A three-year starter on defense for the Tiger men's lacrosse team and three-time University Division All-American, Carl Beernink '92 was inducted into the Towson Hall of Fame in 2010. After earning honorable mention All-America honors in 1990 and 1991, he was a second team All-America honoree in 1992.
A product of nearby Loyola Blakefield High School and a Baltimore County native, Beernink was an aggressive defenseman who was recognized for his consistent play. During his four-year career at Towson, he helped the Tigers compile a 41-14 record and earn the first three NCAA Division I post-season appearances in school history.
As a freshman in 1989, Beernink was a reserve defenseman for the Tigers' first NCAA Division I Tournament team. He appeared in all 14 games, mostly as a defensive midfielder. In addition to scooping up 27 ground balls, he scored the first goal of his college career on a fast break against Drexel. He helped the 11th-ranked Tigers post a 9-5 record, a mark that included a 9-8 overtime victory against number one-ranked Johns Hopkins. The Tigers lost to North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.
As a sophomore, Beernink started all 13 games on defense for Hall of Fame Coach Carl Runk. In addition to leading the 12th-ranked Tigers to the East Coast Conference (ECC) championship, he helped them finish the season with an 11-2 record, just missing out on a second straight NCAA Tournament berth. Beernink, who earned All-ECC honors for the first time, led all Tiger defensemen with 48 ground balls.
In his junior year, Beernink played a vital role on one of the greatest teams in school history. A starter on close defense in 15 games, he helped the Tigers win their second straight ECC title and earn an NCAA Tournament berth with a 9-3 regular season record.
Seeded 11th in the 12-team NCAA field, the Tigers reached the national semifinals with a 14-13 win at Virginia and a dramatic 14-13 victory over Princeton in triple overtime. In the NCAA semifinals at Syracuse, the Tigers handed Maryland a 15-11 loss to reach the championship game.
However, it was a costly win as Beernink sustained a sprained ankle that sidelined him for the championship game. Without him in the lineup, the Tigers lost to number one-ranked North Carolina, 18-13. Named as an honorable mention All-American for the second time, Beernink ranked among the team leaders with 86 ground balls. He also scored a goal and an assist.
As a senior, Beernink was one of the co-captains for Coach Runk, and he enjoyed another amazing season. A starter in all 12 games, he led the fourth-ranked Tigers to a 9-2 regular season record and a first round bye in the NCAA Tournament. Highlighting the season was a dramatic 14-13 win over Johns Hopkins in the regular season finale. However, the Blue Jays exacted a measure of revenge in the NCAA quarterfinals with a 15-7 victory over Towson.
Beernink, who was third on the team with 49 ground balls, was named second team All-America on defense - only the third Tiger to be named second team All-America at the University Division level.
Beernink, who finished his career with 210 ground balls, ranks among the Tigers' career leaders. The winner of the Joseph Ferrante Award in 1991, he also played in the North-South Classic after his senior year. A three-time All-ECC selection, he was honored as Towson University's Male Unsung Hero Award winner at the 1992 Sports Awards Banquet.
