Mens Lacrosse Team Travels to Japan
The UMBC men’s lacrosse team just returned from an 11-day trip to Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan, where they participated in the 2009 International Friendship Games. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Games and a nearly-two-decade-long relationship between UMBC and the Japan Lacrosse Association (JLA).
While in Japan, the team competed against the Under-20 Tokyo squad, the Japan National squad, Under-22 Japan National Squad, the Nagoya Regional team and other collegiate teams. They won all games with the closest being a one-goal win over the Japan National squad. UMBC players noticed a different playing style between themselves and the Japanese squads.
“The best word to describe their playing is ‘raw’,” said Alex Hopmann ’09, business technology administration. “Their skills aren’t as polished but with some good direction and coaching, they’ll catch up.”
Not only did the players learn about lacrosse while in Japan, they also had ample time to socialize. They toured the Toyota Plant, Nagoya Castle and Tokyo Tower. They spent time with players from opposing teams, bringing the Friendship Games full circle. One of the JLA’s principles is “making friends,” and Coach Don Zimmerman and the UMBC team noticed the JLA’s warm welcome.
“Everyone in Japan was very hospitable,” said Hopmann. “It really opened my eyes to the other side of the world and was a great experience for men our age.”
“The key element of this journey was the sharing of cultures, the camaraderie which is established and the continued development of the game in the Far East,” said Steve Levy, interdisciplinary studies ’85, associate director of athletic communications.
To find out more about the trip, read the UMBC Dawg Blog.
(7/2/09)
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