University of Massachusets Athletics
Focusing on the Defensive Side
November 07, 2001 | Men's Water Polo
By SETH GERARD
The Maroon & White
While most players on the UMass men's water polo team are offensive minded, senior Evan Lutz has focused on defense this season.
The senior from Laguna Beach, Calif., was recruited by some of the nation's top water polo programs, but chose to come to Amherst because he knew that he could make an immediate impact. With seven seniors on this year's squad, Lutz and the 13th-ranked Minutemen are poised to make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament, an event UMass has competed in six times over the past eight seasons.
Lutz, who has tallied 50 goals in his first three seasons in Amherst, has just 14 thus far this season. He is currently fourth on the team with 13 steals and has also added three blocks.
"Our team is so deep offensively right now, that I don't have to worry about scoring," said Lutz. "It is much easier to go in with the mind set that I can just focus on defense every game and let the scoring happen. I enjoy the opportunity to shut down the best player for every team that I play."
A solid defender throughout his UMass career, Lutz racked up 63 career steals and six blocks heading into the 2001 season. Lutz, who considers himself a "defensive specialist," has posted six multiple-point games thus far and has accumulated 23 points in 66 quarters. He leads the team with his two penalty shots drawn.
"He has decided to identify himself as our best two-meter defender this season," said UMass head coach Russ Yarworth. "It is really refreshing to see an athlete forgo the scoring opportunities as well as the exposure and pressure that goes along with being a scorer, and making the transition to a defensive player."
Lutz' teammates appreciate the sacrifice that he has made this season, too.
"Evan is a key asset to our team this year," said senior co-captain Greg Trayer. "While most players on the team worry about getting goals to help us win, Evan keys in on stopping the other teams' star player. Without him, we would not have half of the wins we do."
One of nine players from California on the 2001 Minuteman roster, Lutz did not know any of his UMass teammates in high school, but they have quickly become a cohesive unit in Amherst.
"What I love so much about UMass is that it is a melting pot of the water polo family," said Lutz. "California schools rarely recruit outside of the state, but at UMass, 10 states and two countries are represented. My teammates say that I stand out as the California kid."
Lutz comes from an area where water polo rules. In fact, it is even bigger than football or basketball.
"It surprises a lot of people when I tell them that at my high school the best athletes played water polo," said Lutz, who played under Rick Scott, son of an Olympic coach, at Laguna Beach High School. He has been swimming since he can remember and started playing polo at the age of 12.
Coming out of high school, Lutz was a highly-touted recruit. At Laguna Beach, he was a two-year captain and was named to the Pacific Coast League first team as a senior. He was also named a fifth team All-American and played on the Southern Orange County All-Stars. Lutz was accepted into four of the nation's top eight water polo programs, including Pepperdine, the University of Southern California and California University at San Diego, but chose UMass because he thought it would give him the best chance to play immediately.
Lutz describes himself as an intense athlete who is not satisfied if he does not win. He is motivated to win as well as to be a team player and have fun in the pool. He possesses the heart and desire to be a Division I student-athlete and is always willing to put in the time for strength and conditioning.
"Coming from California to Massachusetts has been a good experience for me," said Lutz. "Many times, people ask me why I did it, but I tell them I enjoy it here."
As a freshman in 1998, Lutz had 19 points in 100 quarters, and got a taste of quick success as the Minutemen came in fourth at the NCAA Championships. Since then, he has been a part of three 20-plus win campaigns, including this season, as UMass posted its 20th victory with an 18-2 win over Fordham on Oct. 21.
Lutz believes this year's Minuteman team is special. They could easily still be undefeated, but have three early season losses by a combined four goals, all to ranked teams. Two of the games went to double-overtime.
"As of now, our team is playing really well," said Lutz. "We are making a lot of mistakes, but that happens to a lot of good teams early in the season. I see us improving dramatically over the next month as we head into the postseason."
A finance major, Lutz not only excels in the pool, but in the classroom as well. He faces the daily challenge of a rigorous class schedule as well as practicing and traveling to games. The Minutemen have only two games at home in 2001, so they are on the road practically every weekend.
"Evan's commitment to academics and balance with athletics epitomizes the ideal NCAA student-athlete," said Yarworth. "Evan would eventually like to end up in the financial consulting field, and I believe he would be very successful, too."
Whether it has been in the classroom, on offense or playing defense, Lutz has been successful while at UMass.
The Maroon & White
While most players on the UMass men's water polo team are offensive minded, senior Evan Lutz has focused on defense this season.
The senior from Laguna Beach, Calif., was recruited by some of the nation's top water polo programs, but chose to come to Amherst because he knew that he could make an immediate impact. With seven seniors on this year's squad, Lutz and the 13th-ranked Minutemen are poised to make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament, an event UMass has competed in six times over the past eight seasons.
Lutz, who has tallied 50 goals in his first three seasons in Amherst, has just 14 thus far this season. He is currently fourth on the team with 13 steals and has also added three blocks.
"Our team is so deep offensively right now, that I don't have to worry about scoring," said Lutz. "It is much easier to go in with the mind set that I can just focus on defense every game and let the scoring happen. I enjoy the opportunity to shut down the best player for every team that I play."
A solid defender throughout his UMass career, Lutz racked up 63 career steals and six blocks heading into the 2001 season. Lutz, who considers himself a "defensive specialist," has posted six multiple-point games thus far and has accumulated 23 points in 66 quarters. He leads the team with his two penalty shots drawn.
"He has decided to identify himself as our best two-meter defender this season," said UMass head coach Russ Yarworth. "It is really refreshing to see an athlete forgo the scoring opportunities as well as the exposure and pressure that goes along with being a scorer, and making the transition to a defensive player."
Lutz' teammates appreciate the sacrifice that he has made this season, too.
"Evan is a key asset to our team this year," said senior co-captain Greg Trayer. "While most players on the team worry about getting goals to help us win, Evan keys in on stopping the other teams' star player. Without him, we would not have half of the wins we do."
One of nine players from California on the 2001 Minuteman roster, Lutz did not know any of his UMass teammates in high school, but they have quickly become a cohesive unit in Amherst.
"What I love so much about UMass is that it is a melting pot of the water polo family," said Lutz. "California schools rarely recruit outside of the state, but at UMass, 10 states and two countries are represented. My teammates say that I stand out as the California kid."
Lutz comes from an area where water polo rules. In fact, it is even bigger than football or basketball.
"It surprises a lot of people when I tell them that at my high school the best athletes played water polo," said Lutz, who played under Rick Scott, son of an Olympic coach, at Laguna Beach High School. He has been swimming since he can remember and started playing polo at the age of 12.
Coming out of high school, Lutz was a highly-touted recruit. At Laguna Beach, he was a two-year captain and was named to the Pacific Coast League first team as a senior. He was also named a fifth team All-American and played on the Southern Orange County All-Stars. Lutz was accepted into four of the nation's top eight water polo programs, including Pepperdine, the University of Southern California and California University at San Diego, but chose UMass because he thought it would give him the best chance to play immediately.
Lutz describes himself as an intense athlete who is not satisfied if he does not win. He is motivated to win as well as to be a team player and have fun in the pool. He possesses the heart and desire to be a Division I student-athlete and is always willing to put in the time for strength and conditioning.
"Coming from California to Massachusetts has been a good experience for me," said Lutz. "Many times, people ask me why I did it, but I tell them I enjoy it here."
As a freshman in 1998, Lutz had 19 points in 100 quarters, and got a taste of quick success as the Minutemen came in fourth at the NCAA Championships. Since then, he has been a part of three 20-plus win campaigns, including this season, as UMass posted its 20th victory with an 18-2 win over Fordham on Oct. 21.
Lutz believes this year's Minuteman team is special. They could easily still be undefeated, but have three early season losses by a combined four goals, all to ranked teams. Two of the games went to double-overtime.
"As of now, our team is playing really well," said Lutz. "We are making a lot of mistakes, but that happens to a lot of good teams early in the season. I see us improving dramatically over the next month as we head into the postseason."
A finance major, Lutz not only excels in the pool, but in the classroom as well. He faces the daily challenge of a rigorous class schedule as well as practicing and traveling to games. The Minutemen have only two games at home in 2001, so they are on the road practically every weekend.
"Evan's commitment to academics and balance with athletics epitomizes the ideal NCAA student-athlete," said Yarworth. "Evan would eventually like to end up in the financial consulting field, and I believe he would be very successful, too."
Whether it has been in the classroom, on offense or playing defense, Lutz has been successful while at UMass.
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