5 STARS OF THE SOCON
MITCH
GOLDBERG Richmond
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound junior midfi elder started the season with a bang, scoring fi ve goals in the Spiders’ 11-10 win at Fairfi eld.
DAN
LOMAS High Point
“That article started a relationship with Connor McKemey that has grown into an unbreakable player-coach bond,” High Point coach Jon Torpey said.
The lefty attackman entered the season ranked second among active Division I players with 121 career goals and was drafted 38th overall by MLL’s Ohio Machine.
“I’ve already been through the hardest thing I’ll ever have to face,” he said. “I put in a tremendous amount of work just to start walking and playing again. I love that grind.” One obstacle remained. McKemey found himself again addressing the High Point players, again seeking their acceptance. He pointed to the plaque.
“I’m not really living my best days if I’m not out here playing,” he said. “When I’m having my bad days, be there to pick me up. And when you’re having your bad days, you know I’m always there for you.”
His teammates roared in approval. AN UNBREAKABLE BOND
McKemey lost 50 pounds last summer to get back to his playing weight of 225. He trained so hard that he tore his labrum, battling the injury during the fall before deciding to get it fi xed. What was one more surgery, anyway?
McKemey practices with the team on a limited basis Monday through Wednesday and then ramps up to full participation Thursday and Friday. Torpey tries to monitor his activity, especially in extreme weather and during physically taxing drills. Torpey cringed at a practice when two defenders closed in on McKemey as he caught a high fading pass during a clearing drill — the kind of lob that normally gets you clobbered. But McKemey caught the ball and spun it to a teammate streaking down the fi eld for a fast-break goal. He also scored two goals in a preseason scrimmage Jan. 16 against Catawba, after which he ran to the bench to hug Torpey. “That article started a relationship that has grown into an unbreakable player-coach bond,” Torpey said in an email he sent to Lacrosse Magazine at 12:51 a.m. that night. “To say I love the young man would be an understatement.”
38 LACROSSE MAGAZINE »April 2016
BOBBY SCHMITT
Bellarmine
The Kentucky-born LSM was an honorable mention All-American in 2014 but missed 2015 with a torn ACL. Schmitt also was drafted by Ohio (33rd overall).
BENNY PUGH
Richmond
Pugh (6-foot-4) stands tall behind a Richmond defense that features havoc-wreaking Brendan Hynes. His 7.42 GAA and .590 save percentage both were No. 2 in D-I.
CHRIS WALSCH
Air Force
Following a stellar freshman season (37g, 18a), Walsch picked up where he left off with four goals, including the game-winner, in a 4OT win Feb. 20 at Marist.
A Publication of US Lacrosse
©BRIAN SCHNEIDER (MG, BO); ©JOHN STROHSACKER (DL); ©BELLARMINE (BS); ©DAVE ANDERSON (CW)
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