Keegan Kozack’s impressive freshman season has got the attention of the Metro Athletic Conference (MAAC).
The 19-year-old from Ladner has been named MAAC Co-Rookie of the Week after netting hat tricks in back-to-back games for the Canisius College Golden Griffins against rival St. Bonadventure.
In the first match-up against the Bonnies at the Demske Sports Complex on April 6, Kozack scored twice in the second quarter before completing his hat trick with the eventual game-winning goal midway through the fourth to help the Buffalo school post an 11-9 victory.
During the second game of the series down at the Marra Athletics Complex in Olean on April 11, Kozack notched a man-up goal in the second quarter and added another man-up marker in the third before finishing off his hat trick with an unassisted effort in the fourth in a 12-11 setback.
Through six games, Kozack leads the team with 11 goals and ranks second on the squad with 14 points. He is the first Canisius rookie to post hat tricks in consecutive games since current junior attackman Jacob Buck finished his freshman season with back-to-back hat tricks in 2019.
Canisius (3-3, 2-2 MAAC) returns to action Saturday with a MAAC contest versus Quinnipiac. Opening face-off between the Griffs and Bobcats is set for noon at the Quinnipiac Lacrosse and Soccer Stadium in Hamden, Conn.
Kozack accepted a scholarship offer from Canisius after an impressive three-stint at Blue Ridge where he captained the senior varsity team at the Virginia boarding school in his grade 11 and 12 years.
He also thrives in the box version of the game and is part of a strong 2002 age group coming through the Delta Islanders junior program.
