Cornell University senior lacrosse player George Boiardi, a defenseman, was only doing what the game dictated he should do.

He was only doing what the coaches wanted him to do.

And, by all accounts, he was only doing what he loved to do.

Unfortunately, those who knew him the most are now shedding tears and laying him to rest -- something not one of them wanted to do. Boiardi died last Wednesday after a lacrosse ball hit him in the chest as he attempted to block a shot on net in the fourth quarter of a game against Binghamton. After initial efforts to revive Boiardi on the field failed, he was rushed to the local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Penn State men's lacrosse assistant coach Lars Tiffany, who coaches the defense, knows first-hand the dangers of the sport that was rocked last week by the sudden news of Boiardi's death.

"It's frustrating because here's a kid whose playing the game and doing what he loves to do," Tiffany said. "Instead of diving out of the way, instead of ducking, here is a kid who sits there and takes a shot to the chest. When something you teach is exposed that you could die, it's frustrating. It's sad, but it's frustrating."

The Penn State men's lacrosse team talked briefly about the death of Boiardi, but really, what is there to say? It's not everyday that a player dies from being struck in the chest with a lacrosse ball. While the team acknowledged the incident was shocking and tragic, the players also know things like this are often out of their control.

"It's a hard one because you hope it's just a one in a million thing. If you hear somebody gets struck by lightning, when the next lightning storm comes around, you don't go hide in the basement," Tiffany said.

The tragedy struck close to home for senior Charlie Perry, who knows several of the Cornell players. He said they have been hanging out together to cope with their teammate's death.

Perry said he was shocked that such an incident could happen in lacrosse and couldn't imagine losing a teammates.

"Basically, I would just say it was scary," Perry said. "You wouldn't think somebody would die playing this game."

The Lions now use shoulder pads that protect the sternum area, and have a head trainer and several student trainers on hand in case an incident would occur. Still, Perry said the sport needs to look into making even more changes. Tiffany agrees.

"I hope it is an impetuous for change," Tiffany said.

This, the Lions agree, has put the game of lacrosse into perspective. That's right, just a game. A game Boiardi loved, and a one that eventually took his life.