By Casey Geier
The club lacrosse team faced challenges early in the season.
SJSU went through a coaching change early in the season after handedly losing its first four games due to a shortage of players and unbalanced team chemistry.
Derek de Lemos was inserted as the new head coach and credits the players, rather than anything he’s done as the coach, for the turnaround.
“The fact that our team really likes playing together and they want to do something big together really sets us up to have success,” de Lemos said.
After the poor start, the team has won six games and is now slotted in third place in the conference.
Junior attacker and team captain George Pertessis says San Jose State’s success later in the year has come from players improving over the course of the season.
“The core group of guys on our team and the coaches have really helped this program succeed this year,” Pertessis said.
Pertessis, who leads the Western Collegiate Lacrosse league with 88 points, also said first and second year players on the team have stepped up in key moments this year to help the starters on the team close out games.
This is the first season the SJSU lacrosse team has played at CEFCU stadium after spending its previous few seasons playing on the field just outside the arena on the grassy parking lot and practice facility.
Some of the notable wins for the lacrosse team this season include a 12-10 home victory over Division 1 opponent Chico State and a 17-0 road victory over St. Mary’s.
“It’s always nice to win an out-of-conference game,” said senior defenseman Jason De Muro. “You see the same teams every year … and it feels good to know our team is keeping up with other divisions.”
The team went on a southern California road trip over spring break, playing UC Irvine, UC San Diego and Long Beach State all within a four day stretch.
SJSU won its first game of the trip against Irvine and then beat UC San Diego after sophomore midfielder Trever Rivera won a faceoff and scored in the final minute of the game. The Spartans then came up short against Long Beach State but De Muro said he and the rest of the team were happy with how they played during the trip.
“Because everyone is growing together and we’re all helping each other, it really builds that family you look for in a sport,” De Muro said. “You really get that tight bond that you need to be successful.”
With one game remaining in the season against Humboldt State, the Spartans need to win to have a chance of clinching a playoff spot. It would be a notable end to a turnaround season for the Spartans.