College Corner: Briar Woods Grad Matt Bukovac Has Hot Start in Goal for D1 Robert Morris

Courtesy of Robert Morris University

College Corner with editor Noelle Dormio
(Feb 24, 2012) - Briar Woods High School grad Matt Bukovac, a freshman at DI Robert Morris University, was selected as both Defensive Player of the Week and Co-Rookie of the Week for the men's lacrosse team. Bukovac becomes the first Colonial ever to be honored in the NEC's Rookie of the Week category. He is also just the third Colonial ever to earn weekly honors for defensive prowess.

Bukovac tallied 16 saves in his first collegiate appearance between the pipes this past Saturday to help lead Robert Morris to a 10-8 victory at UMBC. His 16 saves came on 24 shots on goal, which gave him an impressive .667 save percentage for the game. While his saves mark finished just outside of the top 10 in single-game school history, his total is the most made by a NEC goalie thus far this season. The rookie, who notched two ground balls in the contest, also proved to have nerves of steel as he came through down the stretch. In the final 12 minutes of action, with a lead of no more than two goals, Bukovac stopped six of the final seven shots on goal by the Retrievers to help RMU claim victory. Bukovac managed to put up these numbers despite having to face UMBC's man-up unit on eight occasions. On six of their eight EMO chances, Bukovac and the Colonial defense helped keep the Retrievers off the board.

Read more