Foxborough Native Gets A Homecoming At NCAA Lacrosse Championship

Submitted by Jeremie Smith of Gillette Stadium

FOXBOROUGH, MA – There were 63 athletes from New England who competed for NCAA Men’s Lacrosse national championships at Gillette Stadium last weekend. But for one student-athlete, Championship Weekend was a true homecoming.

Growing up in Foxborough, Sean Lowrie was a big sports fan. He rooted for the hometown favorites, the New England Patriots and New England Revolution, but also had a strong interest in lacrosse.

Lowrie began playing the sport at an early age and in 2008, when serving as a ball boy during the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships at Gillette Stadium, dreamt of being one of those athletes on the field vying for a national championship. Ten years later, Lowrie is realizing his dream with theDuke men’s lacrosse team, in his hometown, over Memorial Day Weekend.

“I remember watching the teams play during Championship Weekend here years ago and thinking to myself, ‘I want to be doing this when I’m older,’” said Lowrie, a junior midfielder and attackman. “I didn’t know how true that dream could be for me, but it’s awesome now that I’m here.”

Lowrie and the No. 4-ranked Blue Devils took on defending Division I national champion Maryland in Saturday’s NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship Semifinal game at Gillette Stadium.

“We’re excited to get out there and play,” Lowrie said prior to Saturday's game. “It was cool being out on the field for practice and being able to look up instead of looking down from the stands. It was a fun atmosphere. We are ready for Saturday.”

Prior to Friday’s practice, the Patriots surprised Lowrie with a gift from the team – a customized Patriots jersey with Lowrie’s name and number that was signed by team owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick.

“That was awesome,” Lowrie said. “Walking into the locker room and seeing my own Patriots jersey with the number nine and my name on it and signed by Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick was incredible. It’s really cool to think about how much I idolize all of the Patriots and how cool it is to play here at Gillette Stadium. I have a couple of jerseys for the Patriots, but none are quite that special.”

Lowrie said that while he’s tried not to think too much about being back in his hometown this weekend, he’s excited to be playing in front of friends and family on the biggest stage of his career.

“It means everything to be playing for a national championship,” Lowrie said. “It’s what I’ve dreamed about doing ever since I started playing lacrosse. I’m just lucky to be here playing my favorite sport, but obviously getting to do this in Foxborough is just incredible. Playing anywhere in the Final Four is going to be special, but playing in Foxborough makes it a little more special to me.”

Image Credit: Gillette Stadium/Eric Alder