University of Massachusets Athletics
Minutemen Transform Into Chicago Machine
August 01, 2007 | Men's Lacrosse
Aug. 1, 2007
Jake Deane and Sean Morris have developed a special lifelong friendship. After playing four years together at UMass, highlighted by the 2006 National Championship run, they have been reunited in the professional ranks. Playing for Major League Lacrosse's Chicago Machine, they hope to ride their bond all the way to an MLL Championship.
Deane and Morris began their lacrosse journey at UMass in 2003. Despite both earning numerous personal accolades over their first three seasons, the Minutemen still hadn't made it to the ultimate stage: Lacrosse's Final Four. In 2005, UMass made the National Quarterfinals after defeating Syracuse in a first-round thriller. After losing to Johns Hopkins the following week, the Minutemen were left wondering if they would ever take the next step.
They wanted to become the first team in UMass history to make the National Semifinals. "Jack Reid, Jake, and myself got together," Morris said. "The three of us were named captains for the 2006 season. We were all motivated in the offseason because we felt that year was probably the best talent we've ever had on a team. Unfortunately, we didn't show it."
"That summer, we had a little bit more motivation," Morris continued. "Being my senior year, Jake's senior year, Jack's senior year, from the get go, we made it a point that [making the Final Four and winning the National Championship] was the goal."
After being ranked in the top ten many times and finishing the regular season at 10-4, UMass received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Against Cornell, the Minutemen played an exceptional game, pulling out their first-ever road playoff victory, 10-9.
The team was headed to Stony Brook to face the Hofstra Pride, playing in their second National Quarterfinal in as many years. The Pride were in the midst of a 17-game winning streak, their last defeat coming to the hands of UMass. For most of the game, it looked like that streak would extend to 18. Hofstra was up 10-5 when Jamie Yaman started a furious UMass comeback. Within an eight minute span, goals by Yaman, Morris, Jim Connolly, Andrew Recchione, and Rory Pedrick, tied the score at 10 heading into overtime. They completed the comeback when Brett Garber assisted on a Connolly tally. It was one of the most improbable comebacks in sports history.
In the fourth quarter, Deane won all seven draws. As he said, he's not the only one who deserved credit. "It was an awesome game. I never really experienced a game like that, either watching or playing. It just showed how much heart our team really had. Everybody was involved in that run; I can't just say myself. Those faceoffs were important, but I wasn't the guy putting it in the net."
UMass was in uncharted territory: the Final Four, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Playing in front of almost 50,000 fans, UMass shut down Maryland's offense on their way to an 8-5 victory. Their magical run was one win away from fruition.
It was clear that the Minutemen weren't satisfied at just getting there. As Morris said, "The three of us once again made a statement to the team that [making the Final Four] was not good enough, and nothing less than a National Championship was our goal. We wouldn't be satisfied until we got to that point, until we won."
In the title game, Garber tied the score at 5-5 early in the third, but it was the closest UMass would come. The Virginia lineup was stacked with current MLL players including Kyle Dixon, Matt Ward, Mike Culver, Drew Thompson, and Kip Turner. Only a perfect game would stop Virginia. Finishing undefeated, they were arguably the best team in collegiate lacrosse history.
Less than one week later, Deane, Morris, and Reid traveled to the MLL Collegiate Draft. Both Morris (third overall) and Reid (tenth overall) were selected in the first round, while Deane was chosen in the third round (30th overall).
Deane was reunited with Morris on July 12, 2006, when Long Island traded him to Chicago as part of a trade for goaltender Nick Murtha. Deane was thrilled to join Chicago, and was reunited with many UMass alums. "I was in Florida on vacation with my family and the first person I called was Morris when I found out. [UMass alum] Kevin Leveille is also playing here, which is awesome. He was my mentor in college; when I was a freshman, he was a senior. Dan Paccione was playing here for a little bit; I never played with him in college, but he's a great guy. Playing with Morris and Leveille now, those were the guys that I did all the running and sprinting with all through my four years of college."
Deane played four games with the Machine to close out the '06 season. Unfortunately for him and Morris, Chicago was a new franchise, struggling in its infancy. "It was a very difficult season," Morris said. "We went 0-12, but we lost four to five games in the last two minutes or overtime. It got taxing towards the end; I was a little beat up from the college season and the pro season."
In their second game of 2007, Chicago matched up with defending MLL finalist Denver. They defeated the Outlaws, 19-17, for their first franchise victory. Morris recorded four points on two goals and two assists, while Deane picked up six groundballs.
"That Denver game was awesome," Deane said. "My parents don't come to many of my games any more, but they decided to come up to that game. It just felt so good. After the National Championship, I felt like I just went on a losing streak. I lost every MLL game I played since Long Island. Finally, we got that W; it was a good feeling. We were all so pumped afterward."
After dropping the next five games, Chicago put it together once again, devastating Boston's chances of the postseason. They defeated the Cannons, 19-18, on the backs of five points (2g, 3a) by Morris and five groundball pickups by Deane.
Deane believes Boston took them lightly. "When a lot of people come in to play Chicago, they think they can take us for granted, because we've had an up and down season, and we didn't do too well last year. I felt that was the way Boston came in. For a guy like Leveille who played for Boston for four years, and a guy like Morris who's from Boston, it was a good feeling."
Deane is enjoying a breakout second season. Through nine games, he is fifth in the league with 55 groundballs, playing with both a short stick and long pole at midfield and defense. Deane is upset that the MLL doesn't have a long-stick midfield position; only three long poles are allowed on the field at once. "I think it's a shame that the MLL doesn't have a long stick middie. It's the position that does everything on the field and the league doesn't have it. I know the league wants to see more offense, but you have every other position in lacrosse except for the long stick middie."
He's had to compromise by playing on the faceoff wing with a three-foot pole. "It's the first time I've played short stick," Deane said. "My game is groundballs; I can get you the ball. When you lose three feet from the stick, it's tougher to get those groundballs, but I'm adjusting to it."
Meanwhile, Morris has continued to enjoy tremendous success in the league. After making the All-Star Team last season as a rookie, he is second on the team with 26 points (12g, 14a) through nine games.
Having the comfort of long time friends on the team proves beneficial. Deane and Morris treat each other like brothers. "Morris and I bust each other's chops all the time," Deane said. "I'll tell him he's slow, fat, and ugly. He'll tell me I'm a skinny little man."
Morris knows having a lifelong friend like Deane is special. "[Our relationship] has blossomed as we got older. Since playing together in Chicago, every weekend I stay at his house. We've gotten even closer. It will probably be the same for a long time. We're in a unique situation in terms of where we are in our lives and what we've done together in the past. I have a ton of respect for him."
(Justin Lafleur is a correspondent for Major League Lacrosse. This feature story was not subject to the approval of Major League Lacrosse.)
