Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/18/16
From Press Release
Kyle Whitlow, B.J. Grill, Jacob Richard (Henderson) and Liam Byrnes were named captains of the 2016 Marquette University men’s lacrosse team for the second year in a row, while Conor Gately, Matt Barone (Salesianum School) and Henry Nelson earned the distinction for the first time in their careers.
Also in his second year as a team captain is Richard, a defensive short stick midfielder, and a fourth-round MLL draft pick of the New York Lizards. Richard tied Byrnes for the team lead with 52 round balls last season and has seen the field in every one of Marquette’s games in program history.
Barone, also a first-time captain, appeared in four games behind the net for MU in 2015, and is also a two-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree.
Whitlow, an All-BIG EAST Conference First Team selection in 2015, returns to Marquette for his final year of eligibility after finishing the 2015 campaign with 24 goals, which ranked third on the team. His standout performance last season came against then-No. 17/19 Hofstra Feb. 14, when the Canadian netted four goals in MU’s 11-10 comeback victory.
Grill continued to excel in 2015, recording 20 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers while being forced to take on the top defensive assignment against nationally ranked teams. Grill is a two-time member of the All-BIG EAST Conference First Team and was named a 2016 Preseason Third Team All-America by Inside Lacrosse. He, along with Byrnes and Richard, became MU’s first-ever Major League Lacrosse draft picks earlier this month.
Byrnes returns for his fifth year in Blue & Gold, after being a unanimous All-BIG EAST Conference First Team selection in 2015. The long-stick midfielder is Marquette’s all-time leader in ground balls, 52 of which came in 2015 to tie for the team lead. He also caused a team-best 24 turnovers and notched four goals and three assists last season. Byrnes joins Grill on Inside Lacrosse’s 2016 Preseason All-America Third Team.
Gately, a first-time captain, is MU’s leading returning scorer, netting 25 goals in 2015, will look to lead the Golden Eagles up front in 2016. Gately earned his first career all-conference accolade last season, being as a All-BIG EAST Conference Second Team selection. Gately owns Marquette’s career record for points with 106 on 58 goals and 48 assists.
Nelson rounds out the trio of first-time captains for Marquette in 2016, and appeared in six games for the Golden Eagles last season, tallying two goals. Nelson is also a two-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree.
Marquette kicks off the 2016 campaign with scrimmages against Michigan and Denison in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Leave a Reply