The Historical Return of Columbia Men's Lacrosse

THE TRUE STORY OF HOW, AFTER 53 YEARS, MEN’S LACROSSE RETURNED TO COLUMBIA

Courtesy of Ray Rizzuti CC'63:

“Many years ago, I attended high school at Poly Prep, known for its excellent sports programs.  As a freshman, I began practicing alone in the squash courts with an old lacrosse stick and eventually, boldly, went to the varsity squad to show them some of my skills.  I caught the eye of the coach, Mr. Tucker, who took my ridiculous old stick away, gave me a shirt, attack stick, and said “Rizzuti, you are on the team.”  From that day lacrosse became my passion.  I was not pleased when I was made the goalie, but Mr. Tucker convinced me that the goalie was the heart of the team.  I eventually began to feel confident in this position and became extremely aggressive.  I soon became well known in the league for the “Rizzuti move” — I would stop a goal, scoop up the ball, run down the field towards the opponent’s goal, exchange my goalie stick for an attack stick, eventually scoring a goal. I spent three years in goal and was considered the best goalie in New York school leagues — voted all interstate team player and player of the year.

When it was time for applying to college, my first choice was Princeton.  The idea of joining their lacrosse team was a major consideration in my choice.  However, because I had already been accepted at Columbia my college advisor did not give me the recommendation I needed.

I was very disappointed that Columbia had no lacrosse team and took it upon myself to start one.  I began posting cryptic signs all over campus … ‘LACROSSE MAKES MEN’.  I then put a notice in the Spectator calling for the first meeting of the Columbia Men’s Lacrosse Team.  It was 1963 and about 20 people attended.  Some had no experience and none of us had equipment. I got a loan from my mother and bought all the equipment and obtained the goals from Poly Prep and we were off to the park by the river at Morningside Heights.

I arranged for us to play 8 games away and I made sure that Princeton was one of them.  When we arrived at Princeton we were a mediocre, shabby team.  When we saw the Princeton locker room we were so envious.  Clean, whirlpools, workout equipment and coaches taping all the players.  Even though Princeton won, we played hard.  I even used the “Rizzuti move.” After the game, the coach came up to me and said he was sorry he didn’t push harder to get me to Princeton.  I really didn’t care about that anymore — I was so proud of the team I had started at Columbia.”