UMass' Mike Tobin, From Reading, Named A10 Lacrosse Player Of The Week

AMHERST, MA — Reading native Mike Tobin was the hat trick hero for the University of Massachusetts men's lacrosse team Saturday in the program's first-ever Atlantic 10 game.

Tobin's performance, in a 12-10 win over High Point, also included an assist, two ground balls and two caused turnovers. The effort earned Tobin Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week honors.

The Minutemen (6-3 overall, 1-0 in the A10) had played in the Colonial Athletic Conference for the last 13 years before the A10, featuring six teams, began as a men's lacrosse league this year.

Tobin, a senior midfielder, scored his first two goals Saturday during the second quarter, both coming with his team in man-up situations. The goals helped the Minutemen build an 8-3 lead at one point in the second quarter.

But the Panthers fought back and eventually tied the game 10-10 in the fourth.

However, Tobin's even-strength, unassisted goal with 4:06 remaining in the contest put the Minutemen ahead for good.

Through nine games this season, Tobin is third on the UMass squad in scoring with 19 points on eight goals and 11 assists.

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Tobin, a former Reading Memorial High School star, was named one of the UMass tri-captains this season after what Minutemen head coach Greg Cannella said was a unanimous team vote.

"Michael Tobin has been a terrific leader by example his entire career here at UMass," said Cannella, in his 29th year in charge of the program. "Everyone on our team voted for Michael to be a captain this year, I can't remember that ever happening here. It just goes to show you what type of person Michael truly is."

Through Saturday, Tobin has played in 40 career games at UMass, recording 69 points on 32 goals and 38 assists.

At RMHS, Tobin was a three-time Middlesex League All-Star, and he led the Rockets to the 2018 MIAA Division 2 lacrosse state championship. As a high school senior, Tobin had 101 points on 57 goals and 44 assists.

UMass returns to A10 action at 11:30 a.m. Saturday when it visits Richmond.