RECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP AND PLAYING LACROSSE AT Heading A U.S. COLLEGE IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT THE CHALLENGE OF MAINTAINING HIGH GRADES, WHILE KEEPING SOUTH UP WITH A DEMANDING LACROSSE SCHEDULE, IS // By Ryan McLean NOT ALWAYS AN EASY TASK n athletic scholarship to a United A States college is something few Canadians are offered — regardless of the sport they play. Whether it is basketball, football, hockey, soccer, baseball or swimming, just to name a few, the number of Canadians toiling in Division 1(D1) — or even Division 2 or 3 — athletics south of the border is really minute when one looks at the full scope and size of U.S. college sports. Lacrosse is no different than those other sports, but because of the high quality of play in Ontario and throughout Canada, many up-and- coming lacrosse stars are jumping at the chance to play at a U.S. college, while receiving a free or partially paid for education while doing so. One such player is Alison Daley, who suits up for Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. The 20- year-old goalkeeper from Peterborough, Ont., is enjoying her second year playing D1 lacrosse and is really making a name for her self. After a 2008 season in which she started all 18 games, posted a goals against average of 11.99, and was twice named MAAC Defensive Player of the Week, Daley is off to a good sophomore season boasting a 6-6 record in league play this year. Although she is enjoying her experience at Canisius, Daley does encourage young girls com- ing across the border to play lacrosse to keep in mind several important items. “Besides just looking at the lacrosse side of things, make sure that everything you are look- ing for academically is there,” says the former captain of the Kawartha Lacrosse Club. “Ulti- mately, once your four years are done at college, there is nothing left for women’s lacrosse, so you want to come out with a solid education.” This sentiment was echoed by team mate, Carley Quinn, while en route to a game earlier this season. “Young girls really need to decide whether they want to play Division 1, 2 or 3 lacrosse,” Alison Daley, Canisius College Photo: Canisius College 28 Ontario LACROSSE | Spring 2009 the Colonials in this his fresh- the season, we watch films after 5 p.m., and then man season, Matisz is work- do homework. There is not a whole lot of time ing hard to maintain a 3.0 to have to yourself, so you just prepare and use grade point average, which he time management to deal with it.” needs in order to meet his ac- If all this isn’t enough for student-ath- ademic scholarship require- letes, Ontario players have to adjust to play- ments. ing a new style of lacrosse. Matisz’s coach, “Generally, my daily Kenneth “Bear” Davis, understands the dif- schedule goes from 8 a.m., till ference in styles amongst box lacrosse, played 9 p.m.,” he says. “Eight till primarily in Canada, and field, most popular noon is class, and then 12 till in the U.S. He also has a great deal of confi- 5 p.m., is lacrosse. In addi- dence in Ontario players coming across the tion, in first semester, it’s border and playing what is for some an en- mandatory that freshmen at- tirely different sport. tend study hall for three “With these guys having such little field hours every other day. During lacrosse experience, our thought process was Carley Quinn, Canisius College Photo: Canisius College adds the 19-year-old Orangeville native. “One of my friends is in a Division 3 pro- gram and they don’t practice nearly as much as we do. You need to decide whether you want to do it, because once Kyle Buchanan, Robert Morris University you do, lacrosse becomes a full-time com- Photos: Robert Morris University mitment.” we knew it would be a learning curve; it Quinn, a member of the Under-19 was just how quick can they pick it up,” Canadian National Team that finished he says. “How quick can they apply their fourth at the 2007 Junior World Cup, is box skills to the field game and under- also in her sophomore season at Cani- stand it? With our past experience with sius. Her freshman season saw her Canadian guys, we knew it took about a record seven goals and eight assists. full year to really understand the field At U.S. colleges, men’s lacrosse is no game and apply the skills.” different than the women’s game for Relatively new to field lacrosse, Kyle there are no free passes when trying to Buchanan, a 21-year-old freshman at maintain high grades, while keeping up Robert Morris, knew he could play a with a demanding lacrosse schedule. Time leadership role, despite having to learn management becomes a saving grace for a new system. dealing with the stresses that come with “I never really played field lacrosse the new lifestyle, says Stoney Creek native until I came here,” says Buchanan, orig- Kiel Matisz, who is currently enjoying inally from of Nepean, Ont. “I wanted his first season with Robert Morris Uni- to be a leader since I’ve played with versity in Moon Township, Pa., located some really good box teams. I wanted just outside of Pittsburgh. to learn the system and get a feel for The 19-year-old midfielder describes the game and hopefully play in the the life of a university student as long and springtime. Field is a lot of more sys- dedicated. Besides scoring eight goals and tematic, where as box, it is a more run- tallying 14 points in his first 12 games for Kiel Matisz,, Robert Morris University and-gun style.” www.ontariolacrossemagazine.com Spring 2009 | Ontario LACROSSE 29 MALE DOMINANCE Here's just a sample of the Ontario men currently playing NCAA lacrosse. PLAYER COLLEGE HOMETOWN LEVEL PLAYER COLLEGE HOMETOWN LEVEL Aaron Fill Becker Ladner D3 Joe Stanley Potsdam Lakefield D3 Adam Jones Canisius Owen Sound D1 John McClure Dowling Brampton D2 Aidan Genik Hartford Toronto D1 Jonathan Thomson Cornell Orangeville D1 Alex Crepinsek RIT Oakville D3 Jordan Joncas Potsdam Kanata D3 Andrew Stoner Lycoming Orangeville D3 Jordan MacIntosh Gordon Oakville D3 Andrew Suitor Adrian Orangeville D3 Jordan Sealock Robert Morris Airdrie D1 Anthony Lackey Whittier Orangeville D3 Josh Gillam Dartmouth Peterborough D1 Austin Thomas Bryant Mississauga D1 Kevin Brownell Robert Morris Burlington D1 Ben McCullough Potsdam Brampton D3 Kevins Woods Mars Hill Newmarket D2 Brad Levick Elmira Newmarket D3 Kiel Matisz Robert Morris Stoney Creek D1 Braden Artem Catawba Acton D2 Kris Clement Oswego Pierrefonds D3 Brandon Ree St Andrews Barrie D2 Kyle Bergman Drexel Toronto D1 Brock Sorenson Ohio State Peterborough D1 Kyle Buchanan Robert Morris Nepean D1 Bryan Neufeld Siena Virgil/Niagra D1 Kyle Kallay Mercyhurst Orangeville D2 Cade Zulak Mars Hill Ajax D2 Kyle O'Brien Dowling Whitby D2 Carter Bender Hartford Caledon D1 Kyle Rubisch Dowling Brampton D2 Chad Howson Mars Hill Newmarket D2 Mark Matthews Denver Oshawa D1 Chris Cudmore Mars Hill Whitby D2 Matt Bertrand Seton Hill Oakville D2 Clark De Geer Hartford Orangeville D1 Matt Campbell Bellarmine Orangeville D1 Cody Jamieson Syracuse Six Nations D1 Matt McMurray Gettysburg Orangeville D3 Corey Small Albany St Catherines D1 Matt Quinton Roanoke Elora D3 Cory Upshaw Notre Dame De Namur Orono D2 Michael Cudmore Hartford Ashburn D1 Dan Coates Canisius St Catherines D1 Michael Howe Cornell St Catherines D1 Dan MacCrae RIT Oakville D3 Mike Jacques Wheeling Jesuit Sarnia D2 Dan MacIssac American International Port Perry D2 Mike Pantelone Neumann Aurora D3 Dave Brock Albany Burlington D1 Mike Pires Ohio State Saanichton D1 Dave Morton Robert Morris Orangeville D1 Mitch Barnard St. Andrews Barrie D2 David Hodgins Mars Hill Windsor D2 Mitch McMichael Cornell Port Perry D1 Derek Hopcroft Bellarmine Toronto D1 MJ Kiekebelt RIT Caledon D3 DJ Clevely Adrian Orangeville D3 Nick Diachenko Delaware Courtice D1 Eric Benesch Mars Hill Bloomingdale D2 Rick Acorn Elmira Barrie D3 Eric Hubert Adrian Mississauga D3 Robert Koger Georgetown Toronto D1 Eric Whettell American International La Salle D2 Ryan McClelland Colgate Brampton D1 Evan Kirk Hobart Orangeville D1 Scott Gamble Elmira Toronto D3 Garett Ince Virginia Oakville D1 Sean Gilles RIT Oakville D3 Garett Kerr Quinnipiac Caledon D1 Sid Smith Syracuse Ohsweken D1 Graham Bergsma Fairfield St Catherines D1 Stephan LeBlanc Queens/NC Restoule D2 Grant Gosselin University of New England Beaconsfield D3 Stephen Keogh Syracuse Toronto D1 Greg Miceli Stony Brook King City D1 T.J. Cook Adrian Caledon D3 Greg Norris Susquehanna St Catherines D3 Todd Hosmer Potsdam Scarborough D3 J.A. MacDougall Mercyhurst Brantford D2 Travis Gibbons Canisius Owen Sound D1 Jaime Lincoln Denver St Catherines D1 Trevor Veres Wheeling Jesuit Windsor D2 Jay Card Hofstra Caledon D1 Tyler Burton Mercyhurst London D2 Jeff Ivey Adrian Orangeville D3 Tyler Collins Colgate Toronto D1 Jesse Fehr Harvard Calgary D1 Tyler Douglas Dominican College St Albert D2 Jesse Gamble Cornell Rockwood D1 Zack Greer Bryant Whitby D1 30 Ontario LACROSSE | Spring 2009 Another U.S. school that hasn’t shied away from recruiting Ontario born players is the University of Hartford. Aidan Genik and Carter Bender have both adjusted well to their new scenery and their coach, Peter Lawrence, is happy they came. “I think it’s fair to say, they have exceeded expectations. Both Carter and Aidan are capable of being all rookie team, possibly all conference guys, even this year as freshmen,” says Lawrence. “Even as freshmen they have taken leadership roles.