Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/3/13
Staff Report
New York Lizards face-off specialist Greg Gurenlian, a Springfield-Delco and Penn State graduate, is the first Major League Lacrosse Philly Player of the Week this year.
Gurenlian was named the MLL Warrior Defensive Player of the Week for the season’s first week as by MLL Commissioner David Gross.
Gurenlian took command of the face-offs, going 21 for 28 and helped the Lizards to their 14-11 win over the Boston Cannons, Sunday afternoon at Shuart Stadium in Hempstead, New York. Gurenlian will look to pick up right where he left off in the 2012 season, where he earned a .602 FO percentage and finished third in the MLL for face-off win percentage.
He hit a .750 face-off win rate Sunday, to go along with eight ground balls. Watch these two weekly winners square off this Saturday, May 4, at 7:00 PM (ET) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis Md. The game will broadcast live regionally on several networks including Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic and MSG+.
Last year the Lizards fell to the Denver Outlaws, 13-12, in the MLL semifinals after squandering a nine-goal lead.
“We were so close last year and we let it slip away,” Gurenlian said. “I spent this whole offseason training as hard as possible to get back to being as explosive as I was before my injury.
“I felt like an animal who was just let out of his cage for the first time in months. It felt great to be out there and my wing play was phenomenal as usual. If we can stay on the same page as a face-off unit the rest of this season, then it’s going to be a really special year.”
The MLL Philly Spotlight winner 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/
Greg Gurenlian bio
Position Midfield
Height 6′ 1″ (185 cm)
Weight 225 lbs.
Acquired 5th round of the 2010 Supplemental Draft
Birth Date Mar 23, 1984
Birth Place Springfield
Birth State PA
Birth Country USA
College Experience Penn State, 2006
Bio
About Greg
Occupation: Owner/Head Strength Coach of Brawlic Strength
High School: Springfield (Delco)
Favorite Food: Mama Beast’s Egg Bows
Favorite Non-Lacrosse Activity: Strength training, playing XBox, reading
