(This post is by John Painter.)
Colgate congratulations go out to Matt Abbott and Chris Eck ’08 after the two were named to the final 23-man U.S. Men’s National Team roster.
Eck, who starred at midfield for the Raiders, and Abbott, who played collegiately at Syracuse and now serves as Colgate’s volunteer assistant coach, survived the final cut of seven players after having made the 30-man roster in the spring. Now they begin final preparations for the upcoming FIL World Championships, which begin July 10 in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado.
Eck earned one All-Patriot League first-team selection and two second-team nods while helping the Raiders to the 2008 Patriot League championship. Abbott was an All-America performer at Syracuse and key member of the Orange’s 2008 and 2009 national championship squads.
Abbott helps the Raiders alongside his brother, Mike, who just completed his third season as a Colgate assistant men’s lacrosse coach.
Eck, who plays professionally in Major League Lacrosse for the Boston Cannons, was named to the U.S. National Team as a faceoff specialist. Abbott, who plays for the MLL’s Chesapeake Bayhawks, is a defensive midfielder.
The 2014 FIL World Championships take place July 10-19 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.