Jan. 8, 2013

 Blue Jay Jersey Countdown - #31 

As we countdown to '13, a season Blue Jay faithful hope will end with a 10 on the 27th, HopkinsSports.com offers its own countdown ... by jersey number ... to the season-opener against Siena on February 8.

Today - #31

Did You Know: Current senior John Ranagan is the only Johns Hopkins player to earn First Team All-America honors while wearing #31 as he grabbed top honors in 2011.

Player Spotlight - P.J. DiConza
DiConza played for the Blue Jays from 1999-2002 and helped JHU to three appearances in the NCAA Semifinals as a key member of the JHU defense. He played both long stick middie and close defense during his career.

A co-captain on Dave Pietramala's first Final Four team in 2002, DiConza earned Third Team All-America and Second Team Academic All-America honors as a senior. He also earned a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and remains one of just two JHU men's lacrosse players to earn this award (Larry Quinn is the other). He was the only men's lacrosse player (at any level) to earn an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in 2002.

Other Notable "31s" in JHU Lacrosse History
John Ranagan: Ranagan enters his final season with a pair of All-America nods to his credit as he earned first team honors as a sophomore and second team honors as a junior. He punched up 18 goals and 14 assists as a sophomore and 16 goals and seven assists last season. He enters his final season with 43 goals and 26 assists to his credit.

Famous "31s" in Other Sports

Reggie Miller (NBA) - Sorry Knicks fans ... more than 25,000 points and 2,500 three-pointers. One of Hopkinssports.com's all-time favorite players.

Mike Piazza (MLB) - 427 career home runs ... most by a catcher in MLB history.

Billy Smith (NHL) - Won four Stanley Cups as the starting goalie for the NY Islanders

Note: Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse rosters are generally available back to 1950. In many years after 1950, only an alphabetical list is available. The Blue Jay Jersey Countdown is intended to be an enjoyable way to count down to the 2013 season. It is not intended to rank in any way the players who wore a particular number.