One of the most crucial aspects of lacrosse is the possession game. Few high school players excel in the two key parts of it — groundballs and faceoffs — more than Rye (N.Y.) rising senior midfielder Cole McCormack.
So perhaps it’s appropriate that McCormack’s college destination is a college program that excelled in both areas en route to its appearance in this past season’s NCAA Division I championship game — a 10-9 overtime loss to Syracuse.
Though he is also adept offensively, McCormack is fully aware his role at Cornell may be to specialize in groundballs and faceoffs.
“At Cornell, I would like to be a two-way middie, but I know I’ll need to work hard to do that,” he said. “Whatever they need me to do to help win I’ll do.”
McCormack’s groundball and faceoff skills caught the attention of college recruiters following his sophomore season — in the spring and summer of last year. He had 13 groundballs and won nine of 13 faceoffs in a 7-1 loss to Mount Sinai in the 2008 Class C state semifinals. Then, during the subsequent Empire State Games, he had 26 groundballs and went 63-34 on faceoffs and in Hudson Valley’s run to a bronze medal.
But McCormack’s familiarity with Cornell started even before that.
“I went up to Cornell for a summer camp as a freshman and I loved it since then,” he said. “This past year I went up to Cornell on their junior recruiting day and I loved it just as much as freshman year.”
McCormack also made unofficial visits to Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Yale, Lehigh, Hofstra, Colgate, Drexel and Penn.
“I was so fortunate to visit so many amazing colleges,” he said. “There really was no short list. All of the coaches I met and talked to were so helpful and nice to me and my family.”
With his college decision now set, McCormack can prepare for football season and try to help Rye win what could be a fourth straight state title.
“When I was younger, I always dreamed of playing football at Florida State, but I realized that was not happening,” he said. “I was recruited more in lacrosse and saw more of an opportunity there.
“Football has helped me so much with lacrosse. It has helped my vision of the field and just becoming a better athlete. If I could give anyone any advice, it would be play as many sports as long as you can. It will only help you be a better athlete.”
Cole McCormack, Rye
Photo by Jim Stout
Moore joins Galasso, Hodgson as 2010 West Islip commits
Through the end of this past season, an amazing 51 West Islip players were playing college lacrosse. Look for that trend to continue.
In a moment, we’ll recap all the Lions who will join programs this fall.
But first, we have news of a rising senior commitment for West Islip, which has won three Class A state titles the last four years.
Rising senior attackman Rob Moore, who has committed to the upstart program at Jacksonville University, has joined classmates Nicky Galasso (attack, North Carolina) and Andrew Hodgson (midfield, Towson). As for the Class of 2009, a whopping 15 Lions are bound for college programs.
Here’s the rundown:
Bryan Badolato, attack, Sacred Heart
Patrick Burke, midfield, Kean
Nick Cestaro, midfield, Kean
Tom Clifford, midfield, Kean
Shane Craig, attack, Cortland State
Scott Mattera, defense, Cortland State
Mike McCormack, defense, Yale
Ian Braddish, midfield, North Carolina
Ryan Zaremba, goaltender, West Point Prep
Kevin Dolan, midfielder, Air Force Prep
Patrick Ramsbotham, attack, SUNY Maritime
Cory Gallagher, midfield, SUNY Maritime
Mike Mellone, attack, SUNY Maritime
Jerry Nobile, long-stick midfielder, Hofstra
James Sagl, goal, Goucher College
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.
