SWAMPSCOTT — The Swampscott lacrosse team began last season with its backs against the wall, but the Big Blue turned things around to win nine of their last 12 games. And if you ask head coach Geoff Beckett about that turnaround, he said he’d love to see that wave ride.
“The kids hadn’t played together a lot, just with covid and everything… but the kids really responded,” Beckett said. “Luckily, everything really started to come together towards the end of the year.”
That said, why stop now?
“I’d love to see them continue to play the team game we played last year,” Beckett said. “I loved how that whole group bonded… always willing to work hard on it.”
Speaking of working hard, there are things Beckett wants from a lacrosse team. Yes, he prioritizes defense and ground balls, but he also wants to run and gun it.
“We definitely play hard in transition,” Beckett said. “We’ll run hard on offense… and we’ll try to sprint back and pressure the ball on defense.”
Then there’s the mental aspect of it all, as Beckett wants all of his players to be in control while they play.
“Hopefully we’re fast and aggressive, but also disciplined at the same time,” Beckett said. “It’s a fun way to play.”
As for who the Big Blue are counting on this season, a few players came to Beckett’s mind. First, there’s two-sport athlete (lacrosse and football) Jason Codispoti.
“He started playing at Swampscott when he was a sophomore, and he’s gotten better every year,” Beckett said. “All that athleticism [in football] has turned into lacrosse skill.”
Then there’s Liam Herlihy, who Beckett describes as “super fast.”
“He’s always been really athletic, but his stick skills have come a long way the last three or four years,” Beckett said of the attacker/midfielder.
A player who has “bought in” is Christian Urbano, who Beckett believes will be exciting to watch this season.
“He’s really seen the light and has bought into everything,” Beckett said. “He’s going to epitomize what we want to see.”
Wins and losses are important, but in the end, Beckett thinks it goes further than that, adding he wants his players to grow as people.
“Obviously I want to win, but when I see a group of kids continue to grow and become young men, and learn how to be a team, I think that’s really special,” Beckett said.
As for the game of lacrosse, Beckett said you don’t need to be the biggest or fastest – you just need to be the hardest worker.
“Whatever you put into the game, it kind of gives it back,” Beckett said. “Great things can happen.”
Oh, and when asked which game he’s most excited for, you could probably guess it.
“My favorite is always Marblehead,” Beckett said. “As a coach, I’ve never beaten Marblehead… that’s always the first one I circle on my calendar.”
That calendar begins April 1 against Newburyport, a team Swampscott eliminated last season.
