ISU students step foot on a field similar to that of soccer to face an opposing team and carry sticks resembling a hockey player’s.

Watching the players run around might make people believe they have the endurance of a soccer player, but they pass the ball as if it were a puck — like hockey.

This is the sport of lacrosse.

“[Lacrosse] is North America’s oldest sport,” said ISU senior captain Jake Jorgenson. “It was played by the Native Americans.”

Jorgenson, a defender, has been playing lacrosse for eight years. The objective of a defender is to prevent the opposing team from scoring.

The objective of lacrosse — like many other sports — is to score more points than the other team. Teams run plays and defend similarly to the game of basketball.

“Lacrosse is unique because it’s kind of a combination of many sports,” said junior captain Steve Lindner.

Linder, a midfielder, has been playing lacrosse since the fourth grade. Midfielders serve as an offensive and defensive player, able to go anywhere on the field.

Five players are always on offense between the midfielders and attackers. The other positions include the attackers and goalies.

The attackers are offensive players who attempt to put the ball in the net to score points. The goalie tries to prevent the opposing team from scoring.

Lacrosse is an intense game of strategy and aggression. It takes endurance and quick thought processing to master this sport.

“I’d say lacrosse here at Iowa State is half competitive and half just for fun because we’re mostly busy juniors and we are self-coached,” Lindner said.

Jorgenson added the team takes part in lacrosse games in an area of the country that isn’t as interested in the sport.

“We kind of accept the fact that we’re in a state that doesn’t really know about lacrosse and we just want to have fun and embrace the underdog role,” Jorgensen said.

The ISU lacrosse club team’s season is currently winding down. The team beat Dubuque, which is moving to Division III lacrosse next year, last Saturday, also facing Iowa, losing 12-11.

“It was a close game the whole way through with it being tied with under 1:30 left in the fourth quarter,” said President Alec Johanson.

The men’s club team has two games remaining, which will determine if they will make a postseason appearance. The team will play St. Cloud State and Minnesota State on April 13, 2013, in Mankato, Minn.