The opening game of a season is always huge for a team. It tries to start off on the right foot and set the tone of what’s to come for the rest of the season. Each team member aims to play at a high level of intensity to help contribute to a winning effort and build momentum for the rest of the upcoming games.

The opener is a time for seniors, as the most experienced on the team, to step up and help lead their teammates toward a victory. Senior lacrosse player Tim Driscoll did just this in the team’s season opening contest this Saturday.

In the ‘Cats’ 8-4 win against Rutgers, the Montville, N.J., native scored three goals to lead the team. Driscoll got the momentum going in Villanova’s direction as he scored the first goal of the game in the 13th minute and followed that score with another goal late in the first half. He completed the hat trick with one more score in the fourth quarter.

As an attackman for the lacrosse team of Montville High School, Driscoll earned three varsity letters and was selected honorable mention for the All-State lacrosse team.

Though he only started three games during his freshman year, he made the most of the minutes that he received throughout the season. A hat trick against the No. 15 team in the country at the time, Penn State, earned him the honor of being named the CAA Rookie of the Week for the last week of April 2006. Another goal against the No. 2 team at the time, Hofstra, in the CAA semifinals, put Driscoll at four goals to finish the season. He also earned one assist in the 2006 season.

In his sophomore season, he played in four games as a reserve player for the Wildcats, seeing action against Lehigh, Manhattan, then-No. 16 Drexel and Robert Morris.

It was the 2008 season that proved to be the breakout year for Driscoll. As a junior, he led the team in goals with 26 scored on the year. Some of the highlights of Driscoll’s season included scoring twice in the season opener against Syracuse, earning a hat trick in the home opener against Lafayette, and notching four goals in last year’s Senior Night game against Drexel.

Not only was Driscoll known for scoring multiple times in a number of games, but he also proved game-winning goals to be his forte as he pulled the ‘Cats to victory in a few close competitions last year. In a thrilling double-overtime match against Robert Morris, Driscoll’s score ended the game. One week later, it was Driscoll again who scored the eventual game winner against Towson in a win that secured a playoff spot for the Wildcats. In the CAA semifinal loss against Drexel, the final game of the season, Driscoll scored one goal.

There’s always speculation about whether the player will be able perform just as well in the following season after a strong first season. Based on what Driscoll accomplished in this season’s opener, it looks like he should have no problem excelling in the 2009 season