Worlds now, Olympics in sight
Burlington field and box lacrosse player helps Italian program
Sometimes there are really big victories well outside the podium.
That was certainly the case for Burlington’s Mitch Zulian and Team Italy at last summer’s World (Field) Lacrosse Championships in Netanya, Israel.
While most North Americans interested in lacrosse focused on the gold medal final — won by the U.S. over Canada on a controversial goal with one second to play — the Italian team was celebrating its 16th-place finish in the 46-nation tournament. The only time the Italians had ever finished that high was a 10th-place debut in 2006, when the tournament attracted 45 per cent of the countries it does now and there were far fewer tough teams among the top 20.
“The Italian Lacrosse Federation was very happy with the finish,” says the 18-year-old graduate of the Burlington Minor Lacrosse Association and Edge Lacrosse. “It will get them more funding at home.”
Zulian answered a call for North American lacrosse players with Italian backgrounds to attend a tryout in Baltimore for the national team.
He made the squad and was among the leading players as Italy won its qualifying group over Turkey and Peru to advance to the coveted “upper bracket” in the world championship playoffs. There, the Italians upset Sweden 13-11, lost to Ireland and were edged in overtime by the Philippines. “It was one of the greatest times of my life,” says Zulian, who played some midfielder but spent most of the tournament on attack. “The lacrosse was great; I love the game and have been playing it since I was four. The team I played with, the players, the whole atmosphere over there made it tremendous. Seeing countries like Uganda fielding teams, to me it’s life-changing for the game. You’re bringing players in from all over the world. Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and is the fastest-growing sports in the U.S.”
Indeed it’s a great time to be a lacrosse player, especially in field. There’s a new pro field league (The Premier Lacrosse League) starting next summer, with players getting an equity stake.
And in late November, the International Olympic Committee “recognized” the FIL, which runs field and box lacrosse worldwide, which could lead to lacrosse’s inclusion in the Olympic Games, as early as Los Angeles 2028, when Zulian will still be only 28.
“It’s definitely on my mind,” Zulian concedes. “Growing up, I always wondered why lacrosse was not in the Olympics. It’s going to be a dream come true for a lot of people who might be able to play in the Games.”
Zulian started playing box in Burlington at the age of four, and added field to his repertoire when he was eight or nine. While he loves both versions of the sport, he prefers the box game because:
“It’s more enclosed and physical and I always loved my scoring (He had 11 goals in 10 games for Guelph Jr. B’s last season). Field is great, but is more about strategy.”
After spending his first three high school years at Burlington’s Dr. Frank J. Hayden Secondary School, he graduated as an Ontario school and field lacrosse athlete from Vaughan’s Everest Academy last spring.
He is taking this year off from school to recover from surgery to repair an ACL injury he suffered at Worlds, and is weighing his options for post-secondary study, and lacrosse, on both sides of the border.
He has three years of box lacrosse junior eligibility remaining and hopes to eventually make the National Lacrosse League. And, in field, the PLL is an eventual option, and Italy will be at the European Championships in 2020 and likely at the 2020 Worlds in Coquitlam, B.C.
“I have plans to keep going on and help build the game,” he says.
“I want to do my part. I fell in love with the game when I was little and want to help it along, the way it’s helped me.”