MCLA: Metropolitan State University of Denver Men’s Lacrosse

PHOTO CREDIT: DI MILLER, MSU  team Photographer

The Metro State Roadrunners started their lacrosse program in 2006, and are MCLA DII. They are coached by Alex Bauer who has been with the team since 2008, and promoted from Assistant Coach to Head Coach in 2009.

The Roadrunners are a player-funded team which has made it a challenge for them over the past few years. With only three returning players from 2013, they are a new team whose eight incoming freshman are tough players with an extreme knowledge of the game. Although their roster is small, they play with more heart and passion on the field than most teams.  They consider themselves family, not teammates.

The comradery they have built amongst themselves this season is unheard of in most team sports. They win as a team, and they lose as a team. Regardless of the outcome at the end of that 60 minutes, they go into that after-game huddle, talk about the things they did right, and help each other understand what they need to do to make it better for that next game. Their motto is “Family,” and that is the word they use in every huddle whether it’s before the game, between quarters, or at the end of the game. They always hold their heads high!

They kicked off their 2014 season at the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament in Flagstaff, Arizona on February 22, 2014.  Their first game against Biola University started out strong with Metro putting the first goal on the board.  The Roadrunners were fired up.

However, with the smaller roster, players became exhausted, but never once did they give up.  They stayed out there; played their hearts out, filled in at positions they don’t normally play just so they could give their teammates a break. In the end, the final score was 22-6 in favor of Biola.

On Sunday February 23, for their game against Northern Arizona University, Metro State came to the field with the attitude that no matter what, they were going to play hard, play as a team, support one another, and regardless of the outcome, would hold their heads high. Again, the Roadrunners came out strong, but Sunday the exhaustion was evident. Players were injured, tired, and with NAU having a roster close to 30 versus Metro’s 14, it was too much for the Roadrunners to overcome.  They were defeated by the score of 5-18.

 

2014 MSU Denver Men’s Lacrosse Roster

 

  Player  Num Position Height Weight Year
Alexander Frimm 7 M 5’10” 160 JR
Raquib Hakeem 4  L 6′ JR 168
Joey Huntley 5 L 5’8” 150 JR
Walter Johnson 21 M 5’11” 245 SR
Pete Kilbane A FR
Corbin Korsgard 13 M FR
Mitchell Larson  17 M FR
James Meyer 24 D 6’7″ 194 SO
Kyle Miller 16 M/A 6′ 1″ 175 FR
Morgan Milonas 23 G 6′ 230 FR
Nick Mullen 25 M  5′ 8″ 145 SO
Jaret Newman 3 A 5’11” 205 SR
Ty Overturf M 5’10” 170 FR
Juan Ramirez 10 M  5’8″ 170 SO
Max Rogers-Jackson  9 M FR

 

There aren’t enough words to describe the devotion, desire, sportsmanship, and love of the game by this team, and its players. Metro has an uphill battle during the 2014 season, but will always play hard and play as a team.  I am proud to be their team photographer, a member of their Booster Club, and see my son Kyle Miller #16, out on that field doing the one thing he loves…..the awesome game of lacrosse.

 

They play Fort Lewis at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on March 9.  The remainder of their regular season schedule is:

March 13, 2014 @ Regis University

March 29, 2014 vs. Western State

April 11, 2014 @ University of Northern Colorado

April 13, 2014 vs. CU Denver

April 18, 2014 @ Colorado School of Mines

April 20, 2014 vs. Montana State

April 26 2014 vs. Johnson Wales