Duke Lacroix Brings Youthful Exuberance To Veteran Indy Lineup

Indy Eleven has gone through numerous changes in the offseason. One of the Boys in Blue who is returning is young forward Duke Lacroix. Lacroix made his professional debut in 2015. 

“The first time I put on the Indy Eleven shirt and stepped on the home field was a great experience for me and one that I’ll never forget,” Lacroix told NASL.com.

Lacroix, 22, signed upon his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania. Joining the team at the tail end of the 2015 Spring Season, Lacroix had to jump right in the mix and adapt quickly. Lacroix finished with two goals in 18 league appearances, but expects there are more to come in his sophomore season as a professional.

“Last season I was fortunate enough that the team picked me up after graduating from school, and I kind of had to hit the ground running,” he said. “I did have good teammates and good staff to help me through that. This season, starting from the beginning and starting fresh, is a new opportunity and I’m looking forward to taking advantage of it.”

While Lacroix brings youthful enthusiasm to the Indy lineup, the squad that has been assembled by new coach Tim Hankinson also has a veteran feel with the additions of Jon Busch, Stephen DeRoux, and Eamon Zayed, among others. It provides a chance for Lacroix to improve his game under the tutelage of experienced players.

“It’s critical,” Lacroix said. “It’s essential as an athlete to draw from the veterans and older guys who have played the game for long periods of time. I don’t have a ton of experience playing the game professionally, that’s not a bad thing, but to get experience takes time. Those guys have put the work in.

“If I’m able to tap into that and the team can tap into the experience that those guys have then great things are sure to follow. I’m looking forward to being able to learn and approach each day as a new experience because the wealth of knowledge this team has been able to pick up in the offseason is immense and hopefully it will pay dividends at the end of the year.”

Lacroix’s goal this year is to remain consistent and use his abilities on the field, including his quickness to test defenders, to have more of an impact in every match.

“There were spurts where I was able to make a difference, but to put a full 90 minutes together, a full two weeks together, and then put a whole season together is the most important thing – just being consistent and impactful in the team,” he said.  “I think getting the first season under my belt was huge – taking the close games, the travel schedule, rigorousness of training every day. I’m planning on employing the things I learned last season to this year.”

Lacroix, who is getting ready for his first preseason as pro, could be one of the breakout players in the NASL this season. Mentored by veterans and with a chance to grow as a player, Lacroix is ready for the challenges ahead.

“The league is definitely getting better – a lot of big signings came to multiple teams in the league,” he said. “There are new teams so there is new competition and that keeps things fresh. We were able to boost our roster as well and being ready to step up to the challenge is what I expect this year.”