“One of the objects [of the meeting] is to get out as many new men as possible, and show them some of the advantages lacrosse offers to men who, on account of afternoon work, are unable to go out for other teams,” an announcement explained. “It is mainly to accommodate these men that practice begins at 4.30 o'clock in the afternoon.”

The notice also pointed to the program’s recent achievements, writing that “the records of the [lacrosse] teams during the last ten years speak for themselves and there is no reason why more men should not take up the sport.”

In order to draw students to the event, guest speakers included Charles Marsters, a former president of the Intercollegiate Lacrosse League who had graduated from Harvard in 1907, as well as Fred Alexander, Phillip Nash, and Paul Gustafson, the respective captains of the 1910, 1911, and 1912 national champion squads.

At the meeting, William Garcelon, class of 1895, spoke of lacrosse’s “great value as a sport in which any style or build of athlete can win success.” Marsters “discussed the better and cleaner aspect of the game in recent years,” Alexander noted the program’s past triumphs, and Gustafson “devoted his attention chiefly to the practical side of the game.”

“Every man must apply himself diligently to learning the rudiments of the game, and freshman candidates particularly should devote themselves to securing a mastery of the rules,” said Gustafson, who also discussed the Boston Lacrosse Club he had recently helped form.

About fifty prospective players attended the meeting in an effort to join a squad that was returning a wealth of talent.

“There are seven regular players back from last year’s team and also a number of substitutes who will form a splendid nucleus for this year's twelve,” The Crimson wrote. “In view of the large number of new candidates, prospects for a successful season are very bright.”

Tryouts began the following afternoon at Soldiers Field, and arrangements were made so that the lacrosse players could use the baseball cage on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays after 7 p.m. Such night practices were new to the team in 1913, and according to a March 5 report in The Crimson, they “proved so far highly successful.”

“The special object of [the practices is] to give the men a chance to learn and improve their stick-work and formations, points which are usually too much neglected until the season actually begins,” The Crimson explained.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, practices were held indoors “with the object of getting the men in [physical] condition,” and the freshman candidates for the team were also given one night a week to practice.

Interclass games were held on March 26, 27, and 28 to help finalize the roster. On March 29, the Crimson played an exhibition against the Boston Lacrosse Club, founded by Marsters and Gustafson. The club, composed of former Harvard players, defeated the Crimson, 2-0, in a game the undergraduates largely used as a final tryout.

Marsters would later become a prominent ambassador of the sport, serving as president of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association from 1909 to 1910 and again from 1917 to 1918. He was inducted into the Collegiate Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1957.

SOUTHERN COMFORT

Returning to the team from the 1912 championship squad were second defense Raymond Simmons, the team’s captain and a South Boston native, as well as goaltender Nathan Lincoln, center James Foristall, centerpoint William MacKenzie, in home Ralph Beatley, utility player Joseph White—all class of 1913—and out home Frederic Abbe, class of 1914.

Though the contract of Crimson coach Arthur Warwick was not yet finalized, in March The Crimson noted the team was not worried about his return.