Once I get to goal line, I raise my head. I get the defense looking at me more often, as if I’m going to turn to score or make something happen. Also, my teammates know that they need to begin to move or to fi nd space on the fi eld.
Hound for Pound
>> WHAT I DO Loyola lifer, Charlotte rookie Justin Ward
goes hard to the rack
PLAY WITH THE HOUNDS (X2)
There’s four of us from Loyola on the Charlotte Hounds: Josh Hawkins, Pat Laconi, Mike Sawyer and myself. We all played on the 2012 national championship team at Loyola. It was very comforting my fi rst weekend in Major League Lacrosse, fl ying out to Denver and not knowing anyone. I fl ew with Laconi, who has been my roommate for the last three years. I was very fortunate.
COACH ‘EM UP
I’ve been contacted by some Division I schools to become an assistant. It’s sort of a recruiting process, but this time it’s coaching. In high school, for me the process was quiet and simple. Loyola was the only school that offered me a scholarship. With coaching, there’s a number of schools approaching me. It’s forcing me to feel that pressure my peers felt four or fi ve years ago. It’s funny how it’s worked.
WORK THE STICK
When I was in high school, I wasn’t the most athletic kid. I developed later. But I had good stick work. To all the young guys that are worried about shooting the ball harder or lifting and doing trick shots, it always starts on the wall — committing every day to get 200 touches.
My Dream Job
Engaging my defenseman, I’m looking at the rest of the defense. If I see them turning their heads or stepping down, then I know I’m probably going to be a feeder. But if all their heads are focused on their guys, I need to win my matchup.
A Publication of US Lacrosse
[Loyola] coach [Charley] Toomey knows that I want to come back eventually. Ultimately, the dream job is to be the head coach at Loyola. Give Coach Toomey a couple more years and then I’ll be ready to take over. He knows it’s coming. Loyola is a very special place. That university, that program transformed me from a boy to being a man. Going through that Jesuit education and meeting professors that cared about you, and our coaching staff is the best in the country, you can’t help but fall in love with the place.
My Welcome- to-the-MLL
Moment My fi rst game was in Denver. Coach [Mike Cerino] is running down who he thinks is going to cover whom. He goes, “Ward, I think you’re going to get Lee Zink.” And then he pauses, looks away, comes back and says, “Welcome to the MLL.” The rookies who struggle are the ones that almost look scared. I was just trying to keep it simple, dodge Zink as hard as I could.
>> MY WALL-BALL TIPS Position your feet perpendicular to the wall. Get your hands high and away from
your body. I try to make a 90-degree angle with my triceps down the side of my body. You want your arm to move like a quarterback making a pass, a basketball player making a touch pass. Get your elbow high, hands away, snap your wrist and catch the ball behind your head.
— compiled by Corey McLaughlin August 2014 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 57
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