Sometimes called “the fastest game on two feet,” lacrosse has swept NIU. The sport, which has grown with leaps and bounds on campus, sports a 40 man roster in the NIU lacrosse club.

The club, which plays 16 games this spring season, began play Saturday against Wisconson at home. The team lost a hard-hitting battle, 4-3 in its home opener.

The Huskies then traveled to Purdue on Sunday where they displayed a great show of offense, scoring 11 times in a losing effort.

The team’s offensive punch was led by John Hughes who scored five times. Steve Schmidt and Bob White also were scoring threats.

Although NIU received its second setback 17-11, the team received the experience it needed. According to Huskie star attackman John Hughes, “We played a little flat this weekend, but we gained a lot of experience which we needed. We have a young, talented team that just needed the initial experience. We looked good for this early.”

Defensively, the Huskies are known for being a very physical team, led by Mark Rasb and Brian Goss.

“I would venture to say that we are the hardest-hitting team in the Midwest,” Goss said.

In the past, lacrosse was one of the roughest sports in the country. It led all other NCAA sports in injuries per athletes that play. But now, thanks to the NCAA’s stricter equipment rules, the injuries are decreasing.

“The athletes aren’t wearing more equipment, it’s just improved,” said Huskie midfielder Jim Marvin.

The team practices almost two hours a day from October until the end of the year, which reinforces the consistent hard work displayed by the club.

“The team is really dedicated this year,” Hughes said. “They have been outside working very hard even in the bad weather.”

Traditionally an East Coast sport, lacrosse is sweeping the Midwest, increasing the caliber of play. The Huskies are now attracting many players who were on teams in high school.

But lacrosse doesn’t end on the college level—many Huskie lacrosse players go on to play in the different Chicagoland teams, where NIU alumni such as Scott Kolb and Dan Pfeister dominate the leagues.

The Huskies have a week off but then prepare for a three-game home stretch April 8-10 against Beloit, Northwestern and Wisconsin-Lacrosse.