Minnesota Names 2017 Captains
MINNEAPOLIS—Senior goaltender Matt Jorgensen has been named the captain of the Minnesota men’s lacrosse team for the 2017 season, while senior defenseman Luke Bromback and junior midfielders Josh Werkmeister and Trent Woodcock will serve as alternate captains.
Jorgensen, from Creekside High School in St. Johns, Fla., looks to add to an already impressive career at Minnesota. He has backstopped Minnesota for the past three seasons as the starter. Entering his senior year, Jorgensen is already Minnesota’s all-time leader in career saves (444) and games played by a goalie (44).
In 2016 he finished the season with 95 saves and a .597 save percentage, earning him first team all-UMLC honors, UMLC Defensive Player of the Year and his second MCLA Scholar Athlete recognition. Although Jorgensen has been a mainstay in net the last three seasons for Minnesota, one thing will be different in 2017. He will swap his number eighteen jersey for number sixty in order in honor of former Minnesota student and goalie, Jake Anderson, and recognize his Give 60 for #60 Foundation.
“Matt came in the year after I took over the program, and there aren’t many better examples of a person who exemplifies the culture I’m trying to cultivate within this team,” said Minnesota coach Rich Limpert. “He’s had to be a leader from day one, and he’s just taken the responsibility and ran with it. Not only does he excel on the field, but in the classroom. This guy is balancing being a top-tier athlete and acting as team president, while preparing to go to med school. He’s an unbelievable individual, and it has made a difference for our team.”
Bromback (Lake Elmo, Minn./Stillwater HS) started all 13 games in 2016. He collected 20 ground balls and tied for second on the team in caused turnovers with 12. Bromback is a two-time first team all-UMLC defenseman, and was named a MCLA Scholar Athlete in 2015.
Josh Werkmeister (Chaska, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret’s) finished last year with nine goals and eight assists, which earned him first team all-UMLC honors while also being recognized as a 2016 MCLA Scholar Athlete. One of Minnesota’s most versatile players, Werkmeister has recorded 14 multi-point games in 31 career contests.
Trent Woodcock (Rosemount, Minn./Rosemount HS) has been named an alternate captain for the second time at Minnesota. The junior midfielder is a two-time second team all-UMLC midfielder and a two-time MCLA Scholar Athlete. Last year he scored nine goals and tallied nine assists, while leading all midfielders in caused turnovers.
“It’s more of the same from the rest of our captains,” Limpert said. “They are all scholar athletes who get it done on the field. They show up, work hard, and play for the ‘M’ and the rest of the guys on the squad. As a coaching staff, we’ve never been more impressed with a team in fall ball. The leadership coming from our captains and upperclassmen is fuel for that.”
You can come see Minnesota and its new captains in action the next two weekends. On Friday, Oct. 14, Minnesota plays MSU-Mankato in a fall ball scrimmage. The game will start at 7 p.m. at McMurray Fields in St. Paul. On Oct. 23, the Gophers will play their final fall ball contest against NCAA Division I’s Big East Champion Marquette University. The game will be played at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., as part of the Boundary Waters Classic. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.