University of North Carolina Athletics
Will Looking to Lead Potent Heels Attack
November 2, 2001 | Men's Lacrosse
Nov. 2, 2001
By Jake Fehling
Student Assistant
UNC Athletic Communications
Every athlete has his or her own off-season training regiment. Some like to run to stay in shape. Others hit the weight room. UNC lacrosse player Steven Will digs ditches.
"I worked construction for my uncle, and that got me in shape. We dug a ditch around a house with my brother and some other guys on the team."
Tar Heel fans hope that this unique training method has Will ready for the upcoming season. The junior attackman from Phoenix, Maryland, is Carolina's top returning scorer from 2001 with 29 points. He says that despite the loss of last year's leading scorer and second team All-America Jeff Sonke, fans shouldn't worry about a drop-off in scoring.
"There's no doubt we have the attack. Everyone is pushing each other to be better. Austin Garrison has the ability to score, Mike McCall is doing pretty well, and my brother too."
Garrison tied for third on the team in scoring last year, while McCall and Steven's brother, Bryant, are freshman.
The addition of Bryant to the team makes this season even more exciting for his older brother. Bryant, a midfielder, was considered by many to be the top high school midfielder in the country.
"We did well in high school together and we wanted to play together in college. The whole time he was being recruited I kept telling him there is no better place than UNC."
Will says that his brother and the rest of the freshman class will play a large role in how well the team fares this season. With that much expectation placed on the freshmen, one might be concerned. Through the first few fall practices, however, Will says so far, so good.
"To be honest we look really good, we're really disciplined. The freshman look great."
The team is looking to improve on last year's 6-6 season, coach John Haus' first with UNC, which saw the Heels lose five out of their last seven games and miss the NCAA tournament. Haus is now in his second year with the team, something, Will says, can only help Carolina.
"Last year Coach Haus got a feel for the team. This year he knows the team, which helps. He organized the team well this year, something that helps him and the team as well."
Despite a schedule that is loaded with seven games against teams in last year's NCAA tournament, Will sounds confident about Carolina's chances. He says that there won't be a repeat of last year's late season fade and that fans should expect a post-season run from the Heels.
"There's no doubt win can win the ACC, we match up well with all the teams. I really do think that we're going to the NCAA's, we have a really good shot."
With an off-season workout like Will's, who's to doubt him?
