“To the lake on three!”

     The team chant that tells every member of the boys soccer team it’s time for another 80 minutes of practice. Another 80 minutes of cleats tearing at turf and sweat soaking into their green-striped jerseys. But most importantly, it stands for another 80 minutes of playing together.

     After their season ended, many JV and varsity boys soccer players joined the lacrosse team for the spring, not only in the hopes of repeating their success from the soccer season, when they reached the district quarterfinals, but also to take the field together one last time before the seniors graduate. 

     After the boys soccer season ended with a loss to St. Pete Catholic, many players considered their time playing with their teammates over, as if the end of the season also brought about the end of an era. 

     “It was heartbreaking. It was really sad to see the seniors who will never play again. That’s their last game ever. It was hard to see them, some of your best friends, crying on the floor,” sophomore Dash Johnson, a varsity boys soccer and lacrosse player, said. 

    But while the soccer season may have ended, the athletes have held on to their bonds throughout the lacrosse season. Despite many team members having little or no experience with the sport, to them, it’s more about staying together as a team and continuing the lasting companionship they developed playing soccer.

    “It’s certainly nice to be able to play with those players again and have more of the same chemistry in a way — [the] banter and all the stuff that comes with being on the team. … It’s definitely nice to continue to have that after the soccer season,” senior soccer captain and lacrosse player Charlie Cowan said. 

     JV soccer coach Casey McDonough described the teams as “very close,” and said he loves to “see their friendships grow over the course of the season.” He also expressed his excitement for the players coming together again to play lacrosse.

     McDonough also emphasized his belief in the players taking on a new sport.

     “Lacrosse and soccer are pretty similar sports. I think the soccer players who are confident playing in tight quarters, where passes are being made quickly and there’s an emphasis on beating other players, will perform the best in lacrosse,” he said. 

     Cowan also voiced his excitement and faith in the team. Similar to McDonough, he believes that soccer players will be able to translate their skills well to lacrosse. 

     “The soccer team is very competitive, and everyone has a good mentality and mindset in regards to competing in the sport, and I think that transfers over to lacrosse,” he said. 

     Even though seniors like Cowan have now stepped off of Haskell Field for the final time as a Charger, the memories and friendships made in both sports will live on forever, to the lake and beyond.