Matt Miller, Quinnipiac junior attacker, was just getting into a groove before his spring sophomore season was curtailed by Covid-19. As a sophomore in 2020, Miller played in all six games, starting in five of them. Before the season ended, he scored five goals, gathered four ground balls, and had four assists and caused turnovers. Prior to becoming a Bobcat, Miller played varsity lacrosse and soccer at Smithtown West, as well as club lacrosse for FLG. He credits playing football and soccer for his improved footwork and physicality. Now, Miller looks forward to get back to the lacrosse field and make up for an unfinished season.
Q: How did you get into the sport of lacrosse and how long have you been playing for?
A: I started playing lacrosse when I was in third grade. I thought it was definitely something that I would be into and want to start playing because a lot of my friends started playing lacrosse the year before me.
Q: What teams and leagues have you played for in the past, and how long did you play for FLG?
A: I have played with Team 91, my Smithtown travel team, and FLG. I started playing FLG when I was in eighth grade and played throughout high school. I was also a four-year varsity player at Smithtown West before going off to play lacrosse at Quinnipiac.
Q: What other sports did you play besides lacrosse and soccer? How did they help improve your skills and lacrosse game?
A: Another sport I played was football. I thought football translated really well with lacrosse for multiple reasons. I think it helped me improve my footwork, field vision, and physicality. It was a great way to help keep me in shape during the off season and I always enjoyed playing.
Q: What about Quinnipiac University and its lacrosse program helped you decide it was the right school for you?
A: The second I stepped onto campus I fell in love with the school because of how beautiful it was. I knew the school was the right fit for me when I visited. I felt like I fit in really well with the guys on the team.
Q: Have you always played attack? What about this position has made you stick to it?
A: I normally play attack but in high school I played middie as well. I think the main reason I have stuck to being more of an offensive player is because of my lacrosse IQ and my vision of the field. I’m able to make timely decisions and get my teammates the ball when they’re open.
Q: When you’re not on the lacrosse field, what else are you likely to spend your time doing?
A: When I’m not on the field I’m usually hanging out with my friends or my cousins. Most of the time we’ll be playing spike ball, working out or watching sports.
Q: You had an outstanding sophomore season with the Bobcats that was unfortunately left unfinished. In what ways did the coronavirus outbreak impact your 2020 spring season and first year at Quinnipiac?
A: Last year in the beginning of the season we were definitely working on building our team chemistry due to the loss of a crucial graduating class. We were a very young team last year and we were still getting to know each other and how everyone plays. This year, we want to make it a priority to build that chemistry early on and hit the ground running this upcoming season.
Q: What are you looking forward to most about the next upcoming season?
A: I think this upcoming year is going to be great. Everyone’s been pushing themselves really hard throughout this quarantine/summer doing everything they can to prepare themselves. We’re also returning a lot of key players this year so I’m really excited for this season.
Q: Are there any particular coaches or teammates that have taught you valuable lessons about the sport of lacrosse or life that you frequently keep in mind?
A: I looked up to the graduating class of 2020 since my freshman year. They taught me how to be a college athlete and became some of my closest friends. They pushed me to bring out the best of my abilities.
Q: How has your time playing for FLG helped you improve your game or helped you get to play on a collegiate level?
A: Playing with FLG definitely helped me become a much better lacrosse player. Every coach has such a high IQ and love for the game and really wants to see every player succeed. Practices and training sessions were awesome. Also, the competition of all your teammates, who are some of the best players on the island, was great.
