Eric Adamson is an easygoing, “typical California guy” who believes in seizing the moment — and the sophomore midfielder quickly rose from a surprise recruit to one of DU’s best men’s lacrosse players this season.
Adamson is currently third on the team in points with 16 goals and seven assists for 23 points, compared to last season’s eight total points off five goals and three assists. Adamson trails only senior attackman Eric Law and sophomore midfielder Wes Berg with 39 and 36 points, respectively.
Head coach Bill Tierney said that part of Adamson’s success is due to his unique talent as an ambidextrous player.
“He’s a very good athlete — he’s kinda a quick guy. But he is also one of the rare, truly ambidextrous players,” said Tierney. “Even though lacrosse players are supposed to be able to catch, throw, shoot with both hands, he can really play on all parts of the field; he’s a multifaceted and multi-talented young man with good athleticism.”
Tierney said Adamson’s success this year is a tribute to his growth since joining the team.
“His confidence has been the main thing,” said Tierney. “We recruited him very late, end of his senior year, and when he first came, he wasn’t sure if he could be successful at the D1 level, but once we all realized how talented he is, he really grew.”
Adamson attributes his success to lessons he’s learned from leaders on the team.
“The seniors this year have provided a lot of support and [I] have really come out of my shell,” said Adamson.
Those seniors include attackman Eric Law and midfielder Cameron Flint, who serve as captains.
“[Law and Flint] are really supportive, and they never really make mistakes, so you want to play well for them,” said Adamson. “It’s their senior year so this is it for them. I always try to keep in mind that it’ll go by quick and you got to seize it while its here.”
Just this past week, Adamson helped clinch a close overtime game with Air Force Academy (11-10) with an assist.
“I think we really underestimated that team; they came out with a new strategy on the defense that we hadn’t seen so far this year, but big players like Wes Berg stepped up,” said Adamson. “It was just a lack of focus at the beginning, but we came through.”
The Air Force game and this weekends game against Hobart (14-5), where Adamson finished with four points off three goals and an assist, exemplified the team’s “one goal” mantra that has helped them focus this year.
“Last year we lost six ‘one goal’ games, so we think about that. For the team, it was crazy to lose those games, pretty heartbreaking,” said Adamson. “I always try to think, ‘what can you do now so you don’t have a last ditch effort to put the game away?’”
For Adamson, the ‘one goal’ mantra is just part of the draw of being part of a team.
“It’s great, it’s awesome to be a contributor on this team,” said Adamson. “I know there are a lot of great guys on this team, so it’s just great to play with them. It’s a great group of guys that mesh really well together, so I think we’ll go far this year. I just go have fun, that’s what it’s all about.”
Adamson first came to lacrosse as a seventh-grader in Anaheim Hills, California.
“I think I saw [lacrosse] on TV — one of the later games like a playoff championship. I told my dad I wanted to try the sport, he found a nearby middle school that had it and I was able to play there. I fell in love with it and have been doing it ever since,” said Adamson.
In high school, Adamson played lacrosse at Foothill-Santa Ana High School, where he tabbed All-American and All-County honors his senior year, in addition to honors as MVP of Orange County, All-County honors, Attackman Scholar Athlete all four years, and membership of 2009 U.S. Boys’ High School All-America Team.
Adamson, the youngest of five children, chose DU to be close to home in California, where his parents still live, in addition to his black Great Dane, Hadley and sister, who is currently in law school. Adamson also has two brothers, one that goes to Kansas University and another who is an accountant in Hawaii.
According to Tierney, Adamson’s transition from high school to college was seamless.
“He’s very easy to coach. Eric and I don’t say much to each other because he doesn’t make many mistakes. We have a great relationship,” said Tierney. “He’s eager, listens and has a unique talent. We expected him to be one of our best players this year, and he is.”
In addition to focusing on lacrosse, Adamson is majoring in finance at the Daniels’ College of Business and looking forward to traveling after graduation.
“Off the field, he’s a very easygoing guy. Very smart, wonderful student takes his studies seriously,” said Tierney. “He’s what I call an ‘easy friend,’ not one of these guys who needs to be in a clique or feels awkward — he’s always smiling and laughing.”
Still, Adamson has big dreams for this season.
“I want this team to reach its potential, and that means win the ECAC championship and eventually a national championship,” said Adamson.
