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Delta Islanders’ box lacrosse star thrives on the field

Surrey’s Travis Leclaire scoring for Ohio State
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Ohio State Department of Athletics Tre Leclaire is enjoying an outstanding freshman season at Ohio State University, earning the Big 10 Freshman of the Year award and an all-star selection at the conference tournament.

Having already made a name for himself in box lacrosse, Tre Leclaire is now making himself known in the field version of the sport.

Currently playing with the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Surrey native scored three times in a 7-4 win Sunday over Loyola Maryland, sending the Buckeyes into the quarterfinal round of the NCAA field lacrosse national championship tournament. Ohio State will play the Duke Blue Devils in a quarterfinal game tomorrow (Saturday) in Hempstead, New York.

The freshman, who was the B.C. Junior A Lacrosse League’s Rookie of the Year in 2015, has been a surprising scoring sensation at Ohio State. In 18 league and playoff games, the six-foot-two, 205-pound Elgin Park Secondary graduate has scored 44 goals to lead all Buckeyes players.

“He’s a box player at heart,” Ohio State coach Nick Myers told the Columbus Dispatch. “We played him at midfield at the beginning of the year and we’ve transitioned him to attack.”

Before heading to Ohio State University, Leclaire was putting up huge offensive numbers with the Delta Islanders of the BCJALL. He scored 40 goals and 94 points in 20 games as a rookie in 2015, earning a place on the first all-star team in addition to the Rookie of the Year honour. In 2016, he added another 28 goals and 62 points in 15 games.

On the field, Leclaire quickly established himself as an offensive standout with the Buckeyes. He won the Big 10 conference’s Freshman of the Year award, and in the two-game conference championship tournament, tallied nine goals and an assist and was named to the All-Tournament team.

Ohio State lost 10-9 to the Maryland Terrapins in the Big 10 championship game, but earned an at-large berth to the NCAA national championship tournament. Seeded third, they advanced with the win over Loyola Maryland at Ohio Stadium, the Leclaire leading the way with his three-goal performance.

“(Getting the hat trick) was a surreal moment,” Leclaire said. “It was a fun game to play in.”

Already one of the top offensive threats in the NCAA, he is still improving, says his coach.

“He has great range with his shot, and believe it or not I think he’s still learning the game,” said Myers. “He has quickly made a name for himself.”