Posted: May 24, 2011
Seniors Alex Burkhead (Winston-Salem, NC, Forsyth Country Day), Trey Keeley (Lancaster, PA, Conestaga Valley High School) and Justin Tuma (Bloomfield Hills, MI, Lahser) were selected to the 2011 USILA Scholar All-America Team announced this morning. There have been only three players previously from Roanoke to earn the award and the first since 2006 (Chris Keating).
In 1989 the USILA Scholar All-America Program was established to recognize student-athletes from USILA member institutions who have distinguished themselves academically, athletically and as citizens of their communities. The USILA Selection Committee selects an overall team representing Division I, II and III. The Scholar All-Americas are recognized at the annual Lacrosse All-America Banquet.
Tuma, who was recently named the 2011 ODAC Men's Lacrosse Player and Scholar-Athlete of the Year, graduated in May with a business and economics degree and a 3.68 GPA. The midfielder and two-year team captain has excelled off the field with seven-straight semesters on the Dean's List. While at Roanoke, Tuma has been a member of SAAC, academic integrity board, student conduct board, academic athletic advisory committee and the Maroon ambassador program. A two-time USILA All-American, the Michigan native is part of the Honors program, Alpha Kappa Psi and Delta Delta Gamma while receiving an honors award from the business department.
A Lasher High School product, Tuma holds the career, season and game groundball records and is a three-time winner of the programs' groundball award. Tuma is a three-time All-ODAC selection and totaled 26 goals and 28 assists for 54 points on the season in addition to school-records of 257 face-off wins and 200 groundballs.
Burkhead earned a spot on the All-ODAC squad for the third-straight season, including back-to-back first-team accolades. He started in all 21 games this season and 71 of 75 career games on the defensive end. This season, the North Carolina native totaled two goals, two assists, 62 groundballs and 47 caused turnovers. He has compiled 182 groundballs and 71 caused turnovers for his career.
Keeley earned All-ODAC recognition for the second time in his career earlier this month. He ranks second in the ODAC with 26 assists. Keeley is ranked 12th all-time at Roanoke in career assists. The senior started in 14 of 17 games while totaling 25 goals, 51 points and won 51-of-87 face-offs (.586). Keeley, a three-year starter has totaled 149 career points, ranked 22nd on the career scoring list. He graduated in May with a business marketing degree with over a 3.0 GPA.
Roanoke finished 17-4, 7-0 in the ODAC. The Maroons, ranked #7 in the final USILA National Poll, finished as a national finalist for the sixth time in program-history. The 21-game conference win-streak is the second-longest in ODAC history, completing the third consecutive season with an undefeated conference ledger. RC knocked off Lynchburg to cap back-to-back ODAC Championships.
