BALTIMORE – Loyola University Maryland senior attacker Nikko Pontrello was selected in the first round by defending Major League Lacrosse champion Denver Outlaws, marking the third year in a row that a Greyhounds player has been selected among in the opening round.
He was joined in the draft by senior defender Pat Frazier who was a fifth-round pick, 33rd overall, by the Florida Launch.
Pontrello was the eighth overall pick in the MLL Collegiate Entry Draft on Friday night from the U.S. Lacrosse National Convention at the Hilton Baltimore.
He follows in the footsteps of Josh Hawkins (5th overall, Hamilton Nationals) and Mike Sawyer (8th, Charlotte Hounds) who were picked in the 2012 first round and Joe Fletcher (3rd, New York Lizards), a 2013 first rounder.
Last month, was named a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Preseason All-America Second Team member after earning USILA All-America Honorable Mention in 2014.
After scoring 20 goals in his first two seasons at Loyola, Pontrello finished with 51 in 2014, the third-most in school single-season history. He also had 12 assists for a total of 63 points, the sixth-most in school single-season history, and his 3.0 goals per game this season ranked fifth nationally.
Frazier garnered Preseason All-America Honorable Mention and this year returns to anchor the Greyhounds' defense in his third season as a starter. Last year, the Marylander helped Loyola's defense limit teams to an average of 7.47 goals per game.
He picked up 27 ground balls and caused nine turnovers for the Greyhounds. Frazier also scored his first collegiate goal last year.
With the Launch, Frazier will be teamed with a pair of former Greyhounds on defense, 2013 graduate Reid Acton and P.T. Ricci, Loyola's current director of lacrosse operations. Florida is led by another Loyola alum, 1996 graduate Stan Ross.
--
Ryan Eigenbrode
Loyola University Maryland
Assistant Athletic Director
(410) 617-2337, office
www.LoyolaGreyhounds.com