By: Scott Eddy, Assistant Athletics Director for Athletics Communications
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – The first recruit to the St. Bonaventure men's lacrosse program following its rebirth prior to the 2019 season, Brett Dobson achieved another history-making milestone Tuesday night: becoming the first-ever Bonnies selection in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) Draft.
The fourth-year Bonnies goalie was drafted by the Archers Lacrosse Club in the second round, 12th overall.
He also became the second-highest netminder selected in PLL Draft history, behind only Matt DeLuca of Delaware who went eighth overall in 2020. Dobson was the first goalie off the board Tuesday night in a draft including multiple standout pro prospects. Two other goalies would be selected later in the night: Connor Kirst of Rutgers was selected No. 24 while Owen McElroy of Georgetown went No. 25 overall.
Dobson leads the nation in save percentage this year at .665, well ahead of McElroy who is the only other goalie to register a save rate over 60 percent (.623) this season. It is the second year in a row the Ontario native led all Division I goalies in save percentage.
He also paced the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and ranked second nationally in saves per game (16.8) while leading the league and standing sixth among all D-I players in goals against average (8.9).
The 2022 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year ranks eighth in conference history with 569 career saves during 41 games in a Bonnies uniform. He wraps his collegiate career with a .601 save percentage over four seasons, a 10.7 overall goals against average, and keyed a 16-9 record over the past two seasons for the team including a MAAC regular season title and appearance in the conference championship game this spring.
"I am so excited for and proud of Brett," St. Bonaventure head coach Randy Mearns said. "He's been dreaming of this for a long time and now has an opportunity to live it. This is a great day for Bonnie Nation!"
Dobson entered the draft with an extensive resume including seven MAAC Defensive Player of the Week honors this season and nine for his career; a spot on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List and Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-America Second Team and multiple national player of the week accolades. Dobson also earned back-to-back MAAC All-Championship Team honors as the Bonnies reached the conference final four in each of the last two years. In the MAAC semifinals last week, he broke his own school record with 27 saves in a victory over Siena.
Earlier in the evening, Dobson also was selected Second Team All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine.
The 2022 PLL schedule gets underway June 4 with games in Albany, moving around the country throughout the summer. The season runs through September.
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