UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Nittany Lion senior attackman Matthew Mackrides (Newtown Square) has been selected as one of 20 NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.
The award is bestowed upon a senior who has notable achievements in four areas of excellence — community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
A senior tri-captain, Mackrides has excelled on the field since stepping onto campus as a freshman. The attackman ranks among the top-15 active players in the nation in career goals (73) and has collected 104 points in 40 games played. A two-time All-CAA First Team honoree (2010, 2011), Mackrides led the team in goals in both 2010 and 2011. As a sophomore, he led the team in points (44) and added a team-best 13 assists as a freshman.
Prior to the 2012 campaign, Mackrides was tabbed a Preseason All-CAA Team member and was named as an Inside Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American. The attackman was also selected 26th overall by the Chesapeake Bayhawks in the Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft. Following the 2011 season, he was honored as the team’s Hard Hat recipient, given to a member of the squad whose persistence, work ethic and courage set a blue-collar standard for the program.
Off the field, Mackrides has been heavily involved in EVANFEST, which was created in memory of Philadelphia-native Evan Brady, who lost his battle to osteogenic sarcoma in 2005. EVANFEST has helped raise more than $400,000 for families whose child is battling a life-threatening disease. He also mentors at local elementary schools in the State College, Pa., area and has coached and helped organize tournaments and camps through the Philadelphia Youth Lacrosse All-Sta
A two-time Dean’s List member (fall 2009, fall 2010), Mackrides has maintained a 3.16 grade-point average as a communication arts and sciences major. The Newtown Square, Pa., native is also a member of the University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Board and was inducted into the Spiritus Leoninus Honor Society, which recognizes student-athletes for outstanding performance in athletics, academics, leadership and community service.
The 20 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists, who will be placed on the official ballot, midway through the regular season. The ballot will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, NCAA Division I men’s coaches and fans, who will select the finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four "C’s" of community, classroom, character and competition.
