Marist men’s lacrosse captain, Joe Tierney, announced Monday that he will be returning to Marist to play lacrosse for one more year, per the NCAA granting another year of eligibility for spring season athletes.
Before the 2020 season was abruptly ended due to COVID-19 concerns, Tierney was bestowed the honor of wearing jersey no. 34, which is given to one senior on the men’s lacrosse team each season in remembrance of Eddie Coombs, a former player who lost his life in a car accident years ago. With one decision, the program announced that Tierney was an all-around player. He embodied the great characteristics of Coombs: passion, energy, determination, and being a valued member of the community.
Prior to the season’s cancellation, Tierney hoped to lead the 2020 lacrosse team to another MAAC championship win and was looking forward to what would hopefully be an extended run in the NCAA tournament. In 2019, he ranked third on the team in goals (19), assists (12), and total points (31). He scored a career-high four goals against Canisius in the MAAC semifinals, and finished up the season with three goals in the championship game against Quinnipiac. His impressive playoff performance made him a shoe-in for — and the eventual recipient of — the MAAC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player honor. In addition, he was named to the All-MAAC Second Team and MAAC All-Academic Team.
The 2020 season was looking no different for Tierney. Only six games in, he had scored 10 goals and tallied seven assists. Third in the MAAC in shooting percentage (.455), Tierney was eager to be named a back-to-back MAAC champion. Prior to the season ending, he was named MAAC Offensive Player of the Week. With the return for another year, the awards won’t stop there.
“I could not imagine passing up on the opportunity to put on the Marist uniform again and play the game that I love with the team that I love,” he said in a statement Monday. “I am truly grateful to have the chance to continue my lacrosse and academic career for another year as a Red Fox.” Eyeing one more run with Tierney leading the way, the Red Foxes are hopeful that their men’s lacrosse program will emerge with another championship title in 2021.
Edited by Will Bjarnar
Header photo from Marist Athletics