Nazareth to honor '96 lacrosse team,
5 others at induction dinner

Sarah Burns

John Garbinski

Dave Pratt

Jen Taets

Michelle Urbanski

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (March 1, 2006) -- Nazareth's 1996 national championship men's lacrosse team will be among the honorees at Nazareth's annual Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner April 7, 2006 at the Burgundy Basin Inn. The evening will start with a cash bar at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m.

Five former student-athletes will also be honored along with the '96 lacrosse team. Former women's lacrosse and field hockey standout Sarah Burns, '00 will be inducted along with former men's basketball standout John Garbinski, '90; former men's lacrosse standout Dave Pratt, '95; former swimming standout Jen Taets, '00; and former women's soccer standout Michelle Urbanski.

Nazareth's '96 lacrosse team won the program's second NCAA Division III championship and finished as the only unbeaten team (15-0) in the program's storied history. Coached by Scott Nelson, Nazareth defeated Washington College, 11-10 in overtime, in the title game that year. Team captains were John Burdett, Terry Goetz, Neal Powless and Ben Wineburg.

Burns, of Cicero, N.Y., ranks among Nazareth's all-time scoring leaders in both lacrosse and field hockey. She amassed 294 career points in lacrosse and was an honorable mention All-America selection in 2000 as Nazareth reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time.

Garbinski, of DeWitt, N.Y., scored more than 1,000 points over four seasons and was captain of the 1989-90 team that finished 20-7 and reached the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Pratt, of Truxton, N.Y., was a four-year standout as a lacrosse defenseman for the Golden Flyers and twice was selected as a first-team All-American. He was a starting defenseman on the Golden Flyers' 1992 national championship team.

Taets, of Horseheads, N.Y., was a four-year swimming standout who graduated as a school record-holder in three events. She ranks second all-time with more than 1,700 points and was the team scoring leader three times.

Urbanski, of Webster, N.Y., was a four-year women's soccer standout who ranks second all-time in career scoring with 125 points, including 49 goals. She was named Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year in 1999 and helped the Golden Flyers to three straight NCAA Tournament berths (1997, 1998, 1999).

Tickets for the 2006 induction dinner are $25 and are available by calling the Nazareth College Athletic Office at (585) 389-2186.