GT Men's Lacrosse showed steely resolve amid the unprecedented Covid Challenge 2020-21
The 2020 Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Lacrosse team came into the season eager to redeem themselves following an overtime loss to the Cal Bears in the national semi-finals in 2019. Despite the graduation of several contributors from that 2019 team, the 2020 team had their sights set on winning the program's first national championship. After a stumble against Utah Valley University, the team rebounded with a win against Boston College and a dominant road trip with wins against Arizona and Arizona State. The Jackets also handed defending national champions, South Carolina, their first loss of the season in a 15-5 decision. The Jackets stumbled against New Hampshire later that weekend and were set to host Dominican when the season was cut short due to the pandemic. The 2020 seniors were granted an extra year of eligibility, but unfortunately for the Jackets they had all already set up start dates for the post-graduation plans and could not take advantage and saw their careers end with whimper due to the pandemic.
After the 2020 lacrosse season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a considerable level of uncertainty surrounding the potential 2021 season. Spearheaded by team President Mack Poulson, the team worked with the University to produce a plan for the team to practice in preparation for a potential 2021 season in a safe manner that Tech administrators would approve. The Fall was spent working in small groups with no contact focusing on skill development. The players obviously would have preferred to play full on lacrosse, but the program tried to look at it as a positive in that they were able to focus on development in a manner that usually is difficult to fit in with limited practice time and other team development priorities. Toward the end of Fall the Jackets were approved to ramp up the team activities and move forward with preseason activities come January. The Jackets waded through the uncertainty with eleven seniors hoping to get one more season to don the white and gold.
The team entered the usual January minicamp without a clear answer as to whether they would be approved to play games this Spring. The players were eager to play, and minicamp was a success as the Jackets finally were able to begin shaping what a potential 2021 team would look like. Preseason preparations continued for several weeks without approval for outside competition. The team suffered some injuries and combined with a relatively small roster limited the Jackets' ability to play full field. President Mack Poulson continued his efforts working with administrators presenting and revising plans for playing games hoping for approval. Mack continued to work with no inkling whether his efforts would pay off. The usual four-to-five-week preseason stretched to nearly eight weeks before approval for games and travel finally came through. The Jackets spent the period of uncertainty trying to work in thirteen new players as well as trying to get returning players comfortable in new or expanded roles. As the preseason wound down, the Jackets were palpably tired of playing against each other and tempers flared a few times in the final weeks leading into the first game weekend.
The Jackets made their way to Knoxville to start the season. The Jackets scrimmaged Tennessee on Friday in their first chance to see another team on the field. The following day the Jackets played the Liberty Flames in a highly anticipated matchup of two teams that have consistently been ranked near the top of the MCLA in recent years. The Flames came in with multiple games under their belt after also playing a full Fall season. As would become a theme of the 2021 season, the Jackets took a punch from the Flames early before steadying themselves and going on a significant second half run. The Jackets built a 12-7 lead in the fourth quarter before the Flames came back late to set the final score at 14-11. The Jackets stymied the Flames with their new look ten-man ride and were able to hound the Flames into several failed clears and played opportunistic offense off of the failed clears.
The next two weeks were off weekends for the Jackets after previously scheduled opponents either were not yet approved to play or were dealing with COVID pauses. Three weeks later the Jackets travelled to Florida and to play Florida State and the University of Florida. Both games saw the Jackets up by two at halftime before blowing the game open in the third quarter. The Jackets outscored the two schools by a combined 14-1 in the third quarter on their way to winning the two games by a combined score of 34-17.
The following weekend saw the Jackets host their only two home games of the season. Even though fans were not permitted, the team was excited to play a weekend of home games. The weekend started with a game against former division rival Auburn who was making their season debut. The Jackets took an early lead despite a dismal shooting performance, but Auburn responded with a 7-3 third quarter to take a halftime lead of 8-6. Once again, the Jackets found their resolve in the second half feeding off their aggressive ride once again and was able to close the game on an 8-1 run for the 14-9 win. It was a quick turnaround for the Jackets as they played the Clemson Tigers on Sunday. Clemson was coming off an upset win of the Liberty Flames the day before. Clemson started fast and took a 5-4 lead into halftime. Clemson found success against the Jackets with strong physical dodgers and took advantage of a first half possession advantage. The Jackets found their footing in the second half and was able to tie the game at the end of the third quarter. Tech once again used their tenacious ride to fuel their offense and create more possessions for themselves. The Jackets closed the game on a 4-1 run to win 11-8.
The regular season ended with the annual clash with the University of Georgia. The Jackets traveled to Athens for the contest. After hearing the coaching staff preach being ready from the opening whistle for two weeks, the Jackets were indeed ready to go right away. The Jackets won the first quarter by a score of 8-0 and lead 14-1 at halftime. The Jackets were able to play every available player on their way to the 20-7.
The Jackets had to work with the school administration throughout the season in an attempt to be approved to travel to the MCLA Invitational Tournament in Round Rock, Texas. Once again Mack Poulson along with some alumni the Jackets were able to get certified for the tournament at the 11th hour just before the deadline to be eligible. Following an undefeated regular season, the Jackets now could only wait to see if they would make the field and what their potential seeding could be. The tournament committee settled on an East vs West format for the tournament. The Jackets were named the #1 seed in the East. Of the eight teams selected to the tournament, five were familiar foes for the Jackets as they had played them in either 2019, 2020, or earlier in 2021.
In the first round the Jackets were pitted against the Utah Valley University Wolverines. Tech was excited for a shot at the Wolverines following a loss at home against them in 2020. The Jackets were a little sloppy on the initial few possessions before finding their footing and lead 5-3 after the first quarter. Tech found their stride in the second quarter on both ends of the field. Tech only allowed one goal per quarter over the last three quarters and managed to score twelve goals of their own. The Jackets were able to play the vast majority of their roster en route to the 17-6 win.
The Jackets making their fourth semi-final appearance in the last five tournaments faced the Brigham Young University Cougars the next day. The Cougars immediately jumped on the Jackets taking a 4-0 lead in the first few minutes. Tech was undeterred and clawed their way back to make the score 4-3 after one quarter. The game fluctuated between a one and two goal difference in the second quarter as the teams traded goals. Twice, the Jackets got within one and the Cougars scored within twenty seconds to build the lead back to two goals. The Cougars also scored immediately following once of their own goals. Pierce Quarles scored in the final minute of the second quarter to make the halftime score 10-8 in favor of the Cougars.
Sam Eck scored on the first possession of the third quarter to get the Jackets back within one, but the Cougars were able to score three straight goals before Zach Schenken scored in the final two minutes of the third quarter to make it a 13-10 game. The Cougars scored two early goals to make it a five-goal game in the fourth quarter. Tech capitalized on an extra man opportunity to halt the BYU run. However, BYU responded by scoring four goals within a minute The BYU lead was 19-11 and seemed unsurmountable, but the Jackets would not give up. They scored four goals over the game's final five minutes to reach the final score of 19-15 in favor of BYU. The Jackets season ended at the hands of the Cougars who would go on to win the tournament against the Chapman Panthers the following day.
The Jackets, while disappointed with the final result, can hold their heads high following the season. The team fought for their ability to even have a season and showed discipline in following the protocols set up for them including the players going through twice weekly testing all season, daily health screenings in the lead up to the invitational tournament. The resolve shown by staying positive through the approval process and being undeterred by a constantly changing schedule will serve these young men well in any future endeavors.
Despite the disjointed season the Jackets were able to continue to build their program and experience success. This was the second undefeated regular season for the graduating seniors, they also made the tournament every year there was a tournament. Sam Eck, Pierce Quarles, and Devin Raun all spent time in the top ten nationally in points per game with Quarles and Raun finishing the season in the top ten. Seniors Evan Juncal and Mack Poulson both came back and made major contributions after missing last season due to out of state Co-op opportunities. Fifth year Gabe Banks finished his career second all-time in midfield goal scoring at Georgia Tech after fighting his way back from two ACL tears. Senior Rob Kruszeski started every game in goal this season after playing mostly in a reserve role the prior three years. Numerous freshmen made impacts in their first season on campus and the large class of departing seniors finished their careers with strong seasons. The Jackets now set their sights on the 2022 season and continue to strive toward winning the program's first MCLA National Championship.
EJ Freeman