After a largely successful season that almost put the Drexel University men’s lacrosse team into the NCAA Tournament, the players have named their new captains. Midfielders Garrett McIntosh and Aaron Prosser and defenseman Chris Walsh, all seniors, will be captains for the 2012-13 season.
McIntosh didn’t make any starts in the 2011-12 season but appeared in 15 of 16 games. McIntosh had one goal on one shot during the regular season along with seven ground balls. Although his stats aren’t the prettiest, he has been a reliable defensive midfielder for the Dragons since his freshman year.
Prosser started all 16 games and scored 26 goals last year for the Dragons, ranking third on the team. Prosser gathered only five ground balls but managed an impressive 15 turnovers. This year was a breakout season for Prosser, as he only scored 10 goals in 2010-11. He was also a Second Team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection at midfield.
Walsh, a redshirt senior, was head coach Brian Voelker’s go-to defenseman on the man-down squad in key situations. Walsh appeared in just four games last year and eight games the year before.
Prosser is an attractive choice, being one of the team’s top scorers, but McIntosh and Walsh may be puzzling to outsiders. These two may not be the flashiest compared to Robert Church and Brendan Glynn, who are also seniors, but of course, numbers aren’t everything when it comes to leadership.
The Drexel lacrosse team went 8-8 overall last season and 4-2 in the CAA. The Dragons went on to play the No. 14 Pennsylvania State University in the CAA Tournament semifinals and pulled out a big win. Unfortunately their season came to an abrupt close when they fell to the undefeated University of Massachusetts Minutemen in the CAA finals.
Academic All-Area Honors
Three Drexel University athletes received Academic All-Area honors from the Philadelphia Inquirer in June for the 2011-12 academic season. Robert Church and Kelli Joran from the respective men’s and women’s lacrosse teams and Michael Serensits of the golf team were recognized by the city’s most widely circulated paper for their academic and athletic performances this past season.
Academic All-Area student-athletes must earn a 3.2 or higher cumulative grade point average to be eligible for recognition and must be significant contributors to their respective teams. The publication considers student-athletes from 28 institutions throughout the area. Only academic sophomores, juniors and seniors can be named to the team.
Church, reigning from Coquitlam, British Columbia, had an impressive season. Leading the Dragons with 29 goals, 18 assists and 27 points, his stick skills are undeniable. Concluding his season ranked seventh in the CAA in goals, assists and points per game, he is comfortably tied for 12th in career goals and 14th in career points. Even with his impressive statistics, Church is a go-to leader on the team. As a rising upperclassman the team will turn to him for on-field performance and guidance, which are both qualities this talented player certainly possesses.
Joran was her team’s No. 3 scorer with 29 goals throughout the season. She also achieved high success in the classroom, where she is an education major. This is not Joran’s first award this season, as she has been recognized on multiple occasions. Prior to the season’s start, Joran was named to the 2012 Preseason All-CAA women’s lacrosse team. During the offseason she was named to the Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Division I All-Region team, earned Second Team honors for the Mid-Atlantic Region, and was named to First Team All-Philly Division I for women’s lacrosse.
Serensits served as co-captain of the golf team in his senior season on the squad. He is one of six golfers in the area to receive the honor. The Allentown, Pa. native is majoring in business administration. After experiencing a season mixed with highs and lows, the veteran ultimately ended his career at the CAA Championships with 79, 78, and 79 for a final score of 236.
Kyle Frey places at 2012 ASICS
Redshirt senior Kyle Frey from Washington, N.J., had a successful outcome at the 2012 ASICS University National Championship held May 31 through June 3 at the University of Akron. Frey took eighth place at the competition, and his high level of play earned him the title of All-ASICS University Freestyle American.
Frey defeated some tough grapplers in the 120-kg weight class on his way to receiving the award. Frey took down the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Anthony Edgren. After beating Dan Scherer from Cardinal Wrestling Club, reigning 2012 NCAA National Heavyweight Champion Tony Nelson pinned Frey. With one loss on his belt, Frey proceeded to beat the University of Wisconsin’s Cole Tobin, the University of Pennsylvania’s Steve Graziano, and Iowa State University’s Tyler Swope. After falling in his last two contests, he still placed eighth and went home with a new title to add to his accolades.