The balls have been put away, the cleats cleaned off and the 4:30-6:30 p.m. time slot filled with other activities, yet the Yeo-laxers, who finished their season last Wednesday, have not forgotten their sport.

“Lacrosse is a year round commitment,” commented senior Dan Cole. “Just because our season is officially over doesn’t mean we stop training or thinking about lacrosse. We take a few weeks off and then start gearing up for next season. It’s important not to lose the momentum or the focus.”

Mention the 2006 season to any men’s lacrosse player and he instantly lights up. Ask him to tell you about it and he will gush about the endless potential, possibility and promise of the coming year.

Ask them about this season and you get more of the same. Although the Yeomen finished their season with a 3-11 overall record, they feel that great progress has been made under Kevin Walz’s first year as head coach. Walz, who coached at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn. before coming to Oberlin, has given the program the spark it needed, generating excitement on all levels.

Walz also brought on E. J. Stapler as his assistant coach for this past season. Walz worked mainly with the offense and Stapler took the defense.

The Yeomen received four all-conference selections this season, doubled from last season, with sophomores Bryan Harfenist and Max Braun and juniors Will Jaffee and Jared Pickard picking up honorable mention awards.

Walz, who was one vote away from being named NCAC coach of the year, knows how to motivate his players by reaching out to them on a personal level.

“Walz really understands the Oberlin way,” said Cole. “This is huge because he is able to talk with us about our studies and understand where we are coming from as people. You can tell he cares a lot about us as individuals. When a coach makes a personal connection with his players he is more likely to get results.”

The Yeomen were second in the conference in man-up scoring percentage, were 0.3 percent away from being number one in man-down percentage and were third in face-off percentage.

“Coach built us as a team,” said sophomore Mat Markman. “Last year we were a group of individuals working hard to win, and this year we are a team working hard to win. Our statistics show improvement, and you can’t argue with that. Even if we didn’t get all the wins we hoped for, we still came a long way.”

This season’s push to increase team unity and stimulate group growth has come in the form of many different achievements.

“The team really got to know each other’s playing styles this year. On offense we became aware of each other’s movements and thus could move more effectively as a unit,” remarked Jaffee. This season, the Yeomen scored 102 goals — two more than last season despite playing a more difficult schedule, including two games against teams that qualified for the NCAA tournament.

The 2005 lacrosse schedule was marked by moments of breakthough play, such as scoring five goals in under three minutes against Kenyon. The team has come a long way and they will continue to work hard, carrying with them the enthusiasm and confidence gained over the course of this season. The season never really ends for these dedicated players. They come off this season not defeated but more motivated than ever.

First-year Drew Terry said it best: “I’m already so excited for next year! It’s gonna be awesome! Watch out, world!”