Each week this season in our Trail Checks feature, we will be keeping on eye on some former members of SportsRecruits.com as they play their collegiate seasons.
In this week’s spotlight, we caught up with Marquette freshman attackman Conor Gately.
A resident of Yorktown Heights, New York, Gately is a graduate of lacrosse powerhouse Yorktown High School. For the Huskers, he was a four-year letterwinner and left the program ranking ninth in school history in points (232) and fifth in assists (162). After his successful high school career, he chose to attend Marquette University and is currently an attackman for the first-year program and head coach Joe Amplo.
In their second game of the season last weekend against Air Force, Gately registered a goal and two assists as the Golden Eagles defeated the Falcons, 8-6. The victory was the first in the young programs history, leveling their record at 1-1. On the season, Gately ranks second on the team with four points (1G, 3A) while also picking up two ground balls.
UPDATE: Conor recorded a team-high five points on a goal and four assists in Marquette’s 13-7 loss at Jacksonville on Saturday, March 9. He now leads the team in points with nine (2G, 7A).
Below is our Q&A with Conor, who touches on the transition from high school to college lacrosse and the emotional victory last weekend.
How has your college lacrosse experience been so far?
So far my college lacrosse experience has been excellent. From competing day-in and day-out at practice throughout the fall and winter to finally having games on the
weekends it makes everything worth it.
What has been the biggest difference you have noticed in the college game vs. the high school game?
The biggest difference I have noticed in college is the speed of the game, obviously physically but more so mentally. Having to read and react to defenses in college
is much more difficult, but at the same time, the players around you help
make that adjustment easier.
What were the emotions of team after recording the first win in program history?
A little bit of everything. We were thrilled for the time being obviously having
the first win for our program was huge but at the same time we asked ourselves
Why stop expecting to win after one?’ It just made us hungrier for future
games. That taste of success is something we finally have, and now that we
have it, we do not want to let it go.
What advice would you give to players as they make the transition from high school to college?
Never doubt yourself, no matter what. As cliché is that sounds, my first few weeks of college lacrosse did not go as planned as far as my play on the field.
You are playing college lacrosse for a reason; believe youre the best player on the
field whether its true or not, and good things will happen.