Bowling Green hasn’t had a varsity men’s lacrosse program for over four decades, but the program continues to mark its place in the sport’s history.
Earlier this month, Bowling Green unveiled a statue of the program’s highly-successful lacrosse and soccer coach – Mickey Cochrane – as part of the installation of a new entrance to the school’s Cochrane Stadium.
The renovation was fueled by a wave of donors, including a leadership gift from Mike and Jan Wilcox. Mike Wilcox, a past chair of the USA Lacrosse Foundation, was a three-time All-American playing under Cochrane at Bowling Green.
“This project is a historic step in the history of Cochrane Stadium,” said Bowling Green Vice President of Athletics Strategy Derek van der Merwe. “Both our men’s and women’s soccer programs, as well as our historic lacrosse program, have worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality to further enhance our game day experience. Telling the history of these programs has been at the forefront of this project and we’re excited to share this with our Bowling Green community.”
Bowling Green had a varsity lacrosse program from 1965 through 1979 and under the leadership of Cochrane and his successor, Jim Plaunt, Bowling Green produced 14 All-Americans, nine consecutive winning seasons, won more than 75 percent of its games and was ranked as one of the Top 25 teams in the country in five different seasons.
More than 125 former players, coaches and families came to USA Lacrosse in 2016 when a pillar at the organization’s headquarters was unveiled to showcase the school’s place in lacrosse history.
“We’ve had a lot of reunions, but this one was exceptional in so many ways,” said former Bowling Green player Leif Elsmo, a recent inductee into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, at the 2016 event. “There’s a special bond with this Bowling Green group that I think is unique, and it has certainly stood the test of time. It’s nice to see our story will be told at [USA Lacrosse headquarters].”
The new stadium at Bowling Green has also added brick pillars to commemorate the history of the school’s soccer and lacrosse programs.
