Boston, Mass. (August 16, 2010) –Major League Lacrosse (MLL), the premier professional outdoor lacrosse league, announced Wednesday that attackman Tim Goettelmann of the Long Island Lizards has been honored as the 2010 New Balance MLL Sportsman of the Year, according to MLL Commissioner David Gross. Players are nominated for this honor by the coaches and general managers of the six MLL teams and the finalists are presented to New Balance for consideration.
The New Balance MLL Sportsman of the Year was created in 2004 and recognizes a player who has consistently demonstrated sportsmanship through tenacity, determination, and fair play on the field over the course of the regular season. In addition, The Sportsman of the Year should also be an individual involved in off-field charity work, which not only promotes the sport of lacrosse, but also helps youth players understand the importance of sportsmanship and team play.
This is the second straight season the 10-year veteran has won the award. This year Goettelmann donated his entire 2010 Major League Lacrosse salary, to his foundation “Monster’s Kids.” The foundation, named after his lacrosse nickname “The Monster,” raises money to local Long Island Children’s hospitals.
Goettelmann’s salary went to the Pediatric Emergency Wing at the Cohen Children’s Medical Center of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. In the past two years, Monster’s Kids has raised over $100,000.
For more information on the foundation visit: http://tinyurl.com/yffqokf
“New Balance is thrilled to honor Tim Goettelmann as New Balance Sportsman of the Year,” says Mark Cavanaugh, general manager of team sports for New Balance. “New Balance is proud to associate our brand with athletes like Tim who share our values of integrity and teamwork and are committed to giving back to their communities.
On the field, Goettelmann is a ten-year veteran of Major League Lacrosse, joining the League back in 2001. He has played for the Lizards in every one of those ten seasons. Goettelmann is the all-time Major League Lacrosse record holder in games played, goals and game-winning goals. He became the league’s all-time goal scoring leader on July 31st with a three-goal performance against the Toronto Nationals
Goettelmann notched 21 goals and added 8 assists this season.
All-Time New Balance MLL Sportsman of the Year
- 2004 Kevin Finneran, Philadelphia Barrage
- 2005 Pat McCabe, Long Island Lizards
- 2006 Michael Culver, Chicago Machine
- 2007 Greg Bice, Los Angeles Riptide
- 2008 Tom Zummo, Boston Cannons
- 2009 Tim Goettelmann, Long Island Lizards
- 2010 Tim Goettelmann, Long Island Lizards
Goettelmann and his #3 seed Long Island Lizards will face the #2 seed Denver Outlaws on Saturday, August 21 at 3:00 PM ET in the second semifinal game of the MLL Championship Weekend presented by Warrior. The winner of that game will go up against either the Chesapeake Bayhawks or the Boston Cannons in the Championship Game on Sunday, August 22 at 1:00 PM ET.
