The UMBC men's lacrosse team has selected seniors Bobby Atwell (Dunkirk, Md./Southern) , Jeremy Blevins (Cockeysville, Md./Calvert Hall), and Alex Hopmann (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) as its team captains for the 2008-2009 academic year.

"Leadership is such an important factor in the development and success of any team," UMBC head coach Don Zimmerman said. "Our staff believes the selection of Bobby Atwell, Alex Hopmann and Jeremy Blevins reflects the attitude and character necessary for this Retriever lacrosse team to move forward in a positive direction. We congratulate these fine young men and their families on this well deserved honor."

Atwell and Hopmann served as two of the four team captains last season. According to UMBC Athletics' archives, only five other players in the school's Division I history (1981) have served as captains for two seasons. The late David Drehoff (1988, 1989) was the first to earn that distinction and has been followed by Sam Walker (1993, 1994), Stewart Walker (1993, 1994), Tim Flanagan (2002, 2003) and Brendan Mundorf (2005, 2006).

Both Atwell and Blevins earned All America (Honorable Mention) honors last season. In 2008, Atwell was a First Team All America East honoree in just his second season as a close defender. He started all 16 games and gobbled up 39 ground balls and caused 11 turnovers. Blevins also started all 16 games and has started 48 straight since arriving on the UMBC campus in 2006. Also a First Team All America East selection, he has a career record of 32-15 and is currently fifth in school history with 477 saves.

Hopmann and Atwell each earned Second Team All-Conference honors in 2007. Hopmann has 42 goals and 59 points in his three seasons as a Retriever.

The trio comprises three of seven players who are the only players in school history to letter on three teams which have competed in the NCAA Championships. Current senior midfielders Mike Burch, Matt Curtin and Ethan Ledley and defender Steve Settembrino are the others.

2008-10-06