PHILADELPHIA -- For the third time in the last six months, former Towson University men's lacrosse standout Zach Goodrich was selected in the first round of a professional draft as he was picked up Tuesday night in the National Lacrosse League Draft.
The NLL Draft, hosted at the NBC Sports Arena in Philadelphia, saw Goodrich go off the board as a compensatory pick to the New England Black Wolves as the 17th overall pick. In March, Goodrich was the third overall pick in the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Draft by the Boston Cannons, while he was also drafted third in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) draft by the Chrome Lacrosse Club.
Goodrich, who hails from Stevensville, Maryland, spent his first professional season playing for the Boston Cannons, who are 9-6 overall entering the final week of the regular season. The MLL Rookie of the Year candidate has played in all 15 games for the Cannons to date, racking up eight points on six goals and two assists. He has six goals on 10 shots on goal to go with 28 ground balls. An MLL All-Star this summer, Goodrich has forced 14 opponent turnovers and has served just five penalties for three minutes. Goodrich and the Cannons have secured a berth in the forthcoming MLL Championship Tournament and can clinch the number one seed with a win over the Dallas Rattlers, paired with a Denver Outlaws loss.
In his senior season, Goodrich was a semifinalist for the coveted Tewaaraton Award this season. He was also one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award. Earlier this summer, Goodrich was announced as a first teamer for Inside Lacrosse's Media All-America lists and was named to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) All-Tournament team as the Tigers captured their third league title in Goodrich's career (2016, 2017, 2019). Goodrich was also named First Team USILA All-America and was selected as the Lt. J.G. Donald MacLaughlin Jr. Outstanding Midfielder for 2019.
Goodrich forced 17 turnovers as a senior, including eight during CAA action and the league Tournament. The Kent Island High School product grabbed 37 ground balls, aiding the Tigers on the faceoff wing as one of the most successful units in the country. A threat in transition, the Boston Cannon (MLL) signee scored three goals along with a pair of assists. Despite a physical style, he served just six minutes in penalties in 2019.
