The DU men’s lacrosse team defeated Air Force Academy on May 13 in the first round of the NCAA championship tournament by a score of 17-10. A key cog in the Pioneers’ back line, defenseman Jake Nolan helped Denver earn the home victory. A 21-year-old senior, he has been a vital member of the team this season.
Nolan is from Upper Arlington, Ohio and has been playing lacrosse since he was in the fourth grade. A multi-sport athlete, Nolan also played golf, basketball and soccer before choosing to pursue lacrosse collegiately.
Also recruited by Ohio State University, Colgate University and John Hopkins University, Nolan described his decision to come to DU as a “no brainer.”
“I loved the campus, Colorado, the coaching staff and the teammates,” said Nolan.
While being a student-athlete can be difficult, especially in season when the team is constantly travelling, Nolan believes that playing a sport has made him a better student by teaching him to effectively manage his time and communicate with professors.
On the field, Nolan had to deal with a serious injury when he suffered an ACL tear just weeks before the first game of the 2015-16 season his junior year. After getting surgery and completing nine months of rehab, Nolan was finally cleared for full play this spring and currently plays a vital role in the Denver defense.
Despite getting injured and missing out on an entire season, Nolan was still revelling in the highlight of his college career—winning a National Championship his sophomore year. Describing the 2015 championship as “special,” Nolan acknowledged that he is nearing the end of his final season as a DU lacrosse player and is hopeful for another major highlight.
“Being able to win [a championship] my senior year and put my senior class’s stamp on a national championship would be an awesome opportunity,” said Nolan.
As a senior, Nolan recognizes the important role he plays on the team.
“From an experience standpoint, just from being on the team and getting more playing minutes since my freshman year, I’ve been able to help out younger teammates and just be a leader on the field,” said Nolan.
May 13 marked the beginning of the NCAA championship tournament for Division I lacrosse. Receiving the No. 5 seed, Denver hosted Air Force Academy at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. The Pioneers defeated the Falcons by a score of 17-10 and advanced to the second round of the championship tournament to be held in Hempstead, N.Y. next weekend.
Despite having the experience of winning a national championship in 2015, Denver was eliminated by Towson University in the first round of the 2016 NCAA tournament and recently suffered a loss to Marquette University in the BIG EAST Conference tournament on May 4.
“It helps winning a championship two years ago, so we know what it’s like and the work that needs to go into it so we’re able to share that with the younger guys, especially the ones that are playing big minutes for us. I also think losing to Marquette in the BIG EAST Conference tournament both this year and last year helped us learn to digest [the loss], get over it and use it to fuel our next game,” said Nolan.
The leadership that Nolan exemplifies on the field is a testament to how Head Coach Bill Tierney has guided the DU lacrosse program since 2009.
“[Working with Tierney is] really great. Not a lot of people have the opportunity. He’s probably one of the best coaches in all of college lacrosse and has won seven national championships, which separates him from any other college lacrosse coach. He knows what type of people to recruit and bring into the program, and it’s really special to have a coach like him on and off the field. He’s a great coach on the field, and he’s a great mentor off the field. He’ll do anything to help you out, and not only is he trying to get you to be a great lacrosse player but also just a great person for the rest of your life,” said Nolan.
Nolan is set to graduate with the Class of 2017 in June. After graduation, Nolan plans to move back home to Ohio and enter the commercial real estate business.
The Pioneers will be back in action on May 20, taking on the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second round of the NCAA Men’s College Lacrosse Championships at 12:30 p.m. MT in Hempstead, N.Y.
