Apr. 16th, 2003 - Chico State men's lacrosse boots Cal Poly SLO
By Adam Arella
Orion Staff Writer
April 16, 2003
Chico State men's lacrosse didn't just knock the socks off the visiting Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs in Friday's game -- the 'Cats also stole a shoe.
For years the 'Cats and Mustangs have competed for bragging rights, exchanging a trophy known as "the boot." And Chico head coach Steve Dini was more than pleased to hoist the time-honored boot following the 'Cats 10-8 victory Friday.
The game took on even more significance because the winner will host this weekend's playoff game. The win means a return trip to Chico for the Mustangs this Saturday to start the conference playoffs and a likely spot for the 'Cats at the national competition in St. Louis, Mo. in early May. In the 17-year history of the program Chico has never competed at Nationals.
The win over Cal Poly, and an 11-2 win Sunday over unranked UC Davis, also cemented the team's best regular season ever at 11-2.
"I knew it was going to be this type of game and be a battle," Dini said. "I am so happy the boys played so well today."
Cal Poly boasts a high-speed attack Dini was worried couldn't be contained, but following the game he said it was defended well. In a close 5-5 first half Chico ran with the Mustangs, but when play slowed down it benefited the Wildcats and Chico pulled away.
"What didn't work was the first quarter when we were running up and down the field with them," Dini said. "And penalties also killed us. Other than that, we did really well once we got back in our game."
One key to the game was holding two of Cal Poly's leading scorers in check. Midfielder Sean Whitacre and attacker Tim Casey scored only two goals each, below their season averages. The 'Cats were once again led by freshmen on the attack. The Poor brothers, Whit and Tyson, scored seven goals, with Tyson leading at four. Freshman Dan Yob also chipped in with three goals.
As for the satisfaction of again holding the sacred boot, Dini was all smiles as he and his team raised it above their heads, shouting in unison, "Throw the boot! Throw the boot! Throw the boot!"
"We haven't hoisted that trophy in four years, and it's an old school trophy from back when it was a beer league," Dini said. "And now it's a business."
Dini said Chico's rivalry with Cal Poly is a highlight of the year.
"You're going to run faster and hit harder for this game more than any other regular season game," Dini said. "First, it's Cal Poly. And second, you're playing for the boot. We haven't had it in so long, all the young guys don't even know what it is, and now Chico is going to know what the boot is and we're going to want to keep it."
And thanks to those goals, the Mustangs will have to make the drive back to Chico this weekend.
"They have to drive seven or eight hours and that demoralizes them," Dini said. "They are walking off with their heads (down) and our guys are walking off (with them high)."
The players agreed with the importance of Friday's playoff implications.
"We needed to win this game," Yob said. "And there's no way we wanted to go nine hours to Cal Poly because our fans deserve another game. I'm just stoked that we pulled it out and just keep the season going."
Part of the mystique of Chico's season is the fact that the program has come so far so fast, but after Friday's win over Cal Poly, the team will be happy not to make another trip.
"I don't even have words to say how big this is," Yob said. "If we had lost today it would have just killed us. Now it just makes it all that much tougher for them. They have to come all the way back up here for nine hours next week with our fans."
Whit was also excited following Friday's contest.
"Not only are they going to be pissed off to deal with our fans, it's one hell of a drive to go down and back up for," Whit said. "You can't drive that much and expect to come out in top shape right away."
San Luis Obispo is approximately 390 miles from Chico, which means a six-hour drive for the average law-abiding citizen, with no traffic.
Whit believes the rivalry has been a huge influence on the excitement these two teams generate. He trusts his team's preparation for a Cal Poly rematch may be just as important as the match itself.
"We're going to have to step up and show them and let them know Chico should be going to the finals," Whit said.
Tyson has a different idea of what may slow the Poly pack.
"Home-field advantage is a huge part of it," Tyson said. "Just having the fans on the sidelines cheering for you is so much better than having them yell at you during a game."
Besides the outside influences of the road, the fans and the boot, players will tell you confidence is the X-factor that may ultimately decide a game.
Tyson, who scored one of his four goals on an open-net Hail Mary from half-field at the end of the third quarter, is one player with such confidence.
"I think Cal Poly played a good game," Tyson said. "But I think we'll beat them every time if we play the way we played last night."
This season the 'Cats may have shown the cohesiveness and unity that trademark winning teams, but most will tell you that the regular season is just practice for postseason.
"The playoffs is where it all happens and that is where it all counts," Tyson said. "You can win during the season, but if you go to the playoffs that's what people remember."
Whether the 'Cats make waves or ripples' following their impressive regular season is undecided. What is clear is the excitement players and fans share when the postseason draws near.
"For me, going to the playoffs is the biggest thing," Whit said. "I haven't been on a high-caliber team like this in a while and it's fun to see what you can do."
This article appeared originally on the Orion Online.