ESSEX, Vt. (WCAX) – Back on Memorial Day, the Cornell men’s lacrosse team captured their first national championship in nearly 50 years, and one Vermonter played a key role for the Big Red.
“We had 16 seniors this year and guys who were able to lead in all different ways throughout the season,” recent Cornell grad and Essex High School alumnus Chris Davus said of his team’s run to the national title. “I think we had all the confidence in the world as a senior class in our younger guys that they were gonna able to pull through.”
It was the culmination of a long journey for Davis and his team, as they knocked off Penn State in the semifinals, the only team to beat Cornell during the regular season.
“We knew that the only reason we lost that game was because we beat ourselves,” Davis said. “We buttoned up a couple things, and going into that game, I think we had all the confidence in the world.”
And then they took down Maryland in the final, the same school that ended Davis’ championship dreams on Memorial Day as a freshman back in 2022.
“We just had the confidence in each other as seniors that no matter what happened, they were gonna go on runs, we were gonna go on runs, we’d come out on top at the end,” Davis added.
What made it all the more special was getting to win it at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough as a native New Englander.
“I had grown up going down to Boston and Foxborough to see Final Fours throughout my entire childhood,” Davis said. “It was kind of a surreal moment, being able to actually be on the field this time and see it from a different angle.”
It was a bit of an adjustment for Davis over the course of his career, going from a high school All-American with the Essex Hornets back in 2021 to a role player as a defensive middie for the Big Red.
“You go from being kind of a star player here in this area to an entire team of guys who are all star players in the area,” Davis said. “It’s a huge adjustment, and you come in and kind of just have to take everything in stride.”
But that buy-in allowed him to play big minutes for the best team in the country and earn second team All-Ivy League honors.
“I switched from offense to defense and as long as you’re able to accept it and enjoy it and kind of just do your best at that position, then you’ll be successful,” Davis said.
It was the perfect way to cap his college career, and Davis said he hopes he can serve as an inspiration for other Vermonters hoping to play at the highest level.
“You see kind of some guys shifting away from Vermont, going to private school, whatever it is, and all that’s great,” Davis said. “But just to the kids in Vermont, it means a ton to have you guys look up to me. I hope everybody knows that they can get to this position. Work as hard as you can and, and this opportunity will arise as long as you’re willing to put the time and effort into it.”
Davis hopes to continue his career at the professional level: he’s been added to the New York Atlas roster in the Premier Lacrosse League, and he’s waiting for a call-up as he starts a day job in New York City.
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