Men’s lacrosse sets sights on national title

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RIT Athletics

Kyle Aquin is an MBA student from Hamilton, Ontario, and captain of the undefeated No. 2 RIT men’s lacrosse team. The Tigers’ next game takes place at noon Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

Kyle Aquin is an MBA student from Hamilton, Ontario, and captain of the undefeated No. 2 RIT men’s lacrosse team (12-0 overall, 3-0 Liberty League). Aquin is currently second all-time in goals scored at RIT and was named Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year in 2014. The Tigers look to extend their dominant streak against conference foe Vassar College at noon on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

Question: What brought you to RIT?
Answer: I actually didn’t know a lot about RIT until I was recruited. I played lacrosse back home with a couple guys who were enrolled at RIT and I ended up getting in contact with one of our coaches through them. I thought the school was the right fit for me in terms of location and academics, and the lacrosse team’s playing style fit me very well.

Q: Why did you decide to earn your MBA?
A: My dad owns a small plumbing business in Ontario so I wanted to pick up some skills that could translate back to that. I got my undergraduate degree in marketing last year and because I was injured my sophomore season I had an extra year of eligibility for lacrosse. So I decided to enroll in the accelerated MBA program to further my education and take another shot at the national title.

Q: How has the team been able to maintain such a high level of success?
A: We went all the way to the national semifinals last year and lost to Tufts University, and the memory of that loss has really lit a fire inside of us. We want to earn that game back. Beyond that, the culture of the program and the team has been huge for us. We’re hungry every year and we work very hard at what we do, but I also have to give credit to our alumni that have set the stage for us in terms of building up the program.

Q: What are the team’s goals this year?
A: It’s nice to be undefeated, but our real goal is to be national champions. Especially for the older guys, the undefeated aspect is at the back of our minds. Getting to the national championship is what we’re focused on now.

Q: What makes you such a dominant attacker?
A: I just reap the benefits of my teammates. Specifically, our midfielder Allister Warren has been a huge part of my success. We work together very well and our coaching staff puts us in great positions to score.

Q: How does head coach Jake Coon prepare the team to win?
A: Coach Coon knows the game inside and out. He’s very detail-oriented and never misses a step when we scout other teams. We go into games knowing everything about our opponents, so we’re very prepared no matter what the team is ranked or what they try to do.

Q: What are your plans following graduation?
A: I’m in the job hunt right now and I also plan to continue playing lacrosse. I was drafted by the Rochester Rattlers recently, so hopefully I can make the most of that opportunity. I’d like to keep playing for as long as I can. It’s an exciting prospect because the professional game is starting to grow pretty quickly.

Q: What will you miss most about RIT?
A: Once I finally leave this place, it’s going to be tough. I’ve been here for five years and I’ve made a lot of friends. I’m going to be really hard to transition from seeing these guys every single day to maybe seeing them once or twice a year. Everyone’s going to go their own way and I hope I can stay in touch.