RECORD PACE: Coby Auslander, left, races upfield in a game this spring in his junior season for the Christopher Newport University men’s lacrosse team. Former Princeton Day School star Auslander produced a historic campaign for the Captains, setting a program single-season record for assists with 46. Midfielder Auslander, who also scored 30 goals, earned first-team United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-American recognition, among other honors, as CNU went 18-2 and advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. (Photo provided courtesy of Christopher Newport University Athletics)

By Bill Alden

After the Christopher Newport University men’s lacrosse team advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four in 2021 for the first time in program history, Coby Auslander and his teammates were primed for a return trip to the national semis this spring.

“There was just a completely different mindset in fall ball,” said former Princeton Day School standout midfielder Auslander. “I think over the summer a lot of guys were just absolute freaks and just took their game to a completely different level. We knew we had the culture and the teammate vibe where everybody was already close-knit. We just needed to take our skills to a different level and I think we did that in the fall.”

This spring, junior Auslander and the Captains took things to a higher level, going 16-0 in regular season play and rising to No. 1 in the D-III national polls. Cementing his status as one of the top playmakers in the country, Auslander set a program single-season record for assists with 46.

The squad had four players earn United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-American honors, including Auslander, who was a first-team selection.

But CNU fell short of its ultimate goal as it lost 10-9 in overtime to York College in the NCAA D-III quarterfinals, ending the spring with an 18-2 record.

“It is tough to talk about because I don’t believe we reached the point we wanted to get to,” said Auslander. “When you look at it from a rear view mirror and think about what we did — we got to No. 1 in the country, we had all of these All-American players, the bond that we had as a unit — and how special it was, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It sucked that it ended in a lot of tears; it just showed that everybody cared.”

Those bonds were exemplified by a high-powered CNU attack that averaged 19.1 goals a game as it utilized a modified approach.

“We changed our offense a little bit,” said Auslander. “We took up a more Canadian style of offense which means we played more of a box style. It was just super helpful for me, I am a strong left-handed player who doesn’t love to put it in my right hand. So just having the ability to keep it on my left, my strong hand as much as possible, was super beneficial. It helped a lot of us on the team with people in different spots and a new formation.”

While the Captains changed up things a bit stylistically, Auslander kept his focus on being a playmaker.

“I saw myself keeping the same role as the guy who initiates the play,” said the 5’7, 150-pound Auslander, who scored 30 goals to go with his 46 assists. “Definitely as a junior, it was helpful in that I felt way more mature. I knew the guys a lot better and I knew what they expected from me. I would say in the first couple of practices and games of the year I just felt like I knew how the team would click and how to click with the other players. We developed a bond that was just super special. It took my game to the next level with what they could provide and what I could provide to the team.”

In mid-April, CNU clicked as it defeated top-ranked Salisbury before an overflow home crowd of 1,233.

“It was just such a special moment before we came to CNU we hadn’t beaten Salisbury in I don’t how many years, maybe 10-12 years,” said Auslander, who tallied two goals and two assists in the win.

“I remember being recruited to CNU and they lost to Salisbury in the conference final and we got a text from my coach (Mikey Thompson) saying we will beat Salisbury one day. That stuck with our class really well. It is something that we pursued for a while just to have that moment. Our friends and family were all there, the whole stadium was packed. It was big for the program and the alumni. We had been building that for a while.”

In the wake of that triumph, the Captains rose to No. 1 in the D-III national polls.

“If you think about it, when I went there and for the fifth years that were there this year, when they arrived on campus, they weren’t even ranked,” said Auslander. “That is a big thing that we talked about. It is so special to be No. 1 and we didn’t want to take it for granted. There were a lot of people in front of us that did the heavy work. It was unbelievable to be No. 1 in the country. We knew that we had the target on our back the whole year after that. If you were to tell me that I would have been on a No. 1 team at any point, I would have thought you were crazy.”

While CNU fell 15-10 to Salisbury in a rematch in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship game, Auslander saw positives coming from the setback.

“It was tough to lose that one but when we were looking at the bright side, it  was more the fact that we had our one loss now,” said Auslander. “We knew that it was possible to lose if we don’t show up and play our game. It is not like we are going to show up and just beat these great teams. I think it was helpful in the end to lose that game. Obviously we would have loved to have won that game. It caught our attention and after that we were focused in on the tournament. From then on, we were like, we can’t lose again. We had that mindset.”

The Captains displayed that mindset as they routed Sewanee 29-5 in the second round of the NCAA D-III tournament.

“Our program had never hosted an NCAA tournament game, so that was super special having it on our home field,” said Auslander, who contributed three assists in the victory.

“We took it out on them. The excitement we had for the tournament just showed. That was the most points, assists, and goals we ever had in that game.”

Building on that triumph, CNU defeated Wesleyan 21-8 in the third round of the NCAA tourney.

“They were very tough, there were definitely some nerves too,” said Auslander, who had a goal and two assists in the win. “We were really prepared, our coach did a great job of preparing us for that game. I would say we played extremely well and the heat was a big factor. In the game before, we had a big win and they were in a close one so I think that helped out a lot. They were a great program and to beat them with that score was great.”

The squad’s historic campaign came to a bitter end as the Captains lost the 10-9 nail-biter in overtime.

“I would say the biggest challenge they presented is that their goalie stood on his head, he had a fantastic game,” said Auslander, who tallied a goal in the finale. “Their face-off guy played awesome in the first half so we didn’t see the ball that much. They are a great program, they have a kid (Ryan Kennedy), a long pole who is in the Premier Lacrosse League. He influenced the game a lot, he was a great player. He made the play to win the game in overtime. You know what, it wasn’t our day. We didn’t get the bounces. All credit to them, they deserved it, they worked hard.”

In reflecting on his assist record, Auslander attributed it to a group effort.

“I have got to give all of the credit to my teammates; my job was super easy, I said that all year long,” said Auslander. “There were so many skill guys on our team, it is amazing. Any time I would pass it to one of our top shooters, it was pretty much this one was going to go in. I would draw a slide and get the ball to them. It is nice to break that record but I give most of the credit to them.”

For Auslander, earning All-American accolades was something very special.

“It is something you dream about as a kid,” said Auslander, who also earned honorable mention All-American honors from USA Lacrosse Magazine, was selected to the first-team All-Conference and All-State squads, and was an honorable mention All-Region pick.

“It was such a special year. I would trade it in to get that Elite Eight win, but it was super special. It is something that I will always remember. I am super thankful to my teammates because most of it was on them.”

While the year ended on a down note for CNU, Auslander believes that disappointment will spur the Captains to reach new heights next spring.

“We are completely hungry, the work ethic from when we went to the Final Four to this year was huge but I think it will be even bigger next year,” said Auslander, who was studying in Denmark this month and will be playing in some summer lax events in August upon his return to get ready for his senior campaign.

“Obviously we have to have some freshmen come in and play a huge role. The culture will never change. The energy to win and the need to win is definitely there. It is going to be a special year, I can tell right now.”