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“I drop down in a nice balanced position I want to be able to withstand any pressure I’m going to feel from any position because the most important thing for me is staying on my feet. Whether you win or lose the ball, you still want to stay on your feet because you’re still going to have a chance to pick up the ball.”

or on the morning of an evening game. That meal should be mostly comprised of carbohydrates, the substance the body uses to create energy. The exact amount of each nutrient depends on the weight of the athlete, but carbs should make up about 65 percent of that pregame lacrosse meal. These carbs should be of the complex variety. Good sources of complex carbs include fruits and vegetables, whole grain bread and pasta, oatmeal, bread, beans, and potatoes. Poor carb choices are foods that are made with refined flour and sugar, such as white bread and pasta, cereal, baked goods, crackers, ice cream, or candy. These simple carbohydrates are full of calories and provide little nutritional value. Another 20 percent of the meal should come from healthy fats. Like carbs, there are good and bad kinds of fat. The fats athletes want come from nuts like almonds, peanut butter, eggs, and avocados. Foods with what are known as saturated or trans fats should be avoided.

– Face-off specialist and two-time NCAA champion Jamison Koesterer

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