Click on Greg Downing's profile on the Fairfield men's lacrosse web page and there is a list of accomplishments that may rival some of the senior's term papers.
Photo provided
Auburn native Greg Downing has helped lead the Fairfield men's lacrosse team to a No. 12 national ranking and a 5-1 record. The senior is fifth on the Stags' all-time scoring list.
Auburn native Greg Downing has helped lead the Fairfield men's lacrosse team to a No. 12 national ranking and a 5-1 record. The senior is fifth on the Stags' all-time scoring list.
Rookie of the Year, Offensive Player of the Week, First Team all NEILA, First Team all ECAC. He is the Stags' only two-time all-American.
Fairfield coach Ted Spencer believed the 2003 Auburn High grad was the total package, and Downing didn't disappoint.
“He was one of the most complete midfielders that I've ever seen,” Spencer said. “He was great on offense, he played great defense, he was very athletic. He could run, he could shoot - he could do everything you want a midi to do.”
Downing scored 43 points in his junior season at Auburn and was on the 2001 Section III championship team. But he injured his right knee during his senior year and had less than a year to recover before his first game at Fairfield.
By the end of the season, he earned Great Western Lacrosse League's Newcomer of the Year honors. Downing led the Stags in goals and total points (23 and 33).
“My first year I didn't really get too much attention,” he admitted. “A lot of teams would concentrate more on some of the older players.” His sophomore season, he led the Stags in goals, assists and points. Downing's talents were no longer under wraps by the time he was an upperclassman.
“I had to change my looks as far as I have to be ready for when the double comes,” he said. “I have to be more prepared for teams to slide early to me. I have to keep my head up and look to move the ball a lot quicker than I usually would.”
Spencer believes that Downing has adjusted well.
“He's learned to use that attention to pass the ball to get people open to score early goals,” he said. “If we were (scoring) hockey-style where you have more than one assist, he'd probable have more assists than anyone on the team.”
Downing entered the season fifth on the Stags' all-time leading scorer list, so it stands to reason that he'll be a big part of the team's success in 2007. Fairfield is 5-1 and is ranked 12th in Division I.
Naturally, he'd like to win a national title. Getting back to the NCAA tournament comes first.
“There's only 16 teams that go to the tournament, so I hope we're one of those,” he said. “Fairfield has never actually won a tournament game before, so that's one of our huge goals.”
After the season ends, he'll pass the reigns to former Auburn teammates, junior Nick Lattimore and sophomore Pat Hovey.
Downing is an International Business major, but his athletic career may not be over with the Major League Lacrosse draft looming.
He has been talking to a West Coast program, and plans to work out for teams later this year.
“You never really know until the season is over,” he said.
Downing, Lattimore and Hovey will play locally, as Hobart (Geneva) hosts Fairfield at 3:30 p.m., March 31 at McCooey Field.
Fairfield coach Ted Spencer believed the 2003 Auburn High grad was the total package, and Downing didn't disappoint.
“He was one of the most complete midfielders that I've ever seen,” Spencer said. “He was great on offense, he played great defense, he was very athletic. He could run, he could shoot - he could do everything you want a midi to do.”
Downing scored 43 points in his junior season at Auburn and was on the 2001 Section III championship team. But he injured his right knee during his senior year and had less than a year to recover before his first game at Fairfield.
By the end of the season, he earned Great Western Lacrosse League's Newcomer of the Year honors. Downing led the Stags in goals and total points (23 and 33).
“My first year I didn't really get too much attention,” he admitted. “A lot of teams would concentrate more on some of the older players.” His sophomore season, he led the Stags in goals, assists and points. Downing's talents were no longer under wraps by the time he was an upperclassman.
“I had to change my looks as far as I have to be ready for when the double comes,” he said. “I have to be more prepared for teams to slide early to me. I have to keep my head up and look to move the ball a lot quicker than I usually would.”
Spencer believes that Downing has adjusted well.
“He's learned to use that attention to pass the ball to get people open to score early goals,” he said. “If we were (scoring) hockey-style where you have more than one assist, he'd probable have more assists than anyone on the team.”
Downing entered the season fifth on the Stags' all-time leading scorer list, so it stands to reason that he'll be a big part of the team's success in 2007. Fairfield is 5-1 and is ranked 12th in Division I.
Naturally, he'd like to win a national title. Getting back to the NCAA tournament comes first.
“There's only 16 teams that go to the tournament, so I hope we're one of those,” he said. “Fairfield has never actually won a tournament game before, so that's one of our huge goals.”
After the season ends, he'll pass the reigns to former Auburn teammates, junior Nick Lattimore and sophomore Pat Hovey.
Downing is an International Business major, but his athletic career may not be over with the Major League Lacrosse draft looming.
He has been talking to a West Coast program, and plans to work out for teams later this year.
“You never really know until the season is over,” he said.
Downing, Lattimore and Hovey will play locally, as Hobart (Geneva) hosts Fairfield at 3:30 p.m., March 31 at McCooey Field.
The Citizens' Say
There are 2 comment(s)
Rab wrote on Mar 25, 2007 8:57 PM:
Great Write-Up.... wrote on Mar 25, 2007 3:22 PM: