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NLL Rochester Knighthawks

Keogh & Vinc Try out for Team Canada

October 16, 2013 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


Two members of the back-to-back World Champion Rochester Knighthawks were invited to participate in the Team Canada tryouts for the 2014 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships.

Stephen Keogh and Matt Vinc were two of the 51 players on hand at Canisuis College over the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend biding for a spot on Team Canada's roster. For both Knighthawks, it was an honor to have survived the cut from 97 to 51 and have a chance to represent their country.

"It's a great honor, especially to be brought out here with the most talented guys in Canada, and giving me an opportunity to tryout and make the team," Keogh said. "It's been a lot of fun, great competition going against these guys."

Team Canada Head Coach Randy Mearns, an original member of the Knighthawks (1995-2001), was impressed with how both Keogh and Vinc performed during their scrimmages against the University of Denver, Robert Morris and Canisius College.

"I think they have done great," Mearns said. "They are phenomenal lacrosse players. When we went from a mix of 97 to 51, you kind of look for guys who have character, grit, and obviously experience. Stephen is probably a little more natural in terms of what he does as a Knighthawk. And Matt, he's obviously athletic. A huge lax IQ for both of them."

Keogh, an attackman, did not make the cut for the 2010 World Championships prior to his senior season at Syracuse University. The former Big East Attack Player of the Year now has three seasons with the Hamilton Nationals in Major League Lacrosse under his belt. After leading the Nationals in goals in 2012 and helping them win a franchise-best nine games in 2013, Keogh feels more confident about his chances this time around.

"You just want to play your game, and my game is finding openings in the middle and putting the ball in the net," he said. "That's what I am trying to do, and hopefully that continues."

Vinc, on the other hand, has played field lacrosse sparingly since graduating from Canisius in 2005. He last appeared in the MLL with Hamilton in 2011. A long-pole defender on the field, Vinc represented Team Canada in the "Duel in Denver" exhibition against Team USA in September of 2012, and won a gold and silver medal with Team Canada in the 2006 and 2010 World Championships, respectively. Had he not moved to British Columbia to play box lacrosse for the Victoria Shamrocks, he would have likely suited up for Hamilton again this past summer.

"I weighed my options, but I wanted an experience out west," Vinc said. "If I'm fortunate enough to make this team, hopefully I can play there (in Hamilton) next year. It's not something I regret - not playing in Hamilton - but it might have given me a little bit of an edge coming in here."

Mearns has seen Vinc play a lot of field lacrosse. In addition to his duties with Team Canada, Mearns is entering his 16th season as the head coach at Canisius, and coached Vinc during his four seasons as a Golden Griffin.

"He's a competitor. He's super athletic. He's really a physical specimen," said Mearns of Vinc. "It's like riding a bike. Once you get the feel again, and for 'Vno,' once you get the pole in your hand, it will all of a sudden kind of come back to you naturally."

Should they make the team, Keogh and Vinc will be looking to return their country to the podium at the World Championships. The United States will host the 2014 FIL World Championships in Denver, Colorado. Championship games will be held at Dick's Sporting Goods Park from July 10 to 19, 2014.

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