In six games this season, the men’s lacrosse team is 3-3 and has already equalled its win total from the last two seasons combined.

In fact, the Lions’ win total so far is already the highest in a season in the lacrosse program’s short history, according to the athletics website. Assistant coach Max Smith, who is just a year removed from playing for the Lions, said the success this season comes down to one factor the Lions lacked in his four years playing Lacrosse at Emerson. “We have more numbers now,” said Smith, who joined the team as a coach last fall.

“We have a good class of freshman in talent and size. The team is mostly freshman and sophomores, and this year it seems like everyone has bought in and played well together.”

In Smith’s senior season, the Lions had 17 players; that number jumped to 23 this year. Of those 23, 10 are freshmen.

“The program has definitely taken a step in the right direction with the kids it brought in this year,” said Smith. “Even in the games we’ve lost, we’ve shown upside. If we had put together a full game in every game, we would be 6-0 right now.”

The Lions, whose two leading goalscorers through seven games are Andrew Romano and Diego Rosende, both freshman, lost 6-3 Wednesday, March 25 to Mitchell College. Conference play starts on March 28 against Mass. Maritime Academy.

Baseball frustrated by late game woes

The baseball team, now 0-12 after a 12-2 loss to Worcester Polytechnic Institute (10-4 overall), went winless on its annual spring break trip and have dropped the last two since returning to Boston. But the team still has been competitive.

The Lions’ played their first game back in sub-freezing temperatures against Newbury College at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire, a neutral site chosen because of the amount of snow on Emerson’s and Newbury’s home fields. Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, pitcher Jack Capotorto allowed an infield hit, followed by three straight errors that allowed Newbury to score a run and win in walk-off fashion.

“It’s frustrating to us, because we know we’re better than a winless record,” said senior captain Zach Dean. “We’ve wasted a lot of good pitching performances because of a lack of run production and fielding mistakes.”

On March 24, the Lions traveled to WPI, and despite being heavy underdogs, were beating the Engineers, 2-1, in the eighth inning. Henry Schwartz, a freshman transfer from State University of New York Oswego, started the game and lasted seven 1-3 innings before being replaced by sophomore Cal Laird, who combined to let up 11 runs in the inning. The Lions went on to lose 12-2.

“That would have been a great first win and a great way to start our NEWMAC schedule,” said Dean, a journalism major. “Again, it’s frustrating that we wasted probably the best pitched game of Henry [Schwartz]’s life.”

The Lions will resume conference play with a doubleheader on March 28 against Coast Guard Academy.

Softball waiting patiently

After posting a 5-4 record on their spring trip to Clermont, Florida, the softball team have had zero game action.

Since returning to Boston, all four games—a doubleheader against Suffolk University and a double header against Johnson & Wales University—have all been postponed because of the weather.

“It’s been two weeks since we last played a game, so people are starting to get a little itchy and ready to play again,” said senior captain Annie Jenkins, a journalism major. “Even though we have had six games postponed so far, it really hasn’t changed our preparation. We have still had all of our regular practices and even practices instead of the game days.”

The Lions are scheduled to resume play this weekend against Wheaton College, their first NEWMAC action of the year.

Women’s Lax’s Weber receives NEWMAC honor

When a player scores nine goals to go with one assist in a two game stretch, some recognition usually follows.

Meredith Weber, a sophomore visual and media arts major on the women’s lacrosse team, did just that in games against Curry College and Gordon College, and was named NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Week by the conference.

She has scored 20 goals on the season, which leads the Lions, and averages about four per game.

The Lions have won four of their first six contests, having lost to Mount Holyoke College 9-6 on Wednesday, March 25. They resume NEWMAC play on March 28 against Smith College.