January 18, 2012
Hangin' Out With ... Daniel Eipp
by Phillip Shore/
Harvard attackman Daniel Eipp (Groton, Mass.) is a Duke fan and will get the chance to face the Blue Devils this season. (photo: Patrick Shanahan)
Harvard student Daniel Eipp not only excels in the classroom, where he is a pre-med student, he is a slick attackman on the field. As a freshman, Eipp was fourth on the Crimson in points, was selected as an All-Ivy League honorable mention and won the NEILA Rookie of the Year award. All his success earned the Groton, Mass., native a spot on the United States Under-19 team that will compete in the 2012 Federation of International Lacrosse U-19 World Championships in Turku, Finland, this summer.
How were you able to fit in with the team so seamlessly right away?
“It definitely speaks to the type of guys we have on the team. There’re no individuals, everyone is out for the good of the team. Once you’re on campus as a freshman, you have a mentor to help you … it was very easy to fit in. It speaks to the guys Coach (Chris) Wojcik is recruiting.”
How difficult is it balancing lacrosse with your studies at a school like Harvard?
“It’s definitely difficult, but it’s manageable. You have to make some decisions with your social life and, at all times, school and lacrosse have to come first. I think you have to have boundaries in life and Harvard and all the Ivy Leagues do that and I like the challenge. … Since school is so hard, it makes going down to the field that much more fun. You’re coming off the school day working hard and putting a lot of hours in so you really put your best hours in down at the field.”
What does it mean to you to be a part of the U-19 national team?
“It’s one of the best accomplishments I’ve ever had in my lifetime. Being recruited for Army, which was arguably my second choice, I wanted to serve my country and help others; since I didn’t go there, this is another way I can serve my country. I like the guys on the team and I’m very excited for this upcoming summer.”
With the national team, you’ve gotten to play with incoming Harvard freshmen Sean Mahon and Stephen Jahelka. How has it been getting to play with them before the season begins?
“It was great. At the tryouts, there were 13 Harvard kids who were committed to Harvard, on Harvard or coming to Harvard next year. I think it’s great we have an attack, midfielder, and defender on the team. We’re just going to carry over the lessons Coach Wojcik gives us at Harvard to the national team. And if you get the chance to talk to them, they’re well-spoken, great kids.”
Your sister, Erika, just signed a national letter of intent to play lacrosse at the University of Louisville. What kind of advice did you give to her?
“I obviously suggested she continue playing just because of her love of the game. I told her when visiting schools to try and get a feel for the kind of girls the team brings in. It’s where you feel most at home because, at the end of the day, that’s where you’re going to spend most of your time. She got there and she loved the girls; they all had the same mindset about lacrosse and academics, so I think she made a great choice and I’m very happy for her.”
Your Twitter feed (@daneipp) suggests that you’re a fan of the Duke Blue Devils. What’s it like playing against a team you normally root for?
“I can’t wait for it. I know no game is more important than the next, but I’ll be playing with a little extra fire against them. They were my first love in sports — more so in basketball — but I love the lacrosse team so I’ll be fired up for that game. They destroyed us three years ago and I came to the game, so I know the other guys on the team are looking forward to that. If we do beat them, that’ll help our case going to the NCAA tournament.”
What are your future goals?
“Well, on the field obviously I want to win the national championship. That’s what I’m working for each day. That’s pretty much my only on-field goal because with that comes individual success, so that has to be my mindset. Individual rewards without team success is nothing. Off the field, I want to become a doctor and have a family.”
Favorites
Pregame meal: “What the team gives us. We always have grilled chicken, some sort of pasta dish, some sort of greens and then we have a nice salad with bread.”
Visiting stadium: “Probably Cornell. Not because I necessarily like the architecture, but I really want to beat them down in that oddly shaped stadium because they beat us bad last year in the Ivy League championship.”
Practice drill: “Fast breaks just because it really gets the defense going and gets them frustrated.”
Dinner: Steak tips
Vacation spot: Virginia Beach
Musician/group: “I’d say Christmas music in general, so right now it’s Kenny G.”
Song on iPod: “‘Saxo Club Mix.’ It’s a techno song. It’s a big hit in the locker room.”
Actor/actress: Mel Gibson
Movie: “Braveheart”
Book: “Gates of Fire”
Video game: “Call of Duty Modern Warfare”
Sport other than lacrosse: “Football, hands down”
Team to follow as a fan: Duke basketball
Article of clothing: “Socks. They’re very important. When you’re playing, I mostly use my agile abilities to really perform, so I need my feet to be very comfortable and obviously the looks need to be there as well. I usually double up socks.”
Equipment
Stick: Warrior Evolution 3x and Krypto Pro shaft
Helmet: CPX-R
Gloves: “I’m actually not sure what gloves; they’re team-issued Brine gloves.”
Pads: “The elbow pads are Esquires and shoulder pads, I’m not sure of the name but they’re from Brine.”
Cleats: Nike Vapors.
This article originally appeared in the January 2012 issue of New England Lacrosse Journal.
Phillip Shore can be reached at feedback@laxjournal.com
