Editor’s note: The MLL Philly Player of the Week will appear regularly as the region gears for the MLL Championship Weekend, presented by Smartlink, at PPL Park on Saturday and Sunday August 24-25. Tickets for the two-day event are available at MajorLeagueLacrosse.com/championship-weekend/
By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/16/13
Chesapeake Bayhawks midfielder-attackman Matt Mackrides has been named the Major League Lacrosse Philly Player of the Week.
Mackrides, an assistant coach for Malvern Prep who also starred at Malvern and for Penn State, scored three goals last weekend to help the Chesapeake Bayhawks topple the Ohio Machine, 14-5, to improve to 3-0 in the MLL early going. Mackrides, who had five goals in nine last year after being drafted 26th overall by the Bayhawks, has six goals already and has shuttled from attack to middie when needed.
The Bayhawks are the defending champions and Mackrides is pleased to be making such a major contributions to an elite team.
“We understood coming into the season that it’s never easy to defend the title,” Mackrides said. “But this year is a new season and we are just going out and worrying about this year.
“Coming into training camp they brought in a lot of great pieces, and we have a lot of great pieces back. The veteran guys have made the transition easier for me.”
Last week Mackrides was moved to midfield from attack. He has played both positions throughout his high school and college days.
“They put me in the midfield position last week because some of the players from the NLL indoor season came back,” he said. “I will do anything to play.”
Mackrides is thrilled that Philly is hosting the MLL Final Four – and he would like nothing better than to play in the event before his family and friends on Aug. 24-25. Last year he traveled with the team did not play in Championship Weekend.
“I would love it,” he said. “PPL Park is a great venue. I got to see it when Penn State played Lehigh (this March).
“I think it’s the perfect place to play a lacrosse championship because it’s got good size but it’s not a huge stadium. This is a great time for Philadelphia since we are hosting the NCAA championships and it would be a dream come try for me to get to play in championship weekend.”
Matt Mackrides MLL bio
(Chesapeake Bayhawks)
Mackrides was selected 26th overall by the Bayhawks in the 2012 MLL Collegiate Draft.
College
Matt played college lacrosse at Penn State University, where he was a four year starter; recording 101 goals and 43 assists totaling 144 points, and adding 134 ground balls in 54 games. He was also named ECAC Preseason Rookie of the Year, and 3 time First Team All-CAA.
High School
Matt attended Malvern Prep where he was named 3 time All-State, 2 time All-American, and EPSLA Player of the Year. He also lead Malvern to a State Title, and helped the USA U-19 team to a World Championship.
Personal
Matt was born on February 24, 1990 and graduated from Penn State University in 2012 with a degree in Communication Arts and Sciences.
