Knights Season Preview, Formally Announce 2012 Schedule
(Courtesy of Bellarmine Athletics)
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--A new era beings in 2012 for
the Bellarmine University men's lacrosse team as it will be the
first season under new head coach Kevin
Burns.
After spending the previous five seasons as an assistant at the
University of Massachusetts, Burns takes over a veteran team that
features 18 seniors and 13 juniors on the roster.
The 2012 edition of Bellarmine lacrosse will also return the top
seven goal scorers from last year's squad including senior Austin
Bright (pictured) and senior Colton
Clark as the duo lead the team with a combined total of 48
points.
After battling through an emotional season in 2011 where the
program saw their coach and founder Jack McGetrick lose his battle
with the cancer, this year's team will look to improve on a 4-11
record and reach the Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament
for the first time in program history. Burns looks to help the
Knights take the next step after the 2011 edition lost several
heartbreaking games including falling in overtime at No. 16
Delaware.
The attack position should be a strength for the team with depth
and talent across the board. Behind Bright, the Knights will turn
to Luke
Acton (16 goals, 2 assists) and Cam Gardner (18 goals, 6
assists) to provide a balanced assault at attack. In all,
Bellarmine returns 91% of their goals and 92 percent of total
points scored in 2011.
Along with Clark, Bellarmine returns senior Karsen
Leung (10 goals, 13 assists), junior Will
Cary (12 goals, 7 assists), and junior Mitch
McLaren (11 goals, 13 assists) to help execute on the offensive
end at midfield. The Knights will also look to get a boost with the
return of Trevor
Timmerberg and Keaton
Ohara to the lineup in 2012. Timmerberg was limited to just one
game due to injury last year while Ohara sat out the entire
season.
Defensively, Matt
Silvia, Ross
Doan and Austin
Powell return to anchor a unit that ranked 27th in the nation
in turnovers per game and 17th in ground balls. “Brick”
Wipf will also bolster the back line for Bellarmine.
In the cage, Burns returns 6-5 junior Dillon
Ward after another solid season in 2011 including recording a
career-high 23 saves in Bellarmine's win over VMI. Ward will
be pushed by fellow junior Will
Haas.
Bellarmine's 2012 schedule features 12 regular-season
games, six ECAC games, and just four home contests.
The Knights will see several of the nation's top teams in 2012
including national runner-up Maryland on April 28 in College Park,
Md., and ECAC member Denver on April 6, who made it all the way to
the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual
national champion Virginia.
Bellarmine will play four games on their home field at Owsley B.
Frazier Stadium including the season opener on Feb. 11 against
Robert Morris, hosting nationally ranked Loyola (Md.) on March 2nd,
and Senior Day on March 14 against Hobart. Key road games include
February 24 at Ohio State, April 8 at the Air Force Academy, and
February 21 against Detroit.
BELLARMINE LACROSSE SCHEDULE 2012
FEBRUARY
11 Robert Morris HOME 1 PM
18
Mercer
Away 1 PM
MARCH
2 Loyola (Md.)*
HOME 7 PM
6
Dartmouth
Away 3 PM
17
Michigan
Away 3 PM
24 Ohio State*
Away 7 PM
31
Fairfield*
HOME 1 PM
APRIL
6
Denver*
Away 7 PM
8 Air
Force*
Away Noon
14
Hobart*
HOME 1 PM
21 Detroit-Mercy
Away Noon
28
Maryland Away 1
PM
MAY
3-5 ECAC Tourney TBA
12-28 NCAA Tourney TBA
* ECAC Game
