Fort Collins, COLO. – The Colorado State University Rams men's lacrosse team embarks on its 2015 season opener this weekend with a double header in Amarillo, TX against the University of Connecticut and Texas State University. The Rams, who are ranked #4 in the MCLA preseason poll, take on the Huskies and Bobcats at West Texas A&M University – a first for lacrosse in the region – on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
CSU is led by captains Eric Uhl (The Masters School; Simsbury, CT), Tom Gerwick (Highlands Ranch HS; Highlands Ranch, CO) and Brian Allen (Judge Memorial HS; Salt Lake City, UT). The Rams graduated a significant portion of last year's MCLA quarterfinal team and feature only 13 juniors and seniors on the roster. Junior Jake Johnson (Bridgton Academy; Lake Forest, CA) is the leading returning points-getter from 2014.
UCONN is coming off a 7-6 season that culminated with a one-goal loss in the PCLL semifinals against Northeastern. They are led by senior goaltender Brendan Helberg and PCLL All-Conference defender Pierce Bushby. Saturday afternoon’s game will be the season opener for the Huskies as well. UCONN faces off against the University of Colorado on Sunday morning.
Texas State, ranked #21 in the preseason poll, is 2-1 on the young season and is coming off last weekend’s overtime loss to LSA conference foe Texas A&M. The Bobcats will rely on senior attackman Liam Kelly, who has 19 points through three games, to lead them into battle. Texas State plays Colorado on Saturday afternoon before matching up with the Rams on Sunday.
Both games mark the first-ever contests for CSU against either school and the first time the Rams have played regular season games in Texas since the 2005 season.
For more information on Colorado State University men’s lacrosse, please visit www.csulacrosse.com, or follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.