Mac O'Keefe
Born (1998-02-06) February 6, 1998
Plainview, New York
NationalityAmerican
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight180 pounds (82 kg)
ShootsLeft
PositionAttack (Field), Forward (Box)
NCAA teamPenn State (2021)
NLL draft15th overall, 2020
San Diego Seals
NLL teamSan Diego Seals
PLL team
Former teams		Archers
Chaos
Pro career2021–
Career highlights

NCAA

  • Career record for goals (221)
  • 3x All-American
  • 3x First Team All-Big Ten

PLL

  • 2x Champion (2021, 2023)
  • 1x All-Star (2023)

Macaire Emeric "Mac" O'Keefe (born February 6, 1998 in Syosset, New York)[1] is an American lacrosse player who currently plays for Archers Lacrosse Club in the Premier Lacrosse League and the San Diego Seals in the National Lacrosse League. He previously played college lacrosse at Penn State, where he is the NCAA's all time leading goal scorer.[2]

Early life and career

O'Keefe was born in Plainview, New York as one of two children to Lynann and Brian O'Keefe, and raised in Syosset, New York.[1] Brian played college lacrosse at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he recorded 251 career points, and professional lacrosse in the NLL for the New York Saints and Anaheim Storm.[3] Due to his influence, Mac grew up playing box lacrosse.

In the field, O'Keefe originally played as a goalie before switching to attack in eighth grade.[3] O'Keefe played lacrosse for Syosset High School, where he helped them to Nassau County and Long Island Class A Championships in 2015, where he led Nassau County in goals, and he earned honorable mention All-America honors in 2014 and 2015.[1]

Collegiate career

O'Keefe began his collegiate career in 2017. In his first collegiate game against Robert Morris, O'Keefe scored seven goals, earning him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. He would break Penn State's single season goals record, which had stood since 1957 with 51, earning honorable mention All-American honors, as well as being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week six times and the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week twice. That summer, he played for the Orangeville Northmen of the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League, where he scored 33 points in 15 games.[3]

As a sophomore, O'Keefe saw a dip in production, though he still led the team with 35 goals and once again earned honorable mention All-American honors. He would truly break out as a junior, where he formed a dynamic partnership with teammate Grant Ament and led the NCAA with 78 goals and had the second highest scoring season in Penn State history with 96 points, behind only Ament. In the NCAA quarterfinal against Loyola, he would tie the NCAA record for most goals in a tournament game with nine, helping Penn State to their first ever final four. He would be named a second team All-American, as well as the Big Ten Tournament MVP and first team All Big Ten.

In his COVID-shortened senior season, O'Keefe would record 28 goals in seven games, recording multiple goals in each game, and was once again named a second team All-American. O'Keefe would choose to return for a fifth and final season with the Nittany Lions in 2021, where, despite having a disappointing season with Penn State failing to make the NCAA Tournament, O'Keefe once again led the team in goals with 29, and despite being an attackman, he finished third on the team in caused turnovers with seven. He broke the NCAA's all time goals record, previously held by Duke's Justin Guterding, in a 14-13 win over Michigan, a game in which O'Keefe scored six times, including the overtime winner, and at the end of the season, he was named First Team All Big Ten. He would finish his career with 221 goals, including scoring in his final 43 games, and second all time in Penn State history with 269 points. He earned a bachelor's degree in communications and pursued a second degree in labor and employment relations.[2][1]

PLL career

O'Keefe was selected sixth overall by Chaos in the 2021 PLL College Draft.[4] During his first professional season, O'Keefe won the PLL Championship with Chaos.

O'Keefe signed a two-year contract with Archers in the 2023 offseason as a free agent, reuniting with Penn State teammate Grant Ament.[5]

NLL career

O'Keefe was drafted 15th overall by the San Diego Seals in the 2020 NLL Draft.[6] He made his debut during the 2022 season with the Seals.

Playing style

O'Keefe is known as being one of the best shooters in the world, using a low release point as well as having a very deceptive release, in addition to extreme power and accuracy. He has been compared to a "stretch shooter" in basketball.[7]

Stats

NCAA
Season GP GS G A Pts GB CT
2017 16 16 51 5 56 21 0
2018 14 14 35 11 46 16 7
2019 18 18 78 18 96 29 8
2020 7 7 28 8 36 14 6
2021 11 11 29 6 35 19 7
Total 66 66 221 48 269 99 28

NLL

Source:[8]

Mac O'Keefe Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team GP G A Pts LB PIM Pts/GP LB/GP PIM/GP GP G A Pts LB PIM Pts/GP LB/GP PIM/GP

2022 San Diego Seals 15 11 15 26 40 0 1.73 2.67 0.00 1 1 0 1 3 0 1.00 3.00 0.00
2023 San Diego Seals 18 17 17 34 59 4 1.89 3.28 0.22 1 2 1 3 2 0 3.00 2.00 0.00
33 28 32 60 99 4 1.82 3.00 0.12 2 3 1 4 5 0 2.00 2.50 0.00
Career Total: 35 31 33 64 104 4 1.83 2.97 0.11

GP–Games played; G–Goals; A–Assists; Pts–Points; LB–Loose balls; PIM–Penalty minutes; Pts/GP–Points per games played; LB/GP–Loose balls per games played; PIM/GP–Penalty minutes per games played.

PLL

Source:[9]

Mac O'Keefe Regular Season Playoffs
Season Team GP G 2PG A Pts Sh GB Pen PIM FOW FOA GP G 2PG A Pts Sh GB Pen PIM FOW FOA
2021 Chaos LC 9 9 2 2 13 29 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 3 7 0 0 0 0 0
2022 Chaos LC 10 11 2 3 16 30 5 0 0 0 0 3 3 0 0 3 16 1 0 0 0 0
2023 Archers LC 10 26 4 5 35 89 23 3 2 0 0 2 6 0 1 7 19 4 1 0.5 0 0
29 46 8 10 64 148 32 3 2 0 0 8 12 0 1 13 42 5 1 0.5 0 0
Career Total: 37 58 8 11 77 190 37 4 2.5 0 0

GP–Games played; G–Goals; 2PG–2-point goals; A–Assists; Pts–Points; Sh–Shots; GB–Ground balls; Pen–Penalties; PIM–Penalty minutes; FOW–Faceoffs won; FOA–Faceoffs attempted

Mac O'Keefe PLL bio

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Mac O'Keefe - Men's Lacrosse". Penn State University Athletics. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  2. 1 2 "Penn State's Mac O'Keefe breaks NCAA goals record, scores overtime winner over Michigan | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Makings of Mac O'Keefe, Division I Goals King". www.usalaxmagazine.com. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  4. ↑ "2021 PLL College Draft: Jeff Teat Goes No. 1 to Atlas". insidelacrosse.com. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  5. ↑ Keegan, Joe (2023-03-08). "Mac O'Keefe signs two-year deal with Archers LC". Premier Lacrosse League. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  6. ↑ "SEVEN SELECTED BY SAN DIEGO IN NLL ENTRY DRAFT". San Diego Seals. 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  7. ↑ Taylor, Jerome (2023-09-15). "Is Mac O'Keefe the best shooter in the world?". Premier Lacrosse League. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  8. ↑ "Mac O'Keefe". NLL. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
  9. ↑ "Mac O'Keefe". Premier Lacrosse League. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
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