Kirstie Donahue // Courtesy
Adam Neil scores a goal during Clemson's intrasquad scrimmage on Sept. 21.
Nothing is guaranteed for club sports at Clemson: not practice fields, not club funding and, for the men’s club lacrosse team, not even an opponent.
For over a month, the Tigers had Sept. 21 circled on their calendar — the day Coastal Carolina was coming to town for a fall scrimmage.
The Chanticleers backed out just one week in advance.
With no time to organize an alternative game, the team turned inward and put together an intrasquad scrimmage.
“The way I describe it, we’re building the plane as we’re flying it here at Clemson lacrosse,” Adam Neil, club president and senior captain, told The Tiger. “I can’t say enough about this team; Coastal Carolina bailed, and (Clemson) didn’t bat an eye.”
Neil credited his team’s resilient spirit and competitive nature for the way they handled pivoting to a purple vs. white scrimmage.
“Really, it’s special,” Neil said. “In years past, I don’t know if we’ve had this culture, this oneness.”
The Tigers gave it their all in the sweltering heat, resulting in a 13-12 final score in favor of the purple team. Though Neil found pay dirt multiple times, his most important goal came in the fourth quarter to put away the friendly game for good.
“I’m getting old,” Neil joked about his play. “I’m kind of living vicariously through these young guys who can still get up and down the field, but I definitely have one more year in me.”
That one more year is fast approaching, and Neil and the Tigers are already set on their goals.
“Our goals every year are always to win the state, so beat South Carolina, win the ALC and the nationals,” he said. “Consistency has always been something that our coaches preach, so that’s a main goal going into this year. Don’t be a first or fourth-quarter team, just be a game team, show up the whole time and compete.”
The next step toward Clemson’s championship-hopeful season is Oct. 3, when the Tigers trek to Newberry for a scrimmage.