Hidden behind three stars, Nee finds role
To Sean Lindsay, the resemblance is undeniable. If he wanted, Brian Nee could stunt-double for Ron Howard.
‘Absolutely,’ Lindsay said. ‘We were calling him Ron for a while there it’s so close. It’s sort of died down. But I think we might have to bring it back.’
Despite such a glaring comparison between Nee and Richie Cunningham, the boyish, charming, wholesome gentleman from the hit show ‘Happy Days,’ Nee has separated himself in one important respect – attitude.
It showed Tuesday, when Nee, a senior, had a couple dust-ups. On Saturday, when SU faces Brown at Stevenson Field at 1 p.m., Nee will hope to keep up his fiery attitude.
Twice on Tuesday, when SU beat Hobart, 16-10, Nee ignited the Orangemen. With 1:43 left in the second quarter, junior Jarett Park dashed toward the net. Seeing an opportunity, Nee set a hard, physical screen on a Hobart defender, walling off the right side and allowing Park an easy score.
At the press table after the game, Park and Nee joked about the combined play.
‘Brian set a nice little screen for me there,’ Park said as the two exchanged a chuckle.
Later in the game he got into a shoving match with Hobart senior Brian Joy, earning him a one-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
As Nee petitioned to referees while walking off the turf, he flung his stick at SU’s chairs on the sideline. The stick then bounced up and into the SU crowd. Luckily, it didn’t hurt anyone.
Not something Richie Cunningham would ever do.
No, Nee is far different.
‘I didn’t mean to do that,’ Nee said of the stick-throwing incident. ‘I apologize to anyone I might have hit. I didn’t do it on purpose. It was at a high point in the game. They were coming back. It was just a mistake.’
Whether it’s sticks into a crowd or shots into the net, the innocent-looking Nee is establishing himself among a bevy of All-America goal scorers. Playing in the shadows of Michael Powell, Sean Lindsay and Brian Crockett has almost been a benefit for Nee.
As defenses look to clamp down on the big three, Nee shifts his way through the middle, looking for an opening. When he gets it, he’s usually impossible to stop.
‘Opponents have to be worried about him,’ Powell said. ‘He’s so deadly shooting the ball. He’s definitely overlooked. He’s definitely my favorite person to pass to, because he catches everything. And it seems like there’s a 100 percent chance he’ll put it away.’
Nee has 11 goals and five assists and boasts a 69.6 shots-on-goal percentage. His 47.8 percent shooting is highest among anyone with more than one goal.
Nee is also one of only two lefties – along with Alex Zink – among SU’s regular offensive-minded players.
Though all SU players can shoot left-handed, having a natural lefty especially complements Powell.
Usually, defenses play Powell to dodge right. Having a lefty keeps defenses from overplaying Powell too much.
‘He has been one of the best short sticks I’ve ever played with,’ Powell said. ‘He’s just a great competitor.’
And that’s not just limited to lacrosse. Powell recalls Nee’s emotion during games of PlayStation, cards, bar games, basically anything that causes competitiveness. Tuesday’s boil-over was nothing new to the senior Tewaaraton Trophy candidate.
‘He just takes things very seriously,’ Powell said. ‘He’s a great competitor. I think that might be one of the biggest reasons we work together so well on the field.’
And while Nee continues to fire shots past goalies, he’ll still act just as fiery – despite what his boyish looks might make you think.
Said Nee: ‘Some people say I look like (Ron Howard). Other people say I don’t. I don’t really know. I can’t view myself. I’m just trying to play lacrosse.’
Published on April 1, 2004 at 12:00 pm