Nov. 7, 2008

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland men's lacrosse coach Dave Cottle announced today that five players have been selected to serve as captains for the 2009 season. Senior goalie Jason Carter, senior defender Mike Griswold, senior midfielder Dan Groot, senior long pole Chris Rhine and senior midfielder Jeremy Sieverts were chosen to lead the Terps in a team vote held following fall workouts.

"We're very pleased and excited that this group of young men have been selected to lead our team during the upcoming season," said Cottle. "Our players did an outstanding job of selecting captains with strong work ethics, solid character and a commitment to continuing the winning tradition at the University of Maryland."

Carter saw action in a career-high 15 games last season and proved his willingness to put the team first by selflessly splitting time in the cage with Brian Phipps. He made eight starts in 2008 and made a team-best 92 saves. Carter's signature performance came in Maryland's 13-7 win over then-No. 1 Virginia on March 29, 2008, when he made 15 saves.

Griswold has played in 23 games during his three seasons as a Terp, but has proved to be an outstanding leader, helping the Maryland scout team prepare the offense for opposing defenses. This past fall, he showed that he is ready to compete for a starting close defense spot in 2009.

Groot has played in all 49 games during his career, with 34 starts to his credit. He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2006, starting his first-ever game as a Terp. He earned third team USILA All-America honors in 2007 as a sophomore, after totaling 32 points on 21 goals and 11 assists. Last season, he continued to be an offensive producer, accounting for 12 goals and 10 assists. Groot has also proved to be a good defender during the past two seasons and is considered one of the best two-way middies in the country.

Rhine played in a career-best 14 games last season as both a long pole and short-stick midfielder, and that versatility will continue to him a valuable commodity for the Terps this season. He scored two goals as a sophomore in 2007 and followed that up with two goals and an assist last year.

Sieverts transferred into the Terrapin program just prior to the 2007 season after Butler dropped its men's lacrosse program. Since then, he has played in all 32 games at Maryland and made 14 starts. As a sophomore in 2007, he totaled 21 points on 15 goals and six assist to go along with 14 groundballs. Last season, he moved up to the first midfield line and finished with 19 points and 20 groundballs.