ONEONTA, NY - It was announced on Tuesday that senior goalie John Meade (Ocean Beach, NY) will represent Hartwick College at this year's United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) North-South Division III Senior All-Star Game, which will be held as part of a tripleheader on May 22 at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, MA.
Meade is one of just two goalies on this year's 29-man North roster along with Tufts University's Matt Harrigan. Meade is also one of only four Empire 8 players selected to the unit, joining Ithaca's Kevin Bush (M) and Neth Wiedemann (D), and Nazareth's Alex Cole (M).
Meade ended the 2009 campaign for Hartwick ranked second among starting goalies in the Empire 8 Conference in goals against average (8.33) and save percentage (.595). He also ended the year fourth in the entire conference in ground balls per game grabbing 5.43 per outing. Meade made 10 or more saves in 11 games this season for 'Wick. He stopped a season-best 17 shots and nabbed eight ground balls to help Hartwick past RIT, 7-6, on Mar. 21 en route to becoming Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Week for the third time in his career. He equaled the 17-save effort against #4 Ithaca on Apr. 18 in a one-goal overtime setback. He ended his career in the Blue and White with 455 career saves and 163 ground balls and was a two-time E8 Sportsman of the Year Team honoree.
The first North versus South game was held in 1940 at Baltimore's Municipal Stadium. The game combined Division I, II, and III players. In 1991, the first Division III North-South Game was held and it has been part of the national final four weekend ever since.
Last year, former Hartwick standouts Chris Vogler and Ryan Welch were selected to the North team while current Hawks' head coach Bill Bjorness served as head coach of the squad.
The Division III game starts at 2 p.m. and will be followed by the Division I/II game at 4 p.m. The day will be capped off with a contest between Major League Lacrosse's Boston Cannons and Denver Outlaws, which starts at 7:30 p.m.
