Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 12/18/15
From Press Release
Monmouth University men’s lacrosse head coach Brian Fisher has announced that juniors Eric Berger (Ardsley/Penn Charter) and Tyler Keen (Downingtown/Downingtown West) will serve as team captains for the 2016 season.
“Entering our third season together we have a junior class and a core group of guys that are fun to be around and have helped pave the way for our program,” stated Fisher. “It is a group of leaders that throughout their time here have worked hard, led by example and helped us develop such a strong work ethic and culture. It is fitting that Eric and Ty serve as captains as they embody all that our program stands for and will do a great job of leading our team this spring.”
Berger has appeared in all of Monmouth’s 27 games during his career with the Hawks, and has provided 19 goals and nine assists for 28 points from his midfield position. Berger registered the game-tying goal and the game-winning score in the Hawks’ first-ever MAAC victory over Siena in 2015, and the computer science major has also contributed 27 groundballs and 13 caused turnovers in his two seasons.
Berger said, “I am honored and privileged to be named captain of this team. It’s group of hard working guys that have the drive to do something great. I’m not only excited about being a part of it, but to lead it, alongside Ty, and to prove this season that we are capable of doing something special.”
Keen has also appeared in all 27 games in Monmouth’s program history, adding 19 goals and two assists for 21 career points in the Blue & White. A midfielder, Keen notched a career-high three goals in the Hawks’ first-ever win, a victory at Rutgers in 2015, and added another three-goal game against Wagner during his sophomore campaign. The business finance major has contributed 17 groundballs and five caused turnovers.
Keen stated, “I am very proud to be named captain of our team. We have so many great leaders within our team, as well as a great coaching staff and strength coaches who have worked us hard this fall. We are going into the spring with a little bit of an edge, and we are looking forward to another great season at Monmouth and having people take notice of the Hawks.”
Fisher, whose Hawks were selected third in the MAAC preseason poll, added, “We are excited about the team overall and are looking forward to the 2016 season.”
The Hawks, who played in five one-goal games in 2015, return six of their top-eight scorers from a team that went 6-8 overall a year ago (3-3 MAAC) and earned a spot in the MAAC Championships in just the program’s second year of competition. Monmouth opens its 2016 season at Jacksonville University on Sunday, February 14 at 6:00 p.m.
