SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Gary Gait will make his sixth appearance in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) All-Star Game this weekend in Denver. Gait, who is in his second year at the helm of the Syracuse women's lacrosse program, resumed his playing career this season with the Rochester Knighthawks.
Gait has 17 goals, which is tied for second on the team, and nine assists in seven games in 2009. He has played in five previous NLL All-Star Games (1991, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2005), garnering MVP honors in the first All-Star Game in 1991. Gait returned to action after retiring from the NLL in 2005 after playing 15 seasons. He has earned the league's MVP award a record six times, including five in a row (1995-99). He has been an All-Pro every season. In recognition of his extraordinary NLL career, Gait was selected as one of five charter members of the league's Hall of Fame in 2006.
This season Gait has guided Syracuse to a 4-1 record and a No. 5 ranking in the latest coaches poll. In his first year guiding the Orange, Syracuse won a school-record 18 games and claimed the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles. The Orange earned a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Final Four for the first time in school history.