Posted: 05/03/06

P-Day conflicts with athlete's schedules
Lacrosse games coincide with P-Day

Kate Kozlowski | contributing writer
kkozlowski@smcvt.edu 

Mention the word P-Day to the average St. Michael’s College student and visions of activities, friends, and beer will dance into the student’s mind. To some St. Michael’s students, however, P-Day is a medley of sticks, balls, grass stains, goals and sweat.

Always athletes

Both the St. Michael's men’s and women’s lacrosse teams hosted games last Saturday and were unable to fully participate in traditional P-Day activities. Prior to last weekend, some student athletes voiced their opinions in anticipation of P-Day and their games.

Number 10, junior Julianne Ireland, reaches to block a shot by a Bryant team member at Saturday's game. (Michael DeGrandpre, photo.)

Sophomore forward Abby Callahan says that her team’s commitment to lacrosse overrides its desire to participate in P-Day.

“We all made the choice to play lacrosse in the spring,” Callahan says. “We know that it’s hard to go to practice and everything during the week when everyone else is doing their thing and enjoying the nice weather, but we all are here to play lacrosse and were just really excited for the game.”

Sophomore forward Lila McCormack says she agrees with Callahan.

“I don’t feel bitter at all,” McCormack says. “We made a commitment and this is a huge game for us and I’m very excited for it. We’re looking forward to it. It’s not a sacrifice.”

Both McCormack and Callahan say that playing in the team's game wouldn't completely hinder them from experiencing P-Day.

“We are going to get to still participate in the activities after our game and into the night,” Callahan says.

Sophomore Steve Schimoler says that the traditional P-Day activities won’t be as entertaining as playing in his game.

“I don’t think getting drunk all day can compete with playing lacrosse,” he says.

Where are the fans?

Both the coaches and members of the lacrosse teams say that previous games had an overwhelming number of fans.

Paul Schimoler, coach of the men’s team, says that student and parent support has been tremendous.

“We’ve had great attendance for basically all our home games,” he says. “I would anticipate 90 percent attendance from parents.”

Though the games are not officially endorsed as an aspect of P-Day, both the women's Coach Carla Hessler and Schimoler urged fans to come out to the games.

“I can’t believe there’s too much out there more entertaining than a good lacrosse game,” Schimoler says. It’s a great, fun, school-spirited event to participate in.”

Neither Hessler nor Schimoler say they predicted that fewer fans would come up to support the teams because of P-Day. Hessler says that she feels having the games on that day would entice more people to come out and watch.

Sophomore Steve Schimoler and McCormack both feel that the games would attract more fans than usual, not decrease from the usual numbers of fans.

“We’re hoping the game adds something to P-Day,” Steve Schimoler says.

“Kids are going to be out and having a good time,” McCormack says. “It contributes to P-Day. It’s something else to do.’

Paul Schimoler urged those who plan on attending the game and participating in traditional P-Day activities to be respectful and supportive of both the home and visiting teams.

The men's lacrosse team won their game against Bentley on Saturday. They will advance to the NE-10 conference. (Echo archives, photo.)

Both Paul Schimoler and Hessler say they feel they have a fighting chance in defeating their opposition.

“We consistently make the tournament,” Hessler says. “I think anybody can beat anybody in the conference.”

The men’s team defeated Bentley previously this season 7-5.

“We can absolutely [beat Bentley],” Paul says. “We proved that we can beat them during the season.”

Callahan says she agrees with the coaches. “We worked really hard to get to this point,” Callahan says.

No sympathy for missed activities

The coaches say the teams aren't upset about not participating fully in traditional P-Day activities.

“I can certainly attest that the players aren’t disappointed,” says Paul Schimoler. “We’re 110 percent focused on this game.”

The men’s team competed against Bentley in the NE-10 quarter finals. They had to win to remain in the contest.

Hessler says she agrees with Paul Schimoler.

“You make a commitment when you join a sports team,” she says. “You have to make sacrifices. It builds character.”

The women’s team played Bryant at 11 a.m. The winner advanced to the NE-10 quarter finals.

Paul Schimoler explains that the members of his team have four main priorities: family, academics, lacrosse and social.

“My players certainly understand these priorities,” he says. “In-season, social is a lower priority. To be quite honest, I think P-Day is overrated and is an excuse to make mistakes.”

On April 29, the women's team lost to Bryant, 14-10. The men's team will advance to the NE-10 conference after beating Bentley 7-5 on the same day.