side, Cory Heward in the cage, and Greg Newman, once an attackman turned mid, has a dominating presence with the ball.
Seniors Claudio Pacchiega, Tallon Boles along with junior Kyle Barlocker, and sophomore Davis Smith add to the depth of the talented defense as a whole.
“I’m very pleased with the team and their progress,” said coach Perkins. “The effort they’re putting in both on and off the field is making a big difference and I feel very confident about our first game.”