The Triangle

Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Mike Arrison

Going into the 2009 season, redshirt freshman Kyle Bergman was an unknown commodity. But after four multi-goal games, the opposition quickly realized he was a force to be reckoned with.  The modest Bergman felt his immediate success was due to the play of his teammates.

"We have so many good players on our team that our opposition has to focus on," Bergman said. "While they [the opposition] were worried about covering those guys, I was able to catch them by surprise."

The Drexel attacker is currently second on the team in goals with 17. Bergman is also second on the team in points which shows his potential playmaking ability. 

Bergman's best games have come against Drexel's highest-level opponents.  He was able to notch a hat trick against then No. 18 ranked St. Johns, and had an unbelievable four-goal performance at No. 5 Hofstra.

Now that Bergman is playing Division I lacrosse, he still looks back at the steps he took to get himself here.  When he described why he excelled at lacrosse throughout his young career his answer was very honest.

"Well, I was too short to play basketball and I never really had great speed to continue playing soccer," Bergman said laughing.  "Lacrosse utilized my skills the best."

The 5-foot-11 redshirt clearly has athletic ability and skills, and he can thank his parents for them.  His father swam at Alabama and his mother played tennis collegiately, as well.

"My athletic parents let me play just about every sport, but when they come to my lacrosse games they still do not know what is going on," Bergman said. "They are always excited for me though."

After living in Connecticut his entire life, Bergman and his family moved to Toronto, Ontario for his final years in high school.  Lacrosse in Canada is played primarily indoors due to the colder climate, and the style of play differs from the American game.

"Canadian players usually use only one hand, but they really are prolific scorers," Bergman described.

When Bergman had a talk with one of his high school coaches in Connecticut regarding his future, his coach just about limited his chances to Division III lacrosse. 

Bergman did not excel at any one part of his game, but he was a solid all-around player that had the potential to develop into an elite player.

When Bergman moved to Toronto, he was able to meet a new coach who realized his talent.

Continued...

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