Guilford's Benson Named Second Team All-ODAC
Greensboro, N.C. (5/6/09) -- Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) head men's lacrosse coaches selected Guilford College senior Gates Benson to the 2009 Second Team All-ODAC squad, the league office announced late Tuesday. Benson's teammate, senior Kyle Boylan, earned honorable mention all-league recognition.
Benson, a 6-2, 205-pound defender, led the Quakers in ground balls (60) and caused turnovers (31) as a starter in all 15 games. He also contributed two points on two assists and won 30-of-77 (.39%) face-off attempts. Benson had a huge game Mar. 10 in the Quakers' 11-10 win over Shenandoah University as he recorded nine ground balls and caused eight turnovers, both game and career highs. The team captain picked up eight ground balls versus the State University of New York at Oneonta Feb. 28 and against Richard Stockton College Mar. 17. In all, he had six contests with five or more ground balls.
Benson concludes his career as a four-year starter with 181 ground balls and 77 caused turnovers in 56 games. He led the Quakers in caused turnovers all four seasons and three times paced the team in ground balls. The three-time team captain also contributed a goal and six assists with his long stick in 56 career games. Benson is Guilford's first two-time All-ODAC selection since Erik Briggs '96, who garnered Second Team All-ODAC honors in 1994 and 1996.
Boylan, a 5-9, 190-pound long-stick midfielder, appeared in 14 games with three starts as Guilford's top long-stick midfielder. He recorded one assist, caused five turnovers and placed eighth on the team with 27 ground balls. Boylan picked up a career-best six ground balls in the win over Shenandoah and followed with five pickups versus Richard Stockton. He concludes his four-year career with a goal and 128 ground balls in 53 matches.
The pair helped fifth-year head coach Andrew Rowe's Quakers to their first ODAC Tournament berth in school history. Guilford recorded a 3-12 overall record, 1-5 in the ODAC. Rowe could return as many as 18 letter winners in 2010.