By Mike McMahon, The Eagle-Tribune


NORTH ANDOVER - Amidst Saturday's forecasted sunny skies and scorching 103-degree high temperature in Baghdad, Iraq, the U.S. Navy's third Riverine squadron will be rooting on their new pals, the Merrimack College lacrosse team.

The Warriors adopted the unit of 51 male troops through the "Adopt a Platoon" program, which head coach Mike Morgan sought out after his players wanted to participate in a community service project.

Over the course of the season, the team collected items such as socks, snacks, and board games and neatly packaged them overseas along with team shirts and game tapes, allowing the troops to follow what has been the best season in the history of the Merrimack program, which dates back to 1985.

The affiliation turned into a year-long relationship as communication with the troops overseas helped shape the 14-2 season for the Warriors. Merrimack's only two losses have come at the hands of Le Moyne, whom they face in Saturday's national semifinals. It's Merrimack's first trip to the Final Four.

"A lot of guys on our team have military connections," said Morgan, a 2000 Merrimack graduate and former All-American. "We didn't want to just build a relationship, we wanted to be involved. This was such a great experience for us; I never thought it would be this well received."

Over the course of the season, the Warriors mailed four packages to the platoon, stationed in Iraq until next month (they were deployed in April 2008). The Warriors collected items from fans during home games and once a month sent the packages to Baghdad.

"It's been an unbelievable experience," said Merrimack leading scorer Greg Rogowski, a three-time All-American. "We sent some team pictures and shirts and they sent back a real great letter to us and it was great to hear from them.

"Community service is something Merrimack is all about. It's great what the basketball team does for Lawrence kids, and it was great to have something similar for us. Everyone in our locker room really feels connected with those guys."

Rogowski lead the NE-10 with 51 goals and 80 points and leads the country with 5.71 points per game. The senior ranks third in Division II history with 210 career goals and fourth with 309 career points.

"I've always been proud to be a part of this program, and I'm really proud of this team," he said. "We've been so close to this point for so long, but haven't reached it until now. Not only what we've done on the field this year, but seeing how we've come together as a team and with the guys over in Iraq, I'm really proud of this team."

The Riverine squadron patrols the waters in Iraq, consisting mainly of trips up and down various river ways. They live in wooden huts built from plywood and have power and running water for showering; this is their second tour.

The squadron was honored before every Merrimack home game this season, and the Warriors have worn the crest of their newfound friends on the back of their helmets.

"I wasn't sure of the reception would be among our guys," Morgan said. "We have a bunch of guys who are between 18 and 21 years old, and I wasn't sure what their overall interest would be.

"But they took control of this. I was surprised how involved the team got. Guys were looking forward to getting their letters and reading on how those guys over there were doing."

While the Merrimack players were taken a liking to the troops, the feeling was mutual. After the Warriors had 40 camouflage Merrimack lacrosse shirts made and sent to the squadron, the team received letters of tremendous gratitude and inquiries if any more were hanging around because troops in other platoons were pestering them about where they got them.

"That surprised me," Morgan said. "I almost didn't know really what to expect. I figured we'd get a thank you letter but these guys were great, you could tell that they were into it. That really made it even more special for our guys. We've got a locker room full of guys who have never met these troops before, but feel like they know them."

In Virginia, where much of the platoon hails, lacrosse is a lifestyle. In Alabama, where others in the platoon call home, it's non-existent.

"I've heard that some of the Virginia guys have had to teach the Alabama guys what the sport is," Morgan said. "But all the letters we've gotten have been so positive, really thanking us for what we're doing, sending stuff over there, and I feel like we're the ones that owe them thanks, not the other way around.

"My dad was in Vietnam, so the military is close to me, and to know that we've been able to take their minds off of their surroundings, even for a little while, is special."

If Merrimack is able to upset the Dolphins, they'll earn a berth in the Division 2 National Championship, played May 24 at Gillette Stadium. And once again, they'll have 51 troops about 6,000 miles away waiting for the game tape.

"This is something bigger than us," Morgan said. "There was one letter that one of the platoon members sent that really stuck out, and we read it to the guys. You get such a greater respect; they're fighting a real battle.

"We're a team here playing a game, and they're a team over there playing for their lives. It's nice to know that we were able to give them a little break in their down time and give them a team to follow and feel like their apart of it, because they are.

"Those guys might not know it, but they've been a giant part of our season and a giant part of our success."