Greer carving out Westminster lacrosse legacy
NEW WILMINGTON — As a junior at Seneca Valley, Ryan Greer had his doubts about being able to play lacrosse at the collegiate level.
Now a senior at Westminster College, his numbers speak for themselves.
Recently, a year after setting the Titans’ record for points in one go-round (62) and earning a first-team All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference nod, Greer became Westminster’s all-time leading scorer in a recent home win over Allegheny College. He topped the 169-point mark of the previous record holder, Ryan Shorts.
Greer also netted his 100th career goal against Thiel two games later. Ironically, he originally toured the school with plans to be a full-time student.
“I didn’t plan on playing lacrosse, and the coach thought I was the recruit he was looking for,” Greer recalled. “I went on a tour with him and I realized, like, ‘Wow, I actually really like this place and maybe I do want to play lacrosse.’
“So, that’s crazy to me. That I went from not wanting to play lacrosse at all, to touring a school that I didn’t really want to tour, to being the all-time leading point scorer.”
And, because of pandemic-shortened seasons, in considerably fewer games than those closest to him on the list. A rapport with teammates has played a large part in that accomplishment.
“We’ve been playing with the same guys for two or three years here, the same group of seniors,” Greer said. “We all start, we all play ... I think we’re clicking on a bunch of different levels.”
On the attack, Greer plays alongside roommate Nick Hubner — who he’s also played club lacrosse with — and freshman Brady Page, a former Seneca Valley teammate.
Heading into Tuesday’s clash with Chatham, Greer is tied with Hubner for the team lead with 56 points. Both have a chance to surpass the mark Greer set in 2022.
“Me and Nick have had chemistry for quite a while, and adding Brady in there, he’s a lefty,” Greer said. “It’s someone that, as a freshman, we know we have to help ... I think that me being the middle man there helps all three of us succeed.”
Greer, Hubner, Page, and sophomore Gavin Jones are all part of head coach Anthony Accardi’s embarrassment of riches.
“I find myself in situations where I almost have too many offensive threats,” Accardi said. “Kind of finding a way to get them all on the field and have them all mesh with each other has been kind of a challenge in itself. It’s a great situation for a first-time head coach to walk into.”
With two regular-season contests remaining this go-round, Greer has 31 goals and 25 assists.
“I’m kind of more of a catch-and-shoot kind of guy,” Greer said. “I don’t do too much dodging. I feel like I just get my hands free and I shoot. I feel like that’s my strength and I’ve realized that over the years.”
The freedom to fire away from virtually anywhere has lent itself to his success.
“He’s one of our top offensive players, for sure,” Accardi said. “He’s still scoring at will when he gets that time and room shot, but he’s been pretty unselfish this year and it’s been really helping us win games.
“He went more from just a shooter this year to really facilitating. Especially on fast-break shots he typically would take, he’s passing it off and being pretty unselfish and getting those assists this year.”
Greer needs eight markers to set the program’s all-time high in goals. Along with winning a PAC crown, he said that’s his main objective.
Either way, he’s cemented himself in Titans lore.
“He’s going to leave his mark — no doubt about it — on this program,” Accardi said. “He’ll be sitting at the top of the record books in all major offensive statistical categories. He’s going to go down as one of the all-time greats here at Westminster.
“We’re not a program that’s been around for so long, but I think — even so — he’s going to be one that’s hard to beat.”
