Syracuse University Athletics

Position: Defense
Height: 6-3
Weight: 214
Class: Junior
Hometown: Montclair, N.J.
High School: Montclair HS

Junior Year (2009): Started all 18 games on close defense … One of seven players to start every game … Part of an SU defense that ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense and posted a 7.38 team goals-against average, the lowest mark for an Orange squad since 1970 … Collected 19 ground balls on the season … Made his first career start against Providence … Named to the NIKE/Inside Lacrosse Team of the Week (May 19) for his performance in the team’s NCAA quarterfinal win against Maryland after he helped hold the Terps’ starting attack to no goals and two assists in an 11-6 win … Picked up a career-best three ground balls against Virginia and Cornell (NCAA). 

Sophomore Year (2008): Played in 10 games, including SU’s first-rouund NCAA Tournament win against Canisius … Contributed to an Orange defense that posted a 7.62 team goals-against average … Had a ground ball against the Golden Griffins and versus Binghamton … Named to the SU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in the spring.

Freshman Year (2007): Played in six games … Had a ground ball against Rutgers.

High School: Recorded three goals and 72 ground balls his senior year … 2005 Tri-State All-Star … Played in the National Senior Showcase … 2006 U.S Lacrosse All-American … Earned first-team all-state and All-Gibbs Conference honors … New Jersey Defenseman of the Year … Also played hockey.

Personal: Matthew John Tierney … Born in December 1987 in Montclair, N.J. … Son of Jenny Kydd and John Tierney … One sister … Majoring in sociology.