Team USA Goalie Jesse Schwartzman
On his experience playing for Team USA this past week in the 2014 FIL World Championships
“It’s been fun so far. It’s a great experience, a dream come true really. Anytime you can represent your country it’s pretty awesome and so far it’s been nothing short of that. The team has been playing well and it’s been really fun to get to know some of the guys better. I’m really looking forward to the next few days.”
On the Opening Ceremonies and first game against Team Canada
“The Opening Ceremonies were awesome with all 38 countries represented. it was really cool to see those flags in the stadium. Then we had to switch gears into game mode and it was different playing against my Outlaws teammates. I’ve stood on the same side of those guys for a while now so to line up against them on the opening faceoff and see Dillon Roy, Curtis [Dickson], Zack Greer, [Jeremy Noble], Cam Holding, and Cam Flint all across starting for the other team, it was a little different. But once the whistle blew it was just like a regular game. Before and after was a little weird, but during the game it was just a lacrosse game so that helped.”
On shutting out the Iroquois Nationals for the first 42 minutes of their matchup and allowing only five goals
“I thought we came out extremely prepared. We were ready for everything they threw at us and we had seen a lot of the stuff they were running. I thought we were prepared and excited to play and ready. We had some weather delays so we were kind of chomping at the bit to get out there. I think everyone was kind of overlooking us a little bit and everyone thought that Iroquois would give us a good run and knock us down. I think we were well prepared and ready to play, though.”
On if he’s changed his fitness and nutrition program to prepare for playing in Worlds on top of the Outlaws season
“Yeah, our Strength and Conditioning Coach Jay Dyer has done a tremendous job with this whole team and he’s given us programs I’ve been trying to follow in terms of workouts, running, different cardio activities and fitness stuff. I’m just trying to stay light, eat well and stay hydrated. It’s a lot of lacrosse in not that much time. I’m just really taking care of my body and getting a lot of treatment and physical therapy to feel good for Worlds and the Outlaws season.”
On Team USA’s chemistry and the fun he’s had despite the pressure on Team USA
“It really has been a lot of fun to meet a lot of the guys that I hadn’t really hung out with before and hang out with some of my old teammates from college and the Outlaws. It’s been a blast and nothing short of awesome. I think whenever you put together basically an All-Star type of team it’s hard to find that chemistry, but everybody is doing their role and doing what’s asked of them from the coaches. I think that everybody is playing for that name on the front of their jersey as opposed to the one on the back, and that’s why we’re playing so well together. I really think our chemistry great right now with all the time we’re spending together in the dorms. We’re doing activities together, we’re eating together, we’re sleeping together, so whenever you can do that I think you can build chemistry and whenever you have chemistry off the field I think it translates on the field as well.”
Team Canada Midfielder Jeremy Noble
On his experience playing in 2014 FIL World Championships for Team Canada so far
“It’s been awesome. It’s been such a humbling and great opportunity to put on a Team Canada jersey and get to know a lot of these guys on a personal level. I’ve played against a lot of them and grew up idolizing a lot of these players, so to put the jersey on alongside them has been a great experience. It’s been a tough week—we just had four games in a row. So you have to be tough every day and you have to keep getting better every single day. But it’s been a fun experience and I think we’ve gotten better every single day.”
On Team Canada’s win over the Iroquois Nationals and his assist to fellow Outlaw Curtis Dickson for the game-winning goal
“It was a good game, I don’t think we played our best but we’re still trying to find our groove as a team. I think over the last couple of days we’ve been able to figure out who we are as a team as we learn more about each other. It’s pretty tough putting a team together, but I think our goal is just to keep getting better every single day. The game against the Iroquois was one of the more exciting games I’ve been a part of. Lacrosse is a game of runs and we knew they were going to go on a run. At the end there it was awesome to get the ball in my stick and be able to make a play and pass it off to Curtis. I think my job is pretty easy when I have one of the best finishers in the game that I’m able to pass it to, so I really don’t look at my job as too hard. I think all credit goes to Curtis that play was what it was.”
On playing attack instead of midfield for Team Canada during Worlds
“It’s been fun. I’m really enjoying it down there. It’s definitely a little bit different. Obviously, my four years at [the University of Denver] DU I played midfield and in MLL I play midfield but the coaches like me down there (on attack) in the back and seeing the field and being able to calm everyone down and help run the offense. I’m pretty humbled to be back there behind the net and playing that spot because there are so many talented players on this team. But I’m really enjoying it back there and it’s really fun to play with some of the best players in the world.”
On Coach O’Hara saying he wishes Noble would shoot more for the Outlaws
“Yeah, I think as I get more comfortable with the Denver Outlaws I’m going to obviously start shooting more. I think the confidence I’ve gotten throughout this tournament hopefully it carries on into the rest of the MLL season and the Denver Outlaws. So hopefully I can bring that to the Outlaws, but I’m just going to continue to play my game. A couple of my shots have hit the pipes or the goalie knees and there have been a couple of good saves, but I’m pretty confident my shots are going to start falling in the MLL soon.”
On what John Grant Jr. has brought to Team Canada during these Worlds
“He’s been unbelievable. He understands the game so well, more than almost anyone that I’ve ever met. He’s such a talented player. He’s done so much for us on an individual basis, especially for me. I have never really played attack—I mean I played attack all four years in high school, but these last four, five years I haven’t really played attack. Junior is one of the guys that has really helped me back there and helped calmed me down. He’s been a huge influence on my game in these World Games and someone that I’ve looked up to my whole life watching him play. It’s sort of neat to be able to learn a lot from Junior.”