Assistant coach brings expertise to Drew Lacrosse

The Drew University Men’s Lacrosse team hired a new assistant coach, Matt Poskay, to help them for the 2009-10 season.  According to the Drew Athletics Website, “Poskay is one of the best lacrosse players in the United States and he is also a part of the U.S, National Team pool.” 
He is an All-American and National Champion at the University of Virginia, and holds the high school record most goals- 362.  Besides having been on the National Team, Poskay also plays for the Boston Cannons, a Major Lacrosse League team, where he was drafted in 2006.
Poskay said playing on the National team was a great experience and a lot of fun.
 “It was pretty cool playing on the National Team.  I spent all summer with the boys on the team, and I still stay in contact with some of them. It’s great to be able to keep the relationships,” Poskay said.
“When playing college lacrosse, you have to balance your work around practice,” Poskay said.  “In college you can do a lot more things on the field [than in high school] because of the talent you have,” he said.
Poskay said that in college, you have to fit lacrosse into your schedule, but professional lacrosse is different, because you don’t have classes and your entire day is devoted solely to  playing lacrosse.
One of the reasons Poskay started playing lacrosse was because of his older brother. Poskay said that watching his brother’s games made Poskay want to play too. 
“I enjoyed it right away,” Poskay said, “It is a great sport.” 
Before coaching at Drew, Poskay coached at Johnsons High School, but left because he wanted to coach at the college level.  He talked to Head Coach Tom Leanos and decided that Drew was a good fit for him.  While he is at Drew, he wants to improve the Men’s lacrosse program.
“I want to help out the athletes on and off the field,” Poskay said.  “We want to win the Landmark Conference and that will get us an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.  By doing that, it will be a great year,” he said.
“I enjoy playing and coaching, and I want to do it as long as I can,” Poskay said. 
Many of the lacrosse players are appreciative of Poskay.
“He knows what he’s talking about,” attacker Nick Della Fera (’12) said. 
“He’s a really good coach.  He’s an offensive genius,” midfielder Sean McGowan (’12) said. 
“He’s a really good off ball player.  He really understands offense and defense.  He’s a smart player,” midfielder Taylor Lohman (’10) said.
Leanos had some very positive things to say about Poskay as well. 
“I hired Matt because of his background and reputation as a quality person, and outstanding player.  Matt has a tremendous reputation in the state of New Jersey and in the lacrosse community around the country… Matt is humble, personable and extremely approachable,” he said.
Poskay said that one of the best parts of coaching is “getting out on the field all day with a stick in my hands playing with these guys and coaching.”  He also sits in the office and does some recruiting, but prefers being on the field and playing with the team.
Leanos said, “Our players instantly accepted Matt. He is an example of what selfless dedication, commitment and willingness to focus on achieving your goals, can bring, no matter what the obstacles.  Matt will be working with our offense, recruiting, helping with our fundraising clinics and assisting in the operation of the men’s lacrosse program.  It’s an honor to have him as part of the Drew community.”