April 8, 2008

Provo, UT (UWIRE) -- The weather is changing outside and spring is just around the corner. The Cougar lacrosse team is also changing the nature of its team in the past five games turning from a high-paced offensive juggernaut into a lock-down defensive team.

The BYU lacrosse team swept a three-game Colorado road trip with an impressive 14-6 win Saturday, April 5, 2008, against the No. 2-ranked Colorado St. Rams and a 14-5 win over the No. 12-ranked Colorado Buffaloes.

The defensive effort for the Cougars has been especially effective, holding their opponents to fewer than 10 goals for five consecutive games. The team had only held two teams to fewer than 10 goals on the season before the five-game streak began.

The offensive effort was not shabby either. The Cougars averaged 13 goals per game in the three-game road trip, winning by an average of nearly 6.5 goals per game.

After the 17-15 win over Arizona St., BYU coach Jason Lamb expressed a major concern for the defense and said he would look at making some changes in the team's philosophy. Whatever Lamb changed worked.

In the Cougars first seven games, the team was giving up 12 goals per game. Since the Lamb defensive change, the Cougars are giving up just fewer than six goals per game in the past five outings.

The offensive effort was not shabby either. The Cougars averaged 13 goals per game in the three-game road trip and won by an average of nearly 6.5 goals per game.

The Cougars have put up good offensive numbers all season long, scoring 166 goals to date and averaging nearly 14 goals per contest. If the defense can keep up its domination, the defending national champion Cougars will be a tough team to beat.

The Cougars' starting three attackmen, Justin Hier, Josh Austin and Mark Manning continue their remarkable season, as all three rank in the top 15 in the MCLA in goals. Austin and Hier are tied for 10th and Manning is at 15th.

The No. 1-ranked Cougars are 8-4 on the season and seem to be peaking at the right time with a 6-1 record in their past seven games.

The Cougars greatly improved on their 1-2 road record as the three victories in Colorado take BYU's record to 4-2 away from home on the season. The road experience will help the Cougars in the playoffs and give the team confidence to win away from Provo.

The team has only five games left in the season to make final preparations for the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association playoffs.

The Cougars will first participate in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference tournament before competing in the MCLA playoffs. The games in the RMLC tournament are held at Westminster College in Salt Lake City and start on April 2nd.

The next two games for the Cougars are back in Provo as the team takes on No. 14 ranked Lindenwood Friday night and then turn around on Saturday for the annual Alumni game.

(C) 2008 The Daily Universe via UWIRE