Wednesday, June 2, 2004

GRIFFIN, CLARKE ARE NAMED TO LACROSSE ALL-AMERICA TEAMS

MEDFORD – Junior Bryan Griffin (West Islip, NY/West Islip) of the Tufts University Men's Lacrosse (USILA) team earned the Jumbos' highest individual honor in years when he was named to the STX/United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association's (USILA) 2004 All-America second team. Classmate Devin Clarke (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) earned honorable mention recognition.

Griffin and Clarke led by example on the field for the 2004 Jumbos. In the season-opener at MIT, Griffin debuted with four goals and six assists for 10 points. Clarke had three goals in the next game at Endicott, and the Jumbos were off.

Griffin netted five in an 18-9 win over Western New England, the eventual ECAC New England champion. Clarke's goal with 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter lifted the Jumbos to a dramatic 10-9 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University, an NCAA Tournament qualifier. Griffin then scored five goals with two assists when the Jumbos opened their NESCAC schedule with a 17-5 victory at Trinity.

Tufts went on to win a record 13 games and finish the conference regular season tied for first place with Middlebury at 8-1. The Jumbos were ranked 10^th in the final USILA national poll. The team's 81.3 winning percentage is ninth-best in the nation.

Griffin finished the season with 41 goals and 35 assists for 76 points in 16 games, a 4.75 points per game average that is 13^th in the nation. He was the NESCAC and New England Player of the Year for the second straight season. Griffin was a honorable mention All-American last spring.

Clarke was the top vote-getter among midfielders for All-NESCAC this spring after scoring 28 goals with 13 assists for 41 points. He was a first team All-New England and All-NESCAC pick, finishing 11^th in the conference for scoring with 2.56 points per game.

Griffin and Clarke will both be back for the Jumbos next spring.

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