Jan. 5, 2009

BALTIMORE, MD - The Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse team was well represented on the recently-released 2009 Face-Off Yearbook Preseason All-America team as six Blue Jays were named to the team, including four members of what should be one of the nation's top defensive units. JHU place one player on the first team, while five of the six were named to the honorable mention squad.

Headlining the six selections for the Blue Jays is senior defenseman Michael Evans, a Third Team USILA All-American last season and a preseason first team selection this year. Evans has started all 34 games for the Blue Jays over the last two years and routinely draws the assignment of marking the opposition's top attackman. He was one of just two non-senior defensemen to earn first, second or third team All-America honors last season.

Junior attackman Steven Boyle was one of five Blue Jays who garnered honorable mention status. Boyle finished third on the team in scoring with 19 goals and 15 assists for 34 points last season. He has totaled at least one point in 29 of 34 career games and fueled JHU's stunning upset of top-seeded Duke in last season's NCAA Semifinals with two goals and one assist. He will enter the 2009 season with 42 goals and 29 assists for 71 points.

Junior midfielder Michael Kimmel joined Boyle as JHU's only two offensive players to be named to the team as he also garnered honorable mention status. Kimmel totaled 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points last season and has nine goals and six assists in eight NCAA Tournament games in his career. His 18 assists led the team and he now has two-year totals of 36 goals and 25 assists for 61 points. He is on pace to become one of JHU's career scoring leaders among midfielders.

Senior short stick defensive midfielder Andrew Miller has been a steady force for the Blue Jays since sliding to the defensive end of the field early in his freshman year and earned a nod as a preseason Honorable Mention All-American. Miller has played in all 48 games during his career and has three goals, three assists and 78 ground balls. He is adept at jump-starting the transition game and is a solid one-on-one defender.

Senior Matt Drenan also garnered honorable mention status as a close defenseman after playing as JHU's primary long-stick middie last season. Drenan came on as the 2008 season unfolded after missing the entire 2007 season with a knee injury. He played in all 17 games and totaled 22 ground balls a year ago and teams with Evans to give the Blue Jays one of the nation's top tandems on close defense.

Rounding out the Blue Jays' five honorable mention selections and six overall picks is junior goalie Michael Gvozden. Gvozden finished eighth in the nation in save percentage (.598) and 17th in goals against average (8.10) a year ago. He was spectacular down the stretch as he posted 118 saves while allowing just 51 goals (.736 save percentage) in the final nine games of the season.

Johns Hopkins will open the 2009 season at home against Siena on February 20 (6 pm). The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

- 30 -

© 2009 CBS Interactive. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | About Us | Advertise | Feedback | XML RSS Feeds