Salisbury’s Eric Martin Named USILA Division III Lacrosse Player of the Year

SU’s Andy Murray and Sean White Also Among Award Winners

(June 15, 2004) - Three members of Salisbury University’s 2004 national championship lacrosse team were among the individual award winners at Friday’s United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Awards dinner in Rochester, NY.

Senior Eric Martin (Norfolk, VA/ Norfolk Academy) - pictured - was a two-time winner, taking home the William C. Schmeisser Award as the Division III Defenseman of the Year, as well as the Iroquois National Award as the overall Division III Player of the Year.

Senior Andy Murray (Ellicott City, MD/Centennial HS) was a repeat winner of the Fran McCall Award as the Division III Midfielder of the Year. Murray was co-winner of the award this year after winning it outright in 2003.

Junior Sean White (Baltimore/Calvert Hall HS) claimed the fourth Salisbury honor by winning the inaugural Long Stick Midfielder of the Year Award.

Martin, Murray and Andy Arnold also represented the South squad in the annual North-South Senior All-Star Classic, played on Saturday.  The North team won the game 18-14 despite one goal and one assist from Murray and one goal by Arnold. Murray also finished with a team-high 10 ground balls while winning 11 of 22 face-offs. Martin added six ground balls for the South team.

Martin, Murray, and White were also three of the five Salisbury players named to 11-person USILA All-America first team. The Sea Gulls had 10 players overall recognized on the All-America teams.

Salisbury completed a 20-0 season and claimed its fifth national championship with a 13-9 victory over Nazareth in the NCAA championship game on May 30 in Baltimore.

Martin, Murray Selected in MLL Draft

Sea Gull players Eric Martin and Andy Murray were both selected in the recent Major League Lacrosse (MLL) college draft. Both players were chosen in the fourth round of the five-round, 30-player draft, and were two of just four Division III players selected.

Martin was the first Division III player drafted, chosen by the Rochester Rattlers. Martin is a two-time, first team All-American defender who spearheaded Salisbury’s number one ranked defense. He finished with 94 ground balls in 2004 and helped the Sea Gulls post a 6.05 goals against average.

Murray was the second Division III player picked and chosen by the Long Island Lizards. Murray is a three-time, first team All-American midfielder and also regarded as the premier face-off specialist in the nation. He finished with 21 goals, 21 assists and 179 ground balls in 2004.

Complete draft results can be accessed online at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com.