By Sam Macgilpin
@sam_macgilpin
When the season came to a close for the Springfield men’s lacrosse team in 2023 after a loss to MIT in the NEWMAC playoff semifinal, close defenseman Connor Roberts thought lacrosse was over for him — until an unsung hero came along.
At Coach Keith Bugbee’s pavilion groundbreaking ceremony over the summer, Roberts conversed with Sean Quirk, a Springfield College ’95 alum. Quirk was an All-American goalie for Springfield while coached by Bugbee, and his son, Kaden, has just transferred to Springfield. Quirk emphasized to Roberts that the opportunity to play one last time for Springfield was a rarity.
“[Quirk] told me no one that he knew of has had this opportunity where Coach Bugbee offered someone to show up when they can and play the games that they can make it to,” Roberts said. “So obviously, after hearing someone say it out loud, I realized I’d be foolish to turn the offer down.”
Roberts eventually let Bugbee know he was ready to come back and play his sixth year at Springfield. While finishing up his final year in the physician’s assistant graduate program, Roberts has made stops with multiple hospitals for short stints in the last 10 months as a PA student, most recently with the Boston Children’s Hospital. Roberts has shadowed preceptors every four weeks, and it was truly a grind.
“I’ve had rotations where it was four, five, sometimes six days a week depending really where I’m placed, and the hours of operation of whatever site I’m at,” Roberts said
The journey to become a star in the work field has been a success so far, but on the lacrosse field, Roberts has been the star for years.
“He’s an elite human being but also an elite athlete,” Bugbee said. “He’s incredibly strong. He’s a great character guy, and when he gets out of school as a PA, they should get in line to hire him. He’s going to be a huge asset to any hospital.”
The two-time All-American and three-time NEWMAC All-first-team defender from Somers, Connecticut, has been a force for the Pride, logging 226 ground balls, 145 caused turnovers and an impressive 19 points.
Because of Roberts’ PA curriculum, he is unable to be with the team for certain games and practices, but when he is there, his presence is felt. When Roberts started as a freshman in the 2019 season, he was quiet. Now, Bugbee harped that Roberts’ leadership is his best trait.
“We couldn’t get [Roberts] to talk. He wouldn’t say a boo. I even called his high school coach, who said it was the same thing. But he boosted his self-confidence, and his maturity level rose,” Bugbee said. “He became really vocal, and it’s actually impactful stuff. When he speaks, everyone listens.”
When Roberts isn’t available to practice, he contacts his teammates about anything installed for new games and any scouting notes. Goalie Kaden Quirk and fellow Pride defensemen Toby Oliveira, Jackson Lane and Gavin Carzello, all help Roberts fully prepare for each game.
“Having familiar faces is definitely helpful. They all know our defense so well. I’ve been able to reach out to them with questions here and there,” Roberts said.
Throughout Roberts’ six years with the lacrosse team, he’s developed a bond with Bugbee, allowing him to soak up all the wisdom he can from the veteran coach.
“I think beyond lacrosse, he has really taught me a lot about being a man and functioning as someone in society who’s planning on working a job. He’s taught me how you show up for your family, how you show up for your employer and how you can balance all of that and still show up on the lacrosse field,” Roberts said. “Setting a good example of what it’s like to be a leader not only on the field but also in society. Make sure you’re doing the right things, and every day you wake up, you’re putting your best foot forward and being the best person you can possibly be.”
Bugbee texted Roberts a few days prior and announced to the team on Tuesday night at practice that Roberts had won the Springfield College Men’s Team Sport Athlete of the Year Award — his third time accomplishing this feat. Roberts has a stacked award résumé, and can add to it again at the end of the season with already picking up 42 ground balls, causing 23 turnovers to only turning it over 11 times, with at least two games remaining.
As Roberts has grown into his play style, Bugbee has allowed him more freedom. For example, in a game against Clark two weeks ago, he came down after a successful clear into the offensive zone. Roberts faked out his defender into thinking he’d go back on defense but stayed on offense and eventually scored his third goal of the season. Bugbee loves the creativity that Roberts has evolved over time.
“Obviously, there are times where I’d like him to get back on defense quicker, but I let him do whatever he wants,” Bugbee said. “He’s capable of a lot of things, and on the field, he’s improved the way he plays. It’s so calm and collected.
From an 0-8 start to now 5-9 and 5-2 in the NEWMAC, Roberts knew he made the right decision of coming back to play with the Pride in his final season.
“We had no intention of him playing fall ball with us, but he showed up for at least 80 percent of the practices and whatever we had going on. That shows you the type of person [Roberts] is,” Bugbee said. “He’s shown up for far more than we’ve asked, and it looks like he hasn’t lost a step. I’m glad he hasn’t regretted [his decision].”
Roberts and the Pride have a chance to host a NEWMAC playoff game with a win against Wheaton on Saturday.