March 17, 2008

QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's senior midfielder Justin O'Donnell earned a spot on the ECAC Honor Roll with his four-goal performance against No. 17 Loyola in the Red Storm lacrosse team's conference home-opener on March 15.

Traditionally a starting midfielder for St. John's, O'Donnell started as one of the three attackman against the Greyhounds this weekend, and helped the Red Storm come back from an eight-goal deficit, scoring three goals in St. John's second half, seven-goal rally.

The Levittown, N.Y., native was also the leading scorer in Saturday's 11-8 loss to Loyola. O'Donnell has led the Red Storm in points in two other games this season, in the season-opener against Holy Cross (Feb. 16) and at Georgetown (March 1). The senior's four-goal effort was his best scoring performance and first hat trick of the season.

In addition, O'Donnell's 16 shots tied his career high, set at Fairfield on April 29, 2006. Eleven of his 16 shots were on goal. The senior currently leads the conference in shots per game with 8.40 in all games, and 10.50 in ECAC games only.

The Island Trees alumnus is also tied for fourth in goals per game in ECAC games only with 2.50. His combined six points against Georgetown and Loyola rank him at No. 7 in points per ECAC games played.

Around the conference overall, O'Donnell is tied for seventh in goals per game (1.60) and is also tied for sixth in man-up goals per game with two total (0.40)

O'Donnell's four goals against Loyola gave him 63 career goals, making him the 11th player in St. John's history to hit the 60-goal milestone.

Up next, St. John's (0-5, 0-2 ECAC) will travel to Lehigh, Pa., to face the Lehigh Mountain Hawks on March 22. Face-off is slated for 1 p.m.