Despite only having played lacrosse for four years, Mike Walczak has quickly become one of NIU’s offensive leaders.

The sophomore attackman has scored 13 goals in the four games for the Huskies have actually faced an opposition, as two of their five wins have come by forfeit.

“It was new and upcoming in the area and I just decided to try it out because my younger brother was playing,” Walczak said.

There are two aspects the Woodstock native particularly likes about playing lacrosse.

“I just like how it’s really fast-paced and you’re always involved,” Walczak said.

David Jasper, junior defenseman and NIU lacrosse president, said Walczak’s presence on the field always gives the Huskies a scoring threat.

“Just his ability to be a threat at all times is really what he brings to the team and that’s what’s important about him,” Jasper said.

Jasper said the amount of preparation Walczak puts in is a big reason why he is so successful.

“If I had to give him one word, it would be prepared,” Jasper said, “That’s just because he comes to practice prepared and ready, and then that sets the tone. When one of your better players is out there giving his all, they say practice how you play, and that’s how he comes out and does it and it really prepares us the whole week for having everybody get into that mode.”

Going into this season, Walczak said he didn’t know what to expect, in terms of goals scored.

“I wasn’t too sure; things just fell into place,” Walczak said, “And I just started getting points on the board.”

Junior defenseman Pat Kelly said there’s one thing that Walczak can do to make himself an even better player.

“One of the things he can work on, it’s something that we kind of joke to him about, is a lot of times when he’ll drive to the net,” Kelly said, “He’ll have his head down sometimes, and he’ll get three defenders piled up on him and kind of not know what to do with it, but he’s been working on that a lot in practice and it’s showing.”