Andrew McMeekin doesn’t look like your typical faceoff specialist, and that’s exactly what makes him so hard to stop, according to Joseph Santoliquito from The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Delaware County native stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 225 pounds, a far cry from the low-to-the-ground build most associate with the position.
But the Marple Newtown product and 2022 Episcopal Academy graduate has turned that unconventional profile into a competitive edge, emerging as one of the top faceoff specialists in college lacrosse and a cornerstone of Princeton University’s men’s lacrosse program.
This season, McMeekin helped lead the Ivy League champion Tigers to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, where Princeton knocked off Penn State University 14-10.
Over the years, he’s quietly rewritten the Princeton record books, setting career marks for faceoff wins (659) and groundballs (417) while ranking among the NCAA leaders in faceoff percentage.
Princeton coach Matt Madalon doesn’t mince words when describing what McMeekin means to the team.
“Andrew is mission critical for us, and we will go as far as he takes us, and that is not to put any pressure on him,” said Madalon. “But he’s such a game-changing player as far as momentum, and his versatility makes him the best. He’s shouldered the warrior mentality for us.”
McMeekin, a senior sociology major, says the position demands more than most people realize.
“You do have to have an attitude when you’re at the X,” he said. “Playing the position is much more mental than people know. You’re doing a lot of things to set up openings, while grunting it out.”
Head over to The Philadelphia Inquirer to read Joseph Santoliquito’s full profile on Andrew McMeekin and Princeton’s impressive run.
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