Lacrosse may not be a widely understood sport in the Midwest, but the ISU Men’s Lacrosse club is out to change that.

Kyle Andringa, junior in aerospace engineering and co-captain of the club, said he is aware of the small number of people who support the sport in the Midwest, but hopes more people will find they enjoy it.

“I wish people would take off their Abercrombie lacrosse shirts and actually discover the game,” he said. “Every day, I wish I could have played the game in high school, and it’s a shame most people don’t have a chance to play till college.”

With its first Upper Midwest Lacrosse League game Saturday against Minnesota-Moorhead in Minneapolis, the team has a chance to start the season with an important win.

The team’s roster this year is equipped with 45 underclassmen, but no seniors are on the squad.

“We used to have a problem getting people to practice, and now we have a problem of not having enough room. Half of the turf at the [Lied Recreation Center] just isn’t enough anymore,” Andringa said.

His co-captain agreed new players make the season look most promising.

“We have the biggest and most experienced freshman class [we’ve had] in a long time. We have exciting new players coupled with the return of all but one starter,” said Nicholas Swaggert, senior in political science.

Also making a first appearance for the team is the addition of a coach. Cmdr. Bob Hoffer, adjunct assistant professor of naval science, has taken “a huge burden off the captains and executives and adds the structure we need to be competitive,” Andringa said.

Dustin Brucker, freshman in agricultural systems technology, is a first-year lacrosse player with no prior experience who simply answered a flier posted in his dorm.

“I knew the game would be difficult to pick up with no experience, but I am slowly coming into my own, with much help from the older members of the team,” Brucker said.

“The guys are helpful with any questions I may have and continue to teach me new ways to play and make myself better.”

Brucker also looks forward to the road trips the team will be making across the Midwest, where the skill level and popularity of the sport has been increasing.

A quick and experienced defense is predicted to continue the trademark performance it has earned the past couple of years. Scoring threats have become multi-dimensional and come from all over the field.

The squad is close-knit, and the team members’ camaraderie is expected to show on the field.

“Our goals are oriented toward teamwork and effort over individual skill,” Swaggert said. “I look forward to stepping onto the field of battle with my teammates and imposing our will on the teams we play.”

Two big goals for the team this season are to capture the league title and to beat Minnesota-Duluth, which has been a powerhouse in the conference for the last five years.

Minnesota-Duluth has annually been one of the top 10 teams in the country and has won numerous UMLL championships in years past.

The club will host games March 26-28 at the Maple-Willow-Larch fields.

“Out east, [lacrosse is] bigger than football at some schools,” Andringa said. “It’s got the excitement of football, the speed of hockey and the athleticism of basketball.”