The Fall and Rise of Saints Men’s Lacrosse

Perhaps you thought that the men’s lacrosse team was nothing more than a self-proclaimed gang of frat boys, better known for their commitment to pints than to passes. With last season’s display, you might have been spot-on. Their lone victory came in a narrow 7-6 win against Aberdeen — a game that was more a showcase of survival than of skill.

However, this season they are turning sceptics into believers. From dominating their league to winning a sixes tournament, the team has undergone a drastic transformation. The question is: how has the team turned the tide in such a short amount of time? Furthermore, can they sustain this success, or are we witnessing the rise and fall of Saints Men’s Lacrosse in real-time?

It’s no secret that the team of last season lacked drive and vision. Many of the players were novices to the sport, having picked it up upon arrival at St Andrews. This, coupled with the team’s lack of a coach to guide them and their reliance on player leadership, meant that there was no sense of direction for last season’s Saints.

According to the men’s captain Daniel Fatigati, who has been with the team since the fall of 2022, last year’s struggles with results stemmed from it being a “foundation year.” With many experienced players graduating at the end of 2022, the team was entering an era of rebuilding and restructuring. “Our focus wasn’t on winning games last season,” Fatigati explained, “it was on building team cohesion and creating proper practice plans.”

Before the departure of key players in 2022, undefeated seasons were common. The last two seasons have been tough for the team, but as Fatigati admitted, “[they] had to adjust to a lot of new players and new challenges.” That adjustment period, while tough, laid the groundwork for what is quickly becoming a historic turnaround.

This season, the Saints have been fortunate to welcome several standout additions to the squad, most notably, David Chintala, a study-abroad student from Kenyon College, Ohio. For context, Kenyon competes in the highly competitive NCAC Division III — a league far beyond the level of BUCS Scottish 1A. Chintala’s accolades include being named to the All-North Coast Athletic Conference team, and his skillset has already made a transformative impact on the Saints.

“All the intangibles were there; there just wasn’t a ton of leadership and guidance”, Chintala told The Saint. He has embraced the challenge of bringing leadership to the team and introducing “schemes and ideals from American lacrosse” to shape the Saints’ playing style. His influence was on full display during their game against Aberdeen, resulting in the Saints’ major 19-1 victory.

Another transformative addition has been Reese Hornstein, a postgraduate student from Connecticut College, another Division III school. Hornstein’s high lacrosse IQ and ability to play on the same level as Chintala has restructured the Saints’ attack. According to Fatigati, these players have “laid the foundation to win now and when they’ve left,” setting a standard for future seasons.

This turnaround is not only driven by the influx of new talent. The cultural shift within the lacrosse club has also been a game-changer. The men’s and women’s lacrosse clubs merged in 2021, and naturally, the process wasn’t always smooth. However, as of right now, the collaboration between the teams has never been stronger.

Grace Penny, the third-year Geography and Psychology student and President of the club, believes that this newfound cohesion is key to the men’s success. “The team is showing up for each other in ways we haven’t seen before,” Penny said, citing their commitment to the long weekend travel days to their sixes tournament as an example of this new attitude.

She also reflected on past challenges, including tensions between the men’s and women’s sides, including incidents of the undermining of female referees. “The games are very different,” Penny explained, “and that lack of understanding created problems in the past. But we’ve worked hard to address those issues and build mutual respect.” Now, the friendships and trust off the pitch are as strong as the commitment.

The friendship and team cohesion truly shine during the club’s biannual charity tournaments. These events bring the club together as they mix up squads and invite friends to join in and play lacrosse, all to support charity. The upcoming tournament, scheduled for 1 December, promises to highlight this spirit of camaraderie.

So, what does the future hold for Saints Men’s Lacrosse? The team’s recent success is undoubtedly a testament to the team's newfound sense of commitment and growing respect for the game. Of course, credit is also due to new players, like Chintala and Hornstein, who have raised the bar for everyone. As Fatigati put it, “The team is a group of close friends now, and that’s translating into wins on the pitch.”

However, as with any turnaround, the real challenge lies in maintaining this momentum. The temporary players will eventually leave, and their departure will test whether the team can continue building on the foundations they’ve laid. Will the Saints sustain this cultural and athletic transformation or slip back into old habits?

Penny is confident: “I believe they’ll win the league.” Whether her prediction holds true, one thing is clear: the team is finally learning to respect each other and the game itself. And for a group that was once more famous for their bar tabs than their set plays, that is a win in itself.

Image from Connor Blackwood