HAMILTON, N.Y. (10/11/11) – Colgate men's lacrosse head coach Mike Murphy welcomes 11 newcomers to the 2012 roster from five different states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York and Texas.
Joining the Raiders this year are Trevor Atkins, Conor Braddish, Matt Clarkson, Alex Kinnealey, Jack O'Callaghan, Matt Reyes-Guerra-Dunn, Geoffrey Sullivan, Ryan Walsh, Forrest Walter, Parker Weinstock and Matt Yeager.
“I have been very impressed with this group from the first day I met them," stated Murphy. “Even though I did not recruit most of them, it has been very easy to build relationships with these young men and I have been pleased with their attitude and work ethic. Many of them will see immediate action as we gear up for the 2012 season.”
Trevor Atkins – Attackman, Dallas, Texas (Lake Highlands HS)
Atkins joins the Raiders after successful carrier playing for Hillcrest HS where he accumulated a total of 197 goals and 79 assists in his career, with 86 goals and 22 assists coming from his senior season. A two-time THSLL All-State Attackman, his team won the 2011 THSLL North District Division II and the THSLL Division II State Championships in which he was named the MVP of both tournaments. Atkins was also a 2010 Triple Crown Winner for Texas (led in goals, assists and points) and was the 2010 and 2011 leading goal scorer for the state of Texas.
Murphy on Atkins: “While I was at West Point, Trevor was one of the players we heavily recruited. He is a quick attackman who puts a lot of pressure on the goal. As he continues to develop his skills and understanding of the offense, he will push for playing time.”
Conor Braddish – Midfielder, West Islip, N.Y. (West Islip HS)
Braddish comes to Colgate from West Islip HS where he was a member of the lacrosse team that won the 2009 and 2010 New York State Championships as well as the 2011 Suffolk County Championship. During his career he was named to the all-league team in 2010 and the all-county team in 2011.
Murphy on Braddish: “Conor is a very skilled midfielder who has played with the first line in practice and has shown a great feel for the game. He is a very instinctual player and has the ability to shoot both off the dodge and off the catch with either hand. He comes from a great high school program and is showing that he is ready for college lacrosse.”
Matt Clarkson – Attackman, Garden City, N.Y. (Chaminade HS)
Clarkson joins the team from Chaminade HS where he tallied a total of eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points his senior year.
Murphy on Clarkson: “Matt has really impressed the coaching staff with his level of play. He comes from one of the great high school programs in the country and it shows. He has a great mind for the game and continues to impress us in all phases of practice. He will push for immediate playing time at attack.”
Alex Kinnealey – Midfielder/Faceoff Specialist, Cohasset, Mass. (Cohasset HS)
Kinnealey joins the 2012 squad after an impressive career at Cohasset HS where he recorded a total of 85 goals and 50 assists in his career while going 80 percent in faceoffs. He had a successful senior season, also going 80 percent at the faceoff X, while tallying 35 goals and 15 assists in the season. Kinnealey was a three-time South Shore League All-Star, a 2011 Eastern Mass All-Star and a 2010 Gait Cup Tournament All-Star. He was also a member of the 2010 team that won the Division III State Championship.
Murphy on Kinnealey: “Alex was another player we heavily recruited while I was at West Point. I developed a great relationship with the Kinnealeys during the recruiting process and was very disappointed when he chose Colgate over West Point. But as fortune will have it, I have changed addresses. Alex has done a great job of coming in ready for lacrosse 24/7. Coach Mike Abbott has been working hard with Alex at the faceoff X and he continues to soak up the knowledge. He is a battler at the X and will help us as we try to replace the loss of Jim Carroll to graduation.”
Jack O'Callaghan - Midfielder, Rye, N.Y. (Rye HS)
O'Callaghan comes to Colgate from Rye HS where he scored a total of 78 goals in his career, 26 of which were in his senior season. While at Rye, he received the Mayor's Cup Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2008.
Murphy on O'Callaghan: “We hope that Jack continues to improve his game. He will add depth at the midfield in 2012.”
Matt Reyes-Guerra-Dunn – Midfielder, Wilton, Conn. (Wilton HS)
Reyes-Guerra-Dunn joins the Raiders from Wilton HS where he accumulated a total of 79 points in his career and tallied 16 goals, 16 assists and 50 groundballs his senior season. An All-FCIAC Honorable Mention his junior year and a Norwalk Hour All-Area Team selection his senior year, Reyes-Guerra-Dunn was a member of the team that won the Connecticut Class M State Championship in 2011.
Murphy on Reyes-Guerra-Dunn: “The law firm as we call him is a big strong midfielder that will add depth to the squad. He is really a team favorite.”
Geoffrey Sullivan – Midfielder, Dover, Mass. (Belmont Hill School)
Sullivan joins the 2012 team from Belmont Hill School where he tallied a total of 140 career points from 101 goals and 39 assists. In his senior season, he had 31 goals and 16 assists, earning him All-ISL, All-New England and All-American honors. He was also an All-ISL honorable mention his sophomore year and an All-ISL selection his junior year.
Murphy on Sullivan: “Geoff is another physically strong first-year player who will serve in a few different midfield roles. He has got a great work ethic and it will serve him well as he continues to develop.”
Ryan Walsh – Attackman, Wantagh, N.Y. (Wantagh HS)
Walsh comes to Colgate from Wantagh HS where he was member of the team that won the gold medal at the 2010 Long Island Empire State Games. During his career at Wantagh he recorded a total of 157 goals and 100 assists for 257 career points, with 52 of his goals and 24 of his assists coming from his senior season. Walsh was a three-year member of the all-county and academic all-county teams and was an All-American Finalist in 2011.
Murphy on Walsh: “Ryan has been one of the most productive first-year players this fall. He is a big target and is tough to guard on the goal line extended. He uses his size to his advantage and is becoming quite the finisher. The coaching staff has high hopes for Ryan as he continues to develop both mentally and physically.”
Forrest Walter – Midfielder, Katonah, N.Y (John Jay HS)
Walter joins the team from John Jay HS where he tallied a total of 35 goals and 22 assists as a senior. A member of the team that won the 2010 Section I Championship, Walter was a two-time all-section selection and was an honorable mention in 2009.
Murphy on Walter: “Forrest is another of our first-year midfielders who will add depth in the middle of the field.”
Parker Weinstock – Midfielder, Excelsior, Minn. (Minnetonka HS)
Weinstock comes to Hamilton, N.Y. from Minnetonka HS where he won a state championship in 2009. During his senior year, he scored 19 goals and had nine assists. He was an all-conference, all-section and all-state selection.
Murphy on Weinstock: “Parker is a very athletic midfielder. Once his field sense catches up with his athleticism, he will be a tough cover.”
Matt Yeager – Defense/Long Stick Midfielder, Westport, Conn. (Staples HS)
Yeager joins the Raiders from Staples HS where he collected 132 groundballs his senior season. A four-year starter, he was named to the All-FCIAC Second Team, was a Connecticut Post All-Star and was an all-state and all-area selection in 2011.
Murphy on Yeager: “Matt has come in and impressed us from day one. He is the hardest worker in the first-year class and has been a maniac in the weight room. We will bounce Matt back and forth from close defense to LSM.”