The Benedictine University men's lacrosse team was off to a 5-1 start when the pandemic brought an end to a season of high expectations.

As the 2021 season begins today, nearly the entire roster from that fateful season has returned and the expectations are even higher.

"Our goal each and every year is to compete for a conference championship," said head coach Chris Button, who enters his first full season as head coach (Button was the interim coach in 2019 and was 4-1 last season before the pandemic). "The opportunity to achieve winning a conference title starts with being able to compete with the powerhouses of the NACC (MSOE, Aurora & Concordia Wisconsin) and most likely competing with them more than once in the season. Aurora and Concordia Wisconsin have been the mainstays of winning in the conference and to be able to achieve our goal of hoisting the trophy at the end of the year, we are going to have to get through those teams."

While there is currently a full schedule of games, competing in the end phases of a pandemic presents more unique challenges that have also forced other programs on campus to make adjustments to life, practice and games.

"In addition to competing for a title, another goal for us this year is being able to play in every game that we have on the schedule," Button said. "With the weekly Covid tests and the requests from the athletic trainers and myself of the guys to basically live in a bubble, I would love to be able to play every game. The guys understand that to be able to get the games in, as well as trying to achieve our goal, we need to be able to play and they have taken the requests we've given them very seriously."

Through only six games last year, five players had recorded double-digit goals. All five of those players return and will rank among the best in program history when their careers close. Thomas Tillett was a first team all-conference player in 2019 and was leading the team in points with 13 goals and 11 assists last season. Joe Spahn, a second team all-conference choice in 2019, was second on the team with 15 goals last season. Other top scorers back include Nic Perkins, who led the team with 16 goals, Colin Domek (13 goals, 8 assists) and Anthony Leahy (10 goals, 10 assists). Mateo Salceda returns in the faceoff circle with a chance to become the best in program history. Salceda was a first team all-conference selection in 2019 and won 55 percent of his faceoffs last year. Daniel Lawler, a second team all-conference choice in 2019, is back to anchor a strong defense.

"The biggest key to our success is everyone buying into the system that the coaches have put in place and embracing that, Buttons said. "We have a very seasoned group of guys and they understand what the expectations are and what it's going to take for us to be successful. Last year we were riding high, and were punched in the mouth by Concordia Wisconsin and since then the guys have been busting their butts to not have that post-game feeling again (I remind them frequently about that game to get them fired up). Another major aspect of the potential success is the opportunity to compete in the conference tournament for the first time in three years. Some guys on the team have never played in a conference playoff game and the opportunity to do that is pushing the guys to work that much harder. Lastly, a key for us is to have fun and enjoying the game. Last year our entire season was cancelled and that feeling of playing a sport they love was taken away from them and every lacrosse player. The guys really embrace the fact that at any point the game can be taken away from them and they are treating every day like their last."

The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference will begin sponsoring men's lacrosse this season. Benedictine along with seven other schools will have the opportunity to chase the first ever NACC title. Benedictine had played every year as a member of the Midwest Lacrosse Conference before this year. Several of the schools from the MLC join the NACC as well. The winner of the conference tournament will advance to the NCAA Tournament. The schedule features eight home games this year with the first ever NACC game coming at Concordia Chicago on March 31.

It has been nearly an entire year since the team played a game and while faced with challenges like everyone else including the difficult weather conditions this winter, the team is eager to return to the field.

"The team is extremely excited to be playing again," Button said. "When we take the field against Alma it will have been 344 days since the last game that these guys played. For the freshmen, they haven't played a game in longer than that. One of the biggest signs of excitement was that due to the constant snow in the Illinois area, we've been practicing in the gym or in the Indoor complex and no matter if its 6:00am or 7:00pm, the boys are still there buzzing. In years past, guys would complain, but this year the team is really embracing each other and working towards the end goal of winning the conference championship. In addition, I really think we were coming into our own after our CUW game last year and we were starting to gain momentum and comradery that I felt was going to keep growing as the year progressed. The majority of the guys on that team are back this year and feel that we can hit the ground running and not look back."
 
A non-conference schedule featuring eight games including the first ever meeting with North Cental and former head coach Jay Farrell, opens today in Barrington. No spectators are currently allowed at Benedictine home events (Including today in Barrington), but the situation will be monitored as the year progresses.