Jan. 7, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team has announced its captains for the 2010 season. Seniors Mike Creighton (D/LSM), Neal Hicks (A) and Kelly McKenna (M) are first-time captains, while Scott Rodgers (G), a fifth-year senior, will be serving as a team captain for the second straight season.
Creighton (Malvern, Pa./Malvern Prep) helped the Fighting Irish defense lead the nation with a program-record 6.19 goals-against average last season. He played in all 16 games in ’09 and along with bolstering the Irish defense, he tallied three points on one goal and two assists. Creighton also picked up a career-high 34 ground balls.
Hicks (Atlanta, Ga./Lovett School) had a breakout season in 2009 as he led Notre Dame with 43 points on 25 goals and 18 assists. All of those figures were career-best marks for the attackman, who earned second-team All-Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) accolades. Hicks notched a point in every game last season and netted a goal in all but three contests.
McKenna (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) played in all 16 games one season ago and tallied career-high figures in points (7) and assists (4), while his three goals matched a career-best mark. He also picked up 11 ground balls.
Rodgers (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur) is coming off a stellar campaign in which he ranked first among all NCAA Division I goalies in goals-against average (6.14) and save percentage (.663) en route to earning third-team All-America honors. He also was named the GWLL Player of the Year.
Notre Dame is ranked 10th in the Lacrosse Magazine preseason poll. The Fighting Irish open the 2010 campaign at Duke on Saturday, Feb. 20.
— ND —