Vic Made — Ted Friend, Herkimer College

About this series
Vic Made is a Lacrosse Victoria series featuring Victorian players who have taken their lacrosse overseas, to high schools and colleges across North America. Every path looks different. Some players go through recruiters, some contact schools directly, some build highlight reels for years before a door opens. There is no single way in. What these players share is that they went looking for the opportunity and found it. This series exists to show the next generation of Victorian players that the opportunity is real and that it might look different for each of them too.

Meet Ted Friend

Ted Friend plays his lacrosse with Caulfield Lacrosse Club in Melbourne. In 2025 he made the move to the United States at the start of the American college year to take up a place at Herkimer College in Herkimer, New York, where he plays as a goalkeeper. It has been quite a first season. Ted has started every game, was named the NJCAA Region III Lacrosse Athlete of the Week in late April, and is carrying a save percentage of 59.6% overall, rising to 70.0% in conference play.

Herkimer competes in the NJCAA, the National Junior College Athletic Association, which governs two-year junior colleges across the United States. It is a well-established route into college lacrosse, particularly strong in the northeastern United States, where most NJCAA programs are based. Ted's path is just one more example of the many roads that exist for Victorian players who want to take their game overseas. Every athlete's story is their own, and his may be the one that resonates with you.

In his own words

How much game time did you get in your first season, and what did you have to do to earn it?

"I am in my first year and have started every game so far. Lots of work outside of practice. Extra reps, gym, fitness goes a long way."

What surprised you most about the level of training and competition when you first arrived?

"There is a large variety of different skill levels, especially in the NJCAA. You play guys that are capable of playing at D1 schools as well as those who are not going to play after JuCo. It gives you a good perspective of where you are on a skills basis, and if you want to play at the D1 level, what you should strive to be."

What has been the highlight of your time overseas so far, on or off the field?

"It is all great. Obviously playing lacrosse is the main highlight, but being in another country on the other side of the world with people you have never met is a great experience as well."

How did you get on the radar of Herkimer?

"I met my coach at one of the U20 Australian camps in 2025. I emailed him my film afterwards, and that was that. In general it helps to have lots of film, whether that is at club level or in national tournaments, the more the merrier. It also helps to know people, whether they are a coach, player or past player. Even if they are at another club, it does not hurt to reach out."

Is there anything you wish you had known before committing?

"I feel like I was over-prepared. Do research about the town you are going to be in, see what is around, what the weather is like, and how you can get around."

How do you manage the balance between study and lacrosse?

"The workload is not over the top. As long as you can manage your time and do not procrastinate, it is very manageable."

What is one piece of advice you would give a junior player in Melbourne who wants to play college lacrosse one day?

"Do it. Find a way to play because it is great fun. Message as many people as possible. Make sure your grades are up to scratch and get yourself out there in as many ways as you can."

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Vic Made is an ongoing Lacrosse Victoria series. More stories coming soon.

Are you a Victorian lacrosse player currently studying or playing overseas? We would love to feature you. Get in touch via Instagram.

Playing in an overseas camp or tournament this year? We want to hear from you for part two of the series.

Already committed to a school overseas? Congratulations! We want to share your story in part three. Reach out via Instagram.