Kirk finishes 2007 No. 1 in assists

- Kirk finishes 2007 No. 1 in assists

June 7, 2007

Jamie Kirk

Somebody missed something

This sidebar is the opinion of Director of Athletic Communications Ken DeBolt and not necessarily that of Hobart Athletics or Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Despite his exceptional season, Jamie Kirk was snubbed by the coaches of the ECAC and the nation as he was left off the All-ECAC and All-America teams. The USILA honored 23 All-American attackmen this season, 4 1st team, 3 2nd team, 3 3rd team, and 13 honorable mention. Kirk had a better ppg average than 14 of those players and more total points than 12 of them.

The Statesmen finished the year with a disappointing 5-9 record—that included four losses in their first seven games by a combined total of six goals—a factor that detractors might point to for Kirk’s omission, but Dartmouth (5-10) and Syracuse (5-8) both managed just five wins and had All-American attackmen (neither of whom had more points than Kirk).

If the All-ECAC and USILA All-America teams honor the best individual players in the nation, then Kirk clearly deserved a spot on those teams this season. If the awards include an element of team success, then so be it, but lose the double standard.

GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College junior attackman Jamie Kirk (Salisbury School/Orangeville, Ontario) finished atop the NCAA Division I leaderboard in assists per game. He is the first Statesman to lead the nation in one of the three scoring categories since the program moved to Division I in 1995.

Kirk dished out 38 assists this season, 12 more than any Hobart Division I player. He needed just eight games to surpass the previous mark that was established in 16 games. Kirk’s 2.71 assist per game average was 0.11 better than runner-up and Tewaaraton Trophy winner Matt Danowski of Duke.

Overall, Kirk’s 38 assists tied for 12th with Andy Boyar ’69 on the Hobart single season (the Statesmen have played in all three divisions).

Kirk’s two highest assist totals of the season came at the expense of teams that finished the season ranked in the USILA Coaches poll top-20. On Feb. 24, he posted a season-high eight points, including seven assists, against Bucknell, which finished the year at No. 20. On March 18 at Georgetown, Kirk set up six goals against the Hoyas, who finished the year at No. 4.

A starter in all 14 games, Kirk also netted 12 goals and led Hobart with 50 points. He led the ECAC Lacrosse League and ranked 12th in the nation in points per game (3.57).

Kirk has recorded at least one point in 15 consecutive games dating back to the final game of 2006 when he was a sophomore at the University of Vermont. Depending on what Danowski decides to do with his extra year of eligibility, Kirk will either begin next season No. 1 or No. 2 in career assists among active players in Division I with 80.

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