POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist men's lacrosse program announced that graduate student Joe Tierney will wear jersey #34 for the upcoming 2021 season. Tierney will sport #34 for the second consecutive year, honoring the legacy of the late Eddie Coombs.
 
The recipient of Eddie Coombs' #34 jersey each year is the Marist men's lacrosse senior who best represents the outstanding characteristics that Coombs showed every day: passion, determination, energy, and a great teammate and member of the community. Eddie passed away in a car accident in 2011 just before the start of his sophomore year at Marist and was a well-respected member of the college community by staff and students.
 
"Joe Tierney is an incredibly special young man and has developed into such a tremendous leader," Head Coach Keegan Wilkinson said. "The program and Marist Lacrosse family is really fortunate to have him back this year.  His commitment to his teammates and extreme loyalty are traits that he shares with both Eddie and all the men that have had the honor to wear the #34 jersey over the last six years. The Coombs family and previous recipients were unanimous in their support to see Joe wear the jersey for the second consecutive year.  This is the highest honor you can receive as a member of the Marist Men's Lacrosse team and is something that is earned by a senior that displays the characteristics that made Eddie so special. We have an outstanding group of seniors and fifth years this season that all have enormous pride that they have the opportunity to carry on the legacy that has been established here in Eddie's honor.  I can confidently speak on behalf of the entire 2021 team and say that we are all so proud to see Joe given this much deserved honor."
 
Entering his fifth season with the Red Foxes, Tierney has been an integral part of the team's success throughout his career. He began his career in 2016, and was named to the MAAC All-Rookie team in his first season with Marist. Flash forward to 2019, and Tierney was a catalyst in the team's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship. He was third on the team in goals (19), assists (12), and points (31), and was named to the All-MAAC Second Team. Tierney scored a career-high four goals in the MAAC semifinals against Canisius, and followed that up with three goals in the MAAC Championship against Quinnipiac, which led to him being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Championship. Tierney was on his was to a career season in 2020 before the campaign was shutdown due to COVID-10. He had scored 10 goals and dished seven assists, and was third in the MAAC (34th in the NCAA) with a .455 shot percentage. Tierney was named MAAC Offensive Player of the Week on Mar. 9, and eventually would be named the Marist Male Pizzani Award Winner.
 
The tradition of the #34 jersey naming dates back to the 2015 season, with current assistant coach Dave Scarcello being the first recipient. Past honorees also include Joseph Radin '16, Jimmy Murphy '17,  Brian Corrigan '18, and Matthew Selts '19, in addition to Tierney himself in 2020 who becomes the first Red Fox in program history to earn this honor twice. 
 
Coombs' legacy lives on through the Edward Taylor Coombs Foundation, which honors student-athletes who exemplify Eddie's same strong character, provides outstanding scholar-athletes financial assistance to pursue their higher education goals so they can reach their full potential, and works with high school students around the issues of responsible decision making through seminars, forums, videos, and other education programs.
 
The Red Foxes are scheduled to open up their season on Mar. 6 against Detroit Mercy at Tenney Stadium in a game that won't count towards the MAAC standings. Conference play will officially begin on Mar. 13.