GREER NAMED 2009 TEWAARATON TROPHY FINALIST

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

GREER NAMED 2009 TEWAARATON TROPHY FINALIST

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Bryant University men's lacrosse senior Zack Greer (Whitby, Ont.) was named among the five finalists for college lacrosse's most coveted honor, the 2009 Tewaaraton Trophy, awarded to the nation's best men's and women's lacrosse player, as announced by the Tewaaraton Committee on Tuesday afternoon.

Greer, who earns his second-consecutive finalist nomination after receiving the honor in 2008 as a member of the Duke lacrosse team, is joined by Syracuse's Matt Abbott, Duke's Ned Crotty, Virginia's Danny Glading and Cornell's Max Seibald.

 "It's such a huge honor," said Greer of his nomination. "It was obviously unexpected with so many great players out there this year, but it's a great honor to be considered among the top five players in the country, among such extraordinary talent, for sure."

In 2009, after transferring to Bryant for his final season of NCAA eligibility to pursue his MBA and reunite with former coach Mike Pressler, Greer led the Bulldogs into their first year of Division I competition, pacing the team in goals (42), assists (26) and points (68).

But the 2009 captain doesn't just lead his Bryant team. He is also the nation's leader in points scored (68), second-leading goals scorer (42) and leader in points per game (4.53), despite Bryant's ineligibility for postseason play. (The Bulldogs finished Year One of a four-year transition to Division I and the Bulldog lacrosse program will be ineligible for the NCAA Tournament until the 2011 season.)

With his final collegiate season complete, Greer ups his NCAA Division I career goals scored record to 248 and has matched the all-time career points scored record, tying former teammate and 2007 Tewaaraton Trophy winner Matt Danowski.

"The most exciting thing for me personally was that Zack was finally able to show the lacrosse world what a complete offensive player he really is," said head coach Mike Pressler. "His 26 assists prove that. And despite each team game-planning to stop him at every turn, Zack consistently performed at a high level, elevating himself above the defensive strategies and the triple teams to get the open look, make that perfect feed or create an opportunity for one of his teammates."

Greer currently holds the nation's longest points scored streak at 49 consecutive games, collecting at least one point in every contest, including scoring a goal in all but one outing as a Bulldog in 2009. During his streak, which started on March 17, 2007, Greer has scored 149 goals and 65 assists (214 points).

This season, Greer's 11-point outing against Sacred Heart (6g, 5a) ranks him tied for the best single game total in DI in 2009, and he has recorded 13 multi-point contests in just 15 games played. Greer has 11 multi-goal games on the year, scoring four or more goals five times and collecting four or more points on eight occasions.

"This award really is a tribute to the players you're playing with," Greer said. "If you're not playing with great players, than this kind of thing doesn't happen. And on both my teams, last year and this season here at Bryant, I've had such great talent playing around me that it makes it that much easier to get nominated for something like this."

In his first and only year donning the Black and Gold, Greer led a Bryant offense that stands at No. 7 in the nation in scoring (11.93 gpg), No. 3 in assists per game (7.47), No. 5 in points per game (19.40) and No. 11 in scoring margin (+3.27).

"Zack Greer epitomizes all of the essential qualities looked for in receiving an honor such as this one," said Bryant Director of Athletics Bill Smith. "He has been a stand out here at Bryant University, both in the classroom and, of course, on the field, and he certainly deserves to be recognized as among the best of the best with everything he has achieved this season. Zack has been a stellar example of what we look for in our Bryant student-athletes and his nomination for the Tewaaraton Trophy is another in a distinguished list of successes he has had. We are proud of Zack and his accomplishments and even prouder to have him as a member of our Bulldog family."

Greer is the only finalist not preparing for the continuing postseason and the only nominee from one of the NCAA's smaller programs.

"Obviously, unlike the other four finalists, he's not in the NCAA tournament," said Pressler. "But to be that well-respected - by our opponents, by other coaches and especially by the Tewaraton committee - as to be nominated as one of the top lacrosse players in the nation is a tribute to his commitment, skill, leadership and certainly his character. And just as importantly, he has done so without the limelight he enjoyed at his former school, and that makes this award that much more impressive."

"It's great to see a smaller school get this kind of recognition," Greer said. "It shows that a lot of these smaller programs are doing great things, and Bryant is certainly leading the pack in that regard. Not everyone realizes what these smaller programs can do."

The Bulldogs finished their inaugural Division I season with an impressive 10-5 record, playing such opponents as top-ranked Virginia, Maryland, Loyola, Brown and Army.

"By coming to Bryant, Zack didn't miss a beat," Pressler said. "He helped led the Duke Blue Devils to places they had never been before, and upon his arrival at Bryant he has done the same with great charisma, flair and humility.

"This award is not just another feather for Zack in his own cap, but also another feather in the cap of Bryant University and the future of our Division I lacrosse program."

Greer will join the other four finalists in Washington, D.C. on May 28 for the announcement of the 2009 Tewaaraton Trophy winner.