Neighbors

Kearns attacks college lacrosse with ease

Posted

A lot of college players would love to have the success that Brendan Kearns has had in his first year. The freshman lacrosse player at Providence College and Wantagh native has been racking up points this spring, and he hopes he can help lead his team to a championship.

“I’m very happy how it started,” he said of his 18 goals and 14 assists through 11 games. “I hope to finish this season out strong.”

Kearns, 19, got his start playing lacrosse for the Wantagh Police Activities League, then went on to a successful career at Chaminade High School. He was part of three state-championship teams, including New York Catholic League titles during his junior and senior years on the varsity squad.

“Brendan is a fiercely competitive young man,” said John Moran, his former coach at Chaminade. “He has a burning desire to be great.”

In 30 varsity games for Chaminade, Kearns totaled 52 points. Goals scored jumped from nine his junior year, to 32 as a senior.

Kearns selected Division I Providence to continue his lacrosse career because he liked the coaches, felt they were very knowledgeable and saw that they were working to build a solid program. Kearns said anyone looking to play college sports should find a place where they feel comfortable.

When he started in the fall, Kearns was up at 6 a.m. three times a week for practice and conditioning drills. After winter break, practices got more intense and players began studying offensive schemes. The season began on Feb. 6 with a loss to Boston University, but Kearns picked up the first goal and assist of his college career. Since then, the team has gone on to win seven of its next 10 games.

It was Kearns’s performance against hometown team Hofstra on March 19 that earned him Big East Offensive Player of the Week honors. He scored three goals and had two assists in Providence’s 12-7 home victory.

“It’s great to celebrate wins with teammates,” he said. “It’s really great to be part of something like this.”

Kearns got used to a winning mentality at Chaminade, and is looking to have the same success at Providence. The attacker described himself as a playmaker who takes a lot of shots and can find a teammate on field and get them the ball, even when they don’t appear to be open.

Page 1 / 3