Club lacrosse plays final home game of season against Michigan State

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Saturday is not just a regular season game against Michigan State for the seniors on the CMU club lacrosse team.

It also is their final career home game.

“Emotions are definitely high this week, as the seniors are keeping the team motivated,” said senior defenseman and captain Andrew Tillman.

CMU (1-3) has never beaten MSU in six meetings, and will seek an upset at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Indoor Athletic Complex. MSU is the No. 11 team in the nation, according to LAX Power Poll.

“This is their most talented team they have ever had,” Tillman said. “They’re very fast, do a great job of forcing turnovers and shutting down the other team’s best player.”

MSU (4-1) has quality wins against No. 3 Oregon and No. 16 Georgia.

Junior Patrick Nemes leads MSU with nine goals and 14 points in five games. Also, junior
Connor Bush has four goals and six points in five games.

CMU also faces MSU senior goalie Dean Hall, a Second-Team All-America selection last year.

Tillman said coach Brad Thomas has constantly reminded the team this week of how close it has been in the past of beating MSU.

CMU has had leads late in almost every game against MSU, but mental errors and inexperience led to losses. Last year was an exception, with MSU beating CMU 12-5 on April 16, 2009.

“We have been going over the game plan, figuring out their key players and their tendencies,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the best way to beat MSU is to force it to play six-on-six and limit its transition game.

After Saturday, CMU next plays April 3 at Michigan.