Pellicani Bocconi Lacrosse Explained

Team:Pellicani Bocconi Lacrosse
Founded:2009
League:Campionato Italiano Maschile FIGL
Stadium:CS "Forza e Corraggio"
City:Milan
Coach:David Abbott
Manager:Roberto Antonioli
Championships:6
Mascot:Gigi Pellicano
Website:Pagina Ufficiale dei Pellicani Bocconi Lacrosse

Pellicani Bocconi Lacrosse (officially Bocconi Sport Team SSD - Sezione Lacrosse) is an Italian lacrosse team founded in Milan, Italy in 2009.

History

Lacrosse was introduced in Bocconi University by a few students who had played lacrosse before in England and Hong Kong. In 2011, the team won second place at its first appearance in Coppa Italia. The arrival of American player/coach Scott Offerman helped transform the previously strictly amateur team into a more rigorous athletic organization.

Season-by-Season

In 2011/12 Bocconi Lacrosse won the Italian National Championship and we arrived 2nd in Coppa Italia. Its coach won the "Coach of the Year" award and "Best Season Attackman" award.

In 2012/13, Bocconi Lacrosse won again the Italian National Championship beating Red Hawks Merate 17–3 in the final match. Bocconi Lacrosse completed the perfect season, winning all the matches.In September 2013 Bocconi Lacrosse won its first Italian National Cup beating Roma Leones 6–5 in the finale.

In 2013/14, Bocconi Lacrosse ended up first in the League without losing a single game and with goal difference +120. The team has also won the Coppa Italia 2014 in Prato.

In 2014/15, Bocconi Lacrosse ended up first in the League without losing a single game again. The team has also won the Coppa Italia 2015 in Torino. In April 2015, the team has won their only international title, the Zombies Cup in Belgrade, Serbia, having a perfect score (5-0) and beating the Poznan Hussars in the Finals.

In 2015/16, Bocconi Lacrosse ended up first in the League without losing a single game for four years straight. In September 2016, the team ended up 7th at the Ken Galluccio Cup, repeating the success of the previous year. In October 2016, the team won its fourth straight Coppa Italia, which was held in Milan, beating Red Hawks Merate in the finals 9–5.

In the 2016/17 season, for the 5th year in a row, Bocconi Lacrosse won the League without losing one single game thus qualifying again for the Ken Galluccio Cup. In September of that year the team finished 8th and finished the season winning its 5th straight Coppa Italia.

The two following seasons, after the historical core of the team retired, the Pelicans saw a massive restructuring of the team, and through the management of Matteo Scotti, Enrico Mazzullo and finally of Roberto Antonioli, managed to bring back a competitive team for the 2019/20 season.

During the 2019/20 season, the renewed ensemble started off the championship with a 4-0 stint that was only stopped by the annulment of the Championship itself due to the rise and spread of COVID-19. Also, the subsequent season was annulled by the Italian Federation.

After the 2-year break a trimmed-down team got into the 2021/22 season, and after a shaky start, managed to finish second with the mixed Roma/Merate/Torino team winning the Championship in the last match. The team bounced back in June, winning its 6th Coppa Italia.

In 2022/23, the Pelicans reached both the Championship and Coppa Italia finals, bringing home only two silver medals during what is known as the "cursed month".

See also

References