Inspiration comes in all shapes and colors. For Onondaga Community College head women's lacrosse coach Eric Mattox, it comes in the form of a quote to start off each practice.

“Your mind is a garden, your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers, or you can grow weeds. Help water the seeds," Mattox told his team before the start of a practice.

“That kind of sets the tone of where we need to be," he added. "And then we just kind of build upon that. Hard work, works, is one of our mottos.”

That and family. The OCC family is nothing new to Mattox. The former player-turned-coach for the Lazers is in his third year as the head coach of the women’s lacrosse team.

“This is the best job I've had, you know, to be able to come here, walk inside to my office, the same place that as a player," Mattox said. "To be an alum here, start the men's program here under Chuck Wilber, play on this field here. A dream come true. I love it.”

Mattox's run so far has been nothing short of successful, leading the Lazers to championship weekend the last two years, but falling short of the title.

But this year has a different feel. Maddox is seeing a different level of commitment.

“They've bought into our program," Mattox said. "So I think that this journey has actually started way back in the fall and now we just take, you know, steps daily to get to that point. We talk about getting 1% better at every practice, so I really feel like we've hit that goal.”

“He's been telling us from the start, basically he can see he see great things in us," freshman Kamille Simmons said. "He's pushing us. There's no reason to like push yourself to the limit. Only, you know, your limit.”

But it’s also the commitment Mattox has with his players off the field. He’s a coach willing to do anything to make sure his players find success off the field.

“Last year, I couldn't play because of my grades and he really wanted me to be a part of the team," freshman Olivia Lockwood said. "And so this year, I was able to get my grades up with all the support that he's given me. And he has so much support to all of our team.”

“My stomach was hurting in class. He said, OK, I'm bringing you your medicine," Simmons said. "He's very supportive. If I need to stay here, pass after hours. And if I don't feel comfortable being there, like, I don't have family here. He's staying here with me. He's helping me. He's just very open.”

It’s all culminated with another shot at the crown, as the Lazers seek their third title since 2004. It's a run that starts Friday against Anne Arundel Community College.

“Everybody working on the same page, playing unselfish, just playing the same ball we've played all year," Mattox said. "And then it's two games back to back. So you play on Saturday and then you go on and you play on Sunday. Being prepared for both those games.”