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PITT Men's Lacrosse Announces 2012 Team Captains

Nov. 1, 2011

PITT Men's Lacrosse Co-Head Coaches Sean Buzzard and Alex Perry are pleased to announce the Panther's captains for the 2011/2012 academic year and spring 2012 season. Senior goalie Chris Gorham (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Twp), senior midfielder Nick Ruff (Yardley, PA/Chesnut Hill), and junior attackman Tyler Novotny (Collegeville, PA/Spring-Ford).  The captains were elected by a team vote, and this trio of veterans will lead the Panthers in their quest for a third straight CCLA playoff appearance and end goal of a MCLA championship.

“It is great to see the team acknowledge Gorham’s leadership and re-elect him as team captain,” Perry says.  “Ruff and Novotny have really stepped it up this fall season both on and off the field and it is no surprise that they were elected as well.  I could not be happier for all three of them, and our new trio of captains will certainly do great things for us this year.”

Chris Gorham is the anchor to the Panther defense and was elected to his second term as a team captain.  Gorham lead the CCLA in all goaltender statistics in 2011 before suffering a season ending injury, and still finished second in the conference in saves per game and save percentage.  Gorham currently holds the team record in saves made in a single game, and career saves made.

Joining Gorham, Nick Ruff was primarily used last season as a defensive midfielder and face-off specialist until his efforts on the field lead to an increase in offensive playing time.  In the final 4 games of the 2011 regular season, Ruff tallied four goals and an assist.  Ruff now leads the top midfield line for the Panthers and is looking to play a key role in the new Panther offense in 2012.  Ruff also broke the record for ground balls in a career this past season, passing current coach Andrew Stypula’s mark of 95 with 100.

2011 CCLA second-team attackman Tyler Novotny also returns in his second season at PITT after transferring in from St. John's at the beginning of the 2011 season.  In his first season for the Panthers, Novotny set a team record for goals scored in a season at 36, as well as tied the team record for points in a game (8) and goals in a game (6).

The Panther's conclude the fall ball schedule with games versus UP-Johnstown, Slippery Rock, and Robert Morris (all NCLL squads) before breaking for final exams and the winter break.  The 2012 season officially begins versus Robert Morris (NCLL) on January 27, 2012, and the MCLA opener is on February 18 versus perennial MCLA D2 power Grove City College.

HAIL TO PITT!