Lacrosse player Chris Stevenson fights an opposing player for the ball in a game against Texas Christian University.

The sickening sound of a long wooden stick slapping against criminal justice junior Adam Longoria’s chin rang through the air. For onlookers, it was enough to make them cringe. Longoria, on the other hand, took it as a sign: He went from a sprint to a full-fledged run, dodging purple-clad Texas Christian University defensemen with no apparent concern for his physical safety. His focus was, after all, only half a football field away. He flipped a bounce pass to undeclared freshman John Staples, who faked a lunge toward the goal. Longoria zipped around the TCU defense, caught a no-look pass from Staples and fired the ball into the net, right past a bewildered goalie. Longoria jogged over to his team, a little muddy, really sweaty and with a hint of fatigue filling his face. For this UTA lacrosse player, it was a good day.

Longoria is the team’s co-captain and one of 25 hard-liners who get their kicks playing a sport where solid rubber balls are hurled at their heads. They don’t care. This blood sport is not for the faint of heart. Lacrosse players are part of a tough and unusually brave breed. They’ll get their kneecaps popped out, shoulders dislocated and heads bashed in and that’s what they call “the fun part.” Lacrosse President Travis Brancel says it takes a lot of pride and dedication to play this sport. He and his teammates don’t just work through the pain, they revel in it.

“In the playoffs, I tore a ligament in my shoulder but played the next day,” Brancel says.

It’s been a bloody road, literally, for this club sports team, but lacrosse does something to these players that keeps them coming back for more.