Matt MacGrotty helped put Bryant University on the radar in his field lacrosse career at the Rhode Island school.
A three-year starting defenseman at long pole and a team captain with the Bulldogs this season, MacGrotty did everything short of helping his team win an NCAA Division I title.
MacGrotty was one of seven Bryant players named to the All-New England team this week, earning second team honours, following a recent historic first-ever win at the NCAA nationals, upsetting No. 2-ranked Syracuse 10-9 in the opening round.
Last year, the top-ranked Orange knocked off the upstart No. 16 Bulldogs in their first-ever appearance in the Div. I nationals.
“It was incredible beating (Syracuse) in their arena. They are so successful in that stadium,” said MacGrotty on a long distance call to the NOW. “To put that look on their faces was incredible because we had that look last year.
“That was one of the biggest wins in our program’s history.”
A two-time Northeast conference first team choice, MacGrotty led the Bulldogs with 19 caused turnovers, while also adding 44 ground balls this season.
MacGrotty will leave the program as second all-time in caused turnovers per game and fifth overall in caused turnovers in his career. He also wrote his name among the top single-season numbers at Bryant in caused turnovers in 2012 and this season.
He will play his final collegiate match in the New England intercollegiate senior game next Friday.
This season, Bryant won its third consecutive NEC conference banner, while improving last season’s 8-10 record to a program best 16-5 this year.
“The fact we came so far as a program and bringing it all the way to the quarter-finals is probably the most rewarding thing,” said MacGrotty.
Another source of pride for MacGrotty was Bryant’s defensive numbers, many of which ranked among the top-five in the country, including third in man-down defence and fifth in scoring defence.
MacGrotty was also the only player from the field lacrosse squad to earn academic all-region team status.
“Coach (Mike) Pressler in my sophomore year, had a meeting with me, I had a 3.2 GPA, he said, ‘How about if you get a 3.5.’ I said, ‘OK coach, I can do that,’” said MacGrotty
“It’s definitely something I put a lot of work into. It means a lot to employers, but it means a lot more to me.”
MacGrotty, a biology and finance major, will be back in town in mid-June after one final exam to start the next chapter in his career.
“When I chose Bryant, I knew it was for a good reason,” he said. “And what I got out of it was more than I could have dreamed. It’s been amazing.”
