HAMILTON, N.Y. – Head men's lacrosse coach Mike Murphy and the Colgate men's lacrosse program have added 15 new members to the squad in the Class of 2016.
“My staff and I are very excited about the class of 2016,” said Murphy. “You only get one first recruiting class as a staff, and we think this group of student-athletes has the potential to be special. It was great getting to know these young men and their families during the recruiting process and we think that they will add quality to the Colgate community as a whole.”
The Raiders are adding rookies from all around the country and one player from Canada. There are three from Connecticut and New York, two from New Jersey, while there are players from Colorado, Tennessee, Missouri, Texas, Massachusetts and Ohio.
“This class in particular is geared heavy on defense, headlined by Canadian U-19 team member Leo Stouros,” said Murphy. “He helped the Canadian team to a Silver Medal in Finland this past summer.“
Stouros played lacrosse at The Hill Academy for a post-grad year in 2012. Prior to last year, he was at Malvern Collegiate Institute and was named to the Canadian U-19 National Team. He also earned All-World Defenseman honors at the U-19 World Championships in Finland.
“The group as a whole is very long and athletic and we hope they will be able to add depth to a unit that returns senior captain and three-year starter James Queeney, All Patriot League defender junior Bobby Lawrence and fellow junior Kevin Boyle,” said Murphy.
The goalie position is where the Raiders picked up some depth mentions Murphy. “We also get some depth in the goal as we bring in Jake Danehy and Gordon Santry in the freshman class as well as Alex Castle. These three young guys will push Conor Murphy who made a huge splash in the cage during our run in last year's NCAA tournament.”
Danehy participated in lacrosse at Mamaroneck High School and won the Section I championship as a senior. He was a two-time all-section and all-league selection and made 360 saves in his career and had a .721 save percentage. He is a fourth generation Colgate student, dating back to his great grandfather, who was the Class of 1921.
Santry was a two-time Founder's League Champion for the Westminster School and was an All-New England selection in 2011. He earned US Lacrosse All-American honors in 2012 and was a two-time team MVP for the Martlets.
Castle was a four-year letterwinner at The Pingry School in the Skyland Conference and was a two-time first team all-state selection. He made 217 saves and had a 5.10 goals against average and a .691 save percentage in 2012 as he was named the team's most valuable player.
“On offense we bring in a great group of multi dimensional players,” said Murphy. “Many of these guys can play both attack or midfield and we expect some to contribute right away.
“Cameron Williams, a High School All American from Ohio, who did a post graduate at Loomis Chaffee leads this group that will look to add depth to Colgate's record setting offense that returns 2012 Tewaarton winner Peter Baum and Patriot League Rookie of the Year Ryan Walsh.”
Williams earned All-Western New England honors in 2012. He helped win the Division I Ohio State Championship in 2010 at Arlington High School and the Midwest Scholastic Lacrosse Coaches Association (MSLCA) title in 2011 and was an All-American and first team All-MSLCA in 2011.
Coach Murphy will also be adding more depth with 10 other newcomers.
Kevin Adams joins Colgate after playing lacrosse at Cheshire High School, where he won the Class L State title in 2010 and was a two-time all-state selection. He recorded 181 career points and earned All-American honors as a senior captain in 2012.
Andrew Aicher comes to Hamilton from Ward Melville High School on Long Island. He was an all-county selection and an Academic All-American. He captained the lacrosse team as a senior and the football team as well.
John Baker played lacrosse at Brunswick School and was a Western New England Prep School All-Division First Team selection in 2012. He earned his team's most valuable defenseman award.
Eric Foote spent last year at The Hill School for a post-graduate year and had 23 goals and 20 assists and was a Mid-Athletics Prep All-League First Team selection. Prior to The Hill School, he played at Greenwich High School and tallied 53 goals and 24 assists and helped his team win the 2010 Fairfield County Interscholastic Ahletic Conference.
Jordan Friedman comes to Colgate from Kent Denver, where he was named first team all-state and helped Kent Denver to the state finals in 2011. He posted three goals and four assists as a senior and ended his career with six goals and 10 helpers.
Augie Houghton joins the Raiders from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, where he was first team all-state as a senior. He was unanimous All-American last year and had 168 career ground balls and earned the team's most valuable defensive player award in 2012.
Chandler Millstone played lacrosse at Ladue Watkins High School and won the 2012 Missouri DII State Championship as an all-state selection. He won 77 percent of his faceoffs as a senior and scored 41 goals and 17 assists in 12 games. Millstone was a two-time all-conference honoree and was named team MVP twice.
Connor Murphy was a two-time Skyland Conference and Somerset County Champion at Bridgewater-Raritan High School. He helped win the New Jersey State Group 4 Championship and Tournament of Champions twice. He was a long-stick midfielder and defenseman for the fourth-ranked team in the nation, according to ESPN and went 21-0 in 2012.
Tyler Rigo comes to Colgate after scoring 109 goals and adding 45 assists in his career at East Islip High School on Long Island. He was a three-time member of the Long Island Lacrosse Showcase Suffolk County Team. He was named all-county in 2012 after recording 34 goals and 18 assists as a team captain.
Amir Saboorian joins the team from St. Mark's School of Texas in the Southwest Preparatory Conference, where he was an all-district player in 2012. He was an honorable mention honoree as a junior and team captain last year.
The Raiders will take part in the sixth annual HEADstrong tournament in Ridley, Pa., on Oct 6.