Fairfield's Colin Burke Named CAA Rookie of the Week, Will Take on Drexel Next

After racking up a career-best six points in Saturday-s victory, Fairfield University men's lacrosse star Colin Burke has been named the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week for the fourth time in 2016. Burke netted his sixth hat trick of the season and matched his career high with three assists as the Stags opened CAA action with a 9-8 win at Hofstra. Burke earns the award for the second consecutive week, and his four total honors this season lead all CAA rookies. He is the Association-s only freshman with more than two selections in seven weeks of action this spring. In 2015, Will Fox earned Rookie of the Week laurels on five occasions en route to CAA Rookie of the Year honors. On Saturday, Burke completed his second-half hat trick with two goals in a 60-second span during the fourth quarter as the Stags surged from a 7-6 deficit to an 8-7 lead that they would not relinquish. He handed out three assists for the second consecutive game. In his rookie campaign, Burke leads the CAA in goals with 29 (2.64 per game) and total points with 40 (3.64 per game). He ranks second in the nation among freshmen in goals per game and fourth nationally among freshmen in points per game. Burke is nine goals short of the Fairfield freshman record of 38 tallies established by Spencer Steele -00 in 1997 and 13 points away from the program-s freshman record of 53 points (26 goals, 27 assists) amassed by J.T. Groarke -99 in 1996. Both Steele and Groarke are Fairfield Athletics Hall of Famers. Burke and the Stags continue CAA action on Conway Field at Rafferty Stadium this Saturday, April 9 at 3 p.m. for a visit from Drexel on Military Appreciation Day. That game is the second half of a doubleheader that will feature Fairfield women-s lacrosse hosting MAAC opponent Siena at noon. Both ends of the twin bill will be broadcast live on ESPN3. All military veterans and active duty military personnel will receive free admission to Saturday-s doubleheader. In addition, limited edition Fairfield Lacrosse apparel will be on sale with proceeds to benefit military charities and organizations. About Colin Burke: A native of Lloyd Harbor, N.Y., Colin Burke was an All-America Honorable Mention as an attackman for the 2015 State Championship Team at Cold Spring Harbor High School. He was also an All-Nassau County selection and the Most Valuable Player of the Nassau County Championship Game for the Seahawks. Burke has not yet declared an academic major.