First-Year Goalkeeper Claims Major Award; Five Raiders Named All-Patriot League
By John Painter
(Hamilton, NY- April 21, 2014) From Day 1, it was Brandon Burke’s net and he wasn’t letting go.
The first-year goalkeeper from Potomac, Md., won Colgate’s starting position in the preseason and then leaned on his upper-class teammates for support. Burke has returned the favor with a highlight reel of saves throughout the season, and he ranks statistically as one of the nation’s top goalkeepers.
Monday, Burke was selected Patriot League Rookie of the Year in voting by the conference head coaches. He’s Colgate’s first major award winner since 2012, when Peter Baum captured the league’s Offensive Player of the Year and Ryan Walsh claimed the rookie honor.
“I’m humbled, but I’ve got to say thank-you to Bobby Lawrence, Leo Stouros, John Baker and Matt Yeager,” Burke said. “They’ve really made my job a lot easier. For every single game and every practice they’ve given 110 percent to play in front of me and keep the fewest shots possible coming my way.
“We mesh well together and we’re all here for each other.”
Colgate head coach Mike Murphy credits the offseason coaching addition of Stephen Toomy as a real benefit to Burke and the defense.
“Coach Toomy came in and took over a defense that was struggling a little bit, and he put his own stamp on it,” Murphy said. “He worked with the goalies this year, and a lot of Brandon’s success is credited to Coach Toomy.”
Colgate’s All-Patriot League first-teamers are Lawrence on defense and Matt Clarkson in midfield. The captain Lawrence earned a first-team nod for the second consecutive year.
Walsh headlines the second-team unit at attack, joined by Eric Foote in midfield and Alex Kinnealey as the faceoff specialist. Walsh, who leads the Raiders with 26 goals and 37 points, is a repeat second-team selection.
National Numbers
Burke enters Tuesday’s Patriot League Tournament quarterfinal matchup against Bucknell (4 p.m., Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium) sixth nationally in goals-against average (7.82) and 16th in save percentage (.551). He has been on the field this season for all but 5 minutes and 5 seconds of playing time, sitting out the tail end of Colgate’s 13-3 win over Vermont back on Feb. 15.
“This is what we had hoped for Brandon coming in,” Raiders head coach Mike Murphy said. “It’s always been a position that is very important. We were goalie-by-committee a lot in 2013, and Jared Madison and Conor Murphy were great for us in 2012.
“But to see Brandon come in as a young player, going from high school right into the college ranks in a league like ours and have his kind of success, is a credit to him.”
Lawrence captains the defensive unit that stands sixth nationally at 7.85 goals allowed per game. He leads the team with 25 caused turnovers and – not counting Kinnealey – is second with 34 ground balls.
He began this year earning a spot on the Division I Preseason All-America Team by InsideLacrosse.com, and now he’s a two-time All-Patriot League first-team performer.
“I never thought that would happen, but it’s a nice surprise and a great honor,” Lawrence said. “Accolades are great but we want something more. We want a Patriot League title. We’ve set out to do that since my freshman year, so hopefully we can achieve that this week.”
Clarkson’s versatility makes him stand out. The junior is tied for second on the team with 11 assists (trails Brendon McCann by one), is fourth with 21 points and also has 15 ground balls.
When Jimmy Ryan was fighting injuries early in the year, Clarkson teamed on a midfield line with Foote and Cameron Williams. That trio has combined for 32 goals and 25 assists.
“My teammates put me in this position,” Clarkson said. “I started out playing defensive midfield, but we shuffled our lines three games in because Jimmy was hurt. So Cam, Footie and I kind of gelled and those guys really put me in a good spot.
“It’s great, especially with all the talent in our league. To be named to the first team is really special.”
Back in the Groove
Walsh saw lengthy scoring streaks come to an end this season for both consecutive goals and consecutive points in a game, but the junior is back on form. He has scored seven goals in the last two games to give him five hat tricks for the season and 18 for his career.
“Ryan is one of the best in the country,” Murphy said. “We’re a very deep attack league. To have Ryan on the second team for the second year in a row is a credit to him. He’s a catalyst for our offense.”
Foote has five multi-goal games this season to pick up right where he left off last season. He’s third on the team with 24 points and fourth with 16 goals.
“Eric’s done a good job carrying over the talent of his freshman year, when he was an integral part of our offense at the tail-end of the year,” Murphy said. “He has carried that momentum through since we got started in the fall.”
Kinnealey in his first season on the job sports a .606 faceoff percentage that leads the Patriot League and is 13th nationally. The junior has scooped up 84 ground balls in the process.
“I’m proud of Alex Kinnealey,” Murphy said. “He replaces one of the all-time greats here at Colgate in Robbie Grabher, and has had himself a good year.”
Colgate begins Patriot League Tournament play Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Bucknell.
“Any time you get postseason recognition, it’s a testament to the team,” Murphy said. “We had a good year. We were picked fifth in the preseason and we got to that fourth spot, so I’m happy for those guys.
“I’m very happy for Brandon and for all of our award-winners. Our hope is we can keep it going Tuesday afternoon against Bucknell.”
2014 Men’s Lacrosse All-Patriot League Team and Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year – Justin Ward, Loyola, Sr., A
Defensive Player of the Year – Joe Fletcher, Loyola, Sr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year – Jack Runkel, Loyola, Sr.
Coach of the Year – Joe Alberici, Army
Rookie of the Year – Brandon Burke, Colgate, Fr., GK
First Team
John Glesener, Army, Jr., A
Dan Taylor, Lehigh, Jr., A
Justin Ward, Loyola, Sr., A
Nikko Pontrello, Loyola, Sr., A
Thomas Flibotte, Bucknell, So., M
Matt Clarkson, Colgate, Jr. M
Brian Sherlock, Loyola, Fr., M
Gabe Vournard, Navy, Jr., M
Jackson Place, Bucknell, Sr., D
Bobby Lawrence, Colgate, Jr., D
Tripp Telesco, Lehigh, So., D
Joe Fletcher, Loyola, Sr., D
Pat Laconi, Loyola, Sr., SSDM
Alex Daly, Army, So., FOS
Jack Runkel, Loyola, Sr., GK
Second Team
David Dickson, Bucknell, Jr., A
Ryan Walsh, Colgate, Jr., A
Sam Jones, Navy, Sr., A
Eric Foote, Colgate, So., M
Terry McKenna, Holy Cross, Jr., M
Kurtis Kaunus, Lehigh, Jr., M
Kevin Ryan, Loyola, Sr., M
Pat Hart, Army, Sr., D
Ty Souders, Lehigh, Sr., D
Nik Mullen, Navy, Sr., D
Pat Kiernan, Navy, Sr., LSM
Alex Kinnealey, Colgate, Jr., FOS
Brady Dove, Navy, Fr., FOS
Sam Somers, Army, Jr., GK
Matt Poillon, Lehigh, Jr., GK