Above the Competition: Dan Slade

Dan Slade '12, a lacrosse player, is one of several Scranton student-athletes taking their respective programs to new heights. Appropriately, we recently photographed Slade with Scranton’s skyline as a backdrop.

Dan Slade

Year: Senior
Hometown: Doylestown
Position: Attacker
Major: Biomathematics

Q: You scored a career-high five goals in last year’s Landmark Conference tournament championship game, helping the Royals advance to the NCAA Division III championships for the first time in the program’s history. Was that the best game of your life?
A: Yeah, that is one of best games I have played and, given that it was the conference championship, I would have to say that it was the best game of my life.

Q: Your older sister, Katie ’11, played lacrosse at Scranton and is currently an assistant coach with the women’s team. Who’s the better lacrosse player?
A: I have to go with Katie. She is a better all-around player. Katie had to play both offense and defense while I only concentrate on offense. She had an incredible playing career at Scranton, and hopefully I can accomplish some of the things she did.

Q: What will the Royals need to do this year to return to the Division III championships?
A: We have to work hard; stay focused. We have a very talented team this year and as long as we put in the work we should be able to make it back to the tournament.

Q: For those who have ever played lacrosse, how would you describe it?
A: It’s a fast paced, physical game, that is in many ways is similar to hockey. The differences being that in lacrosse there is more set offenses, and that in lacrosse you can hold onto to the ball better.

Q: Why did you pick biomathematics as a major?
A: I’ve always enjoyed both math and the sciences. Biomathematics gave me an opportunity to take both those types classes so it seemed like a good major to pick.

Q: What is your dream job?
A: Ever since I was little I have always wanted to be a doctor, so my dream job would be an anesthesiologist.

Q: What is your favorite moment as a Scranton athlete?
A: My favorite moment would be winning the Landmark Championship. We lost in the championship my freshmen year, so it was great to be on the winning side.

Q: What is your favorite place on campus?
A: My favorite place on campus is probably the DeNaples Center; I think the food at school is really good.

Q: Why did you pick Scranton?
A: I chose Scranton because it has a good academic reputation, it was a good size, and everyone that I talked to about Scranton seems to love their time at the school.

Q: Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
A: I was raised a Duke basketball fan, so my favorite athlete growing up was Grant Hill.

Q: Facebook or Twitter?
A: Facebook, I actually don’t even have a Twitter.

Q: Favorite movie?
A: My favorite movie is "The Shawshank Redemption."

Q: Favorite musician or musical group?
A: I listen to all types of music but my favorite one artist would have to be Eminem.

Q: Hobbies other than lacrosse?
A: School and lacrosse keep me pretty busy, but I love to play basketball and I play some video games like FIFA, Madden and Call of Duty.