Photo by Jim Sannerud/MaxPreps
The 2014 Greenwich varsity lacrosse team will go down in history.
The Cardinals came away with a Connecticut state championship for the first time, beating the team they lost to last year in the CIAC Class L semifinals, Staples, 13-10 in the title game on Saturday, June 14 at Brien McMahon High School.
It was quite a run for the Cardinals. We caught up with one of the players who engineered it, junior attackman Decker Curran, who will play his college lacrosse at the University of Michigan.
Now, here are Decker’s thoughts on the championship season.
What was the feeling like when the clock went to zeroes and Greenwich had finished off the win against Staples for the first state championship in school history?
The feeling is still unbelievable — to be a part of the first Greenwich state championship. There’s no better way to end the season with a bunch a guys that you have been working for all year then to end with a W.
How does the feeling of being a state champion compare to what you thought it would be like in all the years of working hard chasing the goal?
I honestly don’t think it can compare. The amount of work our team put in this year on and off the field, in the weight room, and watching film was ridiculous. I’ve never seen a team more hungry to win a title than the 2013-14 Greenwich team. I wouldn’t want to play on a different high school team.
If you have to pinpoint two or three keys to the team’s run to winning the title, what would they be?
After losing to Darien in the FCIAC championship game and having to sit in the locker room was one of worst feelings I have ever felt in my life. To know that was the last FCIAC game we were all going to strap up together really started a fire in all of us.
Having (Connecticut 2014 player of the year) Kyle Foote get injured in that game (with a torn Achilles tendon), it was really important that we make the most of it because when you lose in states, that’s it, your season is over and we were not ready to let that happen. So I would have to say sacrifice and motivation.
What are one or two plays during the state title run that will stick in your mind and that you may tell friends in college that you meet who are not aware about what the team did?
We didn’t come out any different, our game plan was keep the ball hot and get everyone involved.
Coach (Scott Bulkley) would always say don’t worry about what other people are doing, if you execute your job the very best you can — whether it is cheering on your team or being the cutter so other guy can score — we will win games. There really weren’t any set plays, just a lot of picks and a lot of attacking the short sticks.
What will you be doing lacrosse-wise this summer to prepare for next season at GHS and then the start of your college career?
Taking myself down the street to Greenwich Academy to work on my shooting and stick skills. I will also be playing for Prime Time lacrosse this summer, just trying to find new competition to take my game to the next level.
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Posted In: Connecticut, Player's perspective
