Matt Landis, The Man of Lacrosse

PITTSBURGH - Jan. 21, 2015 - PRLog -- Years before Matt Landis became part of the University of Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team he, like many athletes, participated in several contact sports. His days spent on the football field and hockey rink allowed Landis pick up a crosse with ease.

“I started playing in 8th grade which was a few years behind the kids in my town and even further behind my current teammates today. But I think growing up and playing football and hockey really helped me make a quick transition into lacrosse,” Landis explains. “A lot of the skills I had learned in these sports were applicable to lacrosse, and allowed me to make an impact on the field right when I started.”

During Matt Landis’ time at Pelham Memorial High School, he played four seasons of varsity lacrosse. As a freshman Landis participated in 15 varsity games. Looking back at his high school lacrosse career, Landis reflects on the differences between playing the sport for Pelham Memorial versus in college.

“In high school the sport is much more independent in the sense that there is usually less communication and reliability on defenses. Scoring is either one-on-one dodging, or a dodge then a dump to the crease,” Landis says. “However at the college level, there needs to be much more cohesion and communication among defenses to account for the high level of talent that offensive players have.”

Matt Landis was ranked number 66 on the Inside Lacrosse "Power 100 Freshmen". Landis was rated the 18th best defenseman in the class of 2012 by Inside Lacrosse. As a leading defensemen, Landis has some training advice for defense players to increase the number of ground balls and their presence on the field.

“Any successful defensemen has quick feet that allows him to cover shifty attack men,” Landis explains. “Young defensive players should allocate loads of time training on footwork drills to enhance mobility. It will give defensemen a better ability to guard and take control of his attack man.”

University of Notre Dame men’s Lacrosse team transitioned from a club sport into a varsity program in 1989 and has continuously made the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship tournament since 2006. Matt Landis thanks the success of the Fight Irish men’s lacrosse team to each members compassion and guidance.

“I've never been part of a team or heard of another college team that has such team unity. It truly helps create a friendly environment where the younger players have a great opportunity to learn from the upperclassmen,” Matt Landis said. “This allows us to grow together as a team.”

About Matt Landis
Matt Landis is a collegiate level athlete, who's well known for his contributions on the lacrosse field. Currently attending the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame, he continues to be a mainstay of the lacrosse program, and remains one of their most promising defenders.