With its first season in the soon-to-be-launched Big East lacrosse conference on the horizon, St. John’s continues to mine the New York metropolitan area for recruits. And the Red Storm have been successful.
Attackman/midfielder Ryan Fitzgerald, who helped Putnam Valley unseat four-time champion Rye to win the New York Section 1 Class C championship, has committed to join the Red Storm.
“The campus was really nice with great facilities for lacrosse,” said Fitzgerald, who had 48 goals and 30 assists for the Tigers this past season. “I am very excited to play in a program that’s still growing and has a chance to do a lot in the Big East.”
The Big East’s lacrosse version won’t approach the number of teams the conference has in basketball (16), but will also include two-time national champion Syracuse, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Providence, Rutgers, St. John’s and Villanova.
Putnam Valley coach Brian Kuczma, who starred at Johns Hopkins and in the MLL knows what it takes to excel at the next level, and he said Fitzgerald has what it takes.
“Ryan is a talented player who has great vision and an ability to score from in tight or with an outside shot,” Kuczma said of Fitzgerald, who also visited Quinnipiac, Marist and Western New England. “It’s rare to find that in an attackman. He will be an asset to St. Johns’ program.”
Fitzgerald said lacrosse was not the only factor in his decision.
“St. John’s has a good business program and many chances at internships in the city which is only a short ride from school,” he said. “The coaches are great guys and St. John’s is a Big East school that plays at a high level.”
Ridgefield’s Galione, Mueller commit
Connecticut Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference champion Ridgefield should have at least five college-bound rising seniors. Two have already committed and three others are weighing their options. Attackman Mike Galione has given a verbal commitment to Lafayette and midfielder Kurt Mueller has committed to Towson.
Wesleyan lands another Yorktown player
Remy Lieberman, a two-year starting attackman, has become the latest player from Yorktown (N.Y.) to join Division III power Wesleyan.
Former teammate John Froats, a midfielder, was the New England Small College Athletic Conference rookie of the year this past season, and former ’Husker Brett Cabriele is an incoming freshman.
“I decided on Wesleyan because of its strong academics, (Wesleyan) Coach (John) Raba’s coaching style and the excellent lacrosse program,” Lieberman said.
Lieberman made campus visits to and received interest from Army, Brown, Washington & Lee, Franklin & Marshall, St. John’s and Middlebury.
“All of the coaches I met with were great guys who offered some great opportunities,” Lieberman said. “Coach Raba was very patient, honest and enthusiastic. Wesleyan is playing excellent lacrosse and I believe that they have a great chance at winning the NESCAC and also winning an NCAA title.”
Joe Lombardi, who has been a fixture on the lacrosse scene during the sport’s rapid growth in the New York metropolitan area, produces editorial and video content for LaxLessons.com. He may be reached at joe@laxlessons.com.