EVAN DOWNEY ON HIS FRESHMAN YEAR AT CABRINI

2013 Palmyra graduate Evan Downey shared with us some of his incites from his freshman season at Carbini College. Evan was able to start 17 games and was 6th on the team in scoring with 15 goals and 9 assists. The focus of this interview was for Evan to share with you how he was able to successfully go from High School to College and contribute right away.

(INTERVIEW AFTER THE JUMP)

What was your freshman year at Cabrini like? General question, we know, but in a nutshell tell us about your experiences with school and lacrosse.

My freshman year went as well as it could have went, academically earned dean’s list both semesters. On the field, started as a freshman on a team that went to the second round of the NCAA tourney and was a honorable mention in the conference. Being on the team made it much easier to meet new people and made the transition so much better. Cabrini was definitely the perfect fit for me.

What was the best advice you got, lacrosse related or other, before you went to school?

The best advice I got was probably to just worry about myself and not let anything to distract me from the goals ahead of me.

What were some of the things you did at Palmyra that helped you prepare for the college game?

While at Palmyra, especially my senior year I worked a lot on my vision. I knew that I was going to get the early slide and the double so I would have to get the ball to the open man. Also I did a lot of running so that I could increase my speed because that is the most dangerous part of the game of lacrosse. One thing I recommend to all young lacrosse players who want to get to the next level is to watch as much lacrosse either on tv or youtube. Try to emulate the pros, do not just look at all the fancy goals but at the smart plays before the goals.

How did your first year compare to things you had been told during the recruiting process?

Coach Colfer tells every recruit that walks into his office that the best man plays. So I knew exactly what I was getting into, I had to be one of the top three middies to earn the playing time. So I did what I could to get to where I wanted to be.

What were some of the things you did during your recruiting process that you think were really important?

I would say the two most important things I did were kept all of the schools on my list as an option the whole way, and went on overnights to really feel out the team on and off the field and see if you are comfortable with the campus.

How has college improved your game?

Not only have a become physically stronger but, playing against and with some of the best players in the nation on a daily basis has its perks. My game as a whole has sped up and I have become much smarter about the plays to make and how to make them.

What were some things you did on your own or with your team to help you crack the starting lineup your freshman year?

I hit the weight room pretty hard in the fall and over winter break because I knew that was my biggest weakness and that it in turn would improve everything else. And I played how the coaches wanted our team to play instead of like an individual.

After succeeding early on at Cabrini how do you plan on building for your sophomore season?

For this upcoming season I want to make myself a bigger offensive threat then I was last year, and work on my defense to become a very lethal two way midfielder.

Do you have any advice for local players head to school this fall in terms of how they can help their team day one?

The advice I will give is in the form of a quote I live by. “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is best"- St Jerome. If you work hard and are committed to getting better you will not only get better yourself but be a positive influence to those around you to get better also.