University of Massachusets Athletics
Quartet Earns Preseason All-ECAC Honors
February 12, 2004 | Men's Lacrosse
Feb. 12, 2004
AMHERST, Mass. - Four University of Massachusetts lacrosse players were named to the 2004 ECAC Lacrosse Preseason All-League squad. In addition, senior attack Jeff Zywicki (Napean, Ontario) was named the Riddell Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in voting by league coaches. It marks the second straight year that a Minuteman player was named preseason Player of the Year.
Zywicki led the Minutemen last season with 62 points (41 g, 21 a), becoming UMass' first 40-20 player since 1993 when Mark Millon accomplished the feat. He was named first team All-ECAC and All-New England and was a USILA third team All-America selection a year ago. He finished the season ranked fourth in the country in total points and sixth in points per game. He currently has 92 career points (58 g, 34 a), while playing in 39 career games.
Junior defenseman Matt Garcia (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) was named to the team after earning All-ECAC first team recognition and second team All-New England honors in 2003. Garcia was part of a stingy defense that ranked in the nation's top 20 in scoring defense, despite playing an uptempo style. He scooped up 35 ground balls while playing in all 16 games, including a career-best five in UMass' 9-6 NCAA Tournament victory over Hofstra.
Sophomore defenseman Jack Reid (Glastonbury, Conn.) was selected to the first team after a stellar freshman season. Reid played in all 16 games, scooping up 33 ground balls, and was named second team All-ECAC and All-New England. He was also honored on the Inside Lacrosse All-Freshman team.
Junior attack Chris Doyle (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) was the final Minuteman player named. Doyle enjoyed a solid sophomore season, scoring 23 points (19 g, 4 a). His two best performances came against NCAA semifinalists, Syracuse and Maryland, where he recorded the first two hat tricks of his career. Doyle has 26 career points (19 g, 7 a).
The No. 7-ranked Minutemen will open the season on Feb. 28 against No. 8-ranked North Carolina in Baltimore.
