This semester, Jordan Bernier ’22 and I are completing an honors Senior Year Experience (SYE) for the Performance and Communications department under the guidance of Juraj Kittler. We’re working to complete a four-part short documentary series profiling various student-athletes on campus amid their season. Our hope is to offer fans a window into the lives of these individuals’ busy schedules as college athletes and representatives of the school.
Our third episode came out last week, and this feature focused on Mike Mahoney ’93, the head coach of the men’s lacrosse team, and his sons, Mark Mahoney ’22, an attackman and one of the team captains, and John Mahoney ’24, a midfielder. The three North Country natives shared what it’s like to have such strong family ties in the program.
“We’ve considered St. Lawrence lacrosse a family,” said Mike, “and now to actually have blood in the program with the boys [is special].”
That program has seen lots of success since Mike began serving as the team’s head coach in ’97. The alum has won two ECAC Upstate Championships (‘01, ‘02) and four Liberty League Championships (‘06, ‘07, ‘08, ‘09). Mike’s accomplishments as a head coach have also earned him the honor of being named the Liberty League Coach of the Year six times, the Bernie McKinnon Coach of the Year ‘15, and the Division III F. Morris Touchstone Coach of the Year and the ECAC Metro/Upstate NY Coach of the Year in ‘16.
“Growing up, John and I saw how hard he works and how important the team is to him,” said Mark. “So we’re really proud of him and all the success he’s had. It’s really well deserved.”
John expressed similar sentiments when looking back on the years he’s spent cheering for the Saints.
“Obviously we’re all passionate about lacrosse,” he said. “So we certainly share the wins and losses.”
Also sharing those highs and lows with the three are Daniel Mahoney, the youngest of the three sons, and Pam Mahoney ’92, Mike’s wife.
“I can’t state enough how much of an impact my wife Pam has had in her impact on the boys, both from an athletic perspective [and] a mother’s perspective,” Mike said with a smile. “I think that’s the keyword. She’s able to keep perspective.”
Mark and John echoed their father’s comments regarding their mother’s ability to keep the boys in check sometimes- reminding them that it’s okay to keep family time and lacrosse time separate. After the team suffered a tough 13-10 loss to Union last month, Mark and John were out to dinner with their parents and grandparents, still reeling from the loss.
“Obviously everyone was still emotional about it,” John recalled, “and she was just like, ‘Alright, let’s not talk about lacrosse, it’s family time, she does a good job of keeping things in perspective.”
Mark explained that while the focus on the connection the family has with the sport often looks at the three brothers and their father, that mother also played a big role in the boys’ successes.
“She obviously has been an awesome influence for both of us,” Mark said “I mean, she drove us to practice, games, all that sort of stuff , especially in the spring when my dad would have games. We probably both wouldn’t be where we are if she wasn’t doing that for us always, which is awesome.”
To watch the full interview with Mike, Mark, and John, head to our Instagram, @morethanthescore_slu, or Youtube Channel, More Than The Score. Be sure to follow us on Instagram to catch our last episode highlighting a member of the women’s lacrosse team that drops next month.