Change is inevitable. In fact, it’s known as the one constant in life. Sometimes, change can be a bad thing. But other times, it’s exactly what you need to excel. For Jack Murphy ‘15, who is in his last year of eligibility with Fairfield lacrosse, the latter has proven to hold true.
Murphy began his college career at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He started 15 games in the net and had an 11.09 goals against average (GAA) in his inaugural season. At the conclusion of the season, Murphy decided he needed to let lacrosse take him to new places.
“I knew I didn’t want to be at Mass Maritime and it came down to finding a school that had both lacrosse and engineering … [Coach Copelan] was the only person to respond and say that I had a chance to walk onto their team,” said Murphy.
Two seasons later, it would appear as though Copelan made a smart choice and saw something in Murphy that would thrive in the Fairfield program. On Jan. 10, 2014, Murphy was selected 59th overall in the Major League Lacrosse draft by the Boston Cannons.
“Well there are eight rounds and I actually watched the first seven rounds and then went to go order pizza and got a text from one of my buddies that I was picked in the eighth round. So I actually missed it,” said Murphy.
Murphy continued: “I actually didn’t believe it when he first texted me that. But I don’t know, I wasn’t really expecting it. There was a couple like pre-mock drafts that I was not a part of. So to find out that it was all true was pretty exciting.”
Murphy is the fifth Stag in three years to be drafted into the MLL. The other four Stags were Sam Snow ‘13, drafted 55th overall by Denver, Marshall Johnson ‘13, drafted 64th by Rochester in 2013, Brent Adams ‘12, drafted 53rd by Chesapeake in 2012 and Charlie Cipriano ‘12, drafted 54th by Denver in 2012.
It was the culmination of a lot of hard work and exceptional play that got Murphy to this point, and to the captaincy in his final season.
In the 2013 season, Murphy was a three-time Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, while playing every minute of every game throughout the season. While tending the goal, Murphy accumulated 165 saves, which averaged out to 11 saves per game, the eighth best in program history.
This season has also begun successfully for the Murphy, as he’s made 99 saves in the 10 games so far. That averages out to a .559 save percentage and has a GAA of 7.98.
Murphy is optimistic about the upcoming season, and with his talents in the net, it would seem like the Stags have every reason to be so.
“Some of the goals at the beginning of the season are winning our conference. That’s basically the biggest one. I think everyone on the team has that one circled pretty high. We’re one game in right now and it’s looking pretty favorable but Ohio State’s obviously one of our bigger games. Obviously also can’t overlook Air Force.”
Murphy is quick to look at his success as something that has come from Copelan and the leaders who have made him the player he is today.
“I have grown a ton as a player. The coaches here are the best coaches that I’ve ever had. For example, my stances changed 100 percent. They know what a successful player is and they kind of just form you to your own version of a successful player,” Murphy said.
It would appear as though everything has come together well for Murphy. His decision to transfer schools, to train under Copelan, to put in the extra effort to improve and to continue to play at such a high level are what have made Murphy into another one of the extraordinary players to make their way through the Fairfield program.
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