ERIE, Pa. – Head coach Chris Ryan of the Mercyhurst College men’s lacrosse team has announced that seniors
Tyler Burton,
Chris Eline,
Luke Prattico and
Zach Manuel will serve as captains for the upcoming 2010 season.
“These four players will be entrusted with a great deal of responsibility and I expect nothing but the best from them,” noted Ryan. “They each bring different intangibles to the field and therefore compliment one another very well. They did a tremendous job for us last season at their respective positions.”
Burton, a midfielder from London, Ontario, led the Lakers in scoring with 24 goals and 13 assists. Three of his goals came on specials teams, with two on man-up opportunities and one while man down. He also contributed 17 ground balls to a unit that scooped up 68 more than all of its opponents combined (465-397).
Eline, a defenseman from Jarrettsville, Md., was one of the Lakers’ top long poles last season. Through 13 games, he ranked first with 17 caused turnovers and tops among players not taking face-offs with 29 ground balls.
Prattico, a defenseman from Fairport, N.Y., sat out last season due to a knee injury he suffered in the preseason. Prior to 2009, Prattico made an immediate impact on a defense that limited opponents to 6.2 goals per game after transferring from Adelphi. During the 2008 season, he picked up 20 ground balls and caused eight turnovers through 12 games.
Manuel, a defensive midfielder from Elmira, N.Y., appeared in 13 of the team’s 14 games last season. He contributed a goal and an assist for two points while registering 17 ground balls and two caused turnovers. He also went 1-for-1 in face-offs.
Mercyhurst opens the season on Feb. 23, 2010, when the Lakers take on St. Andrews at 4 p.m. in Laurinburg, N.C.