Since the program's beginning just over a year ago, the DePauw University men's lacrosse team has always found themselves to be the underdogs.
After winning three games early this season, the team entered difficult NCAC conference play and has found themselves as the underdogs once again.
"The NCAC is debatably the best conference in the nation," said first-year attacker Sam Caravana. "Even the teams that aren't nationally ranked are very solid."
First-year defender Joe Ross echoed Caravana's thoughts.
"It's very challenging [playing in the NCAC]," Ross said. "But the strong competition is only making our team that much stronger."
According to the latest NCAA rankings, Denison University was fourth in the nation and undefeated while Ohio Wesleyan University was 19th with a 10-2 record.
Even with powerhouse teams like Denison and Ohio Wesleyan in the conference, Wittenberg University, Kenyon College and the College of Wooster all have winning percentages above .600. Each team in the NCAC has a better record out of conference than in conference play.
"We're a year or two away from being really competitive in the conference," Caravana said. "We certainly have the talent, and the experience is coming."
With a 3-9 record, the team is 1-4 in conference play with an earlier win over Hiram College. The team has two more conference games, an away game at Wittenberg tomorrow and then senior night against Kenyon Saturday at home.
"One of our goals was to win two conference games," said first-year defender AJ Schlaff, "and we're going to be putting on a good game for our seniors against Kenyon."
Caravana expressed the same goal.
"Our goal is to win another conference game," Caravana said. "Kenyon is who we match up well with, and we'll play hard for our seniors."
Kenyon currently sits at an 8-5 record and 3-2 in conference play. The Tigers will certainly be the underdogs in Saturday's contest.
"We never go into a game thinking about how good the other team is," Ross said.
Caravana agreed that the team does not let the record of another team get in their heads.
"Our mentality is always to play our own game and to consistently play hard regardless of the score," Caravana said.
With 20 out of the 24 members of the team being first-years, this class has had a special hand in creating the type of program that DePauw lacrosse will be.
Schlaff said that they have worked to create a winning culture and plan to do is for the remainder of their time at DePauw.
"It's special to be a part of this group," Caravana said. "We're tight knit, and we know we're creating the program and the program's mentality."
The prospect of future success excites the team members.
"It's great being a part of the beginning of this program," Ross said. "We were able to get the program's first win, and now we're looking forward to even more future success."
The Tigers face off at Wittenberg Wednesday at 4 p.m. and are home against Kenyon on 3 p.m. Saturday.