Buffalo Bandits
NLL Website
TORONTO (10/1/2012) -- Detroit just celebrated its first four years with a great alumni reunion this past weekend and on Monday night, the Titans made some national headway as former UDM attackman
Joel Matthews was drafted by the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League.
“I am very happy for Joel,” said head men's lacrosse coach Matt Holtz. “We are very proud of him and his accomplishments in the indoor game. He will make a great professional.”
The annual NLL Draft was held at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in Toronto. The draft had six rounds with 56 total athletes drafted.
Matthews (2010-12) was taken in the fourth round – 31st overall - by Buffalo becoming the first Titan to ever be drafted in the ranks of professional lacrosse.
“I couldn't be more thrilled and I couldn't ask for more than where I am at right now,” said Matthews. “There's no denying that Bandits fans are the best fans out there.”
Matthews played two seasons for Detroit and his name can be seen among of host of offensive records for the Titans. He is currently UDM's all-time leader with 3.48 points per game and 2.44 goals per game, and is second in school history in total points (87), goals (61) and assists (26).
He exploded on the scene as a freshman in 2010 recording 48 points on 37 goals and 11 assists and still holds the school's single season record in points and goals. In his first game as a rookie, he posted four goals against Bellarmine and came back with five markers versus Ohio State the next week.
Just this past season, he led the team with 39 points, tied for first with a career-high 15 assists and was second notching 24 markers. He also led the team in shooting percentage (.369) and was fifth with a .585 shots on goal percentage. He did his best work in the city that he will play in setting a school record with eight points and tying a Titan record by finding the back of the net a career-best seven times in a victory at Canisius.
He was tabbed Second Team All-MAAC as a freshman and then was named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List before the start of the 2012 campaign.
“He has a ton of upside,” said Randy Mearns, head coach at MAAC-rival Canisius who also serves as a color commentator for the Bandits. “He has the size, real soft hands, can get to the net and has good vision.”
The Bandits are scheduled to open the 2013 season on the road against the Philadelphia Wings on Jan. 11. Buffalo was 7-9 last year, 5-4 in the East Division.
The National Lacrosse League is a professional indoor lacrosse league in North America that was founded in 1987. It currently has nine teams with three based in Canada (Calgary, Edmonton & Toronto) and six in the United States (Buffalo, Colorado, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Rochester & Washington), and each team plays a 16-game schedule in hopes of reaching the playoffs and playing for the Champions Cup, won by Rochester in 2012.
