Seniors say goodbye to the lacrosse field

Photos courtesy of Shane Pase

The 2026 lacrosse season has officially come to an end. 

Last week, the women’s team fell to Pomona-Pitzer with a score of 17-3 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) semifinals. They finished with a 9-7 overall record and a 5-5 SCIAC record. 

The men’s team suffered a narrow overtime defeat a week earlier against San Diego State University in a Southwestern Lacrosse Conference (SLC) playoff match with a 18-17 score. The men recorded an 8-7 overall record and a 4-2 SLC record.

Some members are already looking forward to the next season, while others are forced to say goodbye. For senior communication studies major Nico Ursino, his final season was a reflection of the dedication he poured into the program and how much it gave back to him.

“They took it seriously, just like an NCAA program,” Ursino said. “They ran it the same way. And so I kind of fell in love with it. It's not NCAA lacrosse, but it's not a step down, by any means.”

At Chapman, the men’s club lacrosse team competes in the Division I SLC against highly competitive opponents from Southern California and Arizona. The Panthers are ranked 25th nationally in the latest Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) poll. 

Ursino said the level of competition has shaped his perspective on the game.

“Those team accomplishments are kind of the best things because it's just like, you know, we all came together for a common goal, and we got the job done all of those years,” Ursino said. 

And although the season ended on a one-goal loss, Ursino acknowledged that it’s all part of being an athlete.

“As an athlete, you face a lot of adversity,” Ursino said. “Whether it's injury or you're not getting as much playing time as you want or your team is in a slump and you're not winning, you can't just quit — you’ve got to be able to overcome that.”

On the women’s side, senior psychology major Ada Carr echoed a similar message.

“There are always times when you're an athlete that you get burned out,” Carr said. “That ability to keep powering through and still do the thing you love? It’s important. And I'm really glad that I stuck it out.”

Carr said that playing lacrosse since third grade has made her a stronger leader on and off the field. The discipline she learned through athletics has helped her understand what a blessing it is to have a passion.

“I think it's really important to hold yourself accountable and commit to things that are important to you or hobbies that are important to you,” Carr said. “And to be proud of yourself. I think having that ability to have a structured experience like that and work really hard consistently is really valuable.”

Both Ursino and Carr mentioned potentially finding the field again in post-graduation life. For now, it’s a time of reflection.

“I've been telling my teammates who are coming back (to) soak it all in,” Ursino said. “Embrace the suck … Really appreciate every day when you go to the field and you get to play. I would do it all again.”

Ursino’s appreciation for the sport was mirrored by Carr, who said that a life without lacrosse may feel like new territory.

With the 2026 season now complete, the lessons learned are saved for another day. The memories made fade into nostalgia. But what remains on the field are the blood, sweat and tears of the athletes who have endured the brutality and beauty of the sport.