5/16/2018 Telegraph-Journal N.B. lacrosse player exhibits the ‘it’ factor for Tampa RON BARRY For The Telegraph-Journal May 16, 2018 Share this article Facebook Twitter Email Saint John’s Jake Mosher McGraw was named a first-team midfield all-star in the Sunshine State Conference after a strong season with the University of Tampa Spartans. Photo: University of Tampa Athletics SAINT JOHN • If Jake Mosher McGraw’s photo was pasted on a billboard, he’d surely be cradling a ball with a lacrosse stick in hand. The caption would be eloquent, yet lethal: Our Man Jake: Sniper Extraordinaire. Whether it’s box lacrosse in Maritime rinks or field lacrosse stateside, the Saint John native has, as they say in the vernacular of sports lingo, ‘a nose for the net’. https://www.telegraphjournal.com/telegraph-journal/story/100600316/?nopromo=1 1/3 5/16/2018 Telegraph-Journal Exhibit A: In seven games last season with the New Brunswick Mavericks of the East Coast Junior Lacrosse League, the six-foot, 195-pound athlete scored 33 goals and 15 assists en route to a first team all-star berth. Exhibit B: In 20 games with the University of Tampa Spartans this season, the midfield gunner notched 31 goals and 11 assists, a stats line that landed the 19-year-old a first-team all-star berth in the Sunshine State Conference. Exhibit C: His two-year totals for the NCAA Division II school read like this: 40 games, 60 goals, 17 assists and 77 points. It should be noted that he had a trio of four-point games, all against opponents ranked in the top 10. Yes, the guy who polished his field lacrosse game as a high schooler under Michael Marich at the Gunnery School in Washington, Connecticut has found his niche as a collegiate star. “It was a very good decision to come to Tampa,” he said. “The academic program is very good – I’m taking political science and it takes up a lot of my time, but it’s definitely worth it. I’ll finish on time as a senior and play lacrosse full time.” He also has an inkling about the career path he’ll choose. “I might look at going to law school,” he said. “It is early, but my grandfather – Brian Mosher – is a really good lawyer and I’ve always looked up to him. It’s something I might want to do in the future.” But not yet. Today, even as he prepares to hook up with the Mavericks now that he’s back home, there remains a bit of a sting from the way the Spartans’ campaign ended. Ninth-ranked Tampa finished third during the conference’s regular season, but an 8-6 upset special over No. 5 Saint Leo Lions earned the Spartans a fifth consecutive Sunshine State Conference tournament title. Next up was the NCAA tournament and a quarter-final date last Saturday with – you guessed it – the Lions. Tampa trailed 11-9 with five minutes left before Mosher McGraw cued the dramatics: he set up Bryan Wright to close to 11-10, then tied the game with 65 seconds left in regulation time. Heartbreak would follow with Ethan Ticehurst’s unassisted goal at 3:54 into overtime for the Lions. Season over. “It was a tough loss, especially for the seniors,” said Mosher McGraw. “It was their last moments on the field and you could see it. I know I have a couple more years, but I felt it with them. We are not used to losing those types of games.” Suffice to say Mosher McGraw has some unfinished business at Tampa. “Yes, definitely,” he said. “I’m looking to make it all the way to Foxboro for the nationals,” he said. “I have the next couple of years and we have the offence and the defence to do it - we have a good team.” In the interim, he’s shifting gears to the box game, specifically as an offensive weapon with the Mavericks (1-3), who roll into the Hampton Arena and host the Mi’kmaq Warriors (1-2) in a 2 p.m. matinee https://www.telegraphjournal.com/telegraph-journal/story/100600316/?nopromo=1 2/3 5/16/2018 Telegraph-Journal on Saturday, May 26, then take on the reigning champion Dartmouth Bandits (3-0) on Sunday, May 27 at 2 p.m. in ECJLL action. “It takes a bit of an adjustment, but not too much,” he said about toggling between the box and field disciplines. “Shooting in the rink is different with the big-goalie, little-net kind of thing. But I can’t wait to help the team out.” Share this article Facebook Twitter Email 0 Comments Telegraph Journal TIM JACKSON Recommend ⤤ Share Sort by Best Start the discussion… Be the first to comment. ALSO ON TELEGRAPH JOURNAL The Tribune The Northern Light 2 comments • 12 hours ago 5 comments • 11 hours ago T W WRIGHT — How often does your point get PAUL DUNN — I don't know who the Canadians missed in such stories! You're absolutely correct For Justice and Peace are but they are Irene people like ourselves are interested in the reminded that this so-called peaceful protest is Kings County Record Telegraph-Journal 9 comments • 13 hours ago 16 comments • 14 hours ago LOIS LAFFERTY — I think we as Corner BOB PURVIS — I'm sure that my brother will be residents have the right to know who this happy to hear that the people with cottages at councillor is and then we can decide if he/she the lake will be getting disaster relief. 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