March 1, 2023 - Willie Nelson would certainly equate the Husson men’s lacrosse team to a band of gypsies going down the highway.
For Mike O’Neill, head coach of the Husson Eagles, the idea of a spring break road trip started in the 1980s when he was coaching at Vermont. Winters can be long and occasionally unrelenting, so a trip south would afford his teams a chance to be outside without snow. In addition, the long bus rides could foster a sense of cohesion and team unity, not replicated staying on a campus.
Despite not yet playing a game in 2023, the Eagles, 6-11 a year ago, will depart Bangor, Maine on an 11-day bus odyssey that will cover 2,500+ miles and feature six games in four different states. Amazingly, this year is less aggressive than in 2022 when the Eagles played seven games in nine days during spring break.
Husson opens tomorrow at Eastern Nazarene in Quincy, Mass. on Thursday, March 2. The game was initially scheduled for March 1 but was pushed back a day to accommodate potential weather. From there, the team heads south for a Saturday, March 4 game at Virginia Wesleyan. The Eagles play every other day, culminating with a Sunday, March 12 game at Keystone College in La Plume, Pa., before returning home.
O’Neill tries to get his team to appreciate local sights and try different foods, while acknowledging the team benefit of spending so much time together. “It immerses them in a lacrosse culture and makes the group very close,” O’Neill said.
D3 Lax is partnering with the Husson men’s lacrosse team to chronicle their spring break experience. Be sure to follow our Instagram account along with @hussonmlax Instagram.
March 2 at Eastern Nazarene (Quincy, Mass.)
March 4 at Virginia Wesleyan (Virginia Beach, Va.)
March 6 at Randolph College (Lynchburg, Va.)
March 8 at Averett University (Danville, Va.)
March 10 at Brevard College (Brevard, N.C.)
March 12 at Keystone College (La Plume, Pa.)
For Mike O’Neill, head coach of the Husson Eagles, the idea of a spring break road trip started in the 1980s when he was coaching at Vermont. Winters can be long and occasionally unrelenting, so a trip south would afford his teams a chance to be outside without snow. In addition, the long bus rides could foster a sense of cohesion and team unity, not replicated staying on a campus.
Despite not yet playing a game in 2023, the Eagles, 6-11 a year ago, will depart Bangor, Maine on an 11-day bus odyssey that will cover 2,500+ miles and feature six games in four different states. Amazingly, this year is less aggressive than in 2022 when the Eagles played seven games in nine days during spring break.
Husson opens tomorrow at Eastern Nazarene in Quincy, Mass. on Thursday, March 2. The game was initially scheduled for March 1 but was pushed back a day to accommodate potential weather. From there, the team heads south for a Saturday, March 4 game at Virginia Wesleyan. The Eagles play every other day, culminating with a Sunday, March 12 game at Keystone College in La Plume, Pa., before returning home.
O’Neill tries to get his team to appreciate local sights and try different foods, while acknowledging the team benefit of spending so much time together. “It immerses them in a lacrosse culture and makes the group very close,” O’Neill said.
D3 Lax is partnering with the Husson men’s lacrosse team to chronicle their spring break experience. Be sure to follow our Instagram account along with @hussonmlax Instagram.
March 2 at Eastern Nazarene (Quincy, Mass.)
March 4 at Virginia Wesleyan (Virginia Beach, Va.)
March 6 at Randolph College (Lynchburg, Va.)
March 8 at Averett University (Danville, Va.)
March 10 at Brevard College (Brevard, N.C.)
March 12 at Keystone College (La Plume, Pa.)