PRESS RELEASE Athletic Communications • Tsongas Center at Umass Lowell 300 Martin Luther King Jr
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PRESS RELEASE Athletic Communications • Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way • Lowell, MA 01852 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 Contact: Pete Souris, Assistant Athletic Director Email: [email protected] • Phone: 978-934-3771 MEN’S LACROSSE ANNOUNCES 29-MEMBER INAUGURAL FRESHMAN CLASS LOWELL, Mass. – Head Coach Ed Stephenson unveiled the River Hawks’ inaugural 29-member freshman class from 14 states and provinces for its first varsity men’s lacrosse season in the spring of 2015. “Collectively, the attributes that I looked for were leadership ability, academic success, and the potential to develop at the highest level,” said Stephenson. “Having started a program from scratch before, these are the most important characteristics, which lead to a strong foundation. I want our young men to leave here as accomplished students who are prepared for the global workforce. I want them to be productive com- munity servants and leaders.” The River Hawks’ freshman class will feature, Michael Adler (Millstone, N.J.), Matthew Balter (West Sand Lake, N.Y.), Gaven Bertram (Clarkston, Mich.), Jacob Castiglioni (East Falmouth, Mass.), Eric Corella (Ash- burn, Va.), Ray Cozzi (Reading, Mass.), Stephen Dahl (Mendota Heights, Minn.), Shawn Dickey (Shwenks- ville, Pa.), Nathan Eldred (Goffstown, N.H.), Cory Highfield (Georgetown, Ont.), Thomas Kidd (Olney, Md.), Keenan Koswin (Winnipeg, Man.), Kevin Lally (Beverly, Mass.), Brandon Luitwieler (Calgary, Alta.), Josh Masse (Weymouth, Mass.), Jeff Matrone (Urbana, Mich.), Jon Nassif (Hanover, Mass.), Brady Neyland (West- borough, Mass.), Matthew Page (Beverly, Mass.), Jon Phillips (Delta, B.C.), Will Puduski (Westford, Mass.), Liam Rafferty (Long Beach, N.Y.), Noah Ryan (Hampstead, Md.), Chandler Sampson (Orono, Minn.), Bain Schroeder (Ellicott City, Md.), Zack Schwartz (Huntington, N.Y.), Sean Tyrell (Calgary, Alta.), Nick Zakucia (Johns Creek, Ga.) and Jared Zaniewski (Sandwich, Mass.). The team will plays its season opener in February of 2015. - GoRiverHawks.com - @RiverHawkMLAX - @RiverHawkNation - #UnitedInBlue - Name: Michael Adler Hometown/High School: Millstone, N.J. / Allentown Position: Defense Height: 6’2” Club Team: Team Turnpike Allentown H.S.: Four year varsity starter – Named a team captain – Among 2013 All-Colonial Val- ley Conference, First team and 2012 All-Colonial Valley Conference, Second team – A 2013 MSG Varsity All-State Honorable Mention – Helped his team become 2013 Colonial Valley Conference Champions – Named a 2012 Blue Chip 225 All-Star – Awarded 2012 Allentown High School Defen- sive Player of the Year. Personal: Son of Michael and Mildred Adler – Lists Baltimore Ravens as his favorite football team – His favorite sports figure is Michael Jordan – Hobbies include snowboarding and video games – His favorite show is Workaholics and likes any movie with Will Ferrell – Names his greatest sports moment as playing the Duke Lacrosse Club under the lights on Homewood Field at Champ Camp. Head Coach Ed Stephenson: “Michael is an academic scholarship recipient, an accomplished de- fender and a proven leader.” Name: Matthew Balter Hometown/High School: West Sand Lake, N.Y. / Albany Academy Position: Attack Height: 5’10” Club Team: Albany Power Albany Academy.: Team Captain his senior year – Named to the All-Area Second Team in 2013 – Team Offensive MVP his junior year – Accumulated 128 career points – Started three years on the varsity team. Personal: Son of Stuart and Karen Balter – Lists the Jets, Knicks, Mets, and Hurricanes as his fa- vorite sports teams – Majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Head Coach Ed Stephenson: “Matt is an enthusiastic leader, a very smart lacrosse player and an academic scholarship recipient,” Name: Gaven Bertram Hometown/High School: Clarkston, Mich. / Clarkston High School Position: Attack Height: 5’9” Club Team: 1763 Elite Clarkston H.S.: Four-year varsity attackman – Earned All-State, All-Catholic, and All-County hon- ors - Helped his team win Catholic League championships in 2011 and 2013 – Also won regional championships in 2011 and 2012. Personal: Son of Spencer and Christine Bertram – Lists the Detroit Red Wings, Lions, and Tigers as his favorite sports teams – Favorite sports figures include Vince Lombardi, Steve Yzerman, and Nicklas Lidstrom – Majoring in Business Administration. Head Coach Ed Stephenson: “Gaven is an academic scholarship recipient, a strong dodger and a good off-ball player.” Name: Jacob Castiglioni Hometown/High School: East Falmouth, Mass. /Falmouth Position: Defense Height: 6’1” Club Team: Team Cape Cod Falmouth H.S.: Spent three years on varsity squad – Also played Football, Soccer, Golf, Track, Basketball, and Lacrosse. Personal: Son of Savry Castiglioni – Lists the Patriots, Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics, and Cannons as his favorite sports teams – Influential sports figures include Kyle Hartzell, Rob Pannell, and Hope Solo – Majoring in Economics. Head Coach Ed Stephenson: “Jacob is a dedicated, goal-oriented student. He is an aggressive, multi-sport athlete who will mature quickly in college.” Name: Eric Corella Hometown/High School: Ashburn, Va. /Broad Run Position: Midfield Height: 5’10” Club Team: Cavalier Broad Run H.S.: Named an All-District and All-Region player – A four year varsity letterman – Named a team captain his junior and senior years – Team leader in ground balls and faceoff per- centage – Hofstra Long Island Classic All-Star – Point leader for Cavalier Orange. Personal: Son of Jeff and Cindy Corella – His Hobbies include fishing and working out – Favorite shows to watch on TV are The Office, Modern Family, and any professional sport that is on – Lists Eminem, Florida Georgia Line, and B.O.B. as his favorite music groups – His favorite movies are The Breakfast Club, Lone Survivor, and Remember the Titans. Names the Redskins, Nationals, and Capitals as his favorite professional sports teams – Eric Thomas, John Ranagan, and Paul Rabil are among his favorite sports figures and influences – Describes his greatest sports moment as the time his team won the regional semifinal in the last 30 seconds after being down by four goals with only three minutes left in the game - Hopes to one day become a physical therapist and stay close to the sports world. Head Coach Ed Stephenson: “Eric is a spectacular student, an academic scholarship recipient, and a proven two-sport leader.” Name: Ray Cozzi Hometown/High School: Reading, Mass. /Reading Memorial Position: Defense Height: 5’11” Club Team: Homegrown Raptors Reading Memorial H.S.: Four-year varsity player at Reading Memorial H.S. for Head Coach Charlie Hardy - Named Captain and awarded Defensive Player of the Year his junior year - Helped lead his team to Middlesex League quarterfinals in 2011, 2012, and semifinals in 2013. Personal: Son of Raymond Cozzi - Hobbies include lacrosse, football, and engineering - Lists Step Brothers, Lone Survivor, and Wolf of Wall Street as his favorite movies - Greatest sports moment was his first varsity game and going to the semifinals - Majoring in Engineering. Head Coach Ed Stephenson: “A fine student, Ray is a very engaging and inquisitive young man. He is a very smart, unselfish and skilled lacrosse player.” Name: Stephen Dahl Hometown/High School: Mendota Heights, Minn. /St. Thomas Academy Position: Attack Height: 6’1” Club Team: True Lacrosse St. Thomas Academy: Varsity player since eighth grade - Named Chicago Showcase All-star and Baltimore Summer Kickoff All-Star – Named team captain his senior year – Leading goal and point leader of his team two consecutive years – Also played football and basketball. Personal: Son of Susan and Stephen Dahl - Favorite music artists are Avicci and Jay-Z - List Break- ing Bad as his favorite TV show - Lists Minnesota Wild and Vikings as his favorite sports teams - Greatest sports moment was scoring in double overtime versus Hill Murray - Majoring in Business Administration. Head Coach Ed Stephenson: “Stephen is a very good student and a powerful and physical athlete.” Name: Shawn Dickey Hometown/High School: Schwenksville, Pa. /Perkiomen Position: Midfield Height: 5’9” Club Team: Black Bear Perkiomen Valley H.S.: Named to All-PAC 10 First-Team as a junior and Second-Team as a soph- omore – An All-Area Honorable Mention as a sophomore – Named to All-Area Second Team as a junior – Was a member of the football team. Personal: Son of Paula and Steve Dickey - Names the Philadelphia Eagles as his favorite sports team - Lists Family Guy and South Park as his favorite TV shows - Favorite movie is Step Brothers. Attending UMass Lowell for a great new program with a great campus and atmosphere. Majoring in Engineering. Head Coach Ed Stephenson: “Shawn is bright student and a very athletic two-sport athlete.” Name: Nathan Eldred Hometown/High School: Goffstown, N.H. /Bishop Guertin Position: Defense Height: 6’3” Club Team: NH Tomahawks Bishop Guertin H.S.: Four-year varsity starter – Listed as a NH All-State Selection – Aided his team in their four consecutive Division I state titles Personal: Son of Lynda and John Eldred - Lists The Big Bang Theory, Person of Interest, and Tosh.0 as his favorite TV shows - Eminem and Drake are his favorite music artists - Names all of Boston’s sports teams as his favorite - Greatest sports moment was hitting two free throws to send the game into overtime in the NH Junior High School State Championship - Majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Head Coach Ed Stephenson: “Nate is an academic scholarship recipient and a hard-working, tal- ented, team first guy.” Name: Cory Highfield Hometown/High School: Georgetown, Ontario /The Hill Academy Position: Midfield Height: 6’1” Club Team: Halton Hills Hill Bulldogs: Played thirteen years for Hill Bulldogs - First overall pick in the 2013 Jr. A entry box lacrosse draft – All-Canada Games three-time All-Star - Co-Captain in 2012. Named to the All-Star team of all midget players in Ontario in 2012 - Selected to play in field and box lacrosse for Team Ontario - Tied for leading scorer for Team Ontario box lacrosse in 2012. Personal: Son of Wendy and Steven Highfield of Georgetown, Ontario.