Loyola men’s lacrosse senior Matthew Minicus recently chatted with PressBox about starting off in net as a youngster, how playing high school football helped him in lacrosse and more. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound attackman scored 25 goals and dished out 27 assists for the Greyhounds in 2025. Minicus is a native of Darien, Conn., and graduate of Darien High School.
PressBox: How did you first become interested in lacrosse?
Matthew Minicus: I grew up in Darien, Conn. Lacrosse is very popular around there. I’m the youngest of four boys. Once [my brothers] started playing, obviously I started. They stuck me in net, so I actually started out as a goalie. Throughout my career, I slowly switched to attack and have loved the game since.
PB: How did you make your way out of the net?
MM: It was kind of just playing with other people and realizing my skills could be needed somewhere else. When I was getting shot on by my brothers, it was tennis balls. I realized the lacrosse ball hurts a lot more than that.
PB: Who was the biggest influence on your game growing up?
MM: I would say my dad, who coached me throughout my youth career, and watching my three older brothers go through college lacrosse as well. They were always big influences. Colin went to Amherst, Brian went to Colgate and then did a fifth year at Georgetown and then Michael was Colgate. We’re all two years apart. I got to play both Brian and Michael at one point, which was pretty funny.
PB: Why has Darien High School produced so many lacrosse players?
MM: It’s just the program that Jeff Brameier built. He’s been doing it for a long time. He’s a legend. Everyone just loves playing for him. He’s really grown something since [1984]. He’s been the only coach.
PB: How did playing high school football help you in lacrosse?
MM: The footwork is pretty similar. Being a wide receiver and getting off the line is similar to a split dodge in a way where you’re just trying to make a defender miss you, pretty much. The toughness and mentality I try to bring — both are pretty physical sports, so physicality is a big part of both of them. [We ran a spread offense]. We were throwing the ball, so I was getting some good action. We weren’t just a running team.
PB: Why did you choose to go to Loyola?
MM: When we were getting toured around during COVID, there was no true meeting process. Once I met with the coaches on Zoom, obviously I loved the coaching staff. They’re terrific. But I visited with [fellow Darien graduate] Kevin Lindley, and he toured me around. He’s been a big influence since I’ve been here and continues [to be].
PB: Why were you able to contribute so much as a freshman?
MM: I think it was the coaching staff just believing in me and seeing what I could do and just having trust. It really built my confidence a bunch.
PB: You scored 86 goals in your first three years at Loyola. Is there anyone who helped you develop that scoring touch growing up?
MM: It was kind of just working with a bunch of scoring since I’ve been growing up. I can be a passer, but also sometimes [I needed] to put the ball in the back of the net growing up. It’s just another talent that everyone needs to have, pretty much.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about Baltimore?
MM: I love going to the football games and the Orioles games, but I just love the communities outside of it and being with all the guys here.
PB: Who’s your best friend on the team and what’s a story that underscores your friendship?
MM: I don’t know if I can pick one, but my senior [class is] very tight. We’re a tight-knit group, all 12 or 13 of us.
PB: What would it mean for your senior class to bounce back from last year’s 3-11 season and finish the right way?
MM: Obviously, we’re an extremely hungry group coming off of last year. None of us are happy. No one on this team is happy with last year. We’re just a hungry group, ready to fly around with each other. It would mean the world if we can come out with a Patriot League title.
PB: Who did you look up to when you first got to Loyola?
MM: It was Kevin Lindley, who [had] graduated but he was texting me once a week. He was always texting me, checking in on how everything was, how I’m doing. The coaching staff is everything you could ask for. They’re true role models over here.
PB: What advice would you give to younger players going through the recruiting process?
MM: My recruiting process was a little funky just because it was COVID. We couldn’t really meet or talk to anyone. I would say be patient because everyone’s got a place for you. Just continue to have fun. That’s the best part of it.
Photo Credit: Ryan Eigenbrode/Loyola Athletics
Issue 297: February / March 2026
Originally published Feb. 18, 2026