Winning is second nature for Matt Ward. The Bayhawks? attackman won another award Thursday when Major League Lacrosse announced that the University of Virginia graduate was the league?s rookie of the year.
Ward, a Northern Virginia native and graduate of prep lacrosse powerhouse Landon School in Bethesda, was the fourth overall pick in the MLL collegiate draft in late May and was the second overall pick for Baltimore behind college teammate Kyle Dixon.
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“The award is certainly something I was not expecting this season,” Ward said, pointing to a class of talented young players entering the league.
The rookie of the year honor can go on a shelf next to Ward?s 2006 Tewaaraton Trophy ? awarded by the NCAA to the top collegiate male and female lacrosse players ? which he won as a senior.
“I have never thought of winning these awards,” Ward said. “I always thought of myself as a good player but never one that would take these home.”
Ward, who helped Virginia to two national championships in 2003 and 2006, said he would trade the rookie award for a chance to help the Bayhawks into the playoffs. The recently ended 2006 season was the worst ever for the Bayhawks, who finished dead last at 4-8.
“I am always worried about the team goals,” he said. “I am certainly disappointed with how this season turned out and want to make an effort to improve next year.”
Bayhawks coach Scott Hiller said that Ward?s honor was not a huge surprise for him.
“It was no stroke of genius on our part to [draft] Matt at [No.] 4,” Hiller said. “We anticipated him as being successful.”
Ward joined the team in the fourth week of the season and, through nine games, scored 23 goals and was second on the team in points (23) behind teammate and league all-time scoring leader Mark Millon.
