DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University men's lacrosse team is going into its inaugural season under first-time head coach Anthony Mackin. The Cougars are looking to lay the foundation of a program on its way to sustained success here in the first year.

The season will start for Averett on Wednesday, Feb. 14, when the Cougars travel to Winchester, Virginia, to take on Shenandoah University. Game time is set for 4 p.m.


FIVE KEYS TO THE 2018 SEASON
YOUTH
The 2018 Averett men's lacrosse roster is full of youth as 14 of the 15 players are true freshman. While this will be a challenge throughout the season, Mackin sees it as more of an opportunity. The coaching staff has high expectations for their players and believes that this youth will make them hungrier to prove themselves and have success.

COMMUNICATION
Freshman Bailey Bruner notes that communication is a vital key to the team's success this season on the field. With this being a brand new team, the student-athletes are still learning to play alongside each other. So the quicker the team can build that team chemistry, the tougher they will be on game day and as a unit.   

FOCUS
In any new program, most of the obstacles come with the distractions of being a new program and everything associated with the excitement. Mackin believes it will be crucial for his squad to stay focused and concentrated at all times. This intensity will help in their preparation for each match and also assist in the development of each player.

ROAD WARRIORS  
Of their 11 game regular season schedule, the Cougars will only have the pleasure of playing under the Frank R. Campbell Stadium lights a total of four times. Being able to go into opposing environments and execute the game plan will be critical to the development of the program in this first year. The players will need to be strong mentally in order to pull out victories in visiting territory.

COACHING EXPERIENCE 
The players will benefit from a coaching staff that comes in with a plethora of lacrosse experience. They have all competed collegiately in addition to the coaching experience each one has garnered. The Averett roster will benefit from this in many ways as each coach will help increase each player's potential which will only elevate the team's play.