Player Spotlight: Zac Reid
July 15, 2015 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release
The Brampton Excelsiors pulled off their biggest win of the season Monday, defeating the Peterborough Lakers 16-15 in overtime. Facing the second-place Lakers and the humidity of Memorial Arena, the Excelsiors fought off several three-goal deficits to gut out the home win.
Two of the players celebrating the dramatic come-from-behind victory were Rochester Knighthawks Zac Reid and Joe Resetarits.
"It's definitely big for us being a young team," said Reid. "Peterborough has a great roster. To compete with those guys and get the 'W' is huge for us moving forward this season."
It was the second straight game that the Excelsiors played one of the top teams in the MSL. The previous Thursday, Brampton battled the first-place Six Nations Chiefs and were within one goal of the two-time defending champs with 10 minutes to play.
"We needed that game to show we were that good of a team and that we can play with the best teams out there," said Resetarits. "We did that tonight. We knew it was going to be a similar game. We just kept sticking to our game plan and everyone wanted it. No one quit. We went to that overtime and everyone just kept gutting it out. That was a huge step for us going toward the playoffs."
Resetarits, who posted four-goal efforts against the Chiefs and the Lakers, also praised teammate Zac Reid. The two are teammates on the Knighthawks and Excels, and once played Junior "A" ball together.
"Zac is a phenomenal athlete. I played with him a lot of my life in St. Catharines," said Resetarits. "Every year he just keeps taking a big step forward. When he was at Mercyhurst University he won a national championship, he was an All-American and he got drafted in the NLL. He got a sniff last year and he did a great job. He played in those two games and he was great. The sky's the limit for him."
Reid, who was selected by the Knighthawks in the fifth round (46th overall) of the 2013 NLL Entry Draft, was a 2013 All-ECAC First Team selection and an Honorable Mention All-American as a midfielder at Mercyhurst. In 2011, he won the Division II national championship - the first in school history. Reid played for the Lakers from 2010 to 2013, and then joined the coaching staff as a graduate assistant coach.
"I had a great experience there. I got to play, I got to coach," said Reid. "Mercyhurst is a great university. I am very thankful of the guys I got to play with and the coaches I got to work with while I was there."
In 2015, he completed his rookie season in the NLL. The St. Catharines, Ontario native made his NLL debut on April 4th in a home win over the Minnesota Swarm. A few weeks later, he collected a career-high three loose balls on May 2nd in Minnesota. Reid was also added to the active roster during the team's playoff run to the East Division Finals.
Reid, at 25 years old, was one of the youngest players on the Knighthawks last season. So he made sure to lean on the veteran group for advice as he made the jump to professional lacrosse.
"We have a great veteran presence on the team," he said. "Just getting to learn from those guys and take it all in every week was huge for my growth as a player."
"He's a kid who's going to go out and give it everything because he wants it really bad," said Resetarits. "It's everyone's dream to be here and it's definitely his dream to be playing in the show. He's going to work his butt off to be in the lineup every game."
With the NLL season quickly approaching, Reid has continued his workout schedule, while also playing defense for the Brampton Excelsiors.
"I just want to get quicker, bigger, faster and stronger," he said. "I have been in the gym quite a bit working toward next season. I am coming out here each week and getting in my conditioning, getting my reps, and making sure I am ready for camp come fall."
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National Lacrosse League Stories from July 15, 2015
- Bandits Re-Sign Batson, Brownell, Goodwin, Jones - Buffalo Bandits
- Five Finalists Announced for NLL Hall of Fame Class of 2015 Ballot - NLL
- Player Spotlight: Zac Reid - Rochester Knighthawks
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