The Naval Academy men’s lacrosse team is poised for another run at a national title. The Midshipmen, who lost a one-goal heartbreaker to Syracuse in the 2004 NCAA championship, are healthy again after an injury-riddled 2005 campaign. They are ranked No. 5 in the country, coming off a thrilling 8-7 win over Maryland and … hold on just a second.
It’s Army week.
The regular-season finale against defending national champion Johns Hopkins, the Patriot League Tournament and the NCAA Tournament are all going to have to wait.
“Let me just put you at ease,” said Navy senior attack Taylor Harris. “Whatever game on the schedule, the hype or whatever everyone talks about, the team always takes Army the most serious. We don’t care about the rankings. We don’t care about any of that.”
Harris, who missed all of 2005 with a back injury, is as anxious as anyone to be on the field and finish his Navy career undefeated against the Cadets.
As a sophomore in 2004, the former Robinson High standout had three goals and three assists during Navy’s postseason run. The coaching staff had high expectations for his junior year.
“He was one of the guys who played in the national championship game so we were enthused about his opportunity,” said Navy head coach Richie Meade. “Then all of a sudden things went south on him.”
Diagnosed with spondylolisthesis, a spinal condition that led to a herniated disc, Harris was out of action for the season.
“Going through that experience, especially here, it reaffirms the team-first, player-second mentality,” said Harris. “On the sidelines, of course, I was bummed because after sophomore year, I could’ve been playing anywhere. But at the same point I really kind of put that mentality behind me and really started supporting the team.”
Harris couldn’t move very well, but he could still shoot. Already a skilled finisher from close range – “In Northern Virginia, everybody’s got a goal in their backyard, and instead of doing my homework, I’d be back there shooting,” said Harris – he honed his skills by warming up Navy’s goalies.
“What that has done for him is basically he can the shoot the hell out of it,” said Meade. “He’s probably the best guy we have shooting it right now.”
After surgery last November, Harris returned to action this spring, and he’s come off the bench to score eight of his nine goals in Navy’s last five games. He exploded for a career-high six goals against Holy Cross, the most for a Navy player in one game since 1990. His 10 points rank him fifth on the team overall, and he’s scored on nine of 14 shots.
Along with Harris, the Midshipmen could have all the right pieces to get back to the national championship game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Navy has welcomed the return of senior attack Ian Dingman (24 goals, eight assists), who missed the 2005 season due to grades, and senior goalie Matt Russell (4.00 GAA) is on pace to break the NCAA career record for goals against.
But first and foremost, the biggest game of the year is this weekend in West Point.
“No one in that locker room has ever lost to Army so the fear of feeling that defeat is just in everyone’s head,” said Harris. “We’re taking this game as serious as if it was the national championship game.”
Navy at Army
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
TV: ESPNU
Radio: WNAV-1430 AM
