Preview: There for a Reason

Photo by Jodi Vosika

By: E.J. Freeman | MCLA.us   

ATLANTA- We’ve all been there, sitting through a meeting or a safety training session feeling impossibly bored because it seems as though the items being covered have almost no chance of happening.  The younger we are, the more the “It won’t happen to me,” mindset creeps in.  This is why younger populations are more risk tolerant,  the feeling of invincibility and that the possible negative outcome will not happen to them lead to some interesting decision making. 

Well, last week an incident occurred that can hopefully show that these types of meetings and preparation for worst case scenarios are important and worth paying attention to.  During a practice at Air Force last week, a player was struck in the lower portion of the chest;  he was wearing the recently mandated shoulder pads with the chest protection built in; the pads are designed to protect the heart.  However, the shot  happened to hit in a spot that the pads only half covered.  Every lacrosse coach’s worst nightmare was unfolding as the player suffered from commotio cordis, a rare cardiac arrhythmia triggered by a sudden blunt blow to the chest directly over the heart during a 15-20 millisecond window in the cardiac cycle.  In the lacrosse community, we have been aware of this condition for quite some time; notably since the sudden passing of George Boiardi at Cornell in 2004.  The phenomenon drew much wider awareness following the incident with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin three years ago.  Thankfully, the Air Force team was prepared and had a defibrillator on hand and they were able to use it and perform CPR until medics arrived.  The player was taken to a local hospital, discharged, and is expected to make a full recovery.  Thankfully, the parties involved were prepared for this occurrence and were ready to act accordingly.  This incident highlights the importance of having and knowing the location of a defibrillator at both practices and games as well as the importance of wearing the required shoulder pads that include the chest protection to make these events even more rare.  These shoulder pads and defibrillators are there not to simply check a box, but rather they are there to prevent a tragedy as they did in this case.

Now, on to the business at hand this weekend.  After this weekend we will have seen games from nearly every MCLA team.  The last few holdouts begin their schedules this weekend.  In some conferences division races will start taking shape.

This week’s guest picker is Chris Marshall.  Chris is a Chapman alumnus who has become the unofficial voice of the MCLA having called the final of our national tournament since 2017.  Thanks to Chris for jumping into the hot seat and taking the time to chat with us and answer a few questions.  We’ll start with our questions.

MCLA: What was it that got you into broadcasting and how did you link up with the MCLA?

Chris Marshall: This was really a combination of luck and passion. I majored in Television Production and Broadcast Journalism at Chapman, so stepping into game broadcasts was a natural extension of what I was already studying. The year after I graduated in 2008, there was an opportunity to call a few Chapman home games for the college radio station. I was the only TV major who had also been on the team, and I still knew all the guys, so they asked me to jump in.

It also happened to coincide with what I believe were some of the most talented MCLA teams ever. I worked my first MCLA National Tournament in 2008 at the old Cowboys Stadium, which was an incredible experience and I’ve worked almost every tournament since then. In 2009, things really started to take off. A driven group of TV students was determined to elevate the broadcasts. Stephen Nelson, now seen on SportsCenter and as the Dodgers’ play by play announcer, was a sophomore at the time. He produced the broadcasts and made sure I was on the call for every game. He did the announcing for the games I couldn’t get to.

That season, I like to joke that I may have been the first fully interactive broadcaster. I shared an email address during games and would take listener questions live on the air. It was a different time, but it created real engagement. As the student production team continued to raise the level of the broadcasts, I kept doing Chapman games and started getting calls from other local programs looking for a broadcaster.

I was able to team up with Samir right after TLN launched in 2012 and the rest is, as they say, history.

MCLA:  Do you have a favorite MCLA moment that you have called?

CM: This is such a hard question. There have been so many incredible moments over the years, but if I have to pick one, it’s my first “viral” call. The clip from that single play picked up a few thousand views pretty quickly, and in 2010 that felt massive. We genuinely thought we had broken the internet.

It was late in the season, I want to say it was the last game of the regular season but the internet had basically just started back then so there is almost no additional information out there about that game. The highlight is pretty much the only evidence it even happened. If it were not on tape, I think people would assume I was embellishing the whole story.

Chapman versus ASU, which at the time was one of the premier rivalries in the MCLA. Those teams legitimately hated each other. Both had been national title contenders for years. Chapman had knocked off ASU in the 2008 national semifinal in one of the greatest tournament games I have ever seen, finishing on an 18 to 7 run after falling behind 7 to 1 in the first quarter. For my money, that is still the best tournament game ever played, but I digress.

I was on the call with Steve Felts, a former Chapman player who later joined the Con Bro Chill band. The game is winding down. Chapman has the ball. They take a shot at the horn and miss, but there is a flag down. Two seconds go back on the clock. The crowd in Orange was huge that day and absolutely buzzing.

On the restart, Chris Small rips basically a shot into traffic from just above goal line extended. It is chaos in front of the cage. And then out of nowhere, Connor Martin, yes, Con Bro Chill himself, appears and quick sticks it home. It was the only possible way that play could have ended. It felt impossible and inevitable at the same time.

We completely lost our minds on the call. No pretending to be neutral. Just pure, unfiltered excitement. The clip is still floating around out there and every time I see it, it takes me right back.

ASU ended up winning in overtime, which takes a little shine off the fairy tale ending, but that moment still gives me chills. That was the first time I realized how powerful a single call and a single play could be. And honestly, I still get fired up thinking about it.

Check it out here.

MCLA: Do you have a plan of expressions or calls that you have in mind coming into the game or is it all in the moment?

CM: I do a lot of prep going into games. I’ll jot down storylines, stats, milestones and anything else that might add texture to the broadcast. I also keep a running list on my prep sheet of song lyrics, movie quotes and random pop culture references I think could be fun to slip in. It’s almost like a game within the game for me.

Most of the time, I don’t think anyone even notices when I slip one in, and that’s kind of the point. The challenge is weaving it in so naturally that it feels completely at home in the moment. If someone catches it, great. If not, I still enjoy the creative exercise. Every now and then, it’s also a subtle way to send a quiet shoutout to someone watching at home by dropping in a reference I know they’ll recognize.

I think that kind of stuff keeps me sharp and creative during the broadcast. And in games that might get out of hand a little earlier than one team was hoping, it helps keep the energy up and the broadcast engaging all the way through.

What I really enjoy most, though, are the human-interest stories. I can see who the players are between the lines, but I’m always curious about who they are off the field. College athletes are incredibly dynamic. Many of them are balancing academics, internships, leadership roles and community involvement, and those stories deserve to be told. Sometimes what they’re accomplishing away from the game is even more impressive than what they’re doing on it.

I also keep an eye on milestones, whether it’s program records or clean, round numbers like 100 career points or 50 goals in a season. Those moments matter. They give context to the performance and help fans appreciate the bigger picture. At the end of the day, I want the broadcast to capture not just the action, but the full story of the players and the program.

MCLA: What is it about the MCLA that keeps you coming back year after year?

CM: Honestly, it’s the people. The passion the players and coaches bring to the game is inspiring, and the MCLA National Tournament is unlike anything else in lacrosse. Every year, I look forward to seeing the community that makes the MCLA such a special place to compete.

When I’m on the mic, I take a lot of pride in delivering a high-quality broadcast because I know the people tuning in truly care about the players. I want every parent, grandparent, girlfriend and fan to feel like they’re right there with us at the game.

Many of the guys working these broadcasts have been doing it for years, and I’d put our coverage up against anyone’s. We’re certainly not coming back for the money. We take time off work and time away from our families because we still have the same passion the players do, it’s just channeled into producing the best broadcast possible and showcasing the sport we love. The producers, camera operators and broadcasters that keep coming back year after year aren’t just colleagues. They’re people I genuinely consider friends.

As long as the MCLA will have me, I’ll keep coming back. Until next time… Stay Laxy

Now, on to the games.  Dylan Hess and Tim Haslam both went 4-1 so it will take a perfect weekend to claim sole possession of the top spot on the leaderboard.

UNC-Charlotte at Wake Forest 7 pm Friday – A matchup between two teams who are very familiar with one another.  Both teams made the MCLA National Championships Presented by New Balance last season and will be looking to do so again.  Wake Forest suffered an early loss against Georgia Southern, but cruised against Charleston and The Citadel.  Charlotte coasted to a win against Davidson.  This will be an interesting measuring stick game for both teams.

Chris’s Call: Charlotte has had Wake's number lately.  This will be close, but I'll take the 49ers. PICK: UNC-Charlotte

Fan Pick (as of press time): UNC-Charlotte (56%)

Texas Christian at Chapman 7:30 pm Friday- Chapman swept Northeastern and Cal last weekend.  TCU cruised past Baylor and was in a back and forth game with Texas before the game was cancelled due to inclement weather.  TCU looked destined for the LSA final last year until they played SMU in the semifinals and after beating the Mustangs by five goals three weeks earlier the Horned Frogs dropped the playoff contest by five goals.  Chapman’s defense looks to be suffocating; can the Horned Frogs avoid getting squeezed in Orange?  Can the Panthers avoid the guest picker jinx?

Chris’s Call:  I’m obviously taking Chapman here. Next question. The Jungle has been one of the toughest places to get a win in the MCLA over the last 18 years. Champtown by a milli. PICK: Chapman

Fan Pick: Chapman (79%)

Minnesota vs St. Thomas (Neutral Site) 1:45 pm Saturday – Despite their divisional differences these programs have played four times since 2021 and have split those games 2-2.  Both teams enter this game undefeated with the Gophers having wins over Minnesota-Duluth and Illinois while the Tommies went 3-0 in Denver last weekend.  This one is not for much more than bragging rights, but we all know that can be a serious motivator.  I’ll be very curious to see how this one turns out.

Chris’s Call:  This one is interesting. A Division I tournament team versus the defending Division II champs. The neutral site is basically a wash since both are about 20 miles from the Stillwater Dome.

The Tommies bring back a ton of firepower and always seem to rise to the occasion when the lights are brightest. If Minnesota can turn this into a grind, control tempo and keep the total under 20, I like their chances. If this becomes a shootout, I think the Tommies depth and big game experience wins the day.  PICK: St. Thomas

Fan Pick: St. Thomas (61%)

Georgia at Florida State 7pm Saturday –  This game pits two of the hottest teams in the country against one another.  The Dawgs, however, cannot look past Auburn on Friday night who is playing with a renewed energy after stumbling out of the gates.  The Seminoles will be rested going into this game and ready to make another statement after handing Clemson their first loss last weekend.  Rory Cavanaugh is leading Georgia by averaging over six points per game and Tyler Morris for Florida State is over five points per game himself.  This game may come down to which team can get a few stops as both offenses seem to be rolling.

Chris’s Call: Both teams are undefeated at 3-0 and 4-0, respectively. But Georgia has Auburn on Friday, and that Auburn team is coming off a win at Georgia Tech. It is incredibly hard to get two quality wins on back to back nights.

I’m taking a fresh FSU squad pulling away late.  PICK: Florida State

Fan Pick: Florida State (56%)

Colorado State at Cal 12:30 pm Sunday – This will be the second game of the weekend for both teams after they will have played Santa Clara and Colorado, respectively.  The Rams finished 7-6 in 2025 and will be looking to improve on that record.  Cal lost their first two games of the season before beating Northeastern.  The Bears will look to dominate possession via Hale Brown at the faceoff dot.

Chris’s Call:  This one is tough. I think I’m leaning Cal. Both teams have brutal doubles this weekend. Cal gets Colorado on Friday and CSU gets a Santa Clara squad that’s no tune up game. Both programs had down years by their standards last season, so you know this one matters.

That said, CSU hasn’t played yet this year, and I always like the home team on the back end of a double. Travel, legs, familiarity, it all adds up. Give me the Bears by one. PICK: Cal

Fan Pick: Cal (67%)

Other Games I’ll be Watching

Connecticut at Virginia Tech 7 pm Friday – What will the Huskies look like in year 2 of the second Marc Paolini era?  The Hokies have only played one game so they are a relatively unknown as well.  Virginia Tech is looking to bounce back after being left home last May and after a week off I’m sure will be excited to play.  The lack of snowdrifts on the sidelines will be a welcome change for both teams after the last month.  The Huskies will be opening their season in Blacksburg, can they spring any surprises on the Hokies?

Fan Pick: Virginia Tech (52%)

Kennesaw State vs UNC-Wilmington (neutral site) 1pm Saturday- The Owls are always talented and the Seahawks have been on a tear.  Kennesaw is playing their first game with only scrimmages under their belt.  Luke Barnett has been a force in net for the Seahawks, can the Owls solve the riddle and take this bird battle? 

Fan Pick: 50/50

SMU at Florida 3pm Saturday – Both teams were off last week.  The Gators got swamped by Clemson in their first game, but jettisoned Jacksonville with relative ease.  Did the Gators get the ship righted against the Dolphins?  The Mustangs bring confidence after starting 2-0 and will not be intimidated by the Gators.  The Gators have a divisional game against Central Florida the night before, meanwhile the Mustangs play Florida State Sunday.

Fan Pick: SMU (57%)

Drury at St. John’s 1 pm Saturday – Drury has handled both Kansas State and Nebraska to open the year and feels good about their chances in the LSA DII North.  St. John’s has looked resurgent this year outside of their 10-0 loss to UNC-Wilmington.  This is a chance for both squads to build on some positive momentum.

Fan Pick: St. John's (100%)

Florida Atlantic at Tampa 4 pm Sunday – Tampa is still only one game in and that game was a shootout against Miami.  The Owls have tested themselves early with the trip to Denver for the Rocky Mountain Rumble.  Florida Atlantic has been the standard in the SELC lately, but Tampa has their eyes on challenging the Owls.

Fan Pick: Tampa (75%)

As always, check out the streams on MCLATV and get your picks in on www.mcla.us

Head coaches, please remember to submit goalie and player of the week nominations by noon local time on Mondays.