Teams: Men's Lacrosse: Press Releases

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

HARRIGAN IS INSIDE LACROSSE NCAA DIVISION III NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MEDFORD -- The first week of Tufts University men's lacrosse freshman goalkeeper Matt Harrigan (Darnestown, MD/Landon) career could not have been much better. He backstopped the Jumbos to two victories with stellar play and was selected as Inside Lacrosse's NCAA Division III Men's Player of the Week.

In an 8-7 overtime win against Skidmore on March 14 and a 14-2 victory against Eastern Connecticut on March 17, Harrigan recorded a .780 save percentage and 4.28 goals against average. He saved 32 of 41 shots on net and allowed just nine goals in 126:03 of play. He had 17 saves (.708 save pct.) against Skidmore, then stopped 15 of 17 shots on goal (.780 save pct.) versus Eastern Connecticut.

If the 5'11", 175-pound keeper was feeling any pressure from stepping in as the starter for the 12^th ranked team in the nation, it wasn't evident. Though the first goal he allowed against Skidmore could be labeled "soft," he erased any doubts with some highlight saves. One lightning-quick left shoulder stop against Eastern Connecticut drew raves from both sidelines.

A 2004 Landon School graduate who went a PG year at Phillips Exeter in 2005, Harrigan was the MVP of both teams. He was a Washington Post Honorable Metion All-Met selection at Landon and a member of the Senior All-State teams at both Landon and Phillips.

In addition to the challenge of being a freshman goalkeeper for a nationally ranked team in the competitive New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), Harrigan also tests himself as a civil engineering major at Tufts.

In action on Monday, Harrigan made 10 saves in the Jumbos' 7-5 victory at Endicott. For the season, he has a 3-0 record with a 4.51 goals against average and .750 save percentage. He's allowed 14 goals and made 42 saves in 186:03 of action.

The Jumbos face their biggest test of the season thus far when they play at #7 Roanoke.

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