:10 Seconds with C.J. Frates

The Men's Lacrosse team is currently 8-4 with a Little East Conference record of 3-3. One of the vocal leaders of this team is Junior Midfielder C.J. Frates, and his role of a leader was emphasized when the Panthers played Keene State. Before the game even started, PSU was doing their usual warm-up routine, and a number of players started to heckle/yell at Plymouth without much reason behind it. Frates defended his teammates by going right back at them (with class, unlike the Owls of Keene).

While Frates may not have the highest point total on the team (27 points in his career in the Green and White), he is a player that is reliable with the ball, as he won't make stupid mistakes. The Panthers only have one game left in their regular season (they play Eastern Connecticut on Sat., Apr. 26), and they will look to make some noise in next week's LEC post-season tournament.

1. How long have you been playing lacrosse?

I have been playing lacrosse since first grade. So, that would be about 14 years.

2. How does the lacrosse team look for the rest of the 2014 season?

We have had a bit of a roller coaster of a season with a couple unexpected losses but I feel that we have a mentally strong group of guys who are more than capable of succeeding in the post season.

3. What is your most memorable moment in your lacrosse career?

My most memorable moment in lacrosse was when I scored the double overtime goal against St. Paul's School my senior year of high school.

4.Do you have any superstitions on game-day?

I am not a very superstitious person, but I do dress from left to right before a lacrosse game. 

5. What was the "Welcome to lacrosse" moment of your career?

I would have to say my welcome to lacrosse moment would have to be when I heard my name announced over the loud speaker during the first start of my college career against the University of New England.

6. If I were to look at your iPod/iTunes/etc. what would be the five most played songs?

"You" by Chris Young

"Martin" by Zach Brown Band

"Drowning Sadness" by Bryan Frates

"Booyah" by Showtek

"Hook" by Blues Traveler

7. You guys have lost your captain Zach Frank for the past couple of games. How much has this hurt the flow of the offense, and who has stepped up in his place?

It has been a challenge for our offense to lose such an asset like Zack Frank with 3 games left in the season, but I feel confident that we have players willing to step up to the plate, such as Nico Sorrentino, who added two goals against UMass Boston for a much needed conference win last Saturday.

8. With the LEC post-season tournament starting soon, how will the dynamic of the team change to make sure that you guys are successful?

Playoffs will call for high intensity practices and overall buy-in from each member of the team. With the tournament being single elimination, there will be little margin for error.

9. What made you decide to come to Plymouth to play lacrosse as oppose to any other school?

I transferred from Endicott my Freshman year of college after visiting my cousin Shawn McEvoy, who was on the lacrosse team here at Plymouth State. I spent a night hanging out with members of the team Tyler Cote, Sean Allen and Mike Ventura, and felt that this was the place for me.

10. The team as a whole appears to gel pretty well. When you are able to have a team that doesn't have many internal problems, how much does it help for the overall success of the season?

When your team is able to mesh and understand that everyone is involved to reach one common goal, you can spend more time focusing on lacrosse and avoid interruptions, which causes teams to take a step back, as appose to staying focused and on track for a successful season and an LEC Championship.