April 27, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's lacrosse team is well represented in Major League Lacrosse on its season-opening weekend with five alumni making rosters.
Three former Nittany Lions - Drew Adams, Matt Bernier and Greg Gurenlian - will play for the New York Lizards on Sunday afternoon (3:30 p.m.) against the Boston Cannons. The Cannons feature 2003 alum Pat Heim.
Adams is in his fifth year with the Lizards and is the best goalie in the MLL, earning the Warrior MLL Goalie of the Year award in 2011 and 2012. In the MLL, Adams has a lifetime 11.72goals-against average and has helped the Lizards to two playoff appearances. Adams is also a member of the U.S. National Team.
Adams's teammate on the U.S. National Team and the Lizards is Gurenlian, considered one of the best faceoff specialists in the league. Gurenlian is entering his eighth season in the MLL and his fourth with the Lizards. Last season, Gurenlian won 230 of 382 faceoffs for a winning percentage of .602. In his career, Gurenlian is nearing the 800-win mark at the faceoff X with a .541 win percentage.
Rounding out the Nittany Lion trio on the Lizards is Matt Bernier, who appeared in four games with the Denver Outlaws last season, picking up 14 ground balls.
Heim, a midfielder who played in 12 games with 10 points (6 goals, 1 two-point goal and 3 assists) in the 2012 season with the Cannons, was also a vital member of the 2011 MLL Championship squad. Heim will play in his seventh MLL campaign, his fourth with the Cannons.
Matthew Mackrides is entering his second season with the Chesapeake Bayhawks. The 26th overall draft pick in the 2012 MLL Collegiate Draft, Mackrides appeared in nine games with five goals and an assist, picking up five ground balls. Chesapeake won the 2012 MLL title defeating Denver. The Bayhawks open their season Saturday night against the Rochester Rattlers in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The 2013 Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend is set for August 24-25 at Chester's PPL Park. The Nittany Lions played a regular season game against Lehigh on March 9 at PPL Park, home to Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union and the 2012 NCAA Lacrosse Quarterfinals.
--NITTANY LIONS--