Big Macs Start Lacrosse Season

The goal of the Canon-McMillan boy’s lacrosse team was a modest one last season — just break even.

Moving up from club status, 2010 was the Big Macs’ first season as a WPIAL team. And the Canon-McMillan boys weren’t exactly looking to set the world, or even Division 2, on fire, they also didn’t expect to stumble like they did either.

Issues with conditioning led to victory slipping away from the Big Macs last year, as the team lost six one-goal games en route to a 2-14 year. One possession or one shot often made the difference for Canon-McMillan. And it’s that very thinking, along with an influx of new talent, that gives the team the hope it has to finally achieve that goal of a .500 record in its sophomore season.

“I think we’ve come a long way as a team,” Canon-McMillan coach Craig Schliefstein said. We’re getting more athletes, and this sport requires you to be an athlete…But it’s going to come down to heart. If you put forth the effort in this game then good things will happen.”

And so far, the Big Macs are definitely putting forth the effort.

With several new players coming over from the school’s soccer team, the Big Macs have also intensified their preseason conditioning in an effort to improve. The players began meeting for two-a-week training sessions on December 1, where they began working on weight lifting and some stick work. Many also participated in an indoor season as well, and that has led to an overall increase in fundamental skills and a quicker rate of play—especially from those new to the team.

“Between indoor and now, they’re stick skills have really developed,” junior midfielder Matt Maletta said of the new players.

Added senior midfielder Addison Galambos, “It’s exponentially getting better.”

As captains of the Big Macs, Galambos and Maletta should know.

Galambos has played lacrosse for seven years now, and has settled into a teaching role in addition to his captaincy. And while Galambos said that the added preseason practices have helped tremendously, like Schliefstein, he also believes that the amount of heart that the players show this season will go a long way.

“The strongest part of our team is our heart,” Galambos said.

That heart, when combined with an improved defense and two solid lines of midfielders could pay dividends for the Big Macs this season. Schliefstein would still like to see the team add more depth—particularly at midfield and on the attack—but believes that an increase in overall speed will help his team finally break even this year.

“I’m looking for a .500 season,” Schliefstein said. “I’d like to go 8-8.”

Galambos, on the other hand, has his sights set a bit higher. “I’d like to go over .500 and make the playoffs,” he said. “I think that’s a realistic goal. And I think that’s going to be on us as captains.”

Galambos and the Big Macs have the opportunity to take the first step toward that goal when they travel to open their season at Trinity tonight at 6 p.m.