Clark, Burns, Rooney, and McGarrity named captains for 2010 season

NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University men's lacrosse head coach Pat Cooney has announced that graduate student Nick Clark (Rye, N.H.), seniors Nolan McGarrity (Verona, N.J.) and Nate Burns (Sandwich, Mass.), and junior Brendan Rooney (West Newton, Mass.), will serve as team captains for the 2010 season.

"We are ecstatic about the selection of these four outstanding young men as captains," said Cooney, who enters his seventh season with the Seahawks. "These four men are well respected in the Salve Regina community and I look forward to working with them toward our goals. Each knows what it takes to be the best."

A fifth-year graduate student defender, Clark returns to action after suffering a season-ending injury in the first contest of 2009. A captain since his junior season, Clark earned First Team All-The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) honors in 2007 and 2008. Two years ago, Clark recorded 98 ground balls and potted four goals. He graduated this past May with a bachelor of science in Financial Management, and is currently pursuing his Masters Degree in Business Administration. "We are pumped to have Nick back on the field. His perseverance and humility in the face of adversity is inspiring," said Cooney.

McGarrity appeared in 13 games (12 starts) last season and finished second in ground balls with 54. A transfer from Lebanon Valley College in 2007, McGarrity was also a standout football player for Salve Regina, leading the team in tackles in each of the last two seasons. For his efforts, he earned New England Football Conference (NEFC) First Team honors in 2008 and Second Team accolades this past fall. For his career, McGarrity racked up 265 tackles, which is second all-time in school history. He will graduate in May with a bachelor of arts in Administration of Justice. "Nolan is a force on the field," said Cooney. "To see him go after ground balls or slide to the ball is energy in motion. He brings a bearing and mindset that galvanizes the team."

Burns garnered Second Team All-TCCC honors last spring after leading the Seahawks with 85 ground balls. He started all 16 games for Cooney on defense, a position he also plays for the Salve Regina ice hockey team. This winter, Burns is wearing the 'A' for ice hockey head coach Andy LeColst, and he will graduate in May with a bachelor of science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. "Nate gets after the ball and has tremendous reach, but it's his overall approach to life that really fires us up," said Cooney.

A two-year captain, Rooney led the Seahawks in goals (41), assists (22), and points (63) and led the conference in points/game (3.94). He also finished second in TCCC in goals/game (2.56). Rooney transferred from Franklin Pierce University in 2008 and paid immediate dividends, earning Second Team All-TCCC honors in 2009. He is a double-major in Elementary Education and Special Education. "Brendan squares up and goes at the defender. No east-west with this young man," said Cooney. "I can't wait to watch him tear around the field in 2010. He is always attacking, bringing an infectious aggressive tempo to the team."

Salve Regina returns nine starters and 23 letterwinners from last year's team which posted a 10-6 mark (5-4 TCCC) and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the third-consecutive season. The Seahawks will open the 2010 season on March 3 when they host Umass Dartmouth in the program's inaugural game at Gaudet Field, which was fitted with FieldTurf this past summer.