MONMOUTH, IL – Right defense, wrong year. The pandemic-shortened spring season put the skids on what might have been an NCAA record-breaking year by the Monmouth College men’s lacrosse team.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S., Chris Klaiber’s team was just getting started on a promising season where their defense was second to none, literally. Through the season’s first six games, the Scots had rolled to a 4-2 record, but most impressive was their man-down defense.
“We benefited early in the year from the intensity of our preparation and by being unknown,” explained Klaiber. “Our defense was fired up to make a statement on the field. We had been good on defense in the past, but in Year 4 we set out to be a GREAT defense. Experienced returners matched with some talented young players helped. Having the depth of four recruiting classes on the field really made a difference. Assistant coach Jordan Coates helped with skill instruction, and we were able to brainstorm some schemes we hadn’t used before. That helped us to surprise teams. We were underrated and prepared to prove ourselves.”
The “underrated” defensive unit combined the skills of four seniors – Shane Herkert, Connor Armstrong, Ian Moles and Eli Goichenberg – juniors Nick Thomas and Shayne Sendera, and freshman Kain Donohoo, with rookie Teagan Simons in goal. Through six games, opponents had netted just one goal in 28 man-up opportunities. That’s a .964 success rate on the Scots’ defensive end. Had the Scots been able to play their full schedule and maintained that defensive production, Monmouth would have easily bettered the man-down defensive record of .929 set by Middlebury College in 1988.
“We really wanted to be able to play out the full season to make it official,” confided Kaliber. “It ended up being a nice consolation prize for our graduating seniors on the unit. Those players won’t get a chance to play college ball again and unfortunately missed the chance to compete for a playoff spot and a championship. To be ranked No. 1 in the nation is a great honor for us.”
Due to the pandemic wiping out the spring season from mid-March to the end of the May, no season statistics of that type are being counted by the NCAA. Perhaps the Scots would not have maintained such a high level of play, but it’s possible, and it leaves fans, the team and the coach wondering what might have been.
“It’s big for us to know that we’re capable of being the best at something,” said a philosophical Klaiber.” We lose a couple key pieces of the unit, but we will use that to add confidence and experience while we stay hungry to be even better in the future. Being No. 1 in a defensive category is a great example of what our program is all about. Defense is mainly about effort, working as a group and attitude. We pride ourselves in working hard, working together and fighting for everything. Adding our growth in skill and a solid game plan to our existing culture made us a great defensive unit. It shows who we are and the potential of what’s to come in the future.”
***Story courtesy of Monmouth College***
