GNAC HALL OF FAME FEATURE: Josh McElroy, Norwich

In the fifth of eight features on the 2019 GNAC Hall of Fame inductees, we center our attention on former Norwich men's soccer goalkeeper Josh McElroy.

July 23, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Courtesy of Norwich Athletics Communications

GNAC Hall of Fame Dinner
set for August 7 in Boston

WINTHROP, Mass. – In preparation for the 2019 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Hall of Fame Induction on Wednesday, August 7, the GNAC is featuring each of the eight inductees leading up to the event at the Hilton Garden Inn Logan Airport in East Boston, Mass. For the complete spotlight schedule, please see below.

From the Norwich University men's soccer team, 2003 graduate Josh McElroy was by far and away the most decorated goalkeeper in the 54-year history of the Cadets' program.

McElroy owns every single season and career goalkeeper record but one, and was a key cog in the 2001-02 men's soccer team that won a program-record 21 straight games to start the season before falling in the NCAA Round of 16. The 2001-02 men's soccer squad was inducted into the Norwich University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

In his senior season he not only was named the team overall Most Valuable Player, but he also earned GNAC MVP honors as well as first team all-conference recognition. The Cadets finished with a 13-6-1 record before falling to Johnson & Wales 1-0 in the conference tournament finals. McElroy is the all-time winningest goalie in NU history and his 31 career shutouts nearly double the total of the next highest keeper. He was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Second Team All-American after being named a First Team All-New Englander in 2001.

"It hasn't really set in yet," said McElroy on his induction into the Norwich Athletics Hall of Fame earlier this decade. "I just want to thank every person I got to play with because I didn't collect any of those records on my own. It isn't just an individual award.

McElroy was also a freshman on the 1999 team that became the first NU men's soccer team to make the NCAA Tournament.

"We had seven freshmen starters on that team and being the first team to make it to the NCAA Tournament just seemed surreal. I came in as a freshman just trying to make the team and then riding that whole NCAA wave of excitement was something you never even really think about when you go to a Division III school. That year was just fun soccer and we just ended up being really good."

McElroy graduated in 2003 with a degree in Architecture. He now is back in hometown of Boyertown, Pa. where he helps run a high-end finished carpentry company with his family.

The festivities on August 7 will begin at 6:00 PM with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner at 6:30 PM and the induction ceremony presentations running from approximately 7:00 PM until 8:30 PM at the Hilton Garden Inn. All eight inductees are expected to be in attendance.

Throughout the month of July, the GNAC will spotlight eight Hall inductees on the following dates:
Tues 7/9: Ray Askew, Albertus Magnus College Men's Basketball
Thurs 7/11: Iman (Davis) Barbosa, Emmanuel College Women's Basketball
Tues 7/16: Lamonte Thomas, Johnson & Wales University (RI) Men's Basketball
Thurs 7/18: Jose Guitian, Lasell College Men's Basketball
Tues 7/23: Josh McElroy, Norwich University Men's Soccer
Thurs 7/25: Aaron Dufoe, Rivier University Men's Basketball/Men's Soccer
Tues 7/30: Michael Maguire, Suffolk University Baseball
Thurs 8/1: Jackie (Shedlock) Kapusta, Western New England University Softball

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

– #TheGNAC –

2019 HALL of FAME INDUCTEE: Josh McElroy, Norwich Men's Soccer