GREER SELECTED THIRD OVERALL IN 2009 MLL DRAFT

Thursday, May 28, 2009

GREER SELECTED THIRD OVERALL IN 2009 MLL DRAFT

Bryant men's lacrosse captain to play for Long Island Lizards

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Bryant University graduate student Zack Greer (Whitby, Ont.) was selected by the Long Island Lizards with the third overall pick in the 2009 Brine Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Draft Wednesday night in Hoboken, N.J.

The first-ever Bryant men's lacrosse player to be drafted to the professional ranks, Greer will reunite with a trio of former Duke teammates, including Matt Danowski, on the Lizards' roster.

"It's another first for Bryant University, to have one of our seniors selected in the MLL Draft," said head coach Mike Pressler. "For Zack to go third overall and to be reunited with his former teammate Matt Danowski in Long Island - we are all certainly very happy for him."

A four-time All-American and 2009 Tewaaraton Trophy finalist, Greer led the Bulldogs with 42 goals and 26 assists in Bryant's first Division I season, captaining the team to a 10-5 record.

The 2009 captain averaged a nation's-best 4.53 points per game and was tied for the sixth-most total goals this season, despite Bryant's ineligibility for postseason play. His 2.80 goals per contest tied him for second in the country while his 1.73 assists per outing were good for No. 10. Greer's 11-point outing (6g, 5a) against Sacred Heart tied him for the most points in a single game in 2009, while he also led Bryant's offense, a unit that finished the season ranked fourth in points per game, to a No. 7 ranking.

For his career, Greer recorded an NCAA Division I-record 248 tallies, also tying Danowski's mark in career points scored with 353.

"There is no doubt, for me in particular, that once Zack was finished with his college career he would go on to enjoy a fantastic professional career - not just in the MLL but in the NLL as well, where he may be even more at home after growing up in Canada as a box player," said Pressler. "But one of the benefits of Zack playing at Bryant this year was that he showed the whole lacrosse world that he is more than just a goal scorer. What he proved while he was with us in Smithfield will, without question, carry over to his professional career and enhance his role, his status and his ability to be a more complete player at the pro level."

"Bryant University and the entire Bulldog family are so proud of Zack and all that he has accomplished," said Bryant Director of Athletics Bill Smith. "For him to continue on with his already stellar lacrosse career at the professional level is exciting for both Zack and the Bulldog men's lacrosse program and we wish him all the best of luck."

Wednesday night's draft, held at the Stevens Institute of Technology, featured 42 selections over five rounds. The 2009 Tewaaraton Trophy winner will be announced at the Ninth Annual Tewaaraton Award Banquet on Thursday, May 28.

Check out LaxUnited.com's interview with Zack Greer just moments after he was selected third overall here.