Nick Pinciaro, Beverly High/Endicott College lacrosse

His sport? Lacrosse. His college? Endicott, of course. Frankly, there was never a whole lot of doubt in either case for Nick Pinciaro.

His father, David , is a longtime lacrosse official who introduced his son to the game at a young age. His mother, Patricia, has worked as an administrative assistant in the athletic department at Endicott College for more than a decade. A 5-foot-7, 155-pound junior attack, Pinciaro is putting together a career season for the 8-2 Gulls, ranked 11th nationally in Division 3. Through 10 games, he has already matched his career high in goals (33) while contributing 12 assists, and is a three-time recipient of Offensive Player of the Week honors in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.

Q. So Endicott has worked out pretty well for you?

A. I didn’t even apply to any other college. I knew I wanted to play lacrosse in college and Endicott has a great program. I love where I ended up. I wouldn’t change anything.

Q. Your dad referees at various levels, correct?

A. He’s an accountant and referee and does Major League Lacrosse games and all college divisions. He’s done NCAA championship games in Divisions 1, 2, and 3. I’ve been doing some refereeing in high school and summer ball the last year and a half, just as a side thing to make some money. I love it. You go out and run around and you’re around the sport. You see a different side of the game. I get to take the complaints I usually give out. Now I know how it feels sometimes.

Q. When did you first start playing the game?

A. I think I was 5 when my dad threw me out there and I was running around with all the older kids. I was probably second or third grade when I started playing competitively. Once I picked up the stick I had a love for the game. I tried baseball and quit immediately — too boring.

Q. Have you always played attack?

A. I tried midfield one time. I’m not the best runner and I figured I’d stick to attack. I’m a better short-distance runner than long. I don’t have that much wind getting up and down the field. I like how you don’t have to do a lot of running at attack. The ball’s always with us and we dictate the tempo.

Q. Can you describe your game?

A. I’m not the best at dodging and I’m not one of the strongest players. I’m quick, but I don’t really have the moves to get around people. Being small, I get to sneak around and look for open lanes. My teammates usually find me. One of the strengths of my game is definitely shooting.

Q. How big is the game against defending national champion Tufts at your place on Tuesday?

A. It’s huge. We always play them tough. We lost to them in the second round of the NCAA tournament last year by a goal and they beat most of the other teams after that by a lot. We definitely gave them their best game. It was very tough to watch what they did, because we knew we could have been in the same spot they were.

Q. What’s your favorite place to visit in New England?

A. One of my friends has a summer house in Bar Harbor and some of us go up there and hang out for a weekend or two every summer.

Allen Lessels

Q. Do you have a secret talent?

A. I like to draw and paint and do a bunch of art stuff when I have free time. Mostly it’s with acrylic paint. I have a bunch of things hanging around my room. The last couple of months I’ve been drawing on Vans, the canvas shoes. A bunch of my friends wanted me to do them for them.

Allen Lessels can be reached at lessfam321@gmail.com.