https://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/UAlbany-lacrosse-s-Sean-Eccles-gives-his-best-shot-12934064.php
UAlbany lacrosse's Sean Eccles gives his best shot
Junior sticks to his "unique" release to help Great Danes reach NCAA semifinals
Updated 12:05 pm, Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Albany
University at Albany lacrosse midfielder Sean Eccles said he was yelled at by any number of coaches over the years who tried to change his underhanded shot.
He developed it playing hockey as a youngster in Syracuse because he was used to having his hands low.
“Everyone used to tell me to stop shooting like that,’’ Eccles said. “Just the underhand, I would miss the net a lot but I kind of just didn’t listen to them. It’s just a matter of working on it. If you’re going to do something the way people don’t want you to do it, you have to do it well.”
Great Danes head coach Scott Marr, who preaches letting players be themselves, swears he’s not one of those who discouraged Eccles.
“Never,’’ Marr said. “It’s a great shot. It’s a very unique release and he puts the ball in goal more times than not, so you can’t ask for any better. I think it’s a great shot. Very deceiving. The goalie has no idea whether it’s going low or high, for the most part.”
That includes a trail of bewildered goalkeepers whom Eccles, a junior, has beaten this season. He’s got 31 goals in UAlbany’s multifaceted offense that has launched the Great Danes into their first championship weekend.
No. 2 seed UAlbany (16-2) takes on No. 3 Yale (15-3) in an NCAA Tournament semifinal on Saturday at noon at Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough, Mass.
For Eccles, it’s also a family moment. His older brother Derrick, a former UAlbany player, is now a volunteer assistant with the Great Danes. His younger brother Matt is a freshman midfielder who’s redshirting this season.
“It’s definitely fun,’’ Sean Eccles said. “I give them a lot of crap, but it’s fun that half our family is here, basically, and obviously, the rest of our family is going to be coming up. It’s definitely an exciting experience.”
Eccles has certainly done his part to get the Great Danes to this point. He’s tied for third on the team in goals with star attack Connor Fields, who has missed time with a knee injury. Like Eccles, Fields is lefty shooter with a hockey background.
“I like watching him shoot,’’ Eccles said. “You see what other guys do and you take bits of pieces of it and you learn and just get better and adapt.”
While Eccles’ shooting percentage is only 27.4 percent, the lowest among UAlbany’s players with at least 10 goals, he seems to find the inside of the cage when it matters most.
He had hat tricks in UAlbany’s first-round win over Richmond May 12 and quarterfinal triumph over Denver on Saturday.
He’s also been a valuable part of the extra-man unit with seven man-up goals, second on the Great Danes to only sophomore Jakob Patterson.
Derrick Eccles said he’s taken note of Sean being out on the field taking extra shots before every practice.
“I think his maturity level is the biggest thing, and the work he puts in,’’ Derrick Eccles said. “That’s the one thing my dad always taught us. If you want to get better, put in the reps. Not to say (Sean) didn’t do it in the past, but sometimes last year he would get a little, I don’t want to say rattled, but it would get to him a little bit if he wasn’t shooting well.”
Sean Eccles gave his older brother credit for always knowing what to say to motivate him. Sometimes it’s getting him angry, other times it’s advice.
He honed his dangerous shot with help from his father, Walt. Sean Eccles said it's more the quick release than the speed that makes it effective.
When it came time to pick a college, he followed his brother to UAlbany.
“Once they showed a little bit of interest in me, I didn’t really look at any other schools,’’ Eccles said. “Just knowing Coach Marr and those guys, I didn’t really give another school any thought, to be honest with you.”
msingelais@timesunion.com ■ 518-454-5509 ■ @MarkSingelais
