Completed Event: Lacrosse versus Air Force on May 1, 2026 , Loss , 12, to, 13
Final Score
Lacrosse
12
vs Air Force
13
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
The University of Utah Athletics
Photo by: Brooke Frederickson
Lacrosse Announces Team Captains for Inaugural Season
11/8/2018 4:38 PM | Lacrosse
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah head lacrosse coach Brian Holman has announced four players as team captains for Utah's inaugural season in 2019. Senior Jimmy Perkins, junior Aaron Fjeldsted and sophomores Seth Neeleman and Liam Donnelly will serve as captains for the Utes.
Fjeldsted and Neeleman played with Utah's club team while Perkins and Donnelly are transfers in their first season. Fjeldsted and Neeleman were both captains with the club program. Captains were selected by a team vote.
"I think the team did an awesome job," Holman said. "We spent a lot of time talking to our guys about captains and what they should be looking for in their team captains as well as what the staff is looking for. I think they truly elected the guys who were deserving, and that doesn't always happen. We have a really good mix of veterans and offensive and defensive players. If you look at the spectrum of leadership, they all bring a completely different skill set to the table. Not only that, but they are all leaders academically and have quality grade point averages. From our perspective as a staff, this is a home run and I'm excited to see what they do with the team going forward."
Ten different players received votes, which Holman says shows so much about the different types of leaders on the team.
"We're going to establish a leadership council, with the captains and staff choosing members of each class to sit on the council," Holman said. "There are quality guys on the team, so why not bring them into the fold? In addition, we have a really, really, really young lacrosse team. Having the leadership council along with the captains I think will provide a tremendous amount of direction for our program. I'm really excited."
Fjeldsted is a midfielder who has played two years with Utah's club team. He earned MCLA honorable mention All-America honors last season and was a two-time RMLC all-conference player. Fjeldsted tied for second on the team in assists last season and scored 11 goals for 27 points. He led the team with 18 assists in 2017 and was second on the team with 30 goals and 48 points. Fjeldsted, who is from Alpine, Utah, also played one season on BYU's club team and was an all-state player at Lone Peak High School.
"Aaron has an infectious personality," Holman said. "He views himself as a captain leading from the rear – he is always pushing guys up and he's the last guy to get off the field. He makes sure our 'sheds are swept,' which is a term we use in our program, making sure everything is cleaner than when we got there."
Neeleman is a defender who played two seasons with Utah's club team. He was a second-team All-American in 2018 and earned RMLC all-conference honors twice. He had 25 ground balls and four points (one goal, three assists) last season. Neeleman led Utah with 48 ground balls in 2017 and had three points (one goal, two assists). He was also 22-of-34 in face offs. Neeleman, who is from New Canaan, Conn., was a two-time all-state player at New Canaan High School.
"Seth has a tremendous work ethic and is one of the most positive, energetic guys you will ever meet," Holman said. "He consistently leads by example."
Perkins is an attackman who transferred to Utah after spending four seasons at Robert Morris University. He was a second-team All-Northeast Conference player in 2018 after leading the Colonials with 61 points and 30 assists while finishing second on the team with 31 goals. Perkins' 30 assists also set a school single-season record. He helped Robert Morris win the 2018 NEC Tournament and earn a berth in the NCAA Championship. Perkins had 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 2017 after sitting out his first two collegiate seasons due to injury. A two-time U.S. Lacrosse All-American at Quaker Valley High School, Perkins is from Pittsburgh, Pa., and was also a standout hockey player.
"Jimmy has taken our program by storm," Holman said. "He has stepped right in and acclimated himself to our program like he's been here for 3-4 years. He's one of the hardest workers on our team and clearly the most vocal member of our team. He leads way out front and demands a lot out of himself and his teammates."
Donnelly is a transfer from Rutgers, where he was a backup goalkeeper for two seasons. From Yorktown, N.Y., he was a U.S. Lacrosse All-American as a senior at Yorktown High School. Donnelly was the 2016 Journal News Hudson Valley Player of the Year and had a 62.7 save percentage as a senior, recording double-digit saves in 12 games. He helped lead Yorktown to a state title in 2014 and a runner-up finish in 2016. Donnelly played five varsity seasons after being brought up as an eighth grader.
"Liam established a lot of trust with his teammates right away," Holman said. "He's very kind and caring and I think he connects well with a lot of the younger players."
Utah opens its season against Vermont on Feb. 1.
Fjeldsted and Neeleman played with Utah's club team while Perkins and Donnelly are transfers in their first season. Fjeldsted and Neeleman were both captains with the club program. Captains were selected by a team vote.
"I think the team did an awesome job," Holman said. "We spent a lot of time talking to our guys about captains and what they should be looking for in their team captains as well as what the staff is looking for. I think they truly elected the guys who were deserving, and that doesn't always happen. We have a really good mix of veterans and offensive and defensive players. If you look at the spectrum of leadership, they all bring a completely different skill set to the table. Not only that, but they are all leaders academically and have quality grade point averages. From our perspective as a staff, this is a home run and I'm excited to see what they do with the team going forward."
Ten different players received votes, which Holman says shows so much about the different types of leaders on the team.
"We're going to establish a leadership council, with the captains and staff choosing members of each class to sit on the council," Holman said. "There are quality guys on the team, so why not bring them into the fold? In addition, we have a really, really, really young lacrosse team. Having the leadership council along with the captains I think will provide a tremendous amount of direction for our program. I'm really excited."
Fjeldsted is a midfielder who has played two years with Utah's club team. He earned MCLA honorable mention All-America honors last season and was a two-time RMLC all-conference player. Fjeldsted tied for second on the team in assists last season and scored 11 goals for 27 points. He led the team with 18 assists in 2017 and was second on the team with 30 goals and 48 points. Fjeldsted, who is from Alpine, Utah, also played one season on BYU's club team and was an all-state player at Lone Peak High School.
"Aaron has an infectious personality," Holman said. "He views himself as a captain leading from the rear – he is always pushing guys up and he's the last guy to get off the field. He makes sure our 'sheds are swept,' which is a term we use in our program, making sure everything is cleaner than when we got there."
Neeleman is a defender who played two seasons with Utah's club team. He was a second-team All-American in 2018 and earned RMLC all-conference honors twice. He had 25 ground balls and four points (one goal, three assists) last season. Neeleman led Utah with 48 ground balls in 2017 and had three points (one goal, two assists). He was also 22-of-34 in face offs. Neeleman, who is from New Canaan, Conn., was a two-time all-state player at New Canaan High School.
"Seth has a tremendous work ethic and is one of the most positive, energetic guys you will ever meet," Holman said. "He consistently leads by example."
Perkins is an attackman who transferred to Utah after spending four seasons at Robert Morris University. He was a second-team All-Northeast Conference player in 2018 after leading the Colonials with 61 points and 30 assists while finishing second on the team with 31 goals. Perkins' 30 assists also set a school single-season record. He helped Robert Morris win the 2018 NEC Tournament and earn a berth in the NCAA Championship. Perkins had 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in 2017 after sitting out his first two collegiate seasons due to injury. A two-time U.S. Lacrosse All-American at Quaker Valley High School, Perkins is from Pittsburgh, Pa., and was also a standout hockey player.
"Jimmy has taken our program by storm," Holman said. "He has stepped right in and acclimated himself to our program like he's been here for 3-4 years. He's one of the hardest workers on our team and clearly the most vocal member of our team. He leads way out front and demands a lot out of himself and his teammates."
Donnelly is a transfer from Rutgers, where he was a backup goalkeeper for two seasons. From Yorktown, N.Y., he was a U.S. Lacrosse All-American as a senior at Yorktown High School. Donnelly was the 2016 Journal News Hudson Valley Player of the Year and had a 62.7 save percentage as a senior, recording double-digit saves in 12 games. He helped lead Yorktown to a state title in 2014 and a runner-up finish in 2016. Donnelly played five varsity seasons after being brought up as an eighth grader.
"Liam established a lot of trust with his teammates right away," Holman said. "He's very kind and caring and I think he connects well with a lot of the younger players."
Utah opens its season against Vermont on Feb. 1.
Players Mentioned
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Former Runnin’ Ute Branden Carlson
Wednesday, May 20
ESPN+ Feature | Utah Baseball's Seth Graham-Pippin & Jet Gilliam
Saturday, May 16
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Utah Softball Coach Amy Hogue
Wednesday, May 13
ESPN+ Feature | Behind Game Day: Grass & Turf
Wednesday, May 13