In fifth grade, Eric Kolar wrote a letter to himself with a simple message: I want to play lacrosse at the University of Maryland.
He achieved his goal, joining Maryland men’s lacrosse in 2023. The midfielder began as an offensive weapon, but transitioned to the defensive side over the past few years.
While he doesn’t stuff the statsheet, his energy radiates through the team. Eric Kolar’s family instilled character in him that he carried into the program.
“You’re obviously trying to create a locker room that’s very supportive and very family oriented, and I think Eric is the type of guy that really buys into that,” coach John Tillman said. “He’s got a great family at home. That’s obviously where that comes from.”
Eric Kolar’s uncles, Brian and Bob Lukacz,played lacrosse at Johns Hopkins and UMass, respectively. Both of them, along with his father who played collegiate football, instilled a sense of toughness from the moment he started lacrosse at 7 years old.
His club experience began in fourth grade when he joined Lax Factory, a league based in Frederick, Maryland. Lacrosse rapidly surpassed football and basketball as his favorite sport once he started playing competitively.
[Maryland men’s lacrosse’s increased tempo fueled comeback win]
In a youth league championship, Eric Kolar battled in a one-on-one sudden death situation with the game tied. He won the faceoff and rushed toward the opposing cage, firing a shot that could’ve sealed a victory. But he missed.
Eric Kolar regained possession after the miss. He beat his opponent to the net again, this time striking a game-ending score.
“That one was pretty darn exciting,” said Dan Kolar, his father. “He did about collapse after that.”
A key factor in Eric Kolar’s development was the support of his twin brother, Jason, a midfielder at the University of Delaware who he considers a built in best friend.
“As twins, you have that relationship where you can literally say anything to each other,” Jason Kolar said. “You have an understanding because you grew up and you know each other well enough to know that, ‘Hey, this is serious,’ or ‘Hey, you’ll be good.’”’
The pair won a state championship together in their senior year at Urbana High School. Eric Kolar was honored with the 3A Divisional C. Markland Kelly Award as the top player in his division in the state.
When the Kolar family first toured Maryland, Tillman’s authenticity stood out. It was one factor that led to Eric Kolar’s commitment to the Terps in his junior year of high school.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, Eric Kolar decided to play a postgraduate year — a path both of his uncles took.
[Maryland men’s lacrosse’s sustained success stems from tactical recruiting]
Tillman supported the decision and helped Eric Kolar land at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where he became a lacrosse team captain.
At The Hill, an athlete is required to play two sports. While Eric Kolar played football in high school, his father said the injury risk was too high to continue.
Instead, Will Schaller, a fellow lacrosse player at The Hill and current defender for the Terps, helped secure Eric Kolar the role of hockey team manager. He set up game streams, gathered towels and brought water to players.
Despite the seemingly small role, he brought a palpable energy to the team.
“The coach literally said he was the best thing in the locker room,” said Sharon Lukacz-Kolar, Eric Kolar’s mother.
Eric Kolar makes an impact beyond the field. No one knows better than Jason Kolar, who will face his brother for the first time at the collegiate level when Maryland hosts Delaware on March 8.
The twins’ mother will don Urbana High School gear at the game to stay neutral. In a matchup between an attacking midfielder and a defensive midfielder, the twins are expected to go at each other.
“I’m not gonna talk to him that whole week,” Eric Kolar said. “I’ll try to do whatever I can to stop him. He’ll try to do whatever he can to beat me. It’s going to be a good, fun battle.”
