The clang of sticks hitting pads and plays being screamed from the sidelines echoed through Viking Stadium as the DVC Lacrosse club kicked off the season with their “White and Green” scrimmage on Sept. 14.
The audience experienced pure excitement while watching the state’s top-ranked community college Lacrosse club. In fact, DVC has the only community college team in California, making it one of the most unique clubs on campus.
In late 2008, advisor Terry Armstrong, staff coordinator Al Boyce and five dedicated players sat in a cramped counseling office and drafted ideas on how to form the club.
The first challenge was being able to fill a 20-man roster in order to lock up field time. After signing up 19 players in total, the team was one member short.
“We needed the field time,” Boyce exclaimed. “So I told Terry to put my name down on the roster as a fourth string goalie. We didn’t even have a third string goalie, it just meant we had to pull someone from the stands before I suit up.”
Since then, word of mouth and the club’s individuality helped the club explode into what it is today; they are fielding a 48-man roster. “The team is really starting to come together as a family,” said first year midfielder Octavio Martinez, “we have a lot of potential to do great things.”
“A lot of high schools in the East Bay have good programs, but as far as college programs go there is a big gap for talented players to get on teams. We are happy to fill that gap,” coach Jon Skinner said.
Since the DVC Lacrosse team is the only community college team in the state, they are not allowed to play in the spring during the official Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association, or MCLA, season.
Although they won’t be playing for a championship, the Vikings play for something bigger: pride. The Lacrosse club is one of the only DVC teams that regularly competes with four-year universities. Not only do they compete, but they win. Since it’s inception, the team has pulled in victories against schools like Stanford, UC Davis and San Jose State.
“We love to surprise them,” Armstrong said with a smile.
Furthermore, every time a Viking Lacrosse player takes the field, their opponent is effectively scouting them. In the past three years, 20 players have transferred on to four-year programs at UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara and University of Nevada, Reno.
“We take pride in good recruiting,” Boyce said. “Some of these guys might have had a bad game at a tournament in high school or have made a leap in improvement since being scouted, and we’re able to provide them a second look.”
As the club moves forward, they continue to brainstorm ways to get a chance at a championship.
“What we’re trying to suggest to the MCLA is a community college league with the creation of other clubs in Northern California, but that’s a ways away,” Armstrong said. “They still don’t know what to do with us.”
Although they aren’t afforded that chance for glory, it doesn’t discourage the team on the field. In the press box at the first scrimmage, Boyce sat back in his chair and said, “We’ll play anybody.”
The Vikings are looking forward to a season better than last year as they prepare to show off their grit and intensity on the field against University of Pacific at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at Viking Stadium.
