Former UVA star Mark Cockerton embracing role with Boston Cannons

James Cirrone/Major League Lacrosse

Mark Cockerton has spent most of his professional lacrosse career as a strong supporting character.

Now the Boston Cannons are looking for the University of Virginia product to step into a leading role moving forward as one of the faces of the franchise in its new home at Quincy’s Veterans Stadium.

As Major League Lacrosse takes on a different look with several veteran players moving on to the new Premier Lacrosse League, Cockerton is one of the holdovers poised to fill any void in star power. He began that process after a trade to Boston from the Ohio Machine last May when he scored 29 goals in just seven games — including an eight-goal effort in the final game on the Harvard Stadium turf — and is looking to continue it this summer after being one of the first MLL players to opt back into the league amid an offseason of uncertainty.