The 2025 boys lacrosse season has started! Tryouts took place at the end of February and the new team has already begun to face other schools. Lacrosse is a fast-paced team sport played with a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse. The objective is to score by shooting the ball into the opponent’s goal. Players use the crosse to carry, pass, and shoot the ball while trying to avoid checks and defensive plays from opposing players. The lacrosse team stays after school every day to prepare for their many matches throughout the season. So what does the boys lacrosse season look like for its players?

The lacrosse team this year only consists of a Varsity team that stays after school every day from 3:45 to 6:00 in the afternoon for practice. Their day-to-day practice may vary depending on what drill or skill they are refining that day. They describe their practices as, “Warming up and then we run around a bit then shooting drills and the competitive practice towards the end,” said Jackson Christiansen. “My day-to-day practice looks like everyone pushing themselves to the limit to get better every day,” said sophomore Cristopher Martinez.

During their practices, the lacrosse team may come up with certain plays that the team will know how to do by game day. Individual players may also have their own strategies they use to enhance their skills during a match. “I just make sure that I’m balanced in a way, like make sure I’m coordinated and alert,” said Christianson. “I try my best to maintain situational awareness like knowing where my man is or who’s supposed to slide if XYZ happens,” said Matthew Whitesell.

Some players want to play the sport to just improve as an athlete or player. I asked players and tried to figure out what got them into playing lacrosse. “It’s a very fun sport for me and I like playing or trying new sports,” said Nicky Wessle. “I really only started to play this sport to help me as an athlete and student and have something to do and plus it is a very fun sport in my opinion,” Christiansen. 

For the team, it’s good to have some form of a base or support for the team to lean on. These components can include ideals, skills, etc. They can help bring the team together as a whole and better their performance. “The key components of our team are of course teamwork and communication,” said junior Edwin Barrera-Zelaya. “We are a hard-working team, we just need to perform better on the field and we should be set,” said Kellen Reid. “We are a decent team I would say but when we are on the field we don’t talk much which is a big struggle for us we need to learn how to talk more and not have just one of us speak out,” said Whitesell.

The average Lacrosse team consists of a goalkeeper, defense-men, midfielders, and attack-men. Playing in a position that suits you can benefit the players and team’s performance. “I play defense and we make sure no one can shoot or get to the goal,” said Barrera-Zelaya. “My position is attack and as an attack man, our job is to pass the ball around to find a good opening for a good shot and just being able to make goals,” said Martinez.

Players will always feel some certain way about opponents- some feel neutral about the fact or some have a grudge. “I don’t have a rival I want to go against so all the teams we go against this season are rivals to me so I can’t wait to go against all of them,” said John French. “I want to go against a team that would give us a big challenge like a top school in our district so I don’t mind who we play against as long as they can also help us as a team get better and find what we need to fix,” said Whitesell. “I feel like Unity Reed will be our biggest rival team as it’s the battle of Manassas and it went the same way in football,” said Reid. “I feel Osbourn Park will be a team I would love to go against,” said Christiansen.

Sportsmanship on the field, as well as in the bleachers, displays how mature and professional a team can be. It is important to demonstrate it on the field so that the team can keep a calm environment to play in. “We display sportsmanship by acting like men even if we lose the game we always respect our opponent,” said Barrera-Zelaya. “Sportsmanship is something very important to demonstrate during a game. We display sportsmanship by just playing the game and having fun- not running our mouths or being too aggressive,” said Martinez.

I believe we are in for an exciting season this year! Good luck to the Osbourn boys lacrosse this season. Go Eagles!

Do you plan on attending any Lacrosse matches? Tell us in the comments!

Boys lacrosse schedule:

3/6 Park View High School Scrimmage Home @ Osbourn High School

3/11 Seton School Scrimmage Home @ Osbourn High School

3/17 Annandale High School Game Away @ Annandale High School

3/19 John Lewis High School Game Away @ John R. Lewis High School

3/24 Osbourn Park High School Game Home @ Osbourn High School

3/28 Thomas Jefferson High School for S & T Game Away @ Thomas Jefferson S & T

4/2 Potomac High School Game Away @ Potomac Senior High School

4/3 Unity Reed High School Game Away @ Unity Reed High School

4/7 Park View High School Game Away @ Hanson Park

4/10 Patriot High School Game Away @ Patriot High School

4/11 Liberty High School Game Away @ Liberty High School – Bealeton

4/22 Gainesville High School Game Home @ Osbourn High School

4/24 Battlefield High School Game Away @ Battlefield High School

4/28  Osbourn Park High School Game Away @ Osbourn Park High School 

4/30 NVHAA Centurions Game Home @ Osbourn High School

5/5 Freedom High School Game Home @ Osbourn High School

5/6 Gar-Field High School Game Away @ Gar-Field High School

5/8 Unity Reed High School Game Home @ Osbourn High School