Thursday, August 3, 2006
15 SIGN ON TO JOIN BLUE HOSE MEN’S LACROSSE FOR 2007 SEASON
CLINTON, S.C. – Presbyterian College’s second-year head men’s lacrosse coach Jason Childs announced on Thursday afternoon that 15 more recruits have signed national letters of intent to play for the Blue Hose during the 2006-2007 academic year, bringing the total to 18. This group of recruits hails from high schools in Maryland (4), Florida (3), Georgia (3), Virginia (2), North Carolina (1), and South Carolina (1) plus a transfer from a Division I program.
Clint Armstrong (Orlando, Fla.), a 5-9, 160-lb attackman, played for Coach Tom Fitzsimons at the Academy at the Lakes and notched 38 goals and 18 assists as a senior. An all-around athlete, he also played football as a freshman and sophomore, while wrestling during his sophomore and senior years.
“Clint is a tough scrappy attackman that seems to find the right place. He will fight for a starting spot on the attack unit and will help ignite the offense with his ability to find the open man,” stated Coach Childs. “Clint will certainly help put us on the right track early in the season.”
A 5-7, 155-lb defenseman, Ryan Boyce (Baltimore, Md.) starred at Calvert Hall College High School under the guidance of head coach Bryan Kelly. Boyce was a four-time all-star player in the Loch Raven Summer and Overlea Fall Leagues as well as an all-star on the Maryland Red Shirts.
Coach Childs stated, “Ryan is a great defender that plays very hard and disciplined. He is a natural athlete that will bring a wealth of experience to the defensive unit and to the team as a whole. Finding a player who played in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) for the last two years will help us rev up our defense. We are very pleased that he has decided to play collegiate lacrosse at PC.”
David Clark (Oviedo, Fla.) is a 5-11, 195-lb defenseman from Oviedo High School. Under head coach Chris Cartwright, Clark was a three-year starter on defense.
“David is a very aggressive defender that will pressure the ball well,” explained Coach Childs. “I am looking forward to using David’s athletic ability.”
Brian Foley (Charlotte, N.C.), a 5-10, 170-lb attackman from Myers Park High School, played for head coach Jim Galloway and was selected as a Queen City Top 50 All-Star as well as a North Carolina Great 38 All-Star. Foley also played for the Team Charlotte All-Stars.
“Brian is an all-around good athlete. You cannot teach what he knows and I am thrilled to have him on board,” explained Coach Childs. “He will contend for a starting attack post and look to make a big impact with his athleticism and stick skills. I think Brian has all the tools to be a very special player here for us.”
Hailing from Duluth, Ga., Steve Getty was under the tutelage of head coach T.J. Dixon at Northview High School. Getty, a 5-4, 140-lb middie, was a member of the Georgia Select Team and Northview’s Most Outstanding Midfielder as a junior. A four-year varsity letterman, he led the team in scoring during his freshman year.
Coach Childs responded, “Steve is a crafty midfielder who has gotten it done at the high school level. Everyone I talked to has told me that he has so much potential. He does have great potential, but he is not to shabby right now either and I think he will add a lot of depth to the midfield right away.”
Andy Halperin (Atlanta, Ga.), a 6-1, 172-lb midfielder, captained the Raiders at Riverwood High School for three years. Under the guidance of Coach Bret Bryon, Halperin received the Coach’s Award and Midfielder of the Year honors as a junior. He also earned a spot on the 2005 Georgia Select Team and All-State honorable mention honors after tallying 16 goals and 18 assists with 59 ground balls and a 68.7 face-off percentage.
“He has got great size, strength, and speed. What Andy has been lacking is solid coaching at the high school level,” said Coach Childs. “With no full-time coach at his high school, he was forced to learn a lot on his own and now he will not have to do that. I am thrilled to have Andy on board and I think the sky is the limit for him.”
Marc Handel (Miller Place, NY), a 6-3, 190 middie, is a transfer from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. At Quinnipiac, Handel played two seasons for the Bobcats, notching 27 ground balls and winning 16 face-offs in 26 career games at Quinnipiac. He is a product of Comsewogue High School and was a member of the New York State Championship squad.
Coach Childs stated, “Marc will bring a lot of great experience to the Blue Hose program. As a staff, we are very excited to have a player of Marc’s caliber join the program. His leadership and talent will help carry us this year.”
A product of Virginia Episcopal School, Nate Landskroener (Worton, Md.) played under head coach Chad Hanning. A 6-0, 165-lb middie/attackman, George McManus (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) was a standout player at Nease High School under the tutelage of head coach Jack Francis.
Coach Childs on Landskroener: “Nate will bring yet another great stick to PC next year. His attitude about being here has been awesome and he wants to help the program in any way. I look for Nate to fight for a starting spot at attack, but he could see some midfield with his speed and athleticism. He will bring a lot to the program in every way possible.”
Coach Childs on McManus: “George is a solid player that can play both attack and midfield. We will look to his athletic ability to bring a solid impact to us.”
Jeremy Metcalfe (Dallas, Ga.), a 6-3, 200-lb attackman from Harrison High School, played for Coach John Hunter. Metcalfe also served as an assistant captain for Harrison’s ice hockey team.
“Jeremy is a big kid, and he uses his frame very well. He has got a great shot, but more over, he can dodge hard to the goal,” stated Coach Childs. “To have a natural lefty on the field will increase our offensive production two- or three-fold. Anytime you have a kid coming into college with over 100 points you are very happy about that, especially when he is a natural lefty.”
A 5-11, 155-lb attackman, Sean Mulford (Towson, Md.) comes from a strong lacrosse family as his sister, Meghan, plays at the University of Maryland and his cousins, Owen and Casey, play at the University of Notre Dame and The Ohio State University, respectively. Mulford is a product of Loyola Blakefield Jesuit School and played for head coach Jack Crawford.
Coach Childs said, “Sean is a true talent on the field. He has great dodging ability and sees the field very well when he is going to net. It is no surprise that he has stepped up for the Dons this year and I am looking forward to him leading the way down here next year.”
Billy Schilling (Hilton Head Island, S.C.), a 6-0, 165-lb defenseman, was selected the 2006 South Carolina Lacrosse League Defensive Player of the Year, helping Coach Matt Lindner and Hilton Head High School to four state championship titles. Schilling also played football at Hilton Head.
“The kid is flat out fast and we are very pleased to have Billy join the program. His athletic ability is something very special and I am very excited to have him on campus to tone his skills. He has got a great upside and we anticipate that he will challenge for the starting spot at pole.”
A 6-2,175-lb goalkeeper, Pat Slaughter (Lutherville, Md.) played with Boyce for Coach Bryan Kelly at Calvert Hall College High School. Slaughter was a scholar-athlete during his freshman year as a member of the wrestling and lacrosse squads.
Coach Childs retorted, “Pat is a very athletic goalie from a great lacrosse area. One thing I do not have to worry about with Pat is whether he has gotten college type shots. By playing in the MIAA, Pat has seen great shots each and everyday. I am very pleased that Pat has decided on PC and I am looking forward to him challenging for the starting spot.”
Campbell Ware (Norfolk, Va.) is a 6-4, 205-lb defenseman from Norfolk Collegiate School who was under the mentorship of head coach Brian Smith. Serving as a team captain, Ware also competed on the varsity boys’ volleyball team, totaling 41 blocks and 36 kills.
“Campbell will help the defense next year with his aggressive style of play. He again is a natural athlete that will allow us to do a lot of things on the field that we have not yet done,” replied Coach Childs. “I am very excited about the possibilities he brings us.”
A 5-7, 165-lb attackman, Jake White (Overlea, Md.) picked up the team’s Sportsmanship Award in 2005 and the Unsung Hero Award in 2004. White scored 32 goals and helped out on 14 others as a junior at Overlea High School for head coach John Klug.
Coach Childs said, “Jake will bring great stick skills and a passion for the game. I think Jake will contend for the third spot on the attack and make a solid impact as a freshman. With his skills and heart, I am looking for big things.”