Matt Ward (lacrosse player)
Encyclopedia
Matt Ward is an American lacrosse
player who played at the University of Virginia
and currently plays for the Washington Bayhawks.
in suburban Washington, DC, where he lettered in lacrosse, football, and basketball. He was the only lacrosse player to ever be named Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year two years in a row (2001, 2002). Ward was also selected to All-State, All-County, and All-Conference teams as a junior and senior, scoring 33 goals and 20 assists as a senior (despite missing seven games due to injury) including the winning goal in overtime of the conference championship.
from 2003 to 2006, where he was a three-time USILA All-American
(2004, 2005, 2006) at the attack position and led the Virginia Cavaliers
to two NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
s, in 2003
and 2006
. In 2006, he set the NCAA record for most goals (16) in the tournament and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. That year, he also won the Tewaaraton Trophy
, given annually to the nation's best player, and the Lt. Raymond Enners Award
as the USILA's Player of the Year. The 2006 Cavalier season was also notable because it marked the first time in NCAA history that a Division I men's lacrosse team had finished a season with a 17-0 record.
team, the Washington Bayhawks after being selected in the first round of the 2006 MLL college draft. That year, Ward was named MLL Rookie of the Year
.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
player who played at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and currently plays for the Washington Bayhawks.
High school career
Ward attended prep school at Landon SchoolLandon School
The Landon School is a private, nonsectarian, college preparatory school for boys in grades 3-12, with an enrollment of approximately 675 students. The school sits on in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C.-Background:...
in suburban Washington, DC, where he lettered in lacrosse, football, and basketball. He was the only lacrosse player to ever be named Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year two years in a row (2001, 2002). Ward was also selected to All-State, All-County, and All-Conference teams as a junior and senior, scoring 33 goals and 20 assists as a senior (despite missing seven games due to injury) including the winning goal in overtime of the conference championship.
Collegiate career
Ward played NCAA Division I lacrosse at the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
from 2003 to 2006, where he was a three-time USILA All-American
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
(2004, 2005, 2006) at the attack position and led the Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Cavaliers men's lacrosse
The Virginia Cavaliers men's lacrosse team represents the University of Virginia in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse...
to two NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
s, in 2003
2003 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2003 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 33rd annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Sixteen NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament...
and 2006
2006 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 36th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Sixteen NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament.The semifinals and...
. In 2006, he set the NCAA record for most goals (16) in the tournament and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. That year, he also won the Tewaaraton Trophy
Tewaaraton Trophy
The Tewaaraton Trophy is an award given annually, since 2001, to the most outstanding American college lacrosse player. It is the lacrosse equivalent of football's Heisman Trophy. The trophy is presented by the Greater Washington Sports Alliance and the University Club of Washington, D.C...
, given annually to the nation's best player, and the Lt. Raymond Enners Award
Lt. Raymond Enners Award
The Lt. Raymond Enners Award is an award given annually to the NCAA's most outstanding player in men's college lacrosse. The award is presented by the USILA and is named after Raymond Enners, who attended the United States Military Academy, class of 1967, and served in the U.S. Army during the...
as the USILA's Player of the Year. The 2006 Cavalier season was also notable because it marked the first time in NCAA history that a Division I men's lacrosse team had finished a season with a 17-0 record.
Professional career
Beginning in 2006, Ward played professional outdoor lacrosse for the Major League LacrosseMajor League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
team, the Washington Bayhawks after being selected in the first round of the 2006 MLL college draft. That year, Ward was named MLL Rookie of the Year
Major League Lacrosse Rookie of the Year Award
The Cascade Major League Lacrosse Rookie of the Year Award is given annually to the top first-time athlete of the season.Cascade began sponsorship of the award in 2003....
.
University of Virginia
| Season | GP | G | A | Pts | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 17 | 26 | 20 | 46 | 45 | |
| 2004 | 13 | 33 | 13 | 46 | 27 | |
| 2005 | 15 | 38 | 11 | 49 | 46 | |
| 2006 | 17 | 42 | 25 | 67 | 51 | |
| Totals | 62 | 139 | 69 | 208 | 169 |
Major League Lacrosse
| Season | GP | G | A | Pts | GB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 9 | 23 | 8 | 33 | 16 | |
| 2007 | 12 | 18 | 9 | 28 | 19 | |
| Totals | 21 | 41 | 17 | 61 | 35 |