Hargrove (Strath Haven), Williams College had a perfect ending

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/10/08

It was the perfect ending for attacker Dixon Hargrove (Strath Haven) in a standout career at Division III Williams College in Williamstown, Mass.

Hargrove’s Ephs were struggling this year through a 4-5 season – after a 1-4 start – when suddenly the team caught fire.

Williams then reeled off six straight victories – all against nationally-ranked teams – capped by a 9-4 victory over Bowdoin May 4 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) finals.

The vic tory gave Williams (10-6 final record) its first NESCAC title ever and a bye in the NCAA Division III tournament. The Ephs fell to powerful Ithaca, 17-10, in the playoff game, but Hargrove played a major role in the success.

He had two goals and two assists in the NESCSC title game and four groundballs in the Ephs’ stunning, 11-10 overtime thriller over defending league champion Middlebury in the semifinals.

Hargrove finished the season second on the team in scoring with 13 goals and 21 assists. He also scooped 28 groundballs. For his four-year career, Hargrove had 55 goals and 110 assists. He also was named NESCAC first-team all-league as a junior and second-team as a sophomore.

Hargrove, who graduated with a degree in economics, will leave Williams as his brother, Sam Hargrove (Strath Haven), enters Williams this fall.

Thorne-Fitzgerald earns academic honor
Another Strath Haven product, Haverford College midfielder Matt Thorne-Fitzgerald, was recently honored by the Sports Information Directors of the Philadelphia area in The Inquirer for his academic accomplishments.

Thorne-Fitzgerald was named a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Scholar All-American and earned a degree in chemistry. He served as one of the primary faceoff men this season for the Black Squirrels, winning 55 percent (36-of-66) of his faceoffs while scoring 10 goals and picking up 23 ground balls.

Haverford College (11-5) set a school record for wins and reached the NCAA Division III tournament before bowing to Cabrini, 13-10 on May 10.