Two All-Americans, Leading Scorer Will Serve as 2011 Captains

Gophers Launch Season Feb. 26 at Home Against Washington (Md.)

TOWSON, Md. — A pair of returning Division III All-Americans and the leading scorer in the Landmark Conference last season will serve as captains for Goucher in 2011.

In announcing today that senior defenseman Justin Dunn (Denver, Colo./Mullen), junior midfielder Matt Lynch (Ivyland, Pa./LaSalle College) and junior attackman Rory Averett (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) were elected captains by their teammates, head coach Kyle Hannan commented: "These three young men have transitioned well from being impact players to being outstanding leaders. They will continue to provide leadership on and off the field. I have the utmost respect and confidence in these three outstanding young men."

All three players started all 18 games last season as the Gophers went 14-4, captured the Landmark Conference championship and made their inaugural appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Dunn and Lynch were both honorable mentions on the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association's Division III All-America team and first-team All-Landmark Conference selections in 2010; Averett, the team's leading scorer the past two seasons, landed on the all-conference second team.

Lynch supplied the Gophers with 36 goals and 26 assists. He ranked second on the team with 62 points and was the only player to register at least one point in all 18 games.

Dunn did his best work at the other end of the field, leading a defense that surrendered an average of 6.89 goals per game. He set a new school record by forcing opponents to make 59 turnovers, plus he was credited with a team-leading 70 ground balls.

Averett tallied 49 goals and was credited with the game-winning goal five times last season. After just two seasons with the Gophers, he has 85 goals.

The Gophers launch their 2011 campaign at home against Washington (Md.) on February 26.