Mike Dowd is not a movie character. He exists in real life as Saint John Vianney High School’s boys’ lacrosse coach.
But before the Lancers’ season started in late March, Dowd used a movie like motivational tactic. He taped a sign to the team’s locker room door that read, “Leave your emotions at the door.”
Saint John Vianney’s four captains, midfielder Anthony Brett, attack C.J. Hanson, defender Kyle Harris and defender Michael Noble, asked Dowd to tape the sign to the door at the Holmdel school.
The captains wanted to remind themselves and their teammates to have character in 2019.
Last year, the Lancers reacted emotionally to negative plays. They bickered and failed to move on to the next play. Some players also took a laissez-faire attitude to practice attendance and focus.
The captains knew they needed to change the culture this spring. They started early in March by showing up, focusing and moving on to the next play, over and over in practice. Then Dowd taped the sign to the door as a constant reminder.
Saint John Vianney had talent last spring, but only went 7-10. It has talent again this spring, and it is off to a 4-1 start after beating The Pennington School, 14-4, on the road on April 6.
The Lancers also beat two Shore Conference rivals, Marlboro High School and Colts Neck High School, 18-1 and 14-4, respectively.
Dowd’s squad is maximizing its talent because negative events are not revealing a soft, weak core. Instead, they are making the Lancers stronger as they go.
“We have a different mindset this year,” Hanson said.
“We’re going to finish and win games,” Noble said.
“We all want the same thing,” Brett added. “To play on another level and win the Shore Conference Tournament.”
Any person or team can show character for a day or week or month. And anyone can slap a motivational quote on a door. Consistency is the real challenge with character, and the Lancers are working on that part.
Their coaches made them run extra suicides at practice on April 4 because the upperclassmen blamed the freshmen for something. The captains acknowledged their mistake and were happy that the coaches showed them tough love.
“When you have coaches that push you, it means a lot,” Noble said. “You know they are looking out for the best for you.”
Dowd is even instituting a curfew for the Lancers on weekends. The coach has called his players’ houses around the curfew, to make sure they are staying out of trouble and getting enough rest.
Not one player has been out during a call yet.
“If you’re not home, you’re not going to play,” Dowd said.
Dowd spent 20 years coaching at a highly successful program at Manasquan High School, and he is trying to turn Saint John Vianney into an established force as well.
The Lancers have the talent to do it. Even players outside the captains are thriving this spring.
Andrew Gosse has 17 goals and nine assists. Mike D’Anzeri has 12 goals.
Josh O’Leary and Damon Washington have controlled possessions in the middle of the field, with 53 face off victories and 29 ground ball pick ups, respectively.
Dowd’s squad just needs to stay consistent.
“We’re not here to play around this year,” Hanson said.
