Mann’s hockey skills still come in handy
There are many reasons Riley Mann is among the best lacrosse players in Illinois. The Benet defenseman is fiercely competitive, thanks to countless backyard battles with his twin brother, Will. He has tremendous footwork and stick-handling skills, which he credits to playing hockey growing up. And he has a great knowledge of the game, being able to direct his teammates to put them in the best position to succeed.
This spring, Mann wants to add one item to his list of accolades: champion. The leader of a veteran Redwings team, the senior hopes to get Benet over the hump after coming close to a state title in the past.
A talented roster starts with Mann, who has committed to Georgetown and has been on the Redwings’ varsity roster since he was a freshman. Though he picked up the game late after playing hock- ey until seventh grade, the transition to lacrosse seemed natural. Mann found that, while playing for Benet and the True Lacrosse club team, his skills from the ice translated well to the field. Defensive positioning is similar in the sports, and scooping up a loose ground ball is nearly identical to handling the puck with a hockey stick.
“I never thought playing lacrosse would give me the chance to go to college, especially for such a great school,” Mann said. “I’m definitely a product of where I’m from. A lot of Midwest kids have that extra grit, that toughness. We bring something else to the table.”
Mann calls himself a complete defenseman, able to do a lot of different things for his team. From taking faceoffs to guarding an opponent’s top attacker, he isn’t afraid to be physical, another trait he picked up from his hockey background.
“It has helped [Riley] so much. That aggressive mentality has translated to the field, but also his stick skills and hand coordination,” said Kevin Finn, an associate head coach at Benet and a coach with True Lacrosse. “Add to that his personality, where he is as competitive as they come, and it makes him a terrific player.”
Mann is excited to head to Washington in the fall, where he will suit up for an up-and-coming Hoyas program. His brother hopes to walk on at Loyola (Maryland), just a few minutes down the road. Before then, the Mann twins will seek to take care of business at home, looking to close out their career with the honor that has eluded them.
“Our team is very tight — everyone gets along really well — and we have terrific chemistry,” Riley said about the Benet roster, which includes eight returning starters from a team that reached the state quarterfinals a year ago. “We have a shot at playing for the state title if we do what we know we can do.”