Like a lot of people, Patrick Murray likes to come home and hit the shower after a hard day’s work.
That’s when Murray, a senior at Kent Denver, realizes just how much abuse he’s taken.
“I’ll come home from a game and shower and my arms are burning. I don’t even notice I’ve been getting slashed the entire game,” Murray said.
Being one of the top lacrosse players in the state and country, and framed in a Teflon-like 6-foot-1, 225-pound body will get you that kind of attention.
Dubbed a “man-child” as a sophomore by coach Tom Graesser, Murray is a returning All-America midfielder and one of the bigger reasons the defending champion Sun Devils (4-2) are expected to reach the state finals for the fourth straight season.
But all that — to a degree — is old hat. Murray’s presence has loomed large for years in a state proving to be a solid talent producer for the nation’s fastest growing sport.
His three older brothers made the Murray name synonymous with lacrosse at Regis, and young Patrick cemented his name with five goals and two assists in last year’s championship victory over Fort Collins.
Courted by several of the top college programs, Murray settled on No. 20 Georgetown and — armed with study habits of a 3.65 grade-point average — wants to pursue a business degree.
Why the Hoyas, a program with no national titles, when he could have gone to schools with trophies on display? Murray is intrigued by the challenge of helping a team take that next step.
“It’s a pretty cool time to be in college playing,” he said.
What makes Murray refreshing are the things that will never show up in a stat box or a game story.
During his lengthy interview process when applying to Kent Denver, Murray never strayed from the subject of academics. When reminded he was a talented three-sport athlete, Murray said, in effect, “I’m not coming to Kent Denver to be an athlete; I’m coming to get the best education I can.”
Graesser can recall just four or five times when Murray has really tried to take over a game. Once was when Murray, then a sophomore, politely asked for the ball before overtime against Arapahoe. One pass and three steps later, Murray nailed the game-winner.
At practice recently, Murray related his concerns to Graesser about how to help a sophomore fringe player get more engaged with the sport.
Murray sees the game at a speed few can match, and having grown up with a stick in his hand since shortly after he learned to walk, his IQ for the game is unusual.
“He’s going to give the ball to the open kid, even if the open kid might drop it,” Graesser said. “He’s selfless enough to realize teams are made of a group of individuals.”
The Sun Devils, once again, have a host of them. But at the center of it all is Murray, who draws plenty of attention but won’t make a fuss about it.
“He can marry my daughter,” Graesser said. “She’s a little old for him, but he can babysit my kids.”
