Dante Yacavone is a senior attacker for Cortland. Yacavone has had a lot of success in his time playing for the Red Dragons. Such as being named All-American and SUNYAC men’s lacrosse scholar-athlete in the 2022 season. As well as reaching 200 career points just a couple of weeks ago. Yacavone sat for an interview to tell us more about what lacrosse means to him and his time as a Red Dragon.
Q: What is your favorite part of playing lacrosse?
DY: My favorite part of playing lacrosse is the competitiveness of the game and the friends I have made playing lacrosse.
Q: When you play games do you have a pregame routine? If so, what is it?
DY: One thing I always do before a game is tape my stick and I have to do it before every game.
Q: How would you describe your experience playing lax at Cortland?
DY: My experience playing Cortland lacrosse has been so awesome. All the teams I have played for have been really great teammates and I have had very competitive seasons.
Q: If you had to pick the best moment of yours since joining the team, what would it be?
DY: The best moment was winning the SUNYAC championship my freshman year. That team was composed of many great players, and it was a very special moment to win that first one.
Q: Has playing lacrosse helped you learn more about yourself or maybe even something about you that changed?
DY: Playing lacrosse has definitely made me learn about myself and my weaknesses and areas of myself that I had to work on. For example, I was a shy kid coming into college and lacrosse has helped me open some boundaries and get more talkative.
Q: How do you stay focused when your team doesn’t play well or when you personally might not play your best?
DY: When I’m having a bad game, or the team is I just try to take a deep breath and tell myself you have been here before you and that I’ve got this. I just try my hardest and hope that we turn things around.
Q: Is there a specific person in the lacrosse community who has inspired you or that you admire?
DY: One person in the lacrosse community I have looked up to my whole life is my father. He actually played for Cortland too and has been coaching me since I was in the 2nd grade.
Q: How do you expect this season to turn out?
DY: I expect this season to end with a deep run into the playoffs and hopefully a chance at the national championship game.
Q: Is there any underclassman you’re excited to see move up after your gone?
There are a few underclassmen I am excited to see move up after I graduate. Caden Yancy, Sam Rothman, and Kole Stuver because they play the same position as me and I see how much hard work they put in each day, and I know how good they can and will be.
Q: Do you have any personal goals for this season?
DY: One personal goal for this season was to reach 200 points which I did and other than that I just want the team to do the best we can and work more on myself as a leader of the team and getting them there.
Q: How do you feel about playing your last college lax season?
DY: I have mixed feelings about my last lacrosse season. Obviously, I am going to miss the game a lot and the competitive atmosphere of playing. I am looking forward to enjoying what comes next for me in life and also giving my body a rest.