Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Lacrosse Captains Announced
11/16/2005 7:00:00 AM | Men's Lacrosse
Nov. 16, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell head men's lacrosse coach Frank Fedorjaka has announced that seniors Michael Abou Jaoude (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius), Matt Baran (Wilmington, Del./Tatnall School) and Patrick Lenhart (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) have been selected as team captains for the 2006 season.
All three captains will be a major part of Bucknell's defensive core this spring. Abou Jaoude is a First Team All-Patriot League defenseman who is the team's best one-on-one defender. Baran, a Second Team All-Patriot League pick in 2005, will be in his third season as Bucknell's starting goalie. Lenhart this season moves from attack to short-stick defensive midfield, where he will help shore up a position that was hit hard by graduation.
"I am extremely pleased that Michael Abou Jaoude, Matt Baran and Patrick Lenhart were selected by their peers to be captains at the conclusion of the fall season," said Fedorjaka, who will be in his first season as Bucknell's head coach after spending the last seven as an assistant. "All three possess outstanding leadership skills, not to mention that they are also outstanding lacrosse players."
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Abou Jaoude's selection to the all-conference team marked the fifth straight season that a Bucknell defenseman earned first-team honors. Taking over the role vacated by 2004 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Blaise Fletcher, Abou Jaoude quickly developed into the team's top cover man. He led a Bucknell defense that allowed only 7.9 goals per game last season, the 11th-best figure in the nation and the second-best in the conference, behind only national leader Navy. Following last season Abou Jaoude was invited to participate in the USA World Team tryouts.
"Mike is our `shut down' defender," said Fedorjaka. "He regularly gets assigned to the opposition's top offensive player and we simply do not slide to him. Mike is as good a cover guy as there is in Division I lacrosse. He has worked hard on his stick skills and has become very good at the clearing game. Mike is also a great team defender. He gets it. He is a tireless worker who exhibits a passion for the game on a daily basis."
Baran enjoyed a terrific junior season. He led the Patriot League with a .588 save percentage and ranked second in goals-against average at 8.06. He ranked 12th nationally in goals-against average and 13th in save percentage, while playing 96 percent of the team's minutes in goal. He finished the year with 144 saves, or an average of 11.1 per game, including a season-high 17 against Maryland.
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"Matt is a three-year starter in goal and is poised for another great season," Fedorjaka lauded. "Matt had a breakout season last year as he was named second team all-league behind only the First Team All-America goalkeeper from Navy. Matt is also an integral part of our riding game as we are able to 10-man ride our opponents for the entire game. Matt has all the natural ability in the world. Quick hands, quick feet and great hand-eye coordination are his strengths. Coming off of last season he has combined all of his natural ability, experience and work ethic and has made himself a top-level Division I goalie."
Lenhart logged one goal, one assist and four ground balls in five appearances last season, and he has two career goals. One of the hardest-working players on the team, Lenhart should have a chance to increase his playing time with the shift to the new position in 2006.
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"Patrick is a converted attackman who now plays short stick d-middie," said Fedorjaka. "He is tenacious on ground balls and could be the team's hardest worker. He brings a blue-collar mentality to the defense and excels in the clearing game. He has tremendously quick feet and can cover the real quick guys as well as the big and strong guys."
Bucknell finished 8-5 last season and tied Army and Navy for the Patriot League regular-season title. The Bison, who were ranked 14th nationally at season's end, open up their 2006 slate on Feb. 26 against Hobart at the Haverford School in Philadelphia.
